On another day, this compromise might have been seen as a wise and just settlement by a competent ruler. But it was already too late. The lords and noblemen who had been roused by Godfrey's supporters were eager to get on with the proceedings; and the prospect of wading through the interminable wrangling over how much each lord and lordling should take out of the common purse filled them with tepid dread. Raymond's wise and just suggestion was regarded as demeaning the great charity of Godfrey's open-handed offer to include all equally.

Baldwin, sensing the opportune moment had come, rose amidst the noise and clamour of the assembly as they proclaimed their approval of Godfrey's plan. 'My esteemed lords and fellow Christians,' he said, rapping on the board with the handle of his dagger. 'It gratifies me right well to hear your praise of my brother. Therefore, it is with great good pleasure that I commend to your affirmation, our comrade and friend, Duke Godfrey of Bouillon.' He looked down the length of the table on both sides. 'What say you, my lords?' He thrust out his hand towards his brother. 'I give you King Godfrey!'

The chapel rang as the gathering roared its confirmation. The nobles pounded the board with their hands and knife handles; some drew their swords and lofted them in the air. They cheered and shouted his name, and those nearest him raised him to his feet to address the acclaim. Smiling, gesturing benevolently, he received the jubilant tribute and, when the roar had abated, said, 'I am stirred to my soul by your kind adulation, and declare before this lordly council that, with God's help and guidance, I will accept the charge you have laid on me.'

There were more cheers, and shouts of adulation. 'God wills it!' they cried. 'Godfrey is king! God wills it!'

When the shouts had subsided once more, Jerusalem's new monarch said, 'Please, it is not fitting that any mortal should bear a sovereign's title in the city where the King of kings holds sway. Therefore, I beg you, do not lay upon me a greater rank than any mortal has a right to assume. If I am to reign in this place,' he turned pious eyes towards the altar, 'let me rule by this title: Advocatus Sancti Sepulchri!'

Of all the things he might have said, this was by far the most fitting, and the gathering admired him all the more for it. In a stroke he had disarmed any remaining opposition and swept the field. 'Hail Godfrey, Defender of the Holy Sepulchre!' they cried, and the chapel shuddered in thunderous acclaim.

Because all were preoccupied with the celebration of Godfrey's ascension, no one noticed the arrival of a small group of warriors dressed in battle array; their arms and legs were encased in figured metal; their burnished helmets were surmounted by white horsetails; gleaming loricas of overlapping metal plates encased their bodies; and each one carried a long, double-bladed lance. They were led by a man dressed in the same way, but wearing no helmet, and carrying no spear; instead, his lorica had gold fittings, and he wore a purple cloak.

The sudden appearance of the strange warriors silenced the lords in full cry. They turned as one, and were startled to see this solemn apparition in their midst. Some drew swords and prepared to fight; others urged peace and calm. Only one or two of the crusade leaders recognized the figure at the head of this invading force. Godfrey was one of these.

'Peace and welcome,' he called, extending his hand towards the young commander and his Varangian troops. 'I give you good greeting, Drungarius Dalassenus. Your presence here has somewhat taken us unawares.'

The commander bowed stiffly towards the altar, and to the western lords. 'In the name of Alexius, Equal of the Apostles and Vice-Regent of Heaven, Holy Roman Emperor, Supreme Sovereign of All Christendom, I bring you greetings and congratulations on your estimable victory.' His thin smile faded as he proceeded directly to the reason for his abrupt intrusion. 'The emperor has sent me to convey his laud for your magnificent achievement, and to prepare the way for the Holy City to be returned to the dominion of the empire.'

Jerusalem's new ruler stared at the intruder. Return the city to the emperor? Godfrey could see his prize receding as quickly as it had arrived. He had not even taken up his office, and already he was being deposed by the emperor.

Dalassenus pressed the slender advantage surprise had afforded him, and said, 'Naturally, the emperor is pleased to offer you and your troops due reward from among the treasures you have secured. In token of his gratitude and good will, he has decreed that he will gladly undertake the payment of all expenses incurred by his vassals in the defence of the Holy City. What is more, Emperor Alexius has given me a free hand in determining how best to reward those who aid in the swift establishment of the imperial rule.'

A sound like the growl of a dog warning an intruder rumbled around the table as the drungarius' demand sank in. The council bristled with menace and drew breath to shout the audacious interloper down. But Count Raymond, more mindful than most of their sworn obligations to the emperor, rose and said, 'By your leave, Duke Godfrey, I beg the boon of answering this dictate.'

'Pray speak, sir,' replied Godfrey, glad for some help.

'Lord Drungarius,' said Raymond coolly, 'it is right to remind us of the emperor's felicitous regard. Now that the crusade has reached its successful conclusion, it is right also to reflect on our obligations, and consider the aid we have had from the emperor.' Spreading his hands wide, the tall Prankish count said, 'I know I speak for every man here when I say we are beholden to Emperor Alexius for all he has done on our behalf. Truly, we never could have finished the pilgrimage without his many thoughtful kindnesses.'

'Hear! Hear!' muttered some of the lords.

'Nevertheless,' Raymond continued, 'I insist before this assembly that we must decline your demand. We, who have won this city, will undertake its protection and governance.' Raymond drew himself up full height. 'In short, sir, the city will not be surrendered to imperial rule.'

Dalassenus stiffened. The moment he had feared more than any other had come. 'I will ask you but once, and plainly: do you refuse to honour your vow?'

The lords around the board prepared for the clash that would come. Oath of fealty or no, they had no intention of giving up Jerusalem, any more than they had given up Antioch or Edessa, or any of the other towns they had won from the Turks and Saracens; indeed, many still felt aggrieved that they had returned Nicaea to Alexius. They had won the Holy City, no thanks to the emperor, and they would be damned if they would hand it over to him without a fight.

But Raymond was shrewd. 'As many here can attest, I would be the first to urge us all to uphold the vows we swore before the imperial throne in Constantinople,' he said smoothly. 'Yet, I feel I must beg your pardon, drungarius, but I am compelled to point out that Jerusalem never belonged to the emperor in the first place.'

Dalassenus' face darkened. 'You would think to conceal your obscene avarice beneath such a flimsy shroud? The authority and jurisdiction of the Holy City have always been the duty and concern of the church. The emperor, as Supreme Head of the Church, is therefore the rightful sovereign of Jerusalem. Any attempt to withhold the Holy City from imperial control will be seen as an act of war against the church itself.'

Godfrey, picking up Raymond's argument and waving it like a banner, entered the fray then, saying, 'We are all of us grateful to the emperor for his many gifts in support of the crusade. And I, like my brother lords, readily recall our oath and freely attest that we have promised to return to the emperor all cities, goods, and citizens formerly held by the empire. But Raymond is right: Jerusalem has ever remained beyond imperial authority and jurisdiction. Naturally, we cannot be expected to return something which was never lost.'