The Leper King
Yesterday was the date of death in 1185 of one of history’s most tragic figures, the courageous young man known as the Leper King, Baldwin IV of Jerusalem. He was not yet twenty-four, and died knowing that his kingdom was not likely to long survive him, for it was being torn apart by inner turmoil and threatened by the most dangerous of its Saracen foes, the man whom history would know as Saladin. Baldwin was stricken with this cruel disease while still a child, but he was still crowned at age thirteen upon his father’s unexpected death, for at that time, his leprosy was suspected but not yet definitively diagnosed. Here is a brief scene from Outremer, after Baldwin has discovered the truth that they’d kept from him and has confronted William of Tyre, his tutor, who would become Archbishop of Tyre and the author of one of the great histories of the MA.
* * *
“Why?” Little more than a whisper. “Why me?”
William had been asked that before, of course, in the years since he’d become an arch-deacon. A cry that must surely have echoed down through the centuries, every time a parent buried a child, a wife bled to death in the birthing chamber, a husband was struck down on the field of battle, a man or woman was faced with a wasting disease, an unbearable loss. He’d told them what he’d been taught, the words he’d offered to Maria when her daughter died, that it was not for mortal man to understand the ways of the Almighty. He had quoted from Scriptures--Now we seek through a glass, darkly, but then face to face—often having to explain the meaning to the illiterate, that whilst on earth, their knowledge was imperfect, upon that glorious day when they were admitted into the Kingdom of God, all would become clear. He found now that he could not say that to Baldwin, and so he gave the boy an answer of wrenching honesty.
“I…I do not know, Baldwin.”
Baldwin regarded him searchingly. “I know what men say of lepers. That they are morally unclean. That leprosy is the disease of the damned, punishment for their sins.” His voice wavered, but then he broke William’s heart by mustering up a small smile. “IF this is indeed leprosy, I have not had a chance to commit any sins great enough to deserve this, William.”
* * *
* * *
“Why?” Little more than a whisper. “Why me?”
William had been asked that before, of course, in the years since he’d become an arch-deacon. A cry that must surely have echoed down through the centuries, every time a parent buried a child, a wife bled to death in the birthing chamber, a husband was struck down on the field of battle, a man or woman was faced with a wasting disease, an unbearable loss. He’d told them what he’d been taught, the words he’d offered to Maria when her daughter died, that it was not for mortal man to understand the ways of the Almighty. He had quoted from Scriptures--Now we seek through a glass, darkly, but then face to face—often having to explain the meaning to the illiterate, that whilst on earth, their knowledge was imperfect, upon that glorious day when they were admitted into the Kingdom of God, all would become clear. He found now that he could not say that to Baldwin, and so he gave the boy an answer of wrenching honesty.
“I…I do not know, Baldwin.”
Baldwin regarded him searchingly. “I know what men say of lepers. That they are morally unclean. That leprosy is the disease of the damned, punishment for their sins.” His voice wavered, but then he broke William’s heart by mustering up a small smile. “IF this is indeed leprosy, I have not had a chance to commit any sins great enough to deserve this, William.”
* * *
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What I found appalling, Iset, was that Pope Alexander declared that Baldwin was being punished for his sins. Fortunately, the people of Outremer ignored this hateful proclamation. As you know, lepers were treated badly because of the fear of contagion; ironically, it is one of the most contagious of diseases. Things were dramatically different in Outremer, where Baldwin not only continued to rule as king and rode into battle, being carried in a litter after he could no longer physically ride a horse. One of the Saracen chroniclers marveled that he was not shunned and no attempts were made to isolate him. There is no evidence that he ever wore a gold mask like his character in Kingdom of Heaven, though.
I feel quite horrified to learn that, Sharon. What an awful proclamation. I remember reading somewhere (I forget where, so I am wondering about the veracity of it) that medieval people thought that leprosy could be transmitted sexually and that it was a punishment for sexual sins or deviancy, but in actual fact it cannot be passed sexually. I don't know if any of that is true, do you happen know? I imagine you've researched it a fair bit for obvious reasons!
Yes, Iset, in the MA, leprosy became associated with "carnal sins" and many believed that lepers were depraved and licentious. They also believed it could be caught by breathing the same air as a leper. It has been speculated by historians that Baldwin's acceptance by his subjects was due not only to his courage and integrity, but also to the fact that he was chaste, which was greatly admired in the MA. I remember being shocked when I read that one of the early Church Fathers consoled a grieving widow by telling her she should mourn the loss of her virginity more than the loss of her husband. Yikes.
So very true, Ms. M. I have to take such care not to turn my strong-willed women, of which they were many, into 21st century feminists. And when my main character in my mysteries saves a dog from drowning after it was thrown into the river with a bag of rocks tied to its neck, he is somewhat embarrassed for being "soft-hearted." Animal rights would have been a totally alien concept in the MA. lots of minefields when dealing with anti-Semitism, too, for virtually all medieval Christians were infected; it was just a matter of degree. The Church position on leprosy was contradictory. They preached that it was punishment for sins, as Pope Alexander did, but they also preached that it was a sign of divine favor, that people afflicted with it would bypass purgatory and go right to heaven. Baldwin could never have ruled in England or France; Outremer's attitudes toward leprosy were much more tolerant, possibly because it had been known for much longer in the Middle East. Interestingly, when Baldwin's first symptom appeared when he was about 11 and his father was told, Amalric consulted with Saracen doctors in Cairo in a vain attempt to heal his son. In his chronicle, William of Tyre was very disapproving of this, complaining that the Poulains (the native-born Christians) preferred Saracen and Jewish doctors to their own.
Not for a long time, Ms. M. I am supposed to finish it next year which would mean a publication date in 2017. But I am behind schedule, so we'll have to see.
Thanks for sharing a bit of Outremer. And the Church - the cause of so many headaches for so many over the centuries!
So true, Charlene. I was personally appalled when I read about Pope Alexander declaring that Baldwin's leprosy was punishment for his sins. He was probably about eight when he contracted it for there was an incubation period of several years.
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It is terrible how lepers were viewed, isn't it? Even up to recently in many places, and still going on in a few parts of the world.