chapter 06
13 The Granting of a Title (1)
After securing nearly 500 enemy heads, Michael had them delivered to the Kingdom of Jerusalem through the Genoese merchants. King Baldwin IV, who had already intended to support Michael, made his decision based on this achievement.
āWe hereby grant Michael, Lord of Tyre, who has defeated 500 infidels in Galilee and presented their heads, the title of Baron. In addition, We grant him the city of Acre as his fief and recognize his full ownership and hereditary rights over both Tyre and Acre.ā
At this, Joscelin III, the nominal Count of Edessa and the Seneschal (Royal Steward), who belonged to the hardline faction and had purchased a great deal of land around Acre for himself, strongly protested.
Guy, who had been watching the situation, did not express any opposition. After all, Tyre and Acre were originally royal domains, so giving them to whomever the king wished was within the kingās authority.
In any case, Joscelin IIIās actions amounted to ignoring royal authority. This gave Raymond III, the leader of the noble faction, and Balian, one of the factionās leading figures, a reason to attack him politically.
In the end, Joscelin III was forced to step down after coming under political attack from the two great nobles. Afterwards, Acre was additionally granted to Michael, making him the Baron of both Acre and Tyre.
Afterward, the king summoned Michael to Jerusalem, and Michael arrived in Jerusalem accompanied by only five knights, thirty heavy cavalrymen, and fifty Cuman cavalrymen.
The Christians and Muslims stared at the strangely dressed Cuman cavalry as they entered the Holy Land.
Their eyes held unfamiliarity, caution, and even a strange fear that was difficult to explain.
In addition, Michael raised a banner bearing the coat of arms of the Holy Roman Emperor, along with the banner of the Genoese merchant family Della Torre. He even displayed the Bavarian lion, the Cologne cross, and the black lion of the Austrian Babenberg family.
This attracted the attention of many people.
Those banners were not simply decorations.
They were a display meant to clearly show everyone in Jerusalem who stood behind Michael, and that the Lord of Tyre was no longer merely an ordinary knight from the frontier.
āA baronyā¦ā
Michael had been given a detailed explanation of why he had been summoned to Jerusalem.
He had originally expected nothing more than a financial reward, so he was somewhat surprised when the result turned into the city of Acre and a barony.
Butā¦
āLooking at the current political situation in Jerusalemā¦ perhaps they want me, who is becoming almost untouchable, to act as a brake against the hardliners.ā
Not a count, but a baron.
In practice, it was the lowest noble title.
Of course, since he now possessed two cities as fiefs, it might seem strange that he had not been granted the title of count. However, Tyre and Acre generated more tax revenue than most ordinary fiefs, so becoming a count would have been a reasonable possibility.
Howeverā¦
āIf that had happened, Raymond of Tripoli would have opposed it as well.ā
Tyre and Acre were located right in front of Galilee.
Would Raymond have allowed a great lord with the rank of count to enter that area?
No matter how useful Michael might be as a card against the hardliners, including Guy de Lusignan, Raymond probably could not have supported it.
āBaldwin IV knew that as well, which is why he offered me a barony.ā
The reason for giving him the lower title of baron was probably because Michael needed to be strong enough to restrain Guy even if Baldwin himself died and Guy tried to claim the throne.
That was why Baldwin was giving Michael the title of baron, along with complete ownership and hereditary rights over Acre and Tyre.
Only then would no one be able to take Acre and Tyre away from Michael after Baldwin IV himself died.
Butā¦
āI will let Guy become king.ā
Protecting the Holy Land was merely the justification he showed to the outside world.
His real goal was to build a reputation by protecting Jerusalem from Saladin after the Battle of Hattin.
As he thought about this, Michaelās eyes briefly became cold.
The titles, territories, and political calculations being exchanged here were nothing more than stepping stones for him to enter the much greater stage that awaited him.
Afterward, Michael sent the heavy cavalrymen and Cuman cavalrymen to a nearby inn under the command of Knight Giovanni.
He then entered the royal palace of Jerusalem with the other four knights.
Even as he walked toward the palace, Michaelās mind was busy.
He already had a rough idea of who would be wary of him, who would try to use him, and who would extend a hand to him.
The Great Hall of the Palace of Jerusalem
On the highest throne in the center sat Baldwin IV, King of the Kingdom of Jerusalem, wearing a surcoat with his face covered by a white veil.
To his left stood Raymond III, Count of Tripoli and Duke of Galilee, wearing a surcoat with a red background and a yellow cross, along with a blue cloak bearing the emblem of the Kingdom of Jerusalem.
Balian of Ibelin and knights of the Knights Hospitaller also stood there.
On the opposite side, to Baldwin IVās right, stood Joscelin III, Count of Edessa, wearing a surcoat bearing the coat of arms of the County of Edessa, with three red circles on a yellow background.
Beside him stood Grand Master Gerard of the Knights Templar, wearing the Templarsā surcoat.
Guy de Lusignan was also seated there, wearing a surcoat with a yellow background and a red cross, along with a red cloak bearing the arms of the Lusignan family and the Kingdom of Jerusalem on his heater shield.
The tension filling the Great Hall appeared calm on the surface, but it had a sharpness that felt as if it could turn into a bloody political struggle with the slightest provocation.
When all those gazes turned toward Michael, everyone present instinctively realized that a new variable had just walked into the center of Jerusalemās political arena.
Baldwin IV, sitting on the highest throne in the center, quietly watched Michael for some time.
His face was hidden behind a white veil, making his expression impossible to read.
But his gaze was clear.
Despite his body being consumed by illness, his will and judgment as king had not weakened in the slightest.
Under that gaze, Michael also slowly walked toward the center of the hall.
The nobles, knights, clergy, members of the military orders, and royal attendants standing on both sides were all watching him.
Some looked at him with curiosity.
Others watched him with open suspicion.
Still others looked uncomfortable, clearly displeased by his presence.
It was understandable.
A foreign knight had suddenly appeared like a comet, become the Lord of Tyre, and now gained control of Acre as well.
Naturally, they would not be pleased.
Moreover, behind him stood the name of the Holy Roman Emperor, the money of Genoese merchants, and armed pilgrims and mercenaries who were gradually being drawn to his side.
His very existence was already a huge variable capable of shaking the political landscape of Jerusalem.
When Michael reached the bottom of the throne, Baldwin IV slowly opened his mouth.
āMichael von Eisenschwert, Lord of Tyre.ā
The kingās voice was not loud, but it was calm and powerful enough to echo throughout the Great Hall.
āYou answered the kingdomās call and suppressed the infidel bandits who threatened Galilee. You proved your achievement by presenting the heads of nearly five hundred enemies. Furthermore, by stabilizing Tyre and calming the chaos around it, you became a cornerstone supporting the northern part of the kingdom.ā
As the kingās praise quietly echoed through the hall, the atmosphere strangely settled.
Baldwin IV was not simply praising Michaelās military achievements.
At this moment, he was directly declaring what position Michael would hold within the Kingdom of Jerusalem and what significance he would have in the future.
āTherefore, in recognition of your achievements, We hereby make you a Baron of the Kingdom of Jerusalem and officially recognize your position and authority as Lord of Tyre and Acre.ā
At those words, a small murmur spread through the hall.
Joscelin IIIās expression, in particular, visibly twisted.
The eyes of Gerard, the Grand Master of the Knights Templar, beside him also narrowed.
Guy de Lusignan pretended to remain calm, but the slight stiffness around his mouth showed that he was far from pleased with this declaration.
On the other hand, Raymond III and Balian, standing on the left, remained relatively calm.
They were probably not completely satisfied either, but at least they seemed to believe that this declaration did not immediately harm their interests.
Baldwin IV continued speaking without paying any attention to the reactions around him.
āFurthermore, We recognize the full ownership and hereditary rights of Michael and his family over Tyre and Acre. From this day onward, no one may interfere with these rights without legitimate cause, and these rights shall be guaranteed in the name of the Kingdom.ā
At that moment, the murmuring inside the hall grew louder.
This was not simply the granting of a fief.
Recognizing complete ownership and hereditary rights was essentially the king himself establishing Michaelās position through law, tradition, and royal authority.
Tyre and Acre were no longer temporary fiefs that could simply be taken back at the kingās whim.
At least formally, and while Baldwin IV remained alive, they had become a firm personal foundation belonging to Michael that no one could dare touch.
Joscelin III understood this better than anyone.
And since he had been eagerly seeking control over Acre, he could no longer hold himself back and finally spoke.
āYour Majesty, Acre is one of the kingdomās most important cities. Handing such a place over entirely to a young knight who has only just made a name for himself is excessive.ā
His words were filled with dissatisfaction, jealousy, and anger.
It was not strange for him to react this way.
It was practically as if he had been robbed of a place he had considered his own backyard.
But before Joscelin III could even finish his protest, Raymond III coldly interrupted him.
āAre you dismissing him because of his age? Lord Joscelin, that knight shed blood for Galilee. Have you already forgotten who dealt with those bandits whose activities were affecting your own lands and interests?ā
Joscelin IIIās private lands were located around Acre and were also within the banditsā area of activity.
Because of this, Joscelin III gritted his teeth and glared at Raymond.
āI never denied his achievement. But Acreā¦ā
āAcre belongs to the king. It is not your private property.ā
Raymond IIIās voice was calm, but there was a sharp edge to it.
At those words, Joscelin IIIās face turned red.
Balian, standing beside him, also quietly spoke.
āMoreover, this is a time when the kingdom must reward those who have proven themselves. Otherwise, who will take up the sword for the kingdom?ā
Balianās words sounded neutral on the surface, but in reality, he was taking Michaelās side.
With the two great leaders of the noble faction supporting the kingās decision at the same time, Joscelin III could no longer push the matter further.
Opposing the king, Raymond, and Balian directly in this place would have been far too dangerous politically.
Baldwin IV waited until the hall became quiet again before nodding to an attendant.
The attendant then stepped forward carrying a sword and the document granting the fief, both placed upon a red velvet cloth.
āMichael von Eisenschwert. Kneel.ā
