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164 Hakalmaz Turaç

elected by the fief-holders of the island. However, the position Aimery
and his house held remained vulnerable to possible future claims on
the possession. Insuring against this was not particularly easy, and
both Aimery and his brother Guy had troubles with the lords of the
East .
44
The establishment of the Latin Church on the island was necessary
to be crowned as king, since reigning without a Latin church hierarchy
in a kingdom ruled by a western Latin dynasty would be almost im-
possible. Henry VI of Hohenstaufen presented a perfect opportunity,
as he was a powerful emperor who had recently conquered Sicily and
was planning a crusade to the East . For Henry, having Cyprus under
45
his suzerainty was favorable for his plans to influence the East, while
Aimery could strengthen his position in Cyprus, Syria, and the Holy
Land. An alliance bringing Cyprus under the protection of the Holy
Roman Emperor would also ward off any possible future attacks by
Byzantium . Aimery’s concern with a possible Byzantine attack was
46
not imaginary as, in 1201, Emperor Alexios III Angelos approached
Pope Innocent III, claiming that the island had been Byzantine prop-
erty when seized by Richard and therefore had to be restored. The em-
peror stated that he preferred not to shed Christian blood so he would
not send the powerful navy he possessed to press this claim, but re-
quested that it be recognised by the pope and in return, Alexios prom-
ised to support the military orders. The pope responded to Alexios,
stating that the island had been captured by the Latins from a usurper
who did not answer to the Byzantine Empire and warned the emperor
not to persist with his claim. Innocent also sought information regard-
ing the position of Cyprus by contacting the Latin rulers .
47

44 G. Hill, History of Cyprus: the Frankish Period, 1192-1432, vol. 2, Cambridge Uni-
versity Press, Cambridge, 1949, pp. 43-44. From the papal documents dated after the
establishment of the Latin Church and the coronation of Aimery as the King of Cyprus,
one can observe that he secured his rights on the island. Pope Innocent III’s letter dated
20 November, 1198 shows Aimery’s standing with the pope: «…Christo filium nostrum
Almericum, illustrem regem Cypri» see C. Schabel, (ed.), Bullarium, vol. 1, pp.113-114,
n. b-2.
45 T. Gregory, A History of Byzantium cit., p. 273; D. Abulafia, Frederick II cit., pp.
84-86.
46 P. Edbury, The Kingdom of Cyprus cit., p. 31.
47 Rhc Occ. vol. 2, p. 209; For Innocent III’s letter issued in 1201, see Bullarium,
vol. 1, pp. 129-131, n. b-15; O. Hageneder, A. Haidacher, A.A. Strnad, (eds.), Die
Register Innocenz III 1198-1199, Verlag der Österreichischen Akademie der Wissen-
schaften, Graz, 1964, vol. 2, pp. 461-2. Byzantine naval power had rapidly weakened
from 1180 onwards, and although Aimery and Pope Innocent were afraid of a Byzan-
tine attack, it was not likely to happen. For the Byzantine naval power by the time of
the establishment of the Lusignan rule in Cyprus, see P. Edbury, Kingdoms of the
Crusaders XI cit., pp. 225-28. For the Byzantine attack in 1186, see G. Hill, A History

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