Description from original post (created 2013-02-14 09:25):
Medieval Skin Contest:
2nd Place!
Baldwin IV. of Jerusalem - A brief Chronicle
The year is 1161 anno Domini - the heir to King Amalric I. of Jerusalem is born. His parents name him after his uncle, Baldwin.
A few years later - Baldwin, a strong and handsome boy, injures himself at his arm while playing with his friends. Oddly he does not feel any pain, even though the wound is deep and heavily bleeding. His teacher, the famous historian William of Tyre is the first to understand the circumstances - Baldwin has leprosy, an uncurable desease back then.
Young Baldwin, his disease has not yet broken out
1174 A.D. - Amalric I. falls ill from dysentery. None of his doctors is able to save him and so he dies of fever, leaving his son Baldwin the new King of Jerusalem, at the young age of 13.
At this time, Baldwin's leprosy has already broken out at it's worst and Baldwin suffers a lot of pain from the effects of it. He begins to wear a mask and covers his whole body to hide his deformed and maimed body and face. For Baldwin is only 13, he is advocated by his fathers cousin, Raymond III. of Tripoli.
Despite his leprousy, Baldwin IV. was a good military leader and won many battles.
1179 A.D. - Baldwin comes of age and takes the rule over Jerusalem. The leader of the Saracens, Saladin, a big threat to the Jerusalem Kingdom, is preoccupied with other problems, so Baldwin has a rather peaceful reign. Nevertheless he struggles with inner enemies who try to expand their powers through intrigues and betrayal - for example his sister Sibylla.
1185 A.D. - Baldwin becomes weaker and weaker and eventually dies of his leprosy - at the age of 23.
This skin is loosely (emphasis!) based on his appearance in the motion picture "Kingdom of Heaven", directed by Ridley Scott.
Sources:
Websites:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/1670312/posts
http://www.hektoeninternational.org/The_remarkable_baldwin.html
http://king-baldwin.livejournal.com/
http://historymedren.about.com/od/bentries/a/11_baldwiniv.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baldwin_IV_of_Jerusalem
http://www.imdb.de/title/tt0320661/
Movie: Kingdom of Heavens, 2005, Director: Ridley Scott, Scott Free Productions
Picture Credits:
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9HXFUoVCXVg/ThqJtJIQyAI/AAAAAAAAE98/A_FWZ4C__Hg/s1600/baldwin4jerusalem_cl.jpg
http://ic.pics.livejournal.com/susan_of_mejis/10312979/28848/28848_600.jpg
http://www.slowairzeczy.pl/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/kingbaldwinivinjerusalem.jpg