Then a parliament assembled, and the commons of the host declared that
an emperor must be elected, as had been settled aforetime. And they
parliamented so long that the matter was adjourned to another day, and
on that day would they choose the twelve electors who were to make the
election. Nor was it possible that there should be lack of candidates,
or of men covetous, seeing that so great an honour was in question as
the imperial throne of Constantinople. But the greatest discord that
arose was the discord concerning Count Baldwin of Flanders and Hainault
and the Marquis Boniface of Montferrat; for all the people said that
either of those two should be elected.
And when the chief men of the host saw that all held either for Count
Baldwin or for the Marquis of Montferrat, they conferred together and
said: “Lords, if we elect one of these two great men, the other will be
so filled with envy that he will take away with him all his people. And
then the land that we have won may be lost, just as the land of
Jerusalem came nigh to be lost when, after it had been conquered,
Godfrey of Bouillon was elected king, and the Count of St. Giles became
so fulfilled with envy that he enticed the other barons, and whomsoever
he could, to abandon the host. Then did many people depart, and there
remained so few that, if God had not sustained them, the land of
Jerusalem would have been lost. Let us therefore beware lest the same
mischance befall us also, and rather bethink ourselves how we may keep
both these lords in the host. Let the one on whom God shall bestow the
empire so devise that the other is well content; let him grant to that
other all the land on the further side of the straits, towards Turkey,
and the Isle of Greece, and that other shall be his liegeman. Thus
shall we keep both lords in the host.”
As had been proposed, so was it settled, and both consented right
willingly. Then came the day for the parliament, and the parliament
assembled. And the twelve electors were chosen, six on one side and six
on the other; and they swore on holy relics to elect, duly, and in good
faith, whomsoever would best meet the needs of the host, and bear rule
over the empire most worthily.
Thus were the twelve chosen, and a day appointed for the election of
the emperor; and on the appointed day the twelve electors met at a rich
palace, one of the fairest in the world, where the Doge of Venice had
his quarters. Great and marvellous was the concourse, for every one
wished to see who should be elected. Then were the twelve electors
called, and set in a very rich chapel within the palace, and the door
was shut, so that no one remained with them. The barons and knights
stayed without in a great palace.
The council lasted till they were agreed; and by consent of all they
appointed Nevelon, Bishop of Soissons, who was one of the twelve, to
act as spokesman. Then they came out to the place where all the barons
were assembled, and the Doge of Venice. Now you must know that many set
eyes upon them, to know how the election had turned. And the bishop,
lifting up his voice—while all listened intently—spoke as he had been
charged, and said: “Lords, we are agreed, let God be thanked! upon the
choice of an emperor; and you have all sworn that he whom we shall
elect as emperor shall be held by you to be emperor indeed, and that
it any one gainsay him, you will be his helpers. And we name him now at
the self-same hour when God was born, THE COUNT BALDWIN OF FLANDERS AND
HAINAULT!”
A cry of joy was raised in the palace, and they bore the count out of
the palace, and the Marquis Boniface of Montferrat bore him on one side
to the church, and showed him all the honour he could. So was the Count
Baldwin of Flanders and Hainault elected emperor, and a day appointed
for his coronation, three weeks after Easter (16th May 1204). And you
must know that many a rich robe was made for the coronation; nor did
they want for the wherewithal.
BONIFACE WEDS ISAAC’S WIDOW, AND AFTER BALDWIN’S CORONATION OBTAINS THE
KINGDOM OF SALONIKA
Before the time appointed for the coronation, the Marquis Boniface of
Montferrat espoused the empress who had been the wife of the Emperor
Isaac, and was sister to the King of Hungary. And within that time also
did one of the most noble barons of the host, who bore the name of Odo
of Champlitte of Champagne, make an end and die. Much was he mourned
and bewept by William his brother, and by his other friends; and he was
buried in the church of the Apostles with great honour.
The time for the coronation drew near, and the Emperor Baldwin was
crowned with great joy and great honour in the church of St. Sophia, in
the year of the Incarnation of Jesus Christ one thousand twelve hundred
and four. Of the rejoicings and feasting there is no need to speak
further, for the barons and knights did all they could; and the Marquis
Boniface of Montferrat and Count Louis of Blois and Chartres did homage
to the emperor as their lord. After the great rejoicings and ceremonies
of the coronation, he was taken in great pomp, and with a great
procession, to the rich palace of Bucoleon. And when the feastings were
over he began to discuss his affairs.
Boniface the Marquis of Montferrat called upon him to carry out the
covenant made, and give him, as he was bound to do, the land on the
other side of the straits towards Turkey and the Isle of Greece. And
the emperor acknowledged that he was bound so to do, and said he would
do it right willingly. And when the Marquis of Montferrat saw that the
emperor was willing to carry out this covenant so debonairly, he
besought him, in exchange for this land, to bestow upon him the kingdom
of Salonika, because it lay near the land of the King of Hungary, whose
sister he had taken to wife.
Much was this matter debated in various ways; but in the end the
emperor granted the land of Salonika to the marquis, and the marquis
did homage therefor. And at this there was much joy throughout the
host, because the marquis was one of the knights most highly prized in
all the world, and one whom the knights most loved, inasmuch as no one
dealt with them more liberally than he. Thus the marquis remained in
the land, as you have heard.