“I spotted that Daimbert was hurrying through something he thought important. I never guessed how important it would be, to him. But what a man for getting things done. If he had been our legate when we lay before Antioch he would have got us inside the walls in a week, not after eight months,” muttered Bohemond.
At this stage the Patriarch Daimbert entered, in his full pontifical robes. He mounted the throne and addressed the congregation.
“My first duty as your Patriarch is to provide for the defence of our conquests from the infidel. Remember that I am also the legate of the Pope, your suzerain. As Advocate and defender of the Holy Sepulchre and the Holy City I appoint Duke Godfrey. My lord, will you come forward and do homage?”
“Your Beatitude, there is no need to repeat the form. I have already done homage to Pope Paschal through the person of the Patriarch Arnulf, who was at that time his representative.”
“Very true, and we are pressed for time, at the close of the long ceremonies of Christmas. Duke Godfrey, your homage is on record, and the Pope has it. We may proceed to the next business.”
Everyone in the hall was at a high pitch of excitement. This was how political business of great moment should be conducted: in public, and with splendid mouth-filling phrases. It was already evident that Daimbert had tried to put Godfrey in a position of inferiority, and that Godfrey had politely rebuffed him. There could be no doubt who would bear rule in Jerusalem tomorrow. After such a furtive and hurried election Daimbert was in no position to make trouble.
“There are other lands to be defended,” the Patriarch continued. “Lands outside the immediate control of the Holy Sepulchre. As papal legate, but not as Patriarch of Jerusalem, I demand the homage of Prince Bohemond for his Principality of Antioch.”
In a bound, more speedily than dignity permitted, Bohemond was on his knees, his hands clasped between Daimbert’s. Prince. That was a title unknown in France, rare even in Italy. A Prince had no secular lord at all, not even the German Emperor who claimed to be the secular suzerain of all Christendom. A Prince was immediately dependent on the Pope, with no intermediary. Bohemond had expected to hold of Jerusalem, in some form or another; though while he lived Antioch would not be a subservient fief. He saw that Fate had helped him at the last minute. Because Godfrey had refused to renew his homage Daimbert had deprived him of control over Antioch. No one could give orders to the Prince of Antioch, except the Pope who lived a very long way off.
All the same, he must not make Godfrey his enemy. They were the last great lords of the original pilgrimage still in the land oversea; when the infidel returned to the attack they would have to stand together. After he had given his homage to Daimbert he turned about and stood before Godfrey. Very slowly he began to bend his knee.
Luckily you could always depend on Godfrey’s courtesy. He was genuinely without ambition, except to liberate the Holy Sepulchre; which was perhaps why he had risen to the top. Before Bohemond could kneel he had risen to his feet. They exchanged the embrace of equals, both standing, right cheek to right cheek, then left to left. “Prince,” called Godfrey loudly so that all might hear, “when we fought Cubaram together I was proud to carry out your orders. Never shall Antioch kneel before Jerusalem.”
Even in that holy place there was a hum of applause. The two best knights among all the Franks would fight the infidels as comrades, without jealousy.
After that it was rather an anti-climax when Baldwin was invested with his County of Edessa, as a fief subordinate to Jerusalem. But then Edessa, though a mighty fortress, was far away beyond the Euphrates with the infidel on three sides; it needed a protector nearer than Rome. Anyway, an Advocate busy with the defence of Jerusalem would have no leisure to interfere with Baldwin, in the distant north-east. Everyone was satisfied.
Then it was time to leave the chapter house, for the consecration of the new Latin Bishops within the Holy Sepulchre itself.
On the Eve of Epiphany 1100 Prince Bohemond and Count Baldwin set out from Jerusalem to assume the government of their lands. They planned to travel by an inland route, along the continuous valley formed by the upper Jordan, the upper Litany, and the upper Orontes, so as to widen the bounds of Christendom. Every castle on their way was in infidel hands, until they should reach the plain of Antioch.
As they left the city Bohemond recognized Tancred, sitting his horse athwart the road so that they must halt or ride him down. As they came up he called gaily: “Prince and uncle, I do not bar your way. You have my permission to ride through my land of Galilee. But first I should like to exchange the embrace of equals. By grant of the Patriarch I also am a Prince. Prince of Galilee—Prince of Antioch. My great-grandfather and namesake ought to be proud of his seed. We have come a long way from the manor of Hauteville.”
Ceremoniously they leaned from their saddles, the two tallest knights in the world and the fairest. As their heads came together Bohemond muttered: “Lord of Hauteville—Count of Bari— Prince of Antioch. But Emperor of New Rome is an even grander style, and I am not yet forty-six years old.”
He turned back for a last look at the banner blazoned with a Cross which floated over the gate of the Holy City.
Count Bohemond Page 32