Coronation of Emperor Bohemond I
Bohemond III de Hauteville was leaning at the window in his palace in Palermo. It was typical day in the Mediterranean- sunny, warm, with gentle breeze, blue sky and even bluer water. He was used to it, but he still knew to appreciate it. The stories of Hauteville homelands, not even Normandy, but the cold, unforgiving land of Scandinavia, when in winter there was almost no light, when the snow would be up to your waist and when the polar bears knocked on the door and demanded all the bad children for lunch (Bohemond doubted that now, but in his childhood, he was truly terrified of the huge white beasts whose diet consisted of hooligans) and where you could walk on water... he still remembered them. He gazed north, but found nothing but the magnificent city of Palermo and beyond that, Mediterranean.
Below him, bustling city lived his own life. Now, with coronation close in hand, the city was even more crowded then usual. Dignitaries from all over the place, plus their followers, plus other interested people who came to see the coronation, plus horde of common folks, hoping to drink and eat on Bohemond’s expense till they drop, plus beggars, thieves, prostitutes and robbers- all of them making their way in the city. The port crammed with ships- of course, docks of Palermo were never empty, but this was something else. Masts and sails filled the harbour and there was even more coming from the sea. No wonder, for this was a special day even for Sicily.
Bohemond absent-mindedly gazed at the city and followed his own train of thought.
It was back in 1035 when first Normans came to Southern Italy. Not as conquerors, but as mercenaries. Fighting for Byzantines, fighting against them, fighting for Langobard Dukes and against them. Bohemond chuckled. What would his great-great-great-great-great grandfather, Roger Guiscard, adventurer, highway robber, mercenary, say to a man who told him that in time, power of his heirs not only rivalled the great Byzantine empire, but surpassed it? He would most likely thought that man to be crazy or drunk of both.
It had happened though. From Apulia to Sicily, from Sicily Normans under rule of de Hautevilles were expanding everywhere. The Muslims from Africa defeated, Holy Land under Norman control, on their way to becoming masters of Italy, owners of the Mediterranean and made first small steps into Greece. Looked like nothing could defeat the Norman advance.
Today, in May 1192, it was made official. Today, Bohemond would be recognized as one of the three most powerful men in all Christendom. Kaiser Leopld II of the Holy Roman Empire, Emperor Hovhannes II of Byzanties and Bohemond I of Sicily. Of course, two first ones refused to acknowledge Bohemond’s title. They wrote polite letters of refusal, explaining Bohemond why they or their representatives cannot attend this ceremony, but they referred to him only as King of Sicily. It did not matter. Bohemond was stronger.
It was not easy to create title like this. The opposition of yet another Emperor was widespread, in both the courts of Europe, within Sicily and especially with the Pope. But it was just something one had to endure. Diplomatic envoys had had a very tiring last month, to soothe the other crowned heads of Europe and to make Dukes and Doges of Sicily to accept the title, Gifts were given, concessions were made... and as for Pope, the direct threat of Norman invasion had forced him to succumb. As for coronation, Pope refused to do the ointment and conduct a mass, claiming that he is too old and weak to travel.
Today, it did not matter though. Today was a day of glory and celebration and most expensive and lavish coronation ceremony ever. And now it was time.
Bohemond left the windows, walked through the door, left the palace and mounted the horse. His entourage was waiting for him, and they rode through the streets of Palermo, slowly, enjoying the cheers of people. Bohemond, his vassals, his soldiers, his friends and family, thousands of people riding with Bohemond on his procession. Tens of thousands people from all over Europe screaming his name. If Bohemond would have known the word, rockstar would have been proper.
Cathedral of Palermo was filled to the prim. People had trouble moving, breathing and to be honest, the stench of sweat, dirt and other side-effects of not washing regularly was so horrible that even the smell of myrrh that tried to fill the church had finally given up and went to some corner to pout.
Soldiers with halberds were keeping the path clear for Bohemond and kept the best seats of the church to the dignitaries following Bohemond. That resulted in bruises, black eyes and even some blood spilled, but no-one seemed to notice or care. Even the owners of black eyes did not seem to mind much.
As Bohemond approached the steps of the cathedral, the crowd grew even more restless, cheering, trying to get a glimpse of the King, pushing the soldiers back. Keeping his majestic slow pace, Bohemond walked towards the altar. It was Bishop Gervais from Cefalu, a Bishopric in Palermo, who conducted the mass. Bohemond and his wife, future Empress Consort Cundo de Hauteville, finally arrived, kneeled and the ceremony begun.
Bohemond was properly bored through the mass, much like everyone else in the church, but after countless latin words, there was finally time for coronation. Bohemond gazed around, feeling a bit nervous. In first rows, he saw his advisors, his Dukes, his other vassals. It looked like de Hauteville family reunion, for most of them were somehow related to Bohemond and most of them were calling themselves de Hautevilles. Even Isaakios, Doux of Samos, has graced his relative by attending the ceremony.
Perhaps that point of coronation marked the change of relations between Normans and Pope. Tradition would demand that member of the church, preferably the Pope, would do the coronation. Thus marking the divine blessing of God and church, showing that Bohemond would gain his authority from church. Instead of that, Bohemond took the crown into his own hands and crowned himself, thus marking that he got his title and authority from God and God alone. Most of people did not care, but instead cheered happily, but the ones in power took notice that the church was openly diminished and reminded themselves the eternal struggle between Pope and Kaiser. Most of them agreed that when Pope had to fight two Emperors, his chances of success would not be that high.
Coronation of Bohemond and Cundo. Notice how it's Jesus who gives out crowns, not the Pope
All that was for the future though. Bohemond I, Emperor of Hauteville Empire, (Upstart Norman to his enemies) was crowned and Palermo and all Sicily drowned themselves in wine, food and celebration.
Here we go, one Emperor title made
