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168 Hakalmaz Turaç

Isabel) . Kingship was given to Aimery as a consequence of his pre-
66
vious actions and political manoeuvres. The establishment of the
Latin Church strengthened his bonds with the papacy, which con-
tinued after Innocent III succeeded Celestine. The pope’s support
for Aimery being crowned as the king of Jerusalem gave him added
prestige . When Henry died, the first candidate for the crown of
67
Jerusalem was Ralph of Tiberias, seneschal of Jerusalem, but his
supporters were few in number. By contrast, significant support for
Aimery came from the chancellor of Jerusalem, Archbishop Joscius
of Tyre, and the military orders, including the Teutonic Order,
which had a close relationship with the Holy Roman Emperor and,
as we have seen, now enjoyed various properties and privileges in
Cyprus .
68
Soon before his coronation as the King of Jerusalem, in March 1198
Aimery was almost assassinated. Aimery blamed Ralph of Tiberias, his
rival for the throne of Jerusalem, for the attempt and, once he was
crowned, dispossessed Ralph of his fiefs and banished him from the
Kingdom of Jerusalem . Now Aimery was assured of his titles and
69
position thanks to his favorable relationships with the papacy, the em-
peror, and the barons of the East. The establishment of the Latin
Church in Cyprus had thus been a boost for him in securing his rule,
both politically and economically. Aimery’s quest to ensure his posi-
tion and defend his interests was complete and he had shown that
suitable political manoeuvres could be effective in securing his rights
on the island and protecting it against external threats. Meanwhile, in
the Principality of Cilician Armenia, Leo II had his own troubles that
pushed him to pursue a similar path.

66 The Haute Cour, the High Court, was the governing body of the Kingdom of Jeru-
salem and the kings of Jerusalem were elected by the High Court. For the Haute Cour
and the assizes of the Haute Cour, Jerusalem and Cyprus, see Rhc Lois, vols. 1-2. For
the function of the High Court, see J. Richard, The Institutions of the Kingdom of Cyprus,
in K.M. Setton, N. Zacour, H. Hazard, (eds.), A History of the Crusades: The Impact of
the Crusades on the Near East, vol. 6, The University of Wisconsin Press, Wisconsin,
1985, pp. 150-175.
67 P. Lock (ed.), Marino Sanudo Torsello, The Book of the Secrets of the Faithful of the
Cross: Liber Secretorum Fidelium Crucis, Crusade Texts in Translation, Routledge, Lon-
don, 2011, pp. 318-20; Rhc Occ., vol. 2, p. 223; Innocent III recommends Aimery to the
Hospitallers in Rrh, n. 747d, and hearing that Aimery has been chosen as the King of
Jerusalem, sends a letter supporting the new king: see O. Hageneder, A. Haidacher,
A.A. Strnad, (eds.), Die Register Innocenz III 1198-1199, vol. 1 cit., pp. 661-2, n. 438;
Bullarium vol. 1, pp. 113-116, n. b-2, b-4.
68 At Acre: To the Hospitallers, Rrh, n. 747c; to the Teutonic Order, Rrh, n. 744.
69 G.H. Hill, A History of Cyprus, vol. 2 cit., pp. 61-62.

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