"Excellency," he said, "Cyprus hath made her choice. We present
to you, if so it shall please your grace, our future queen, this
fair young maid, Catarina, the daughter of the noble Marco
Cornaro, merchant and senator of the Republic."
What the seventy-one disappointed young ladies thought of the
King's choice, or what they said about it when they were safely
at home once more, history does not record. But history does
record the splendors and display of the ceremonial with which the
gray-haired old doge, Cristofero Moro, in the great hall of the
palace, surrounded by the senators of the Republic and all the
rank and power of the State of Venice, formally adopted Catarina
as a "daughter of the Republic." Thus to the dignity of her
father's house was added the majesty of the great Republic. Her
marriage portion was placed at one hundred thousand ducats, and
Cyprus was granted, on behalf of this "daughter of the Republic,"
the alliance and protection of Venice.
The ambassador of Cyprus standing before the altar of St. Mark's
as the personal representative of his master, King Giacomo was
married "by proxy" to the young Venetian girl; while the doge,
representing her new father, the republic, gave her
away in marriage, and Catarina Cornaro, amid the blessings of the
priests, the shouts of the people, and the demonstrations of
clashing music and waving banners, was solemnly proclaimed Queen
of Cyprus, of Jerusalem, and of Armenia.
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