RRR: Correspondence/envoy
1804
year: 1218
initiator: James of Vitry
recipient: Pope Honorius III
institution: Templars
text: After Aug. 24. [314] James of Vitry [I. Acconensis ecclesie minister] writes to Pope Honorius III. He describes how in 1217 the kings of Hungary, Cyprus and Jerusalem, the duke of Austria, the Knights Templar, the Hospitallers of St John, princes and counts, knights [equites] and footsoldiers, in a greater army than any since the city’s fall [in 1191], gathered at Acre and decided to launch a destructive raid against Damascus, but was ambushed by the Sarraceni and lost many men. It then made unsuccessful assaults on Mons Thabor [without siege engines], Belfort and Belinas. After Epiphany [6 January 1218] the king of Hungary left, travelling by way of Tripoli, Antioch and Constantinople. He was accompanied as far as Tripoli by the king of Cyprus, who died there, and by the count of Tripoli, betrothed to the sister of the king of Cyprus, who was forced by Muslim pressure to make a truce with the Sarraceni. The king of Jerusalem, the duke of Austria, the patriarch, James of Vitry himself [episcopus Acconensis], the Hospitallers of St John and most of the diminished Christian force refortified the castle of Caesarea. The Knights Templar spent an enormous sum of money building a new castle [Castrum Peregrinorum]. After returning to Acre, the Christian army was joined by Oliver of Paderborn [magister Oliverus Coloniensis ecclesie canonicus], authorized to preach the cross, who brought a fleet of cogs [cogones] containing major reinforcements. The decision was made to invade Egypt [Babylonia] and the army left Acre by sea on 24 May, reaching the Egyptian city of Damietta. The Christians established a siege camp and took a great tower in the middle of the river Nile on 24 August. They are planning to attack Damietta in spite of its strength.
After Aug. 24. [314] James of Vitry [I. Acconensis ecclesie minister] writes to Pope Honorius III. He describes how in 1217 the kings of Hungary, Cyprus and Jerusalem, the duke of Austria, the Knights Templar, the Hospitallers of St John, princes and counts, knights [equites] and footsoldiers, in a... more
sources: James of Vitry, Lettres, pp. 98-100, no. 3 (RRH no. 913)
RRR: Correspondence/envoy
1806
year: 1218
initiator: Oliver of Paderborn
recipient: Archbishop and clergy of Cologne
institution: Templars
additional institution: Hospital of Saint Mary of the Germans
text: Sept. 14. In the siege of Damietta. Oliver of Paderborn [Oliverus peccator, dictus Coloniensis scolasticus] records for the archbishop and clergy of Cologne, what he has heard and seen. He recounts the actions of the Fifth Crusade before his arrival: the stationing of the patriarch and the True Cross outside Acre [in castra Domini] on the other side of Recordana; the first campaign by way of the plain of Faba to the fons Tubanie, and from there to Betsaida, then across the Jordan, around the east side of the Sea of Galilee, and back to Acre by way of Capharnaum; the second campaign to Mons Thabor and the failure to attack it; and the third expedition to Sarepta on the borders of Tyre and Sidon. He describes the departure of the kings of Hungary and Cyprus, the second of whom died in Tripoli; the trepidation of many crusaders who gathered in Acre to wait for the next passage home; the expedition of the king of Jerusalem, the duke of Austria, the Monasteriensis episcopus and the Traiectensis episcopus to Caesarea; and the construction between Haifa and Caesarea, on the site of the Castrum filii Dei called Districtum, by the Knights Templar, together with some peregrini and Hospitallers of St Mary of the Germans, of Castrum Peregrinorum, although a Muslim assault had to be driven off. He records the castle in detail and the expenses needed to build it. He reports that the Knights Templar intend to move their headquarters there, away from the sinful distractions of Acre. He goes on to describe the invasion of Egypt, the establishment of the Christian camp opposite Damietta, the attacks on the tower built in the middle of the Nile and their lack of success until Oliver’s Germans and Frisians constructed an ingenious floating siege engine. He records their eventual success, the final assault being led by a young knight from Liège.
Sept. 14. In the siege of Damietta. Oliver of Paderborn [Oliverus peccator, dictus Coloniensis scolasticus] records for the archbishop and clergy of Cologne, what he has heard and seen. He recounts the actions of the Fifth Crusade before his arrival: the stationing of the patriarch and the True... more
sources: Oliver of Paderborn, ‘Briefe’, pp. 288-95, no. 3
RRR: Correspondence/envoy
1808
year: 1218
initiator: James of Vitry
recipient: Pope Honorius III
text: Sept. 14 and 22. In the army besieging Damietta. James of Vitry [I. Acconensis ecclesie minister] writes to Pope Honorius and to his friends. He narrates how, after returning from Caesarea, the Christian army in Palestine built a new castle [Castrum Peregrinorum] by the sea, at a place on the road to Jerusalem called Districte, how the Sarraceni made an unsuccessful attack on Caesarea, how, after the Christian army had returned to Acre, a fleet of 40 Frisian and German cogones arrived not long after Easter and a council-of-war [commune consilium] decided to invade Egypt [Egyptum]. He describes the wealth of Egypt, its flatness, the absence of major fortifications other than Damiata, Babylonia - called Kayre by the Egyptians - and Alexandria, the sites of Christian pilgrimage in the country and the fact that it is the centre of the production of balsam. He maintains that most of the population are still Christian, if pacific, and comments on the fact that there are Christian populations in the East. He narrates how on 24 May the patriarch of Jerusalem embarked with the relic of the True Cross, which was a splinter of that which had been lost [at Hattin], how the army voyaged to Egypt, arrived before Damietta and established an encampment on an island before the city. He describes the practice of the incubination of hen eggs, the situation of the city, the flooding of the river Nile, sickness in the army, the difficulty, even with siege engines, of ship-borne assaults on a strong tower in the middle of the river from which a chain barred the progress of shipping. The attacks continued for 4 months until the Frisians, under magister Oliverus Coloniensis cancellarius, constructed a magnificent and expensive floating siege engine on 2 ships and the tower was captured. At the time of writing [14 September] the Christians, who were expecting reinforcements, were planning a crossing of the Nile to attack Damietta. Many Sarraceni were deserting and being baptized, while part of the garrison of Mons Thabor had been sent to Egypt and their castle had been destroyed, as had been the city of Gibelet [Gibel ?] and 5 fortresses between Tyre and Damascus, at a time when the Christians had strengthened the fortresses [munitiones] of Districtum and Caesarea on the way to Jerusalem. Further, the sultan of Egypt had died from sorrow at the loss of the tower in the Nile. James of Vitry asks for prayers that the Christians successfully take Egypt. In the copy of his letter to the pope, James reports that 9 ships with domnus Petrus Hanibal and other Romans arrived in the week after 24 August. Cardinal Pelagius of Albano, the papal legate, has reached Acre with a Roman prince and is daily expected in Egypt. In the copy of his letter to his friends, James of Vitry asks for prayers for those who have died, including magister Walterus de Tornacho archidiaconus ecclesie Acconensis, who did much good in Acre; magister Constantius de Duacho decanus ecclesie Acconensis; domnus Iohannes de Cameracho ecclesie Acconensis cantor; domnus Reinerus, a cleric in James’s household who became Sancti Michaelis in Accon pastor; H. serviens episcopi Acconensis; magister Thomas cancellarius Noviomensis; magister Leonius qui legebat de Theologia in civitate Acconensi; magister Alexander nepos magistri R. cardinalis; Iohannes iunior de Cameraco nepos cantoris ecclesie Acconensis; magister Reinaldus de Barbachon ecclesie Acconensis thesaurarius. James adds that he was very ill for 2 months in the camp before Damietta.
Sept. 14 and 22. In the army besieging Damietta. James of Vitry [I. Acconensis ecclesie minister] writes to Pope Honorius and to his friends. He narrates how, after returning from Caesarea, the Christian army in Palestine built a new castle [Castrum Peregrinorum] by the sea, at a place on the road... more
sources: James of Vitry, Lettres, pp. 101-11, no. 4 (RRH no. 915)
RRR: Correspondence/envoy
1830
year: 1219
initiator: Hermannus, master of the Hospital of Saint Mary of the Germans
recipient: Cardinal L. of Santa Croce
text: c. Nov. 15. Damietta. H. magister domus Teutonicorum in Ierusalem informs Cardinal L. of Santa Croce of the capture of Damietta. He describes the deaths found in the city, the attempts at looting that followed and the decree that all money should pooled, the vast amount of treasure found, the attempt by the sultan to reinforce the garrison 2 days before its fall and the repulse of the reinforcements near a trebuchet [Trebucheta] [set up by the Hospital] of St John. He also provides details about the Christian entry and describes the withdrawal of the army of the sultan of Egypt, who before Damietta’s capture had offered to return the Holy Land to the Christians, keeping only the castles of Crac and Muntreal, for which rent would be paid.
c. Nov. 15. Damietta. H. magister domus Teutonicorum in Ierusalem informs Cardinal L. of Santa Croce of the capture of Damietta. He describes the deaths found in the city, the attempts at looting that followed and the decree that all money should pooled, the vast amount of treasure found, the... more
sources: Chronica de Mailros, pp. 135-7 (RRH no. 926)
RRR: Correspondence/envoy
1813
year: 1219
initiator: Cardinal Pelagius of Albano, the papal legate
recipient: S. archiepiscopus Tyrensis
institution: Saint Mark in Tyre
text: Before Jan. 8. Tyre. Above the palatium of the archbishop. Hen. episcopus Mantuanus and I. abbas Montis Sion send S. archiepiscopus Tyrensis the letter from Cardinal Pelagius of Albano, the papal legate, [sent from Damietta on Nov. 25 1218] and order him to respond within 10 days of its reception over the case of the church of St Mark in Tyre. Mancius sacrus palatii notarius was present and wrote the document on the orders of Petrus presbiter.
Before Jan. 8. Tyre. Above the palatium of the archbishop. Hen. episcopus Mantuanus and I. abbas Montis Sion send S. archiepiscopus Tyrensis the letter from Cardinal Pelagius of Albano, the papal legate, [sent from Damietta on Nov. 25 1218] and order him to respond within 10 days of its reception... more
sources: Venezia, Arch. di stato, miscell. atti diplom., busta III a, no. 85, recorded by Röhricht (RRH no. 919)
RRR: Correspondence/envoy
1814
year: 1219
initiator: Petrus plebanus ecclesiae S. Marci de Tyro
recipient: S. archiepiscopus Tyrensis
text: Jan. 8. Bartholomaeus Mauricinus, Vitalis Calefai, Jacobus Venerus and Symon Magazarus are present when Petrus plebanus ecclesiae S. Marci de Tyro delivers a letter written on behalf of the episcopus Mantuanus and Y. abbas montis Syon to S. archiepiscopus Tyrensis.
Jan. 8. Bartholomaeus Mauricinus, Vitalis Calefai, Jacobus Venerus and Symon Magazarus are present when Petrus plebanus ecclesiae S. Marci de Tyro delivers a letter written on behalf of the episcopus Mantuanus and Y. abbas montis Syon to S. archiepiscopus Tyrensis.
sources: Venezia, Archiv. di stato, miscell. atti diplom., busta III a, no. 85, recorded by Röhricht (RRH no. 920)
RRR: Correspondence/envoy
1815
year: 1219
initiator: Pope Honorius III
recipient: Cardinal Pelagius of Albano and the magistri of the Knights Templar and Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem
text: Jan. 23. Lateran. Pope Honorius III informs Cardinal Pelagius of Albano, the papal legate, and to the magistri of the Knights Templar and Hospital of St John that he has sent Pelagius 5000 marcae in 2 consignments of 2,500 marcae each, to be spent in aid to the Holy Land as they judge appropriate.
Jan. 23. Lateran. Pope Honorius III informs Cardinal Pelagius of Albano, the papal legate, and to the magistri of the Knights Templar and Hospital of St John that he has sent Pelagius 5000 marcae in 2 consignments of 2,500 marcae each, to be spent in aid to the Holy Land as they judge appropriate.
sources: Claverie, L’ordre du Temple 2:411-12, no. 1
RRR: Correspondence/envoy
1816
year: 1219
initiator: Pope Honorius III
recipient: King Andrew of Hungary
text: Mar. 4. Lateran. Writing to King Andrew of Hungary, Pope Honorius reports that he has heard both from Andrew and from King Leon of [Cilician] Armenia, who have sought the pope’s approval of the marriage of Andrew’s son to Leon’s daughter with rights to the throne of Armenia.
Mar. 4. Lateran. Writing to King Andrew of Hungary, Pope Honorius reports that he has heard both from Andrew and from King Leon of [Cilician] Armenia, who have sought the pope’s approval of the marriage of Andrew’s son to Leon’s daughter with rights to the throne of Armenia.
sources: Tautu, Acta, pp. 81-2, no. 56; also ed. Claverie, Honorius, pp. 336-7, no. 35
RRR: Correspondence/envoy
1826
year: 1219
initiator: James of Vitry
recipient: Pope Honorius III
institution: Templars
additional institution: Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem
text: May - Sept. 1-30. [317] James of Vitry [I. Acconensis ecclesie minister] writes to Pope Honorius III. He continues his narrative of the Fifth Crusade, describing how the Christian army reached Damietta, took the strong tower in the middle of the river Nile, breaking the iron chains that stretched across the river and prevented ships passing up stream, although the Sarraceni sank ships to impede any progress. Cardinal Pelagius had his cog hauled into the upper river, as had James of Vitry himself, although with losses, including his barbota with 20 men on board, and the cog of the Knights Templar, which had to fight its way upstream with heavy losses. He describes galley battles [galeae] with losses on both sides and the attempt by the Sarraceni to build a bridge up-river, the sufferings during the winter from storms, floods, cold and disease, the deaths of Cardinal Robert de Courçon and the bishop of Paris, the building of a canal round the Christian camp, the fasting and liturgical processions decreed by Cardinal Pelagius of Albano and the patriarch of Jerusalem, and their expulsion of malefactors, the passage of ships up the canal, the flight of the sultan of Egypt, the building of a pontoon by the Christians, their occupation of the bank on which the city stood, its encirclement and the preparation of siege-engines, the arrival of major Muslim reinforcements under Coradinus rex Damasci [al-Mu‘azzam], the brother of the sultan of Egypt, and their withdrawal after an unsuccessful assault on the Christians, because of threats to Aleppo and Damascus from the sultan of Konya, the king of Cilician Armenia and one of Saladin’s sons. James returns to his letter, the early part of which had been written at the time of the Easter passage. He describes attacks on the city, a break down in discipline and a Muslim attack that resulted in heavy Christian losses. He reports the deaths or captivity of 200 milites of the Knights Templar and the Hospitallers of St John of Jerusalem and others, among whom were the electus Belvacensis, domnus Walter regis Francie camerarius, filius eius vicecomes de Bellomonte, domnus Iohannes de Archies, domnus Andreas de Espoisse and domnus Andreas de Nantuel, the brother of the electus. He reports desertions from the Christian army, but also that the Muslims in Damietta face starvation. He hopes that once Damietta is taken the crusade will advance into Egypt and will then recover Jerusalem.
May - Sept. 1-30. [317] James of Vitry [I. Acconensis ecclesie minister] writes to Pope Honorius III. He continues his narrative of the Fifth Crusade, describing how the Christian army reached Damietta, took the strong tower in the middle of the river Nile, breaking the iron chains that stretched... more
sources: James of Vitry, Lettres, pp. 112-22, no. 5 (RRH no. 924)
RRR: Correspondence/envoy
1828
year: 1219
initiator: R. patriarcha, J. rex Hierosolymitanus, Burdegalensis aarchiepiscopus, Nicosiensis archiepiscopus, P. Albanensis episcopus, J. Acconensis episcopus, Lucanensis episcopus, hospitalis Sancti Johannis magister, Templi magister, hospitalis Alemannorum magister, comes Cestrie, comes de Salesburges, comes de Guado, S. de Jovisvilla, S. de Maloleone, E. de Casten, the leaders of the crusade [consules communitatuum]
recipient: Pope Honorius III
text: Nov. 11. Damietta. R. patriarcha, J. rex Hierosolymitanus, Burdegalensis aarchiepiscopus, Nicosiensis archiepiscopus, P. Albanensis episcopus, J. Acconensis episcopus, Lucanensis episcopus, hospitalis Sancti Johannis magister, Templi magister, hospitalis Alemannorum magister, comes Cestrie, comes de Salesburges, comes de Guado, S. de Jovisvilla, S. de Maloleone, E. de Casten, the leaders of the crusade [consules communitatuum], write to Pope Honorius III, announcing the fall of Damietta. They describe the capture of the city on 4-5 November, the dreadful conditions they discovered within, the flight of the Muslim leaders and the distress of the sultan. Now that the entry to Egypt is open, they beg for reinforcements in men and money. Cairo should be easily taken and as a result the kingdom of Jerusalem, which is maintained with Egyptian resources, will be liberated. They are concerned that a large part of the present army will return home on the next passage. They ask the pope to compel the emperor Frederick II and other crusaders [crucesignati] to fulfil their vows. They question whether the crusade twentieth has been diverted to other uses.
Nov. 11. Damietta. R. patriarcha, J. rex Hierosolymitanus, Burdegalensis aarchiepiscopus, Nicosiensis archiepiscopus, P. Albanensis episcopus, J. Acconensis episcopus, Lucanensis episcopus, hospitalis Sancti Johannis magister, Templi magister, hospitalis Alemannorum magister, comes Cestrie, comes... more
sources: Röhricht, Studien, pp. 43-6, no. 6 (RRH no. 925)