#Crusaders

[i-lived-i-died-and-now-i-sleep]

Baldwin IVs love language

I thought about how one person could possibly win over Baldwins heart and decided to write about the ways I think he enjoys to be cherished as a partner. Hope you enjoy!

I think Baldwin prefers three out of the five love language types: Quality time, words of affirmation and physical touches. Let me explain why:

Quality time: Baldwin definitely enjoys to spend some alone time with his significant other. It doesn't matter if you sit together after a long day and you listen to him talking about the political situation in the kingdom, you two sitting comfortably next to each other while you both read a book, or even meet up to eat dinner together: this is his favorite time of the day. Spending time with you,getting to know you is THE most important thing for Baldwin. For most of his life, he usually spend the evenings either alone or with work but ever since you came into his life, he looks forward to each end of a day when he can finally join you and just cherish your company. I really think due to the leprosy and the limits of physical love that comes with it, Baldwin falls in love with a mind,not looks. So if you talk to him about philosophy,history or some good stories of French knights,he will absolutely fall for you. He really needs this time to make sure that he stays grounded, to remember he found a home in you.

Words of affirmation: While Baldwin definitely stands his ground in political discussions and acts as a remarkable ruler on the outside (and the inside!), I think he also has a very vulnerable side to him. How could he not? Carrying the future of the whole kingdom on his shoulders while suffering from an incurable disease that may or may not be connected to the wrath of God? Baldwin definitely has his moments when he is sure that he can't continue like this. Shallow moments when the anger he feels about this situation does seem to get to his head. He usually spends these moments alone in his private chambers because he doesn't want to show anyone how he much the world hurts sometimes, but after some time, he would definitely let the mask down (haha) in front of you. It may take a while for him to be really comfortable to show anyone how he truly feels but as soon as he accepts you as his safe place, he WILL let his guard down. You accepting this side of him, listening to him rambling, drying his tears feels like heaven on earth to him. He loves to hear words of support from you, how he is a good king and how proud you are of him. But sometimes it's enough for him to just listen to your breath while he lays on your chest and accept his tears.

Physical touch: Listen to me, this man is touch - starved for what seems like forever. Every day of his life consists of people avoiding his presence, avoiding his touch, fearing him. And he isn't even angry about this,how could he? They fear the leprosy and he completely understands this. He himself still can't believe sometimes that God brought this upon him and the way this illness is destroying every part of his body is utterly disturbing. Yes, sometimes he feels like a rotten corpse that somehow still clings to life. He would never EXPECT anyone to willingly touch him, although he silently hopes that he will feel physical love again...somewhen. So when you softly touch his hand while you both play chess, he is sure that he can hear the blood rushing through his veins. His heart is beating faster than ever and although he can't exactly FEEL you, seeing someone closing the physical gap is enough for butterflies to fly in his stomach. The thought alone that you don't FEAR him, that you don't think him ugly or nasty but,on the contrary, long for his touch may be the best feeling for him. So every time you draw him in for a soft hug, kiss his mask or lay your hand in his, he feels like the luckiest man on earth. He will always make sure that he and your shared physical touches aren't a danger to you tho; the last thing he wants for you is to share this unholy illness with him.

[nightmaresyrup]

Demons tell sweet lies, God tells you slow BURNING painful truths.

[baudouinette]

The only pics I have left from the Templar adventure my dad and brother took me on in 2017 🥺

I changed phones a few times since then and lost them. Thankfully I still have that one of my bff and I, of which I’m making a drawing for her bday of us with bliauts and banners and swords around haha. Excuse my clothing it was hot as heck, summer in Valencia ain’t kind.

These are from the castle in Peñíscola. The chapel had the most perfect reverberation for singing, so I shyly sang Palästinalied, Da Pacem Domine and the Halo theme lmao

The whole city was full of crusader crosses and Templar flags everywhere. I was trying to catch every single hint possible. In other towns and cities we visited, even the smaller ones, if you paid close attention you could find small engravings on walls and buildings or even “relics” imo. And ofc there were taverns and inns playing into the whole theme 😌 I’d recently rewatched Kingdom of Heaven and the OST kept sounding in my head, so it was all like being inside a movie

These last two are from Ponferrada though. The Templar Castle 💓✨

Anyways there are many places I could recommend in Spain be it if you’re interested in castles, the crusader orders, Al Ándalus, Game of Thrones, etc❣️🇪🇸

[lovely88ann]

[dreamconsumer]

Philip II Augustus (1165-1223), Louis VIII (1167-1226), Blanche of Castile (1188-1252), Louis IX (1214-1270) and Margaret of Provence (1291-1295). By Felix Fossey.

[illustratus]

Knights Templar by Louis Charles Bombled

[cuties-in-codices]

the council of clermont

illustration from a manuscript of the passages d'outremer by sébastien mamerot, illuminated by jean colombe, bourges, late 15th c.

source: Paris, BnF, Français 5594, fol. 19r

[somethingstrangeishere]

Hey, psst, look what I've done👀

Thanks to my Pinterest, who decided it would be a great idea to inundate me with medieval art✌️

[vox-anglosphere]

King Richard I met with his knights here to launch the Third Crusade

[ali-croft7]

Are you sure you can carry that on your own?

Of coursee I can! I'm strong, I can do a lot of things.

Okay, okay, crusader...

POV: You're watching the kids of your cult playing as crusaders. You feel proud. A bright glorious future is ahead.

[lolobizarreadventuresshatpost]

[httpsoftbunni]

The Battles of Baldwin IV: A Warrior King

A Series

The Battle of Montgisard (1177)

Baldwin IV’s reign as King of Jerusalem was marked by constant warfare, both against external enemies and the physical toll of his own disease. While his body weakened, his mind remained sharp, and he proved himself to be an extraordinary military strategist and warrior. Despite the debilitating effects of leprosy, Baldwin led his armies in battle with an unwavering determination, achieving remarkable victories that have earned him a place in history as one of the greatest warrior kings of the medieval period.

One of Baldwin IV’s most famous victories came early in his reign during the Battle of Montgisard in 1177. At the time, Saladin, the Sultan of Egypt and Syria, was making significant strides in his campaign to recapture Jerusalem from the Crusaders. Saladin had gathered a massive army, reportedly over 26,000 strong, and was heading toward the heart of the Crusader Kingdom.

Baldwin, with a much smaller force of around 375 knights and 1,500 infantry, confronted Saladin near the town of Montgisard. Despite the overwhelming odds, Baldwin’s army launched a devastating surprise attack, leading to a decisive victory. Baldwin’s leadership during the battle was extraordinary, as he personally led his troops into battle, despite the physical limitations of his disease. The Crusaders’ victory at Montgisard slowed Saladin’s progress and gave Baldwin a brief but significant moment of triumph, which solidified his reputation as a capable and fearless leader.

The Struggles of War and Illness

While Baldwin was celebrated for his military prowess, his leprosy continued to deteriorate his health, making it increasingly difficult for him to participate in the day-to-day management of his kingdom. His ability to lead on the battlefield was at times hindered by the debilitating effects of the disease, which caused him to lose feeling in his limbs and suffer from frequent episodes of pain and weakness.

Despite these challenges, Baldwin continued to lead his forces in key battles, delegating some of his responsibilities to trusted regents and commanders when necessary. He was able to rally his knights and inspire them with his own example of resilience and courage. Baldwin’s ability to remain a symbol of strength in the face of such adversity played a significant role in maintaining the morale of his kingdom’s soldiers.

The Battle of Belvoir Castle (1179)

In 1179, Baldwin IV faced another crucial military challenge against Saladin’s forces, this time near Belvoir Castle in the Jordan Valley. Saladin’s forces had laid siege to the castle, and Baldwin once again demonstrated his strategic brilliance. Baldwin's forces, though vastly outnumbered, managed to hold their ground and prevent Saladin from capturing the castle. This victory was another testament to Baldwin’s leadership and military acumen, despite his worsening health.

The battle was not just about military might—it was about preserving the morale and fortifications of the Crusader Kingdom. Belvoir Castle, strategically located, was essential for the defense of Jerusalem, and Baldwin’s victory ensured that the castle remained in Crusader hands for the time being. His ability to defend such key positions helped delay Saladin’s advances, giving Baldwin precious time to prepare for future conflicts.

The Battle for Jerusalem’s Survival

As Baldwin’s health continued to decline, the Crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem was increasingly vulnerable to Saladin’s forces. Baldwin’s leprosy had robbed him of much of his strength by the early 1180s, and he had to rely more heavily on his regents, including his sister Sibylla and her second husband Guy of Lusignan, to govern. However, Baldwin’s military leadership remained an essential part of the kingdom’s defense.

In 1183, Baldwin IV faced one of his most difficult challenges yet when Saladin launched a full-scale assault on the Kingdom. While Baldwin was no longer physically able to lead his troops in battle, his strategic guidance and the loyalty he inspired in his knights ensured that the kingdom would continue to hold out for several more years. Baldwin’s final military campaign was focused on preventing Saladin from capturing Jerusalem, but his worsening illness made it increasingly difficult to continue leading the Crusader forces.

Baldwin IV’s military legacy is one of remarkable perseverance and tactical brilliance. Despite the crippling effects of leprosy, he consistently proved himself a formidable leader on the battlefield. His victories, including the Battle of Montgisard and the defense of Belvoir Castle, ensured that the Crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem endured against one of the most powerful military leaders of the medieval period, Saladin. In the following posts, we will explore Baldwin IV’s struggles with his regency and the challenges his kingdom faced in the final years of his reign.

[crusera]

The Sultan, they said, was a good man. Soft, quickly moved to tears. Out of compassion, he bought the freedom of a Christian woman's stolen daughter. Even Walther von der Vogelweide, the minnesinger in distant Germany, praised the "mildness" of the powerful ruler in the Orient, whose name has a good reputation in the West: Saladin, a righteous man.

He was a man who always kept his word, even to his enemies.

He let his subjects drag him to court, because God's laws applied equally to everyone. Also for him, the ruler who managed to do what no one had ever managed before: to unite the Islamic world of the Middle East after centuries of discord and to wrest Jerusalem, the holy city of the Muslims, from the Christians in 1187.

His name translates as "righteousness of faith", and Saladin is indeed a devout Muslim. Nevertheless, after his conquest of the Holy Land, he allowed the Christians and Jews there to continue praying to their God. This is another reason why, more than half a millennium later, Western Enlightenment thinkers would make him the epitome of the tolerant ruler.

But this al-Malik an-Nasir Salah ad-Din Abu'l-Muzaffer Yusuf ibn Ayyub ibn Shadi, known as Saladin for short, also had other sides.

He could be treacherous, vile and mean. He did not shy away from murder. Nevertheless, this man fascinated his contemporaries. He became one of the most revered rulers of the Islamic world and the most important opponent of the Crusaders.

Saladin was born in 1138 in Tikrit (in present-day Iraq), the son of a Kurdish officer. During his political career, Saladin was the first to bring Egypt's army under his control.

Saladin, a Sunni, now founds two universities where theology is taught according to Sunni theology - a signal that he is on the side of the population. He also abolished a number of taxes that contradicted the Koran and the teachings of the Prophet.

Saladin's subsequent conquests shock the Christian world. By 1174, his power extended from North Africa to the southern tip of the Arabian Peninsula. In 1186, he ruled from the Nile to the Tigris.

At the height of his power, the Sultan even dreamed of taking the Holy War to Europe, conquering Rome - and putting the Pope in chains.

The Crusaders conquered Jerusalem in 1099 and held it until Saladin besieged it in 1187 and handed it over to the Ayyubid dynasty, a Muslim sultanate that ruled the Middle East at the beginning of the 12th century.

Saladin wanted to recapture the city, which had previously been ruled by Muslims.

For Muslims, Jerusalem is a place where important events in the life of Jesus and other important personalities took place. It is also the place where the Prophet Mohammed ascended to heaven according to the traditional interpretation of the Koran and other texts.

In Sunni Islam, Jerusalem is the third holiest city after Mecca and Medina. Muslims believe that Muhammad was brought to Jerusalem during his night journey (Isra and Mi'raj).

The name Jesus is mentioned twenty-five times in the Holy Qur'an, often in the form 'Isa ibn Maryam, which means "Jesus, son of Mary". In the Quran, he is given the unique title "Messiah" (al-masih in Arabic), which means "anointed one". He is considered one of many prophets from the lineage of the Prophet Ibrahim, or Abraham (peace be upon him). Many Muslim traditions regard it as an ideal example of spirituality. Unlike Christians, who generally believe in a triune God, Muslims believe that Jesus was a great prophet who was to lead mankind on the straight path of monotheism and obedience to God (Allah).

When Jerusalem also fell, two kings and an emperor set off for the Holy Land with their armies from 1189 onwards. One of the monarchs is King Richard I of England. Even before the armed pilgrimage, he had already earned himself an honourable name: "Lionheart."

Saladin lies in wait for the Christians in the forests of Arsuf near the Mediterranean coast. But King Richard of England had anticipated the attack; on 7 September 1191, his troops won a clear victory. Nevertheless, the Muslim army is still strong enough to block the road to Jerusalem.

Saladin's reconquest of Jerusalem in 1187 prompted Pope Gregory VIII to organize the Third Crusade. From 1189 to 1192, Saladin lost Acre and Jaffa and was defeated in the field at Arsūf. The Crusaders retreated to Europe without seizing Jerusalem, but Saladin's military reputation had been damaged. He died in 1193.

[crusaderguy]

Just made a new video but I can't upload it here because of some dumbass shit about it being more than 500 MB.

Go watch it I worked on this for 2 days (today and yesterday.)

[lovely88ann]

Ave Christus Rex!

Do not make peace with evil, destroy it!