Behind the Costume: Creating King Baldwin IV – A Medieval King, Silk and a Little Too Much Glamour!

A King Deserves Something Special

Some costumes are fun to make. Others challenge your skills, your patience, and occasionally your ability to resist adding just one more shiny detail!

My King Baldwin IV costume was definitely in the second category.

Inspired by the film Kingdom of Heaven, this costume was a fascinating project. I watched the film, studied the costume, and did some research into the historical period. I wanted to create something beautiful that captured the spirit of the character while also giving the costume a sense of dignity and historical elegance.

And that turned out to be quite an adventure.

Historical Accuracy vs. Hollywood Glamour

There was one problem.

The costume in the film has a beautiful, shiny appearance, with plenty of glamour. But creating an historically accurate medieval costume that also looked exactly like the film version proved to be almost impossible.

The materials used in the film costume have a very different appearance from those I would normally choose for a more historically inspired garment.

So I decided to find a middle ground.

Instead of simply copying the film costume, I chose beautiful silk and duchess satin. The entire costume is lined with silk, giving it a luxurious finish and a lovely feel.

I wanted the finished piece to have the richness and splendour of a royal costume without losing its sense of dignity.

Because, after all, a king is a king. He does not need to look like a walking Christmas tree to make an impression! 😉

The Belt: A Different Approach

I also made a different choice for the belt.

Rather than copying the silver plastic or leather-like belt seen in the film, I chose a design inspired by the belts worn by saints in religious art.

This gave the costume a different character. It felt more dignified and, to my eye, better suited to the image I wanted to create.

Sometimes, the smallest design decisions make the biggest difference.

When creating a costume inspired by a film, you have to decide which details to reproduce and where your own interpretation can make the design stronger.

For me, this was one of those moments.

I also created a golden belt, which was a better choice than the belt from the movie.

The Challenge Was Not the Embroidery!

You might think the most difficult part of this costume was the embroidery.

Surprisingly, it wasn't.

The real challenge was finding the right balance between all the glitter, the decorative details, and the overall appearance of the costume.

There is a fine line between royal splendour and too much sparkle. And as a costume maker, you have to know when to stop.

The embroidered decorations also needed to be attached very securely. This was a substantial job, requiring patience and careful work.

The costume has many delicate details, and although everything has been constructed with care, it remains a garment that deserves thoughtful handling.

It is not something I would recommend wearing for a weekend of medieval sword fighting in the mud!

However, it would be wonderful for a cosplay event, a special photoshoot, or even as a display piece in a collection.

Some costumes are made to survive rough adventures. Others are made to be admired.

This one belongs firmly in the second category.

King Baldwin IV: A Remarkable Man

While working on this costume, I found myself thinking more and more about the man behind the character.

Baldwin IV was King of Jerusalem in the twelfth century. He became king at a young age and ruled while living with leprosy, a disease that gradually affected his body.

His life was marked by enormous personal challenges and political responsibilities. Despite his illness, he continued to fulfil his duties as king.

There is something deeply moving about that.

Making a costume inspired by such a historical figure feels almost like a privilege. In some ways, it seems a little presumptuous to create a garment representing someone whose life was so extraordinary.

Of course, I cannot know what Baldwin himself would have thought of my interpretation.

But I like to imagine that he would appreciate the care that went into it.

At least, I hope he would approve of the silk!

A Costume for Someone Who Appreciates Craftsmanship

For a costume maker, projects like this are about much more than sewing fabric together.

They require research, careful choices, technical skills, patience, and a good eye for proportion.

Every detail contributes to the final result. The fabric, the lining, the decorative elements, the belt, and the way everything comes together all influence the character of the costume.

This King Baldwin IV costume is handmade with great care, using luxurious materials and a design that balances the visual inspiration of Kingdom of Heaven with my own interpretation.

It is not an official replica of the film costume, nor is it intended to be a museum-accurate reconstruction of twelfth-century royal clothing.

Instead, it is my own tribute to a remarkable historical figure, created somewhere between historical inspiration, cinematic fantasy, and traditional craftsmanship.

And I think that is what makes costume making so interesting.

You begin with a character, a historical period, or a story. Then you bring your own skills and ideas to the table.

The result becomes something that could not have been made by anyone else in quite the same way.