RRR: Correspondence/envoy
590
year: 1155
initiator: Rainald of Châtillon, prince of Antioch
recipient: King Louis VII of France
text: c.1155. R[ainald], princeps Antiochenus, writes to King Louis VII of France, describing the desperate state of the Latin East and expressing the hope that Louis will come to its aid. Stressing that he was born and brought up a subject of the French king, he asks whether Louis could provide suitable husbands for two daughters of Prince Raymond [of Antioch]. He complains that his patrimony [in France] has been unjustly seized by others. He is sending Milo de Nealphis, miles et homo vester, to describe personally conditions in the East.
c.1155. R[ainald], princeps Antiochenus, writes to King Louis VII of France, describing the desperate state of the Latin East and expressing the hope that Louis will come to its aid. Stressing that he was born and brought up a subject of the French king, he asks whether Louis could provide... more
sources: Bouquet, Recueil 16:14-15, no. 67 (RRH no. 319)
RRR: Correspondence/envoy
702
year: 1163
initiator: King Amalric
recipient: King Louis VII of France
text: Apr. 8. Fons Sephoriae. Amalric Dei gratia Hierosolymorum rex informs King Louis VII of the death of King Baldwin III on 10 February and his accession. He describes the dire state of the Latin East, the capture of Prince Rainald of Antioch and all his company, the earthquake in the previous August that had gravely damaged castles, towers and towns in the principality of Antioch. He asks Louis to come out to the East without delay.
Apr. 8. Fons Sephoriae. Amalric Dei gratia Hierosolymorum rex informs King Louis VII of the death of King Baldwin III on 10 February and his accession. He describes the dire state of the Latin East, the capture of Prince Rainald of Antioch and all his company, the earthquake in the previous August... more
sources: Bouquet, Recueil 16:36-7, no. 121 (RRH no. 396)
RRR: Correspondence/envoy
707
year: 1163
initiator: King Amalric
recipient: King Louis VII of France
text: Late Sept. Amalric, per Dei gratiam Hierosolymorum rex, writes to King Louis VII of France, describing how he has invaded Egypt with as large a force as he can muster, leaving his kingdom in as defensible a state as possible against Nur ad-Din, who had summoned all the men he could from Baghdad [Baldac] and the region of the Euphrates. Amalric has laid siege to Bilbais, putting the Egyptian army to flight, but his assault has been frustrated by the flooding of the river Nile [flumen Paradisis]. If Louis would send help Amalric holds out hopes of the conversion of Egypt to Christianity.
Late Sept. Amalric, per Dei gratiam Hierosolymorum rex, writes to King Louis VII of France, describing how he has invaded Egypt with as large a force as he can muster, leaving his kingdom in as defensible a state as possible against Nur ad-Din, who had summoned all the men he could from Baghdad [... more
sources: Bouquet, Recueil 16:59-60, no.194 (RRH no. 382)
RRR: Correspondence/envoy
708
year: 1163
initiator: Bertrandus de Blancfort, master of the Temple
recipient: King Louis VII of France
institution: Templars
text: Sept.- Oct. B[ertrandus] de Blanc[fort], pauperis militiae Templi magister, with the entire convent of the Knights Templar, writes to King Louis VII of France, describing the grave condition of the Latin East. Prince R[ainald] of Antioch and many magnates have been taken captive or killed. An earthquake has brought fortifications down, including many castles. King Baldwin III has died. Bertrand begs for Louis’s assistance. Templar brothers are being sent to give the king of France more information.
Sept.- Oct. B[ertrandus] de Blanc[fort], pauperis militiae Templi magister, with the entire convent of the Knights Templar, writes to King Louis VII of France, describing the grave condition of the Latin East. Prince R[ainald] of Antioch and many magnates have been taken captive or killed. An... more
sources: Bouquet, Recueil 16:38, no. 123 (RRH no. 383)
RRR: Correspondence/envoy
709
year: 1163
initiator: King Amalric
recipient: King Louis VII of France
text: Sept.- Oct. Amalric, per Dei gratiam Hieroslymorum rex, writes to King Louis VII of France. The prince of Antioch has been captured and many of his men are prisoners or dead. An earthquake has struck Antioch and neighbouring regions, leading to many deaths. His brother King Baldwin III has died. Amalric begs Louis, who knows the region, to come himself to the East and bring assistance. He is sending the archbishop of Mamistra [Mamistriae archipraesul] to provide Louis with more information.
Sept.- Oct. Amalric, per Dei gratiam Hieroslymorum rex, writes to King Louis VII of France. The prince of Antioch has been captured and many of his men are prisoners or dead. An earthquake has struck Antioch and neighbouring regions, leading to many deaths. His brother King Baldwin III has died.... more
sources: Bouquet, Recueil 16:37-38, no. 122 (RRH no. 384)
RRR: Correspondence/envoy
738
year: 1164
initiator: Patriarch Aimery of Antioch
recipient: King Louis VII of France
text: Late Aug. Patriarch Aimery of Antioch writes to King Louis VII of France. He describes the misfortunes of the Latin East and appeals to the king to come to its assistance. Nur ad-Din, who now rules Damascus, invaded Egypt with a great army of Turci. The king of Egypt [Aegyptus], who is called the sultan of Cairo [Soldanus Babyloniae], appealed to King Amalric for assistance, offering annual tribute and the liberation of captives. Committing his kingdom to the care of his relation Prince Bohemond of Antioch and to the patriarch of Antioch, Amalric led a large army to Egypt and made a truce with the sultan, involving the payment of annual tribute [by the sultan] and the release from Egypt of Christians held in captivity. Ignoring offers of truce, Nur ad-Din besieged the castle of Harenc. The defenders - around 7000 persons, fighters, women and children - appealed for help. Bohemond left Antioch on 10 August to relieve Harenc. In the battle that ensued Prince Bohemond, the count of Tripoli, a Graecus called Calamannus Dux Mamistiensis, Hugo de Lesiniaco, and brothers of the Temple and the Hospital, who had come from Tripoli with the count, were captured. Others were killed or captured. Harenc fell to the Turci, although women, children and the wounded were allowed to withdraw to Antioch. The countryside is now open to the enemy. The clergy have taken over the defence of the city of Antioch.
Late Aug. Patriarch Aimery of Antioch writes to King Louis VII of France. He describes the misfortunes of the Latin East and appeals to the king to come to its assistance. Nur ad-Din, who now rules Damascus, invaded Egypt with a great army of Turci. The king of Egypt [Aegyptus], who is called the... more
sources: Bouquet, Recueil 16:61-62, no. 196 (RRH no. 405)
RRR: Correspondence/envoy
740
year: 1164
initiator: Bertrandus de Blancfort, master of the Temple
recipient: King Louis VII of France
institution: Templars
text: Nov. 1-30. B. de Blancafort pauperis militiae Templi minister humilis writes to King Louis VII of France. Louis already knows that King Amalric made war in Egypt, taking with him the relic of the True Cross. Nur ad-Din had sent Syraco [Shirkuh] with a great army to the kingdom of Cairo [regnum Babyloniorum] with the intention of uniting Old Cairo [Babylon] and Damascus. Syraco [the above-named Turcus], who had occupied the strong city of Berbesium [Bilbais] and had garrisoned it with 30000 warriors, was forced to withdraw. But on returning to the Holy Land the Christians discovered that the city of Paneas, one of the strongest in the kingdom of Jerusalem, had been betrayed and occupied by the Turci and that Antioch had suffered the defeat of its army and is in danger of falling to Graeci or Turci. King Amalric cannot defend Antioch, Tripoli, Jerusalem and Cairo [Babylon] at the same time, whereas Nur ad-Din has at his disposal enough forces to attack all of them. Frater Heustercanis, Louis’s friend, is sick and cannot travel. B. is sending frater Walterus in his place to deliver his messages.
Nov. 1-30. B. de Blancafort pauperis militiae Templi minister humilis writes to King Louis VII of France. Louis already knows that King Amalric made war in Egypt, taking with him the relic of the True Cross. Nur ad-Din had sent Syraco [Shirkuh] with a great army to the kingdom of Cairo [regnum... more
sources: Bouquet, Recueil 16:79-80, no. 244 (RRH no. 407)
RRR: Correspondence/envoy
741
year: 1164
initiator: Bertrandus de Blancfort, master of the Temple
recipient: King Louis VII of France
institution: Templars
text: Nov. 1-30. Bertrannus militiae Templi minister humilis writes to King Louis VII of France, who has heard how King Amalric, following general advice, went to Egypt [regnum Babiloniae], with the relic of the True Cross, after Nur ad-Din had invaded it. Amalric succeeded, but he returned on hearing of the disasters in Antioch. Nur ad-Din had wanted to subject the kingdom of Cairo [Babilonicum regnum] to his lordship and hinder any invasion by the Christians. Antioch and Jerusalem are in such great difficulties they cannot be described in writing. Bertrannus is, therefore, sending frater Galterius to Louis, to whom everyone is looking for assistance.
Nov. 1-30. Bertrannus militiae Templi minister humilis writes to King Louis VII of France, who has heard how King Amalric, following general advice, went to Egypt [regnum Babiloniae], with the relic of the True Cross, after Nur ad-Din had invaded it. Amalric succeeded, but he returned on hearing of... more
sources: Bouquet, Recueil 16:80-81, no. 245 (RRH no. 406)
year: 1164
initiator: H., quondam prior de Monte-Tabor
recipient: King Louis VII of France
institution: Mount Tabor
text: (c. 1164). H., quondam prior de Monte-Tabor asks King Louis VII of France to persuade the emperor of Constantinople to allow him to return to France. His companions G. and R. de Merlo will deliver his letter to the king.
(c. 1164). H., quondam prior de Monte-Tabor asks King Louis VII of France to persuade the emperor of Constantinople to allow him to return to France. His companions G. and R. de Merlo will deliver his letter to the king.
sources: Bouquet, Recueil 16:82-83, no. 250 (RRH no. 408)
RRR: Correspondence/envoy
737
year: 1164
initiator: Frater Gaufredus Fulcherii Hierosolymitanae domus Templi preceptor
recipient: King Louis VII of France
institution: Templars
text: Late Aug. Frater Gaufredus Fulcherii Hierosolymitanae domus Templi preceptor informs King Louis VII of France how Nur ad-Din crossed the Euphrates and with a huge army, including Persae, Turcomani and Ninivitae, and laid siege to Herennium on the borders of Antioch. Prince Bohemond of Antioch was captured and, together with the count of Tripoli, the dux Mamistrae, dominus Ugo de Leziniaco and many others, was incarcerated in Aleppo. 60 Templar milites were killed, together with fratres clientes and Turcopoli. Only 7 escaped. Frater Gaufredus fears for Antioch, which is short of arms, men and victuals; it has food supplies for only 2 months. The patriarch has taken over leadership. Antioch will resist the Turci, but cannot hold off the emperor of Constantinople without assistance. On 1 August King Amalric, who had invaded Egypt carrying with him the relic of the True Cross [sanctae crucis vexillum], besieged Syraco [Shirkuh], the conestabulus of Nur ad- Din in the city of Herbesium [Bilbais]. In Jerusalem the defenders are few when compared to the vast numbers of Turci. Assistance is badly needed. Frater Gaufredus warns King Louis not to expect other messengers from him, because with the king and master absent he dare not send more probi homines.
Late Aug. Frater Gaufredus Fulcherii Hierosolymitanae domus Templi preceptor informs King Louis VII of France how Nur ad-Din crossed the Euphrates and with a huge army, including Persae, Turcomani and Ninivitae, and laid siege to Herennium on the borders of Antioch. Prince Bohemond of Antioch was... more
sources: Bouquet, Recueil 16:62-63, no. 197 (RRH no. 404)