Baldwin IV was a revered King of Jerusalem who reigned from 1174 till his death in 1185. He was also known as the 'Leper King' of Jerusalem. His reign, even though brief, is of significance in medieval history. He was crowned at the age of thirteen and led several military campaigns against the infamous Saladin. Afflicted with a serious disease, he not only overcame his challenges, but also managed to rule his kingdom efficiently, becoming a popular king. At that time, there were a lot of stigmas associated with leprosy, but he questioned and confronted them till his early demise at just twenty-four years old. He has gone down in history as a courageous ruler because despite suffering from leprosy, a disease so feared that afflicted people had to adhere to some strict rules, he still managed to reign with a firm hand. In modern depictions, he is often seen wearing a mask, while there is no evident record of him ever hiding under a cover.
