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Who was Baldwin IV of Jerusalem and why was he called the leper king?

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Sign reading Gandhiji Prem Nivas Leprosy Centre Titagarh conducted by Missionaries of Charity, with a crucifix above the sign on a decorated building facade. — leprosy The Gandhiji Prem Nivas is a center for people with leprosy that was established by Mother Teresa in 1958 and is run by the Missionaries of Charity in Titagarh, India.

Baldwin IV (1161–1185) was the king of Jerusalem from 1174 to 1185. He was famously known as the "leper king" because he suffered from leprosy for the majority of his short life.1

His reign was marked by the challenges of his deteriorating health, which necessitated the periodic appointment of regents and contributed to political factionalism among the nobility. Despite his condition, he remained a significant figure in the conflicts against the Muslim leader Saladin, most notably securing a victory at the Battle of Mont Gisard in 1177. Baldwin IV died at the age of 24, and he was succeeded by his nephew, Baldwin V.12

It is important to note that the term "leper" is now considered offensive due to the historical social stigma associated with the disease. Today, leprosy is a curable infectious disease caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium leprae, and modern medical standards emphasize treating patients with dignity rather than using labels that imply permanent social exclusion.3