Chapter IX: Forming New Bonds
June 1208
Alexios had insisted on leaving the very morning they arrived to Famagusta even though Manuel had invited him and his wife to spend few days with him in the city’s castle. Alexios had replied with a laugh pointing out that not everyone were as lazy as Manuel. He couldn’t understand people with an urge to immediately get down to work or finish what they had started; instead Manuel preferred to take it easy.
The prince was sipping wine while recalling last week’s events. It had been surprisingly hard for him to say farewell to his distant relative; they had grown quite close during the couple of years.
He put away the nearly empty glass and rose up; he had other things to worry about. He had promised the Roman diplomat to send a child relative to study in Constantinople in order to bring the two courts closer to each other. The man was already waiting for them at the city’s harbour.
He left the empty dining hall and climbed two sets of stairs until he reached his stepmother’s bedchamber. He gently knocked the door thrice and opened it. “Is Isabelle here?” he asked his brother Petros.
“She went to get something”, the seven-year old replied.
Manuel shrug his shoulders, he could explain the child’s mother later on. He sat on the bed next to his little brother who was playing with various wooden blocks on the floor.
“Petros, I came here to tell you that you are going on an adventure with somebody.”
Petros looked up to his brother and asked: “Where am I going? And with whom?”
Manuel picked his brother up and went to the window. “Look outside, can you see the ocean glittering in sunshine?” Petros nodded to him as an answer. “Somewhere beyond that ocean there’s a great city, one much greater than any we have here on the island. I have chosen to give you the privilege to travel there and learn about them and their customs. I can assure you it will be a great experience. There is a ship waiting for you already so we must hurry.”
Petros looked doubtful: “Will mother come with me? Will you come with us?”
Manuel explained his brother that he would be travelling alone with a pleasant and cheerful man from the city. Petros became nervous; he was too young to leave the tender care of his mother, but he was old enough to understand he couldn’t say no to his brother.
“I’ll back my things”, the boy said with a sad voice.
***
“Ah, prince Manuel! I have been waiting for you here since this morning”, Alexandros greeted him smiling, he was a senior Byzantine diplomat. Petros gazed the huge dromon standing at the docks. Alexandros noticed the boy's amazement and lowered himself so their faces where on the same level, he smiled and told this they would be travelling on this very vessel. It didn't seem to make him more comfortable.
They boy sighed and said goodbye to his brother. The diplomat thanked Manuel and assured him the Romans had no quarrel regarding the island’s rule. Manuel watched as the two boarded the ship, he pondered again what to tell to the child’s mother but shrug again; he’d figure something.
The prince jumped on his horse and galloped off; he needed to meet with someone to discuss of an urgent matter.
***
“Hadiya, what is taking so long with the tea?” Yasir yelled for his maid. She ran upstairs where Yasir’s office was located and tried to explain how she had completely forgotten the matter due to having so many other duties. Impatient Yasir told her to get moving and dismissed her with a wave of a hand. The maid bowed and ran tjhe stairs down.
During the past few years Yasir had managed to amass impressive amount of wealth, he was rumoured to be the richest man on Cyprus. He now owned vast amounts of land producing mainly sugar cane for his sweet business, which had grown remarkably in size and scale. He was now major exporter and had exclusive rights to supply sugar to the Imperial court in Constantinople.
He was living a luxurious life in his two-storey home on the Famagustan waterfront. A small army of servants were taking care of his house which spanned over the area of half a block. Yasir spent most of his working time checking the accounts or expanding his businesses. He was in midst of going through the book of orders when another servant interrupted him; someone important was downstairs in the hall and wanted to see him.
“You must be al-Sabir the merchant?” Manuel inquired as the man walked down the stairs with a surprised look on his face.
“You have come to the right house my lord”, Yasir said, “May I humbly offer you some tea?”
“I would be pleased”, Manuel replied. The two men sat down on a pair of sofas in the hall.
“What brings an important man like you to a mere merchant?” Yasir was curious.
“I have come to Famagusta as there’s an urgent issue I must deal with. I’m sure you are familiar with Venerio Caravello?”
Yasir nodded, he was the Venetian merchant who was elected last year as the city’s magistrate. They conducted plenty of business together as Venerio supplied most of the ships arriving and leaving Famagusta.
“He has recently been demanding more freedom for the cities on our island and his campaign is gaining support from other magistrates.” The maid brought them their tea and disappeared again. “I cannot allow such as I believe they already have too much autonomy; avoiding taxes and refusing to carry out the royal laws.”
“And what does this all have to do with me?” Yasir questioned and drank some from his cup.
“It is well known that you are one of the wealthiest men on this island, but you are also known to remain quiet in political matters. I am seeking the right to personally name the magistrate in each city and abolish many of the city councils’ powers. To assure control over the cities I am planning to enlarge the garrison in Famagusta and several other cities and larger towns and bring the soldiers to the streets via guard posts. However, as you know...”
“And you came to the rich Saracen as you need someone to finance such a project”, Yasir interrupted him with a slightly smug grin on his face.
Manuel admitted he was in need of monetary assistance. The royal coffins were running low after Isaakios’s despotic reign and shameless spending.
“What I am to gain if I grant the court such a hefty loan?”
The prince’s tone became more authoritative as he replied: “I have not spoken of any loans, have I? I am here to require a donation.”
The expression on the merchant’s face turned colder: “You expect me to hand out money without gaining anything from it? Especially since I would greatly benefit if the city was given tax reliefs and increased autonomy it seeks.”
The men sat quiet for a moment, looking at each other until Yasir broke the silence: “What would I gain from such deal?” he wondered.
Manuel smiled; he had been waiting to reveal his reward: “I would naturally appoint you as the magistrate of Famagusta. And as your new position would demand it, I am also ready to raise you into the nobility.”
The merchant seemed pleased about the proposal, but he knew he had the upper hand in these negotiations and tried his luck: “Your offer sounds tempting, but I am inclined to ask for an added favour.”
“Very well, speak out so I can tell whether it is reasonable or not.”
“For all my life I have been living a solitary life on my own, however I am in dire need of heirs to continue with my business and other future matters", he held a pause and continue: "Since you have an unmarried daughter I was thinking we might be able to assist each other.”
Manuel grit his teeth, but tried to hide it; he hadn’t expected this. Giving his only daughter, Veronica, to a soon-to-be noble wasn’t exactly a tempting idea – especially since the man in question originated from the Levant. However, considering he was in dire need of money and the merchant was wealthy enough to fend for a harem of royal brides, he decided to accept the deal.
Portrait of Veronica Komnenos who is known to have died at a young age.
“Excellent!” Yasir commented as the two men shook hands at the door.
Manuel was about to step outside but turned around and inquired: “You are a follower of Christ, aren’t you.”
Yasir stood quiet for moment and pondered the question and the consequences of his possible answer, until he confirmed: “Yes, yes I am.”
Manuel smiled at him and stepped outside; they day seemed much brighter now. He jumped on his horse and rode to the city hall with a group of soldiers, interrupting the council meeting. The councillors were informed of their new, restricted rights and of the new magistrate. The Venetian Caravello was exiled from the island and escorted out from the building by two sergeants.
Manuel was pleased how well the city council had taken the news – without further problems it seemed he could enjoy the coastal city and its climate for some time before returning to the capital. On his way back to the castle he suddenly remembered; his stepmother would demand an explanation regarding her son. Manuel knew the woman wouldn’t take it lightly and all of a sudden the day seemed much darker again.