King Baldwin IV of Jerusalem suffered from leprosy, which caused his hands and face to become increasingly disfigured. He developed the first symptoms of leprosy as a child but was only diagnosed after his accession on the death of his father, King Amalric. Baldwins leprosy caused him to lose feeling in his right arm, and the disease progressed to the point where his face became deformed and his limbs covered with sores. Although there are several descriptions of him wearing a veil or hood to cover his face, there is no definitive evidence to suggest that he wore a mask. Despite his illness, Baldwin was crowned king at the age of thirteen and proved to be a capable leader. He repelled multiple invasions by Saladin, even when he was only using one hand to ride a horse and hold a sword. Baldwins health began to fail in 1183, and he died in March 1185 at the age of 24.