The news of the King's death reached the capital immediately. John de Ras was sent from Famagusta to Nicosia, to the Admiral Muzio Costanzo, and Catherine was proclaimed, the Admiral and the Bailie of the Venetians receiving the oath from her lieges. Peter Davila, who was in military command, has described how he saw to it that the Queen's succession took place without disturbance. He sent an escort for the Venetian Bailie, Nicolas Pasqualigo (who was afraid to risk himself in the streets alone), and brought him to the palace; there Davila placed the royal standard in his hands, as representing Venice, the mother and protectress of the Queen. A military procession then went through the city, to cries, inspired by fear if not by loyalty, of ‘Long live Queen Catherine’. Returning to the palace, Davila addressed the people, pointing out that the security of the island depended on the power of Venice, and that they must be loval to the Queen, whom her mother, the Signory, would never allow to perish. There were more cries of ‘Long live Queen Catherine’. And indeed the people of Nicosia, so far as is known, seem never to have faltered in their devotion to Catherine.

Costanzo and the other notables then rode to Famagusta to pay their homage to the Queen. Officers were sent to Kerynia and Paphos also, to administer the oath to all feudataries there.