King of Jerusalem Baldwin I was a tireless warrior and worldly politician, but also a bigamist who was accused of indulging his fleshly appetites. (illustration credit ill.31)

For the Christians of the Crusader era, Jerusalem was the centre of the world—as shown in many twelfth-century maps, such as this one from Robert the Monk’s Chronicle of the Crusades. (illustration credit ill.32)

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Crusader splendour: the city reached its apogee under Queen Melisende, here seen marrying Fulk of Anjou. He accused her of an affair with Hugh of Jaffa. This exquisite Psalter (below) may have been his marital peace offering.

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The curse of Jerusalem: the boy Bald-win IV shows his tutor William of Tyre how he feels no pain during games played with friends, the first sign of leprosy. The leper-king symbolized the decline of the kingdom. (illustration credit ill.35)