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RRR:
Correspondence/envoy
1858
year: 1220
initiator: Petrus de Monteacuto, master of the Knights Templar
recipient: Bishop N. of Ely
text: Sept. 20. Acre. Frater Petrus de Monteacuto magister militum Templi informs Bishop N. of Ely [Elimensis episcopus] [322] that enough peregrini reached Egypt on the passage after the capture of Damietta and the castle of Taphneos to defend Damietta and the castles. The papal legate and the clergy wanted to launch a campaign against the infidel, but the secular leaders of the army [barones exercitus] refused, because they did not believe there were enough troops both to engage the enemy and garrison the cities and castles. Meanwhile the sultan of Egypt has fortified a camp not far from Damietta and has built bridges to obstruct any Christian advance. The Saraceni armed galeiae and in September began to obstruct the Christian lines of communications at sea. In spite of a lack of funds, which made it hard for the Christians to maintain their fleet, the Christians armed galeiae, galiones and other vessels [vasa] to resist them. Coradinus, the sultan of Damascus, knowing that the cities of Acre and Tyre were denuded of warriors and people, launched an assault and besieged and took castrum Peregrinorum, although there were many peregrini in Acre. Meanwhile Seraph, the son of Saphadinus and the brother of the sultans of Egypt and Damascus, has prevailed in warfare against eastern Saraceni, although he could not overcome all of them easily. Given the threat he poses to Antioch and Tripoli, Acre and Egypt, and the Templar castles, the dissension among the Saraceni is a comfort to the Christians. The emperor has been expected, but if he does not come during the next summer, either Syria or Egypt will be threatened. Help is desperately needed soon. Sept. 20. Acre. Frater Petrus de Monteacuto magister militum Templi informs Bishop N. of Ely [Elimensis episcopus] [322] that enough peregrini reached Egypt on the passage after the capture of Damietta and the castle of Taphneos to defend Damietta and the castles. The papal legate and the clergy... more
sources: Roger of Wendower 4:72-5 (RRH no. 936)
comments: [322] For the identification, see Claverie, L’ordre du Temple 3:457.

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