Page:A History of the Knights of Malta, or the Order of St. John of Jerusalem.djvu/72

50 the country. He had given Siracon private instructions that, after he had carried out that object, he should take advantage of any opportunity which might offer to seize upon its government himself. These instructions were carried out. Siracon deposed the caliph, and seated himself on the throne. His triumph was, however, very brief, as he died almost immediately afterwards. His nephew, Saladin, in his turn, assumed the reins of government, and to make himself secure strangled the late caliph. Noureddin having also died about the same time, Saladin married his widow and established himself not only as ruler of Egypt, but also of all the territories formerly governed by him.

Saladin’s power now became so threatening that Almeric had good cause to rue the ambition which had called so potent an enemy into the field. In the hope of checking his successful career the king sought aid from the emperor of Constantinople. During his absence from Jerusalem he vested the government of his kingdom in the hands of the Masters of the Hospital and Temple. From the emperor he received most flattering promises of assistance, which, in the end, were but very partially realized. Compelled to be content with these he returned to Jerusalem, where his presence was required to meet a new enemy.

This was none other than an apostate Templar named Melier, brother to Thoro, prince of Armenia. At the death of Thoro the crown had descended to the son of his sister. Meier, prompted by the desire of gaining a throne, had abandoned his profession, renounced Christianity, and with the aid of Saladin had driven his nephew from the country, and installed himself as prince of Armenia. He commenced a cruel war with his Christian neighbours, his atrocities surpassing even those of his Mahometan allies. Towards the Hospitallers and Templars he displayed peculiar rancour; such of them as fell into his hands were either butchered at once or Bold into slavery. Almeric was not a prince to suffer this thorn to remain in the side of his kingdom, and he was warmly supported by the military Orders, who burned to avenge themselves for the cruelties that had been inflicted on their brethren. Melier, finding himself