Editing Baldwin IV of Jerusalem (section)

==Childhood==
Baldwin was born in mid-1161. His parents were [[Amalric of Jerusalem|Amalric]], then the [[count of Jaffa and Ascalon]], and [[Agnes of Courtenay]]. Baldwin's godfather was his paternal uncle, [[King Baldwin III]], who joked that his christening present was the [[Kingdom of Jerusalem]].{{sfn|Hamilton|2000|p=23}} The kingdom and other [[crusader principalities]], though surrounded by [[Arab]] [[Muslim]] states, were ruled by [[Franks]], [[Old French|French]]-speaking [[Catholics]] who had arrived in the [[Levant]] from [[Western Europe]] and remained [[Western culture|Western in culture]].{{sfn|Hamilton|2000|pp=57-59}} The king was young and recently married, making a nephew's accession seem unlikely; yet Baldwin III died childless in 1163.{{sfn|Hamilton|2000|p=23}} Amalric was his heir, but the nobles of the kingdom were strongly opposed to Amalric's wife, Agnes; historian Bernard Hamilton suggests that they were likely threatened by the prospect of her increased influence.{{sfn|Hamilton|2000|p=26}} The [[High Court of Jerusalem|High Court]] forced Amalric to agree to an [[annulment]] of his marriage on the grounds of [[consanguinity]] in order to be accepted as king.{{sfn|Hamilton|2000|p=23}} Amalric succeeded in having his and Agnes's children, [[Sibylla of Jerusalem|Sibylla]] and Baldwin, declared [[Legitimacy (family law)|legitimate]] despite the annulment.{{sfn|Hamilton|2000|p=26}}

Baldwin grew up without a mother, as Agnes remarried soon after the annulment (firstly to [[Hugh of Ibelin]]{{sfn|Hamilton|2000|p=26}} and then to [[Reynald of Sidon]]{{sfn|Hamilton|2000|p=34}}). Hamilton surmises that she only saw Baldwin on public occasions.{{sfn|Hamilton|2000|p=26}} He also seldom saw his sister, Sibylla, who was raised in the [[Convent of Saint Lazarus]] by their grandaunt [[Ioveta]].{{sfn|Hamilton|2000|p=26}} At the age of six Baldwin gained a stepmother, [[Maria Komnene, Queen of Jerusalem|Maria Komnene]], with whom he was not close. Queen Maria was an ambitious woman who, in Hamilton's opinion, likely saw Baldwin as an obstacle to her own progeny.{{sfn|Hamilton|2000|p=27}}

[[File:BaldwinIV.jpg|thumb|Playmates pinch Baldwin and William of Tyre discovers first symptoms of Baldwin's leprosy, in ''[[Estoire d'Eracles]]'', painted in France in the 1250s]]

King Amalric ensured that Baldwin, as the [[heir apparent]] to the kingdom, received a good education. The nine-year-old prince was sent to live with [[William of Tyre]], a sophisticated and well-traveled [[cleric]] who was famed for his learning. William noticed that, unlike other children in the playground, Baldwin did not cry when pinched by his peers. After a while it became apparent to the tutor that Baldwin could not feel pain in his right arm.{{sfn|Hamilton|2000|p=27}} The king hired the Arab physician [[Abu Sulayman Dawud]] to treat Baldwin and another Arab, Abul'Khair, to teach Baldwin [[horse riding]], an essential skill for a Frankish nobleman. Having sensation in only one hand, Baldwin needed to learn to control the horse in battle using solely his knees, and mastered riding despite the handicap. [[Leprosy]] was suspected, but there were no visible symptoms yet and physicians hesitated to diagnose because of [[leprosy stigma|the stigma]] the boy would face.{{sfn|Hamilton|2000|p=28}} Had such a diagnosis been made when he was a child, Baldwin might have been required by law to enter the [[Order of St Lazarus]], a [[military order (religious society)|military order]] composed of affected knights and [[serjeanty|serjeants]].{{sfn|Hamilton|2000|p=29}}

As an adolescent, Baldwin was precocious, determined, and optimistic in the face of his illness. He took after his father in good looks, body shape, and manner of walking and expressing himself. Baldwin was a quick learner, but he stuttered. He enjoyed listening to stories and history lessons. His tutor, William, remarked on Baldwin's excellent memory, stating that he forgot neither kindness nor slights done to him by others.{{sfn|Hamilton|2000|p=43}}

Amalric attempted to have Sibylla marry the French Count [[Stephen I of Sancerre]], who would rule the kingdom as [[regent]] on Baldwin's behalf if Amalric died early. When physicians informed him that Baldwin could develop leprosy, Amalric may have begun viewing Sibylla and Stephen as eventual monarchs instead of Baldwin, but the match fell through.{{sfn|Hamilton|2000|p=31}} In June 1174, the king came down with [[dysentery]]. He died on 11 July leaving an underage heir, as he had feared might happen.{{sfn|Hamilton|2000|p=32}}