Ibelin’s army, which was now slowly marching onwards towards Nikosia, received fresh reinforcements at every stage, not only from the outraged Cypriotes, who were anxious to avenge their wrongs, but from large numbers of the higher classes, who had taken refuge in the huts. Nearly all these soldiers were on foot, whilst the imperial army, we are told, had fully two thousand horse. On his arrival near Nikosia, Ibelin at once encamped about half a league from the city, and early next morning, June 15th, 1232, advanced rapidly with all his troops to encounter the imperial forces, some of which were gathered around the fortress they were investing, whilst some were stationed upon the high and almost inaccessible rocks that commanded the road to Keryneia.
The marshal, who appears to have been paralysed by the rapid movements of the enemy, at once sent a party of cavalry to meet the men he saw were preparing to mount the rocky steps that led to the fortress.
Count Walter von Manebel charged down upon the enemy, but with such fury and indiscretion that the ascending soldiers, being on foot, readily eluded the pursuit of their mounted adversaries, who had no alternative but to seek refuge in the plains below, and there await further orders. Meanwhile Ibelin’s troops continued to mount, and a severe struggle ensued, in which the marshal’s troops became perfectly unmanageable, and had to be withdrawn to Keryneia. Numbers sought safety in flight, or refuge in the neighbouring churches and monasteries. Keryneia now alone remained in the hands of the imperial troops, and the marshal at once proceeded to strengthen it at all points, stored up ample provisions in case of siege, and having given the command of such troops as could not be accommodated in the fortress to Walter von Aquaviva, he himself retired to Cilicia with a large body of men.
Ibelin no sooner heard that the marshal had withdrawn the greater part of his army from Keryneia, than he proceeded to invest that fortress. A long and bloody battle at once ensued outside its walls, and every means were tried, but in vain, to storm the citadel. At this crisis a short truce was concluded, in consequence of the death of the young Queen Alice. Her corpse was decked in royal robes, and a messenger was despatched to her consort requesting that she might be interred as became her rank. This truce was strictly kept on both sides, until the royal coffin had been conveyed to Nikosia, where it was placed in the cathedral with much pomp and reverence.
Marshal Felingher had meanwhile been well received in Cilicia, and at once proceeded to make preparations for a fresh campaign. Great sickness, however, now appeared in his army, and numbers died from various causes, or were so invalided as to be unfit for farther service. Felingher at once ordered his army to Tyre, whilst he himself went to Italy to have an interview with the emperor. This latter was now inclined to try what could be done by persuasion, instead of again having recourse to arms. Marshal Felingher, who had made himself much disliked, was superseded, and the Bishop of Sidon despatched, with full powers to bring matters to a peaceable conclusion by well-timed arguments and persuasions, amongst which was the promise that all past outbreaks should be forgotten on the part of the emperor, if the Cypriotes would return to their allegiance. The bishop had so much skill and diplomacy, that in an assembly of knights called by his order, to assemble in the cathedral at Akkon, all present willingly consented to renew their oath on the spot, and recognise the emperor as the guardian of his son Conrad. At this juncture the proceedings of the assembly were interrupted by the sudden appearance of the young knight, John of Cæsarea, nephew of Ibelin, who with much excitement implored the assembly to consider well what they were about to do, and not to sacrifice their country to imperial ambition.
A scene of great violence ensued, in the midst of which the bell from the citadel was rung, and at the preconcerted signal, crowds of Ibelin’s adherents in the city flocked into and around the church, uttering loud cries for vengeance on the heads of the recreant knights. The latter were now compelled to seek safety in flight, and it required all the eloquence and authority of young John of Cæsarea to restrain the violence of the crowd, and allow the bishop and his party to escape with their lives. The emperor now appealed to Ibelin’s own sense of right and honour, and assured him that if he would obey the imperial summons and appear in Tyre to renew his fealty, everything should be arranged according to his wishes. Ibelin, however, distrusted the friendly overtures of the emperor, and not only refused to comply, but at once proceeded to levy fresh forces, and prepare for an obstinate resistance. This done, his first step was to reduce the fortress of Keryneia, which, however, he found so impregnable, that after some terrible fighting about its walls, he was compelled to sit down before it, and endeavour to reduce its garrison by starvation. Month after month passed, and yet the brave band held out; until after two years of great hardship and suffering, they were at last compelled to submit, but only on the most honourable conditions. Frederick still refused to relinquish all hope, and now had recourse to imploring assistance from the Pope, to aid in bringing his refractory vassals again to their allegiance. In the same year as witnessed the fall of Keryneia, a legate from the Papal Court arrived at Akkon, bearing a decree from both emperor and Pope, commanding all knights and citizens to join the imperial cause, and submit to the authority of Marshal Felingher. Every indulgence was promised to all such as should submit.
Ibelin was now hard pressed, but he utterly refused again to acknowledge his faults to the emperor, and at once set about preparing for an attack on Tyre. The Pope sent Ibelin one more written warning, and the archbishop put Akkon under an interdict. Two envoys were now sent from the knights to Italy, in order to endeavour to make terms of peace. These conditions were hard upon the Cypriotes, and when the envoys returned to Akkon, and showed the parchment containing the required submissions, the whole city was in an uproar. The ambassadors were thrown into prison, and very narrowly escaped with their lives. Almost Ibelin’s last act was to summon all to uphold the rights of their king; very shortly after this he fell from his horse, and was so seriously injured that he did not long survive. During these occurrences in the East, great changes were also taking place in the friendly relations between the Pope and emperor, and the latter soon found himself overwhelmed with troubles and anxieties, both in Italy and Germany, which required his immediate and entire attention. Meanwhile Ibelin’s son and various members of his family had sent letters accompanied by rich gifts to the Pope and cardinals. This embassy proved entirely successful, and the envoy, Godfrey le Tort, returned triumphantly to Akkon, bearing a Papal letter commanding all to unite with the Genoese in submission to the wishes and propositions of the party led by the Ibelins. This direct decree from the Pope proved final, and Frederick was now powerless to send an army to assert his claims.
Some years later, one more endeavour was made by Marshal Felingher, and a small party in Akkon, to induce the inhabitants of the island to acknowledge their allegiance to the emperor; but in vain. Thus ended all attempts to make Cyprus an appanage of Germany, which if carried out might probably have saved that beautiful country and her population from centuries of neglect and tyranny.