Medieval Popes, Emperors, Kings, and Crusaders, or Germany, Italy and Palestine, from A. D. 1125 to A. D. 1268, Vol. 3 (Classic Reprint)

Excerpt from Medieval Popes, Emperors, Kings, and Crusaders, or Germany, Italy and Palestine, From A. D. 1125 to A. D. 1268

Of the previous weakness of the Mohammedans, when Saladin's empire was broken up, Henry King of Jerusalem, feeling himself at once bound and protected by his lion hearted uncle's truce, had not attempted to take advantage. The inferior syro-frank states, u hose rulers might have been less scrupulous, were embroiled with each other, and with Lesser Armenia in Asia Minor, respecting the right of succession to Antioch. An intimate, and generally amicable intercourse, had arisen betwixt the Armenian princes and their syro-frank neighbours, as far back as the reign of Amalr1c, when a brother of Toros, Prince of Armenia, became a Templar. And, although upon the early death of Toros, the Templar had renounced his vows, to usurp his infant nephew S heritage, the act almost appeared to have strengthened the connexion, it might have been expected to break. Both Orders had interested themselves in his success or failure; and they continued to interest themselves in all Armenian feuds and other affairs. During the recent usurpations and palace revo« lutions at Constantinople, the Armenian princes had thrown off all subjection, or vassalage to the Eastern Empire; Leo, the reigning prince, who, with the consent of Henry of Jerusalem and Champagne, had assumed the title of king, sought the confirmation of his royalty from the Pope and the Emperor (celestin III and Henry VI); trusting thus to secure European support. In compliance with his petition, the Archbishop of Mainz, when, a.d. 1197, he led the Crusaders sent by Henry VI to Palestine, appears to have been commissioned to confer the desired title upon Leo; in the character of arch-chancellor and the Emperor's representative, receive the homage of the new King, as a vassal of the Holy Roman Empire; and in that of Papal Legate, admit him, with his people, into the pale of the Roman Catholic Church the Armenians being Schismatics of neither the Greek nor the Latin Church.