RRR: Correspondence/envoy
2382
year: 1240
initiator: Emperor Frederick II
recipient: King Henry III of England
text: Apr. 25. Foggia. The emperor Frederick writes to King Henry III of England, attributing the recent disastrous losses in the Holy Land to the pope’s organization of a crusade against his advice and promising to do what he can to persuade the sultan of Egypt to release the Christian prisoners-of-war.
Apr. 25. Foggia. The emperor Frederick writes to King Henry III of England, attributing the recent disastrous losses in the Holy Land to the pope’s organization of a crusade against his advice and promising to do what he can to persuade the sultan of Egypt to release the Christian prisoners-of-war.
sources: Matthew Paris, Chronica maiora 4:26-9 (RRH no. 1094)
RRR: Correspondence/envoy
2386
year: 1240
initiator: Pope Gregory IX
recipient: Prelates of the province of Jerusalem
text: [Jun. 22. Lateran. Pope Gregory IX informs the prelates of the province of Jerusalem that he has granted the papal legation to the patriarch, with authority over his province and also over the crusade.
[Jun. 22. Lateran. Pope Gregory IX informs the prelates of the province of Jerusalem that he has granted the papal legation to the patriarch, with authority over his province and also over the crusade.
sources: Gregory IX, Les Registres 3:270, no. 5229. Calendar entry].
RRR: Correspondence/envoy
2388
year: 1240
initiator: Pope Gregory IX
recipient: King of Navarre, counts, barons and other crusaders in the East
text: [Jun. 22. Lateran. Pope Gregory IX informs the king of Navarre, counts, barons and other crusaders in the East of the grant of the papal legation to the patriarch of Jerusalem.
[Jun. 22. Lateran. Pope Gregory IX informs the king of Navarre, counts, barons and other crusaders in the East of the grant of the papal legation to the patriarch of Jerusalem.
sources: Gregory IX, Les Registres 3:270-1, no. 5230. Calendar entry].
RRR: Correspondence/envoy
2400
year: 1241
initiator: Hermannus Petragoricensis, master of the Knights Templar
recipient: Pope Gregory IX
institution: Templars
text: Before Jun. 6. Pope Gregory IX has received a letter from the magister of the Knights Templar certifying that he has received the money left to the Holy Land by the late papal chaplain Egidio Veragli/Verraclio.
Before Jun. 6. Pope Gregory IX has received a letter from the magister of the Knights Templar certifying that he has received the money left to the Holy Land by the late papal chaplain Egidio Veragli/Verraclio.
sources: Gregory IX, Les Registres 3:519, no. 6050
RRR: Correspondence/envoy
2435
year: 1243
initiator: Emperor Frederick II
recipient: Thomas de Aquino regis Iherosolimitani balius et sacri imperii in partibus transmarinis legatus
institution: Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem
text: Aug. 31. Melfi. Frederick, dei gracia Romanorum imperator semper augustus Iherusalem et Sicile rex, records under seal that frater Goffridus Balianus, representing the magister and brothers of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem, came into his presence and asked that the castle of Ascalon be committed to the Order’s care and that it be repaid any necessary expenses. Mindful of the support the Order has given him overseas, Frederick agrees to this request. He has written to Thomas de Aquino regis Iherosolimitani balius et sacri imperii in partibus transmarinis legatus, ordering him to estimate first, by means of the testimony of one or two suitable subjects, what the expenses are, and then to commit the custody of the castle to the magister and brothers, with the commitment to repay the expenses, on his behalf and on that of his son Conrad, Romanorum in regem electus semper augustus et regni Iherosolimitani heres. If the Hospitallers of St John should lose the castle after an assault and long siege, and not through blame or negligence, their costs will be repaid.
Aug. 31. Melfi. Frederick, dei gracia Romanorum imperator semper augustus Iherusalem et Sicile rex, records under seal that frater Goffridus Balianus, representing the magister and brothers of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem, came into his presence and asked that the castle of Ascalon be... more
sources: Mayer, UKJ 3:1180-4, nos. 691-2 (RRH no. 1112)
RRR: Correspondence/envoy
2472
year: 1244
initiator: Guillelmus de Castro novo, master of the Hospital
recipient: Dominus M. de Merlai
text: Beginning of Nov. Frater G. de Novo Castro sanctae domus Jerusalem magister humilis et pauperum Christi custos informs dominus M. de Merlai of events in the Holy Land. He has already written to him about his dismay at the truce with the sultan of Damascus and Seisser sultan of Kerak, involving the return of most of the land west of the Jordan in return for an armed alliance against the sultan of Egypt. The allied forces mustered at Gaza. Meanwhile the patriarch of Jerusalem, who had just returned from the West, wished to visit Jerusalem and G. was to go with him. They were in Jerusalem when the land was invaded by the Khorezmians, who had been called in by the sultan of Egypt. They agreed to evacuate the city and lead the inhabitants to Jaffa. Misled into thinking that the city was secured, the people returned there, only to be besieged by the Khorezmians. 7000 men, women and young persons, who tried to flee, were massacred or enslaved. The Khorezmians killed those left in the city, including the monks, the old, and the debilitated, who had sought refuge on the church of the Holy Sepulchre. Referring to the bravery of the Christians, G. goes on to describe briefly the battle on 17 October [La Forbie], during which the Knights Templar and the Hospitallers of St John, summoned with others by the patriarch, fought the Khorezmians and Egyptians. Killed were the magister militiae Templi, the magister Hospitalis, the magistri of other Orders, together with their convents. Dominus Walterus comes de Bresna was captured and dominus Philippus de Muntforti was slain. Only 18 Knights Templar and 16 Hospitallers of St John escaped.
Beginning of Nov. Frater G. de Novo Castro sanctae domus Jerusalem magister humilis et pauperum Christi custos informs dominus M. de Merlai of events in the Holy Land. He has already written to him about his dismay at the truce with the sultan of Damascus and Seisser sultan of Kerak, involving the... more
sources: Matthew Paris, Chronica maiora 4:307-11 (RRH no. 1125)
RRR: Correspondence/envoy
2473
year: 1244
initiator: Patriarch Robert of Jerusalem, the papal legate, Henricus archiepiscopus Nazarenus, J. Cesariensis electus, R. episcopus Acconensis, Sydonensis episcopus, frater Guillermus de Rokaforti vicemagister domus militiae Templi and his order’s convent, H. prior Dominici Sepulchri, abbas Sancti Samuelis Praemonstratensis ordinis, B. abbas Montis Oliveti, J. abbas Templi Domini, P., abbas Montis Thabor and R. abbas Montis Syon
text: Nov. 25. Acre. In a general letter addressed under seal to the prelates and clergy in the kingdoms of France and England, Patriarch Robert of Jerusalem, the papal legate, Henricus archiepiscopus Nazarenus, J. Cesariensis electus, R. episcopus Acconensis, Sydonensis episcopus, frater Guillermus de Rokaforti vicemagister domus militiae Templi and his order’s convent, H. prior Dominici Sepulchri, abbas Sancti Samuelis Praemonstratensis ordinis, B. abbas Montis Oliveti, J. abbas Templi Domini, P., abbas Montis Thabor and R. abbas Montis Syon describe the disasters they have faced in the Holy Land: the invasion by way of Saphet and Tiberias of the nomadic Khorezmians, who had been expelled from their lands by the Mongols; their alliance with the sultan of Egypt; their occupation of the land from Turon Militum, near Jerusalem, to Gaza; the defensive alliance of the Christians, led by the magistri of the Knights Templar and the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem, the praeceptor of the Hospital of St Mary of the Germans and the nobles with the sultans of Damascus and Homs [Chamela]; the evacuation of the Christians from the city of Jerusalem, trusting in a truce with the sultan of Kerak and the rustici Sarraceni in the mountains, and their losses on the way to Ramla; the Khorezmian occupation of Jerusalem and massacre of those seeking refuge in the church of the Holy Sepulchre, which was vandalized, together with the tombs of the kings, the profanities at Mt Sion, the Templum Domini, St Mary of the Valley of Jehoshaphat and the church of the Nativity at Bethlehem. The patriarch and others describe the advance of the Christian army from Acre along the coast by way of Caesarea, the granting of an indulgence to the soldiers, and the battle before Gaza [La Forbie] on 17 October. Of the convents of the military orders, only 33 Knights Templar, 26 Hospitallers of St John and 3 Hospitallers of St Mary of the Germans escaped, as did the patriarch of Jerusalem, the constabularius Acconensis, Philippus de Monteforti and others who fled to Ascalon. Most nobles and knights were taken or killed. It is not known whether the archbishop of Tyre, the bishop of Ramla [episcopus Sancti Georgii], the abbas of St Mary of the Valley of Jehoshaphat, the magister of the Knights Templar, the praeceptor of the Hospital of St Mary of the Germans and many other churchmen have been killed or captured. The magister of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem and comes Galterus de Brena have been taken as prisoners to Cairo. The patriarch and others have sent letters to the king of Cyprus and the prince of Antioch, but do not know what response there has been. They are now in Acre, while the Khorezmians roam through the land as far as Nazareth and Saphet, dividing up the properties amongst themselves and exacting the rents. They have received letters from Ascalon, where the castellan and brothers of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem are being besieged by the Egyptians, appealing for assistance. Fearful that unless aid from Europe arrives on the next passage in March the land will be lost, the patriarch and others beseech for help. They are sending the bishop of Beirut and Arnulphus ordinis Praedicatorum, risking the dangers of a winter sailing, to explain the situation further.
Nov. 25. Acre. In a general letter addressed under seal to the prelates and clergy in the kingdoms of France and England, Patriarch Robert of Jerusalem, the papal legate, Henricus archiepiscopus Nazarenus, J. Cesariensis electus, R. episcopus Acconensis, Sydonensis episcopus, frater Guillermus de... more
sources: Matthew Paris, Chronica maiora 4:337-344; see also ‘Annales monasterii. Burtonensis’, pp. 257-63 (RRH no. 1127)
RRR: Correspondence/envoy
2474
year: 1244
initiator: Emperor Frederick II
text: Nov. 1-30? In a general letter addressed to all princes, the emperor Frederick II reports that he has received letters brought by frater S., an emissary of Patriarch Albert of Antioch, describing the switching of alliances from Egypt to the sultans of Damascus and Kerak, the invasion of the Khorezmians, the mustering of the Christian army on the borders of Egypt at Gaza, the arrival of the patriarch of Jerusalem, the evacuation of the inhabitants of the city of Jerusalem under the magistri of the Hospital of St Mary of the Germans, the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem and the Knights Templar, their return, the Khorezmian assault on the city and the massacre of the inhabitants, including those who had sought refuge in the church of the Holy Sepulchre. He blames this turn of events on the abandonment of the policy of R. comes Cornubie who, together with the magistri of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem and St Mary of the Germans, was acting on behalf of King Conrad.
Nov. 1-30? In a general letter addressed to all princes, the emperor Frederick II reports that he has received letters brought by frater S., an emissary of Patriarch Albert of Antioch, describing the switching of alliances from Egypt to the sultans of Damascus and Kerak, the invasion of the... more
sources: Huillard-Bréholles 6/1:236-40 (RRH no. 1126)
RRR: Correspondence/envoy
2476
year: 1244
initiator: Henry, rex Cipri
recipient: Emperor Frederick II
text: End of the year. King Henry of Cyprus writes to the emperor Frederick, begging for assistance for the Holy Land and commending his emissary, A.
End of the year. King Henry of Cyprus writes to the emperor Frederick, begging for assistance for the Holy Land and commending his emissary, A.
sources: Huillard-Bréholles 6/2:914-915 (RRH no. 1128)
RRR: Correspondence/envoy
2457
year: 1244
initiator: Abbot Boniface and the community of Cîteaux
recipient: Eustorgius Nicosiensis archiepiscopus
text: Mar. 1-31. Abbot Boniface and the community of Cîteaux write under seal to Eustorgius archiepiscopus Nicosiensis and his chapter, thanking them for their agreement to the establishment of an abbey of Cistercian nuns, saving the rights of the church of Nicosia with regard to tithes and burials. The new abbey has been founded by domina A., the widow of dominus Philippus de Ybellino. It is situated in Nicosia, between the houses of the Dominicans and the Franciscans.
Mar. 1-31. Abbot Boniface and the community of Cîteaux write under seal to Eustorgius archiepiscopus Nicosiensis and his chapter, thanking them for their agreement to the establishment of an abbey of Cistercian nuns, saving the rights of the church of Nicosia with regard to tithes and burials. The... more
sources: Coureas and Schabel, The Cartulary, p. 170, no. 64 (RRH no. 1117)