Crusade against the Pope

Chapter 201 held a great parti (French)
Isabella also hummed a ballad while gently rocking Alice's cradle.

This was what Sibyl had sung to her, and now she sang it to Alice.

Compared to the anxiety in Sibyllana's ballad, Isabella was much calmer.

Alice also gradually calmed down and stopped crying in this sweet melody.

Seeing this scene, Sibilla couldn't help herself. She pinched a strand of Isabella's hair and wrapped it around her fingertips.

Unlike Gaillis, Isabella's hair is not pure light blonde, but a light brown that reflects golden red in the sun.

Even Sibyl was moved by the firmness in Isabella's words.

This is a belief, a power of belief.

Antonio Gramsci once put forward a point in his theory of "cultural hegemony":
[A social class can dominate or rule the entire multicultural society by manipulating social culture; the worldview of the ruling class will be enforced as the only social norm and is considered to be a universally valid idea that is beneficial to the whole society, but in fact only the ruling class benefits. ]

A Tibetan serf in later times once said:
[The lord feeds us. The land we grow, the food we eat, and the clothes we wear are all given by them. The reason for being rich or poor is fate. They are rich because they are lucky, and we are poor because we are unlucky. We are rich because they are frugal and know how to live. We are poor because we are lazy and don’t know how to live.]

Not everyone can wake up, and not everyone will resist.

Religion is the sigh of the oppressed soul; religion is the opium of the people.

The religion here is actually a concrete manifestation of culture.

If most people believe that the feudal system is naturally reasonable, there is no need to change it.

If even serfs feel that they can live a decent life, even though their lives are miserable, they can go to heaven in the future!

Then the times stagnated.

Many people overlook the fact that ideological liberation is also liberation. In fact, in many cases, ideological liberation is the premise of physical liberation.

Not to mention how to improve productivity, we must know that simply improving productivity is often not enough to change people's concepts.

It was only because of the advent of woodblock printing in Europe in the 14th century that the Bible became accessible to ordinary people, which led to the Hussites' fight for the right to interpret the Bible.

It was not until the 15th century that Germany improved movable type printing and introduced metal movable type and mechanical printing presses, which enabled the Bible to be printed in large quantities, giving the people of northern Germany the ideological foundation for the Reformation.

Only by winning over and attracting people to the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth can it be possible to realize the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth.

It is no use just saying that the kingdom of heaven will come; someone has to do it.

But the kingdom of heaven has not yet come, so it is necessary to explain that the coming of the kingdom of heaven is worth fighting for and sacrificing for.

Therefore, "religion" is bound to exist in this process. Whether it is theism or atheism, as long as they are willing to believe in the future and are willing to fight for it, they will inevitably form a "religion" at a certain cultural level.

This has nothing to do with what God’s image is like, but is about what people think, do, and act in the secular world.

【Any worldview has become a cultural movement, a 'religion', a philosophy of 'faith'. 】

—Antonio Gramsci
Alice fell asleep, and Isabella whispered a story to Sibyl.

“In the Lord’s own day, He called us and led us to the promised land.”

“We walk on a rough road, but we have an unquenchable hope in our hearts, because we know that heaven is our inevitable destination.”

“We do not worship any idols, nor do we fear the authority of this world. We only obey the Most High Lord, because He is the Creator of heaven and earth and the true King of all things.”

"Caesar may have power, but he will turn to dust; but the kingdom of the Lord endures forever."

"We have learned that the light of life has come to earth, that the Son of God became flesh, making the hopes of mortals come true. With this birth, the night has faded away, and the light of dawn has risen between heaven and earth."

"This is a moment of celebration and a joy for all generations, because the Holy Word wishes to dwell in the world and be with all people, showing that the earth is no longer barren and life is no longer in vain."

"The promises given by the Lord have never failed. He works in time and accomplishes everything."

"We walk with a smile and joy in our hearts, because they know that the end of history is good."

"His will will be accomplished, and His salvation will come to the earth until that day when we will see the glory and splendor of the kingdom of the Lord."

Gérice is the revealer of hope, and Isabella knows that the end of history is happy.

Because of Gaillis's arrival, everyone should celebrate, because dawn has arrived, the eternal night is about to recede, and the world is no longer an absurd hell. This is a time of joy and celebration.

"Sister, please abdicate."

"I promise you, Guy will come back."

After listening to Isabella's words, Sibilla stood up and took Isabella into her arms. As her face was pressed against her chest, Isabella heard Sibilla speak.

"It's really not cute at all. Why is a girl so serious? I thought Baldwin came back."

Sibilla, who was about to turn thirty, let Isabella go, rubbed her little face hard, then lowered her head and kissed the girl on the forehead.

After this operation of crushing a child with a big truck, the majesty that Isabella had worked so hard to gather was directly broken.

Then Sibilla hugged Isabella, let her sit on her lap, and kissed Isabella on the cheek again.

Then he held Isabella's left hand and put a ring on Isabella's thumb.

This is another royal seal ring, a symbol of Sibylla's identity.

Because of the thickness of Isabella's fingers, Sibyl put the ring on Isabella's thumb, which symbolized power and domination.

Sibyl was actually mentally prepared for Isabella's request.

Because this was already decided when she met Balian.

When Sibyl thought of the conversation between herself and Balian in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, she had a feeling.

If Balian's conditions had not been agreed to at that time, it is possible that Balian would be the one to put a blood-stained seal ring on Isabella's head today.

There would be no chance for the sisters to be affectionate with each other as they are now.

At that time, Balian's body was stained with blood, he held a sword in his hand, and there was only indifference to life in his eyes.

……

Isabella took power from her sister, but a problem arose that neither she nor Balian had expected.

Saladin negotiated peace so quickly!
In fact, as soon as we repelled Saladin's attack, he sent people to negotiate peace, hoping to reach a temporary ceasefire agreement.

To be honest, both Balian and his people, as well as the nobles of Old Jerusalem, were willing to negotiate peace.

For the people of the sect, they need time to continue to develop, whether it is to unite Cyprus or to mobilize more resources from the Transjordanian territory, it takes time.

The nobles of Old Jerusalem had simple thoughts. After half a year of intense oppression, they needed to take a breather. At least in the short term, they would no longer have to bear the pressure of Saladin's army.

But the demands that Saladin made afterwards made Balian and Isabella very confused.

Saladin asked the kingdom to pay for accommodation and food expenses for a group of nobles including Guy, Humphrey, William V, Marquis of Philamont, etc.

He also said that Saladin would set these people free as long as they paid for food and lodging.

The price Saladin offered was roughly one thousand gold dinars, which was certainly a considerable amount of money.

It is impossible to spend so much money just on food, drink, defecation and urination, but considering Guy and others' identities and status, this amount of money does not seem outrageous.

Given the current situation in Tyre, it is actually very easy to raise a thousand dinars.

But how to say it?

Isabella and Balian were both so disgusted that they felt like they had eaten shit.

After all, how can you spend money to buy freedom for your enemy?

If you think about it, you know that Guy and Humphrey will definitely cause trouble when they come back.

Although Balian promised Sibilla that he would rescue Guy, it shouldn't be now.

This operation will only be carried out after the religious group has gained more powerful control over the political situation in the kingdom.

However, Saladin only asked for very little money, and the kingdom's demand for a ceasefire was very important.

So Balian persuaded Isabella and they agreed to Saladin's conditions.

But they had to sigh that Saladin was really experienced and had some skills in being a troublemaker.

Guy and many other nobles were freed.

But this freedom is extremely sweet to most of them, but extremely bitter to Guy.

Acre and Tyre are a pair of adjacent port cities, only 45 kilometers apart by land, and can be reached in one or two days.

When the nobles released by Saladin saw the walls of Tyre again, many of them were so moved that they shed tears.

Even though they were living a pretty good life under house arrest in Aka, prisoners were still prisoners after all.

Even a prison guard could give them the cold shoulder. How could they, who used to be so high and mighty, accept such an insult to their dignity?
Many of these men's wives and daughters were also in Tyre. After receiving the news, they began to greet them at the city gate early.

Isabella was lying on the parapet on the city wall, looking at these couples, fathers and sons, and fathers and daughters who had been reunited after a long separation, and she muttered some vague words in a low voice.

She knew that the situation in the city had become even more chaotic.

If they had reached an alliance with Conrad before, they could completely control every aspect of the city of Tyre.

Now, because of these nobles, they are bound to demand all kinds of powers.

……

As the sun sets, the winter coast of Tyre Port gradually sinks into silence under the golden and red afterglow.

The sea was like a piece of smooth silk, with slight ripples, and the water was dyed crimson and dark purple by the setting sun.

The cold winter wind blew from the sea, bringing with it a salty smell, rustling the sparse palm leaves on the shore. Patriarch Iraklius led a young man, leaving a trail of footprints on the beach.

The young man who was walking with Iraklius had an extremely gloomy look on his face.

This young man has a handsome face, and even the life under house arrest has not made him thin.

He is the Lord of Toruń and Isabella's fiancé - Humphrey IV.

He had not seen Isabella since he returned to Tyre, and the guards had turned him away.

"Your Excellency the Patriarch, Balian has given up on me."

Humphrey's tone was tinged with venom.

As an old man in his sixties, Iraklius was not in a hurry to reply.

This is really interesting. When they were fighting for the throne, he and Humphrey were clearly political enemies, but now they want to band together for warmth?
After thinking for a moment, Iraklius gave his answer.

"Young man, I think it is inevitable that Guy should abdicate. After all, his behavior has proven that he is not fit to be the king of Jerusalem."

"But I also feel that the marriage contract made by the late king has not been annulled."

Iraklius' words were quite straightforward. So far, the engagement between Humphrey and Isabella has not been annulled.

In the Middle Ages, especially in Catholic-ruled Europe, engagement was seen as a formal commitment with both legal and religious significance.

Engagement is not only a social confirmation of a relationship, but also a preparation for the sacrament of marriage.

Catholic teaching regards marriage as a sacred sacrament and an irrevocable vow made before God. Engagement is the first step in this sacrament and a deeper commitment.

It is true that an engagement can be called off, but it usually requires reasonable grounds and following a specific procedure.

If one party seeks to dissolve an engagement, in this era it is usually necessary to make a request to the church, which will assess the situation and make a decision.

But Patriarch Iraklius is the highest religious authority in the kingdom.

His status as Patriarch of Jerusalem can be traced back to the earliest generations of Christianity and is second only to the Pope of Rome in the level of bishops.

With the support of Iraklius, if Isabella wanted to cancel the engagement, she would face tremendous moral and social pressure and might even be regarded as infidelity.

And if Humphrey could complete his engagement with Isabella, then it would be particularly clear who would be crowned king if Guy stepped down.

【The engaged are called to remain chaste through temperance.】

Faced with the naked temptation of power, Humphrey couldn't help swallowing.

But he still said subconsciously: "Her Majesty Sibyl will not agree, and Balian will not allow me to be crowned."

When Iraklius heard Humphrey's words, a smile appeared on his lips, knowing that Humphrey had taken the bait.

"No, not necessarily. At least on the issue of Sibilla and her husband having to abdicate, we agree with Balian."

"Besides, who do you think is the master of this country? Is it Sibylla? That hopeless woman? Or Guy? A mere French knight whose fiefdom in his hometown is not even a quarter of yours!"

Iraklius's words were extremely outrageous, but Humphrey was not actually that surprised.

"You know us, right? You know we exist..."

Humphrey paused and looked out to sea.

At the place where the water and the sky meet, the clouds in the sky are dyed the color of fire, spreading out like layers of silk, and the golden-red sun is about to sink into the horizon.

In a little while, all that will remain is the quietness and coldness of the early night.

After hesitating for a moment, Humphrey said, "I thought you were just a rumor. Does Balian know of your existence?"

"Barian?" Iraklio looked a little strange, and then said: "That guy is just like you, he probably just thinks we are a rumor."

"That's not right. According to the news, Balian should be one of you anyway."

Iraklius's answer to this was: "Ibelin? Just a nouveau riche."

Hearing this, Humphrey suddenly wanted to laugh. The name of a family can often reflect the history of that family.

The Ibelin family named themselves after a castle in Palestine, which actually means that their history is not very long and that their family is younger than the kingdom.

"So you, now, mention this matter in front of me?"

"I would like to invite you to join us as brothers."

When Humphrey heard the invitation from Iraklius, he couldn't help but accept it.

But some instinctive vigilance stopped Humphrey's impulse.

"Wait a minute."

"Don't worry, whether you join us or not, the promise I made earlier is true."

The waves beat against the solid stone shore, and the splashing water droplets sparkled like broken gold under the setting sun.

……

Guy was sick. In fact, Guy couldn't even enter the city of Tyre. He could only recuperate outside the city with his retainers.

This was to control the situation and was a strong demand from Balian and Conrad, and even Sibyl did not directly object.

What this implies is that Guy had lost everything in the battle half a year ago.

And he kept hinting to other nobles that the Guys had violated the will of the Leper King.

Baldwin's will stated that if Baldwin V died young, his "most legitimate heir" would serve as regent.

The next King of Jerusalem can only be decided after the four great monarchs of Europe make a joint decision.

The significance of this move is to deepen the relationship between the kingdom and European countries, so as to better obtain reinforcements.

Sibylla and her husband forced the coronation.

While Guy was forcibly isolated outside the city, Sibylla was inside the city and announced that she would convene a meeting of the nobles of the Kingdom of Jerusalem.

Almost everyone realized that this noble meeting would have a huge impact on the political power of the kingdom.

Therefore, all the stray dogs from all over Jerusalem, including the remaining knights or small lords outside the city of Tyre, rushed to Tyre.

Looking at the nobles who poured into the city walls one after another.

Guy's face was distorted in an indescribable way, full of bitterness.

It's like saying, "We had a great parti and only one person wasn't invited, guess who it was?"

When he was defeated in the war, he was still a king, and Saladin treated him with courtesy and personally served him iced rose water.

But less than half a year after his defeat, his crown began to crumble.

After tasting the power, how could one be content with being ordinary? But so what?
Unless he agrees to Iraklius's conditions, he will have no chance of returning to the throne of the kingdom.

Guy clenched his fists tightly and made his decision.

At the same time, in the municipal meeting hall of Tyre, the nobles, led by their servants, sat on the right side of the meeting hall. They were closely together, while opposite them was an empty side.

These nobles on the right included not only Patriarch Iraklius, but also landless nobles like Humphrey, and even some owners of small castles.

This was obviously a deliberate arrangement, and they began to talk to each other, constantly speculating on the reasons for doing so, or expressing their own opinions, predicting what Sibyl would say later.

But Irakliou said nothing, he just waited quietly.

He has already carried out all the connections that should be made.

They, the truly influential nobles, including those whom Balian had blackmailed in Jerusalem, were all in agreement.

No matter what the topic is at the upcoming meeting, they must move in unison as a party.

When all the nobles on the right had taken their seats, some people, who looked like they were dressed as knights, came into the hall and were arranged by the servants to sit on the left.

Irakliu recognized several of them, especially Mono. You know, it was these knights who followed Balian and robbed him!
In addition to the knights who looked obviously French, there were also five Venetian knights who appeared here for unknown reasons.

Although these Venetian knights were obliged to serve the kingdom, they usually only enjoyed the surrounding villages as fiefs.

These Venetian knights have dual identities between the Republic of Venice and the Kingdom of Jerusalem. Because of their special identities, they generally do not participate too much in the internal affairs of the kingdom.

After seeing these people appear, Irakliu instinctively felt that something was not right. Balian had not been doing nothing in the past few days.

In addition to the knights, Conrad also walked into the council hall with several representatives of the Italian communes and sat on the left.

Although the right side still has the upper hand in terms of the number of people between the left and right sides, the strength of the left side cannot be underestimated.

This doesn't seem like the work of that woman Sibylla.

Iraklius didn't believe that Sibylla had the vision and courage to divide a complex group of people into two factions clearly like cutting the Gordian knot.

The most deadly serpent is the one that lurks in the darkness.

After being artificially gathered together, the parti of the Iraklius organization found it difficult to motivate the knights on the opposing side.

The other side is centered around Balian's forces, plus the Venetian Knights and representatives of other Italian communes.

Although his overall status is not high, he is a real local tyrant, the master of the city of Tyre, and the host here.

Coupled with Conrad's achievements in defending the city in recent days, it can be said that it is enough to compete with Iraklius' parti.

(End of this chapter)