kingdom of nations

Chapter 213 Funeral (Bonus Chapter)
The Saint Pana family was the quickest to react. They were not the closest to Larnaca, nor were they among the families that initially sided with the Crusaders, but as soon as they learned of Princess Anna's death from their in-laws, not only did important members of the family arrive at the cathedral within hours, but they also brought a coffin.

The coffins used at this time, especially those used by nobles, were certainly not ordinary wooden coffins, but stone coffins carved from a single block of marble. Not only were they half a foot thick, but the coffin lid weighed a staggering 1,400 pounds.

Except for the top cover, the stone coffin is a single piece, which can prevent sewage from seeping in or plant roots and insects from invading after burial. In addition, the flowers, birds and saints carved on the top cover and the four walls make it look more like a work of art than a cold and impersonal place of death.

What's most astonishing is that they brought not only the stone coffin, but also the lime, garlic, and sulfur needed before sealing it—this practice seems somewhat incongruous to modern people because it perfectly aligns with the most basic sterilization principles: sulfur kills microorganisms, and garlic eliminates bacteria.

But for the people at that time, this was just a solemn exorcism ritual. The stone coffin was first fumigated with sulfur, then lined with garlic, and finally covered with dried flowers, rushes, and lime. The lime reacted with the gases produced by decay to form a hard solidified substance.

Then came linen, cotton, and silk. Theodora changed her beloved daughter's clothes herself, refusing to let Anna be wrapped in linen, and instead demanding from Cesar the dress Anna wore at the wedding, "Was she happy then?"

Cesar nodded, and Theodora said, “So we should choose this one. If Anna’s soul were here, she would be happy.” Perhaps for this reason, when Anna lay in the sarcophagus, she did not look like a dead person, but a little girl who had finally been released and was in a long sleep.

People then sprinkled camphor leaves and acorns, and Cesar personally wove an ivy wreath and placed it in her hair, while Theodora sprinkled spices and spirits on top.

Before closing the coffin lid, the Archbishop of Cyprus specifically asked, "Do you have anything to place in her hands?"

This is also a custom; people will take their most cherished possessions with them to the grave. When bidding farewell, their relatives and friends can also place memorial items beside them. Generally, these are reliquary boxes containing hair and nail clippings, crucifixes, rosaries, or flowers.

Without hesitation, Theodora cut off a lock of her hair and placed it in Anna's hand. Cesar was unadorned, but he took out a longsword. "It was this longsword that beheaded the First Prince Alexius."

Theodora nodded: "This is definitely something Anna would like."

Cesar lifted the longsword and placed it in the sarcophagus, letting Anna hold it—"If there are things that displease you in heaven, then swing this sword," he thought to himself. As he withdrew his hand, his fingers touched the blade, leaving a trace of blood. Those nearby couldn't help but gasp, but Cesar simply waved his hand, "It was just an accident."

Only after receiving a signal from the archbishop did the craftsmen slowly lower the heavy coffin lid, but this was not yet the end—to ensure the sarcophagus was truly airtight. There was one more step: the craftsmen hurriedly and carefully poured a viscous paste made of heated rosin, plaster, and resin into the gaps of the coffin lid. After cooling, this mixture would harden like rock and be resistant to moisture or soil erosion.

When the actual burial takes place, a layer of stone bricks will be laid at the bottom of the tomb, and a layer of Roman cement will be poured on site, with the gaps filled with charcoal and spices.

However, since Cesar had already said that he would give the Cypriot nobles a day and a night, then it was a day and a night.

Cyprus is about 60 miles (about 240 kilometers) from east to west and about 25 miles from north to south. A fast horse can travel between 15 and 20 miles day and night. St. Lazarus Cathedral is located in the very center of Cyprus. Those who are nearby are fine, but those who happen to be in the Cresces Islands (the easternmost part of Cyprus) or Paphos (the westernmost part of Cyprus) are in for a bad time.

The next morning, the first Crusader reinforcements arrived. They were Crusaders stationed at Margate Castle and Tortusa Castle, bringing with them approximately seventy-five knights and their squires, as well as a large number of craftsmen. These craftsmen unloaded some siege equipment from the ships, enough to make some Cypriots faint with fear at the sight of it…

The crusader knights were all in high spirits. As soon as they disembarked, they began to murmur and admire the scenery around them.

Most of the buildings in Cyprus are white, which makes them appear even more elegant and sacred against the backdrop of lush olive groves and azure waters.

"Should we build a castle here too?"

"of course."

"So, should we paint the castle white too?"

"of course."

"Then can we also wear silk robes, like those Byzantines—and wear pearls?"

"of course."

"I heard our new lord is still a child. Does he know how to manage this place? If not, can we do it for him?"

With a thud, a large bump appeared on the head of the talkative squire. "You're too annoying," his knight said. "This isn't something you can talk about..." He paused for a moment and then said, "As long as he's not a coward, anyway, even in Frankish lords don't need overly sophisticated methods of governance."

As long as he can guarantee that we go to battle and win—with fair rewards and punishments, or squeeze the last coin out of his farmers, merchants, and artisans without inciting them to rebel—that's enough. Let the priests worry about the rest.

However, this relaxed atmosphere gradually sombered as they arrived in Larnaca. The flag of César was already flying above the St. Lazarus Cathedral, and beside it hung a black veil. This signified that the people there were mired in profound sorrow. Nevertheless, when they reached the cathedral entrance and requested entry, Lord César of Cyprus came out to greet them.

His physique and appearance were somewhat incongruous with his age, yet they were the kind of features knights admired most: tall but not fat, thin but not weak, with a hint of red in the corners of his eyes, indicating that he had just been crying.

The knight was astonished. It was the first time he had ever seen a husband so sincerely mourning his wife, not to mention that he had never met Princess Anna before, and the time they had spent together was disproportionately small in each other's lives.

The Crusader reinforcements had arrived, and more would continue to pour into Cyprus. When it was time for Baldwin, the King of Arrassal, to say goodbye to Patriarch Heraclius, Baldwin even wanted to leave all his Knights of the Holy Sepulchre with him, knowing that Cesar would have a tough battle to fight.

“I don’t think you can’t win,” Baldwin said in a low voice. “The Cypriots are not worthy of respect. They have always been two-faced. You know, Cyprus was occupied by the Saracens several times, but the Cypriots did not resist until the Byzantine navy came here and drove the Saracens back. Only then did they submit to the empire again.”

But sometimes, intrigue and trickery can be far more damaging than open attacks. He said with some regret, if he hadn't underestimated these Cypriots, Anna might not have met such a fate. But now it was all in vain; he could only repeatedly warn his brother, "Never show your leniency here. Without pruning and cutting, trees will never grow into the shape you want them to be."

“Then you must promise me that when you return to Arazar, you will send Hibil and Abigail away. You may give them a territory, but do not let them stay in Arazar,” Cesar said just as bluntly. “You have already been hurt by her once.”

“I will. I will write to you as soon as I get back to Arrasa Road.”

"Me too, I'll send you a message as soon as the funeral is over."

“By the way,” Baldwin said, “I have exempted you from one hundred days of service.” Whether as the Count of Edessa or the Lord of Cyprus, as a subject and vassal of King Arrassal, Cesare was supposed to serve in the King’s court for one hundred days. He was to take his knights to the Castle of the Holy Cross, and if there was a war, he would go with the army; if there was no war, he was to stay and help the King with various state affairs and political matters, or various obscure and tedious documents.

This is something that Raymond and Bohemond did in the past.

However, given that Cesar is unlikely to be able to extricate himself in the near future, Baldwin simply waved his hand and exempted him from all his service, "but in any case, I will be going back on February 2nd." That was Baldwin's name day and the day he assumed power.

Baldwin muttered a curse under his breath. "Damn Grand Masters of the Knights Templar and the Knights of Goodwill! They're pushing us too hard. Otherwise, Cesar wouldn't be running around like this."

But he also hopes that César will be standing by his side on that day.

They took their leave in a hurry, because several Cypriot nobles had already arrived at St. Lazarus Cathedral and were anxiously awaiting the new lord's summons.

When Cesar led his knights back to the cathedral, they saw these men—they didn't even dare to wait in their rooms, but instead waited respectfully in the square in front of the cathedral. As soon as they saw the banners carried by the entourage, they knew that the new master of Cyprus, Count Edessa, had returned, and they immediately bowed in greeting.

They spread their arms wide, tilting their heads towards the ground in an extremely humble posture. Cesar dismounted and said, "Come in." He walked past them without stopping. He was tall and had a longer stride than most, so the Cypriot nobles had to jog to keep up.

As soon as they entered the main hall, they saw a huge, pure white marble coffin placed neatly in front of the altar, covered with a silk shroud. It was clear that it had been rushed into production, but it was still quite exquisite. "Why isn't it a crescent flag?" a Cypriot nobleman muttered, before his fingers were pinched hard by the person next to him.

As a princess of the Byzantine Empire, her coffin should naturally be covered with a crescent-patterned banner, but instead, a crimson banner is draped over it, with golden Arazari crosses embroidered on the corners.

At that time, some people did suggest that a coffin cover with a crescent flag should be sewn on, but Cesare did not think Anna would be happy to lie under a flag symbolizing her father and brother. She was indeed a princess of the Byzantine Empire, but now she was the Countess of Edessa, resting under the care of her husband—and no one could really object to Cesare's statement.

The priests and monks of St. Lazarus Cathedral had gathered around the coffin, reciting scriptures for the noble yet unfortunate princess. This was not part of the formal ceremony, but the Archbishop of Cyprus was certainly going all out.

The Cypriot nobles assumed that after meeting them, Count Edessa would immediately return to his room to rest.

Although it is called a vigil, it does not mean that every relative must stay by the coffin at all times, especially the count. As a husband, he is more noble than his wife, and no one will criticize him if he wants to rest.

But the count, dressed in a black belted robe, walked to the coffin, sat down on the steps beside it, leaned his back against the cold marble, placed the scriptures on his knees, lowered his eyes, and chanted softly with the priests.

The people around seemed to take it all in stride, and no one tried to persuade or stop them.

The Cypriot nobles exchanged bewildered glances. Then, their eyes swept across the room and they spotted several of their relatives and friends in the shadows. These were all shrewd men; a single exchange of glances was enough for them to understand what they needed to do next.
They quickly took off their fine clothes, revealing cotton or linen robes underneath, and knelt down to pray for Princess Anna.

(End of this chapter)