Chapter 925 - 148: The Jerusalem Succession Issue
The meeting hall was noisy, like a chaotic marketplace.
Under Losa’s banner, they were strictly forbidden from slaughtering and robbing civilians of their property. Though many of them complied reluctantly, they all harbored a burning fire within.
"We cannot be lenient with these despicable ’sinners who killed the Son of God.’ When they colluded with the heretics, they acted as their henchmen and tax collectors, squeezing the Christians under their rule dry. Now, seeing things going south, they seek to abandon their old masters with no loyalty or honor. Accepting them will undoubtedly disgrace our holy cause!"
A regional bishop from Gaul raised his arm and shouted provocatively.
The Defender Knights around him also began to shout, "No forgiveness, an eye for an eye!"
Seeing that the situation was about to get out of control, Raymond cleared his throat lightly, ready to restore order, but unexpectedly, an attendant stepped quickly into the room and whispered in his ear.
Raymond’s previously confident and gaunt face could not help flashing with astonishment.
He exclaimed, "Didn’t we stabilize His Majesty’s condition?"
The attendant hesitated for a moment before finally saying, "Perhaps there is a new development."
Just now, he had received explosive news from Jerusalem — Baldwin IV was actually going to pass the throne to Losa!
In an instant, many thoughts flashed through Raymond’s mind.
Even though he had sent his young son to Losa’s side and held Losa in high regard, his first thought upon hearing this news was—absolutely not!
Richard poured himself a glass of red wine, and Philip sneered beside him, "What do you suppose our Prince of Tiberias has heard that shocked him so?"
Richard scoffed, "It’s none of my business; it can’t possibly be that heretics have breached the city."
Philip whistled, "Looks like our prince is getting restless."
Raymond seemed somewhat uneasy as he listened to a Crusader noble’s speech, then abruptly stood and exclaimed loudly, "Quiet, everyone quiet!"
"Ladies and gentlemen, compared to the news I have just received, agreeing to the Jews’ requests has become a trivial matter. We shall discuss it later!"
With that, he raised the letter brought by the attendant in full view of everyone:
"Ladies and gentlemen, the matter at hand involves the holy Baldwin of Jerusalem, who has authorized me to represent the Regency Council in discussing the nomination of His Majesty Losa von Habsburg of Egypt to succeed the throne of Jerusalem."
The scene instantly became tumultuous with noise.
To most local lords, a powerful monarch clearly did not serve their interests.
If Jerusalem were still surrounded by heretics and the Holy Land in critical danger, then perhaps they might accept a strong king like Losa to protect them from foreign threats.
Moreover, this did not conform to tradition.
Immediately, someone from the former Empress Faction stood up and said loudly, "The throne should be inherited by the son of Princess Sibilla, young Baldwin. His Majesty Losa is indeed wise and mighty, but we cannot violate our sacred tradition."
In Europe, although some areas like Aquitaine and Southern Gaul practiced imperial law, Salic Law was still mainstream.
This led to the fact that even though the Noble Faction had always wanted to promote Baldwin’s other sister, Queen Isabella, with Komnenos Family blood, from a legal perspective, Sibilla had the stronger claim.
But at this moment, in Raymond’s mind, compared to Losa becoming his king, he was even willing to compromise with the Empress Faction.
After all, even if Sibilla ascends the throne, he would not have absolute control over the Kingdom of Jerusalem, but the Empress Faction could not command him arrogantly either. He would still be the uncrowned king of Jerusalem’s northern territories.
Reynard of Châtillon was surprised at how things had developed and hurriedly said, "That’s right, although young Baldwin is still young, with Prince Raymond and Princess Sibilla acting as regents, they can definitely govern the kingdom successfully."
Although he was no longer a key figure in the Empress Faction, and Sibilla’s ascension would not bring him many benefits, he feared that if Losa ascended the throne, he might not even retain his current title as Baron Callebaut.
"Bloodline and hereditary succession are the only bases for inheriting the throne. Once tradition is broken, the entire succession of the nation will fall into chaos."
"Exactly, Prince Raymond, you must stop His Majesty’s reckless orders. Moreover, I have heard that His Majesty’s health has greatly improved, and he is in his prime. If a successor must be considered, why not find him a queen?"
This proposal brightened Raymond’s eyes.
In all honesty, everyone would hope to pass the throne to their own son. If Baldwin IV could marry a virtuous queen and have his own heir, it would be a favorable outcome for all parties.
That he had not thought of this before was purely because Baldwin IV had suffered from leprosy for so long that it had always slipped his mind.
Philip, sitting high above, couldn’t help but coldly laugh, "See, how they are all outraged. They used to praise His Majesty Losa’s illustrious name, but now they are all revealing their true colors."
Moreover, they were not unaware of Losa’s actions in his jurisdiction.
In a word, the King of Egypt’s power was too great!
All subjects and local lords were equivalent to regional officials appointed by him, with various auditors and roaming courts diluting the power of local lords.
In the noble circles of Jerusalem, a joke circulated that the "lords in Egypt were merely the king’s money bag-keepers."
Philip glanced sideways at Richard beside him and lightly coughed.
Like Losa, Richard was also a member of the Anjou Family, and in terms of bloodline, he undoubtedly had more qualifications to be the King of Jerusalem.
Moreover, Philip also hoped that Richard would give up his European territories to come to the Holy Land, which would mean that his future opponent would be reduced from the formidable Richard to the useless John.
Richard glanced at him coldly and did not respond.
Hoping to push himself forward as
Moreover, Philip also hoped that Richard would give up his European territories to come to the Holy Land, which would mean that his future opponent would be reduced from the formidable Richard to the useless John.
Richard glanced at him coldly and did not respond.
Hoping to push himself forward as
Moreover, Philip also hoped that Richard would give up his European territories to come to the Holy Land, which would mean that his future opponent would be reduced from the formidable Richard to the useless John.
Richard glanced at him coldly and did not respond.
Hoping to push himself forward as
Moreover, Philip also hoped that Richard would give up his European territories to come to the Holy Land, which would mean that his future opponent would be reduced from the formidable Richard to the useless John.
Richard glanced at him coldly and did not respond.
Hoping to push himself forward as