Chapter 37： Mask of the Leper King

"Steven, what kind of helmet and mask is this? Compared with the helmets of the Templars before, this helmet and mask look more delicate, but it is also very strange!"

David pointed to the helmet and mask on the stone platform in front of him and asked, eyes full of curiosity.

The same goes for the Bishop of Kent, who is standing next to him, looking at the helmet and mask in front of him, he is also confused.

At this time, the three of them were standing in front of a stone platform about 1.2 meters high in the middle of the hall, watching the things placed on this stone platform.

There are three things on the stone platform, a medieval-style knight helmet, a metal mask, and a metal box about one meter and five meters long and one meter wide across the stone platform.

The helmet and mask were placed on the box one by one. The moss and dust originally attached to the two antiques have been gently wiped off by Ye Tian with a soft cloth, revealing the original features of the two antiques.

As for the metal box below, it still kept its previous appearance for the time being, covered with a thick layer of moss and dust, and it was not clear how it looked.

Unlike the helmets of the Templars before, although the helmets and masks in front of them have slept here for more than seven hundred years, there is no trace of rust on them, they are just a little black and look black.

It is a unique phenomenon of metal oxidation, which can be easily cleaned off, so that it can be completely restored to its original appearance and renewed with dazzling light.

On the top of the helmet, there is an upwardly protruding base. In the center of the base is a round hole the thickness of a thumb. It should be a device for inserting accessories, such as crosses, red tassels, golden pheasants, and so on.

And in the middle of the forehead of this helmet, a small cross is engraved, which is the most orthodox cross unlike the other crosses of the horses of the Knights Templar.

This metal helmet does not have a protective mask, but the wrapping performance is very good, it can perfectly protect the user's head, and the neck and ears are also very good.

Although this all-metal helmet does not have a face shield, it happens to be a complete medieval knight helmet when combined with the metal face shield placed next to it.

Like the helmet, the surface of the metal mask next to it is also a little black, which is also the result of metal oxidation and is not difficult to clean.

However, the shape of this mask looks quite strange or weird, which is what makes David and the Bishop of Kent curious and puzzled.

The surface of the mask is not decorated too much. The eyes are two oval-shaped holes, and the nose is raised up, exactly like a human nose, but there are only a few small holes in the mouth for the user to breathe!

I don't know whether it is deliberate or limited by the craftsmanship. There are dense forging marks on this mask. At first glance, it looks like it is covered with pockmarks, which makes people feel very strange.

The same is true for the neck guard of the all-metal helmet, which is also densely covered with traces of forging, or pockmarks, which seems more appropriate.

Ye Tian did not immediately respond to David's inquiry.

He picked up the metal helmet and mask on the stone platform in turn, carefully observed it over and over, and pondered for a moment, then said excitedly:

"I know whose helmet and mask this is. Inferring from the age and characteristics of the two antiques, they are probably owned by the King of Jerusalem, the famous Leprosy King Baldwin IV.

Baldwin IV had a short reign due to leprosy. He became king of the Kingdom of Jerusalem at the age of thirteen. He was killed by leprosy at the age of twenty-four and died young!

But in Western history, Baldwin IV is famous, a famous hero, and one of the few legendary kings in the history of the Kingdom of Jerusalem. His military ability is outstanding! "

Before the words fell, David and the Bishop of Kent exclaimed in a low voice.

"Wow! This is actually the helmet and mask of King Baldwin IV of Leprosy. It must be a top-notch antique relic of invaluable value, and its value will definitely not be lower than that of Hugo de Pain's knight equipment.

We have heard countless stories about the leprosy king since childhood. There are also countless films and TV dramas. His name and image are almost household names throughout the Western world! "

"In 1185, because of the deterioration of leprosy, didn't Baldwin IV died in Jerusalem? As his king, coupled with the fear of leprosy, how could his weapons and equipment appear here?"

Ye Tian looked at these two guys beside him, then smiled and explained:

"The reason why I made such a judgment, of course, has my own reasons. First of all, the dates of these two antique cultural relics are determined. They come from the middle and late twelfth century. I am very sure about this point. I can never read it wrong.

Let’s talk about the famous leprosy king Baldwin IV. He was diagnosed as the king of Jerusalem at the age of thirteen. He was suffering from leprosy, and Baldwin IV never shy away from it.

Perhaps because of the young man’s rebellious mentality, he not only did not shy away from the feared leprosy at the time, but even made all the masks he wears daily to look like leprosy patients.

Now it seems that this legend is not groundless. The all-metal helmet and the leprosy-style metal mask in front of you have properly proved the legend that Baldwin IV did just that.

Except for Baldwin IV, I have never heard of a king or knight in the Middle Ages who made his masks in the style of leprosy. Even if someone followed suit, their relics are not eligible to be placed here."

Upon hearing this, David and the Bishop of Kent couldn't help but nodded slightly.

"Yes! There are indeed such legends, and there are also written records in the relevant Vatican classics. Baldwin IV did make his mask in the style of leprosy, and this is the only one, no semicolon!"

Bishop Kent continued, clearly agreeing with Ye Tian's analysis.

After a short pause, Ye Tian continued:

"During the Middle Ages, due to the outdated medical methods, coupled with long-term expeditions and lack of personal hygiene, among the Crusaders, there were many knights suffering from leprosy, and the Knights Templar were no exception.

In addition, we can also infer from the relationship between Baldwin IV and the Knights Templar. Although Baldwin IV suffered from leprosy and had a short reign, he enjoyed high prestige among the Crusaders.

As we all know, in the Battle of Mongissa in 1177, the 16-year-old Baldwin IV took the lead, leading less than 500 knights and less than 3,000 infantry, and defeated Saladin's army in one fell swoop.

In that famous battle, Saladin’s most elite Mamluk cavalry was almost wiped out, with the casualties reaching 20,000. When Saladin fled back to Egypt in embarrassment, the remaining soldiers were less than tenth of what they were when they started. One.

At that time, most of the knights who followed Baldwin IV on the battlefield were members of the Knights Templar stationed in the Holy Land. It was this battle that made Baldwin IV established a lofty prestige among all Crusader knights.

According to legend, when the group charge was ordered, the 16-year-old leper King Baldwin IV took the lead and rushed to the forefront of the team. The'true cross' next to him was radiating as bright as the sun.

But this is just a legend, and the credibility is somewhat discounted, but it can be seen that through this battle, the Knights Templar and the leper king Baldwin IV forged a deep fighting friendship. There is no doubt about it!

In 1185, Baldwin IV died in Jerusalem because of the worsening of leprosy. Only two years after his death, that is, in 1187, Saladin's army returned and captured Jerusalem in one fell swoop.

Next, the badly lost Knights Templar retreated to Cyprus for the first time. During the retreat, out of respect and in order to avoid Saladin's revenge, it was entirely possible that they brought Baldwin IV's relics.

From this point of view, it is a very reasonable thing for the helmet and leprosy mask to appear here, and only the relics of Baldwin IV can be placed in the center of this hall by the Knights Templar.

After analyzing the relationship between Baldwin IV and the Knights Templar, let's take a look at the two antique artifacts themselves. Judging from the current preservation situation, they are likely to be made of silver alloy.

In the mid-to-late twelfth century, those who were qualified to use this alloy must have extraordinary power and status. Even the commanders and inspectors of the Knights Templar did not seem to have such qualifications."

David and the Bishop of Kent nodded again, without any disagreement.

At this time, the two of them had no doubt about the identification conclusion given by Ye Tian.

There is no doubt that this all-metal helmet and this rare leprosy-style mask are the relics of King Baldwin IV of leprosy. They are undoubtedly top antique relics, and their value is immeasurable!

After identifying the all-metal helmet and the leprosy mask, Ye Tian pointed his finger at the metal box below Since this all-metal helmet and mask are the relics of Baldwin IV, it is basically certain. The things in this metal box must also be the relics of Baldwin IV.

Baldwin IV is the king of the Kingdom of Jerusalem, so I boldly speculate that there may be Baldwin IV's sword and even the crown, which are truly priceless! "

Before the words were over, the Bishop of Kent had already exploded.

"What? The crown of Baldwin IV, that is one of the most famous treasures in the Knights Templar treasures, and one of the holy relics of Christianity. If there is that crown in this box, it would be perfect!"

Ye Tian turned to look at the bishop of the Vatican who was so excited that he was a little gaffe, then smiled and said:

"Whether Baldwin IV's crown is in this box? Open this box to know the result. I believe a miracle will happen!"

With that said, Ye Tian had already picked up the all-metal helmet and handed it to David, and then gave the leprosy mask to the bishop of Kent, and he was about to open the metal box!