Favorite Royal Images: King Baldwin the Leper

One of my favorite images and one of my favorite monarchs, this painting shows the young King Baldwin IV of Jerusalem at the battle of Montgisard, forced to be carried on a litter and wrapped in bandages because of his advanced leperosy he nonetheless lifts his sword and leads his knights forward against the superior forces of the formidable Muslim champion Saladin. It was a stunning victory for the Crusaders but the Christians had not seen the last of Saladin...