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
1839
year: 1220
initiator: Pope Honorius III
recipient: Patriarch of Jerusalem, the king of Jerusalem and the magistri of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem, the Knights Templar and the Hospital of St Mary of the Germans
text: [Feb. 24. Pope Honorius III congratulates the patriarch of Jerusalem, the king of Jerusalem and the magistri of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem, the Knights Templar and the Hospital of St Mary of the Germans on the capture of Damietta and encourages them to respect the decisions of the papal legate.
[Feb. 24. Pope Honorius III congratulates the patriarch of Jerusalem, the king of Jerusalem and the magistri of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem, the Knights Templar and the Hospital of St Mary of the Germans on the capture of Damietta and encourages them to respect the decisions of the papal... more
sources: Claverie, L’ordre du Temple 3:94, no. 64. Calendar entry].
RRR: Correspondence/envoy
1868
year: 1220
initiator: Ricardus de Jerico
recipient: ‘Manasses’
text: † *(1220). A letter, said to have been written by Ricardus de Jerico to ‘Manasses’, reports that the crusade army, accompanied by the patriarcha [of Jerusalem], who carried the relic of the True Cross, episcopus Acconensis, legatus papae, Bethleemitanus episcopus, Nazarenus episcopus, Damiatinus episcopus, magister Oliverius, prior de valle Josaphat and Aquilejensis patriarcha, heavily defeated the rex Barbariae on Ascension Day, killing 148000 enemies and imprisoning the rex Barbariae with 100 satrapi in castellum Meregardi. The Christians were offered tribute, 8 castles and Christian captives held in 6 cities. At Pentecost the queen of Persia, together with 400000 women and the wife of the caliph in Baghdad, and Sephadinus with 300 princes were baptized. Alexandria was besieged 8 days before Pentecost. The bishop of Damietta has a revenue of 1000 talenta and has established 40 canons, each prebend being worth 100 talenta. [The monastery of] St Catherine was taken on the Feast of SS.Philip and James.
† *(1220). A letter, said to have been written by Ricardus de Jerico to ‘Manasses’, reports that the crusade army, accompanied by the patriarcha [of Jerusalem], who carried the relic of the True Cross, episcopus Acconensis, legatus papae, Bethleemitanus episcopus, Nazarenus episcopus, Damiatinus... more
sources: Röhricht, Studien, pp. 48-9, no. 9 (RRH no. 939)
RRR: Correspondence/envoy
1840
year: 1220
initiator: James of Vitry
recipient: Pope Honorius III, master John of Nivelles, the abbess and convent of Aywières
text: Spring. [319] James of Vitry [I. Acconensis ecclesie minister/Acconensis episcopus] informs Pope Honorius III, master John of Nivelles, the abbess and convent of Aywières and others of the fall of Damietta to the crusaders. He narrates how the Sarraceni offered to return the relic of the True Cross, and all the land, together with Jerusalem and all captives, and promised to subsidize the refortification of Jerusalem and to return the castles of Turo, in the territory of Tyre, Sephet, Beaufort and Belinas, the walls of which thay had destroyed. They wished to retain Craccus and Mons Regalis, for which they would pay an annual rent. Many of the peregrini wanted to accept this offer, but others suspected fraud, especially the Knights Templar, the Hospitallers of St John of Jerusalem, the Hospitallers of St Mary of the Germans, the papal legate, the patriarch, archbishops, bishops and all the clergy, who feared that the withdrawal of the crusaders would encourage the Muslims to recover the land, Jerusalem, Mons Thabor and other castles. And they did not believe that the Muslims had the True Cross. James describes how in the midst of these debates the city was entered and surrendered to the crusaders without resistance. He describes the dreadful conditions in Damietta and its purification. A basilica and churches were established [out of mosques], but because of looting, the withdrawal of money by the Muslims or its casting into the river, only 400000 besants could be collected for division. 400 of the more eminent Muslims were kept in captivity to be ransomed, but others were sold into slavery and more than 500 were baptized. With the agreement of the peregrini, the papal legate incorporated the city into the kingdom of Jerusalem and its houses and towers were divided among the peregrini according to nationhood. The city of Thanei with its castle also fell into Christian hands, to be granted suffragan status under Damietta. James eulogizes the crusaders. He returns to a Muslim assault that he had described in an earlier letter, in which there were more than 1000 Christian losses and the electus Belvacensis, frater eius Andreas de Nantuel, Iohannes de Archies miles strenuus, Andreas de Espoisse, Galterus camerarius regis Francie, filius eius vicecomes Bellimontis, frater Andegavensis episcopi, Odo de Castellione and many others were captured. James himself had joined a Christian sortie, unarmed and accompanying the papal legate who carried the relic of the True Cross, but was unharmed. He dwells on the difficulty of besieging Damietta. He asks for prayers. In the copy of his letter to the pope he tries to estimate the number of defenders and inhabitants of Damietta. In the copies of his letter to John of Nivelles and the abbess of Aywières he reports that Dominus Reinerus prior sancti Michaelis, Colinus Anglicus clericus noster and two of James’s companions, magister Michael and domnus Matheus, to whom James had given care of the church of the Holy Cross [in Acre], have joined the Order of Friars Minor [Franciscans]. With difficulty James has retained the services of [I. de Cameracho] the cantor, Henricus [senescalcus ecclesie Acconensis] and others. He describes the spread of the Order of Friars Minor and how the magister and founder of the Order [Francis] preached to the Muslims and to the sultan of Egypt himself. In the copy of his letter to John of Nivelles he adds greetings from his companions O. de Dionanto, I. de Cameracho his cantor and Henricus senescalcus ecclesie Acconensis. He reports that he is ill and sends 2 little boys, saved from a fire in Egypt, together with silk cloth and other letters. He asks John to show his letter to the abbot of Villers and other friends.
Spring. [319] James of Vitry [I. Acconensis ecclesie minister/Acconensis episcopus] informs Pope Honorius III, master John of Nivelles, the abbess and convent of Aywières and others of the fall of Damietta to the crusaders. He narrates how the Sarraceni offered to return the relic of the True... more
sources: James of Vitry, Lettres, pp. 123-33, no. 6 (RRH no. 928)
RRR: Correspondence/envoy
1848
year: 1220
initiator: Pope Honorius III
recipient: Cardinal Pelagius of Albano, the papal legate
text: Jul. 24. Orvieto. Pope Honorius III informs cardinal Pelagius of Albano, the papal legate, of the sums of money he is sending out, drawn from the redemption of vows and the crusade tax levied on the church. He specifies very large sums, carried, or to be carried, by the following named individuals: [321] Cardinal Pelagius, himself, the brothers of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem and the Knights Templar, the bishop of Bethlehem, the brothers of the Hospital of St Mary of the Germans, Matheus de Sancta Cecilia scriptor papae et camerarius Pelagii, the patriarch of Antioch, comes Iacobus marescalcus papae, Otto de Machilon, Iohannes de Gizo canonicus Sancti Petri Romae, frater Octo domus sancta Marie Theotonicorum Ierosolimitane, Hugo de Sancto Georgio, Iohannes de Novill, Gerardus de Soturririo frater militie Templi, Rogerius Anglicus de vico Angli frater militie Templi, magister Accontius capellanus papae and the bishop of Lausanne. The pope hopes that the emperor Frederick II, to be crowned at Michaelmas, will leave for the East soon afterwards.
Jul. 24. Orvieto. Pope Honorius III informs cardinal Pelagius of Albano, the papal legate, of the sums of money he is sending out, drawn from the redemption of vows and the crusade tax levied on the church. He specifies very large sums, carried, or to be carried, by the following named individuals... more
sources: Rodenberg, Epistolae 1:88-91, no. 124
RRR: Correspondence/envoy
1849
year: 1220
initiator: Pope Honorius III
recipient: Genoese
text: Jul. 27. Orvieto. Pope Honorius III writes to the Genoese, reporting that King John of Jerusalem and others have complained about the Genoese behaviour at Damietta.
Jul. 27. Orvieto. Pope Honorius III writes to the Genoese, reporting that King John of Jerusalem and others have complained about the Genoese behaviour at Damietta.
sources: Rodenberg, Epistolae 1:91, no. 125
RRR: Correspondence/envoy
1850
year: 1220
initiator: Cardinal Pelagius of Albano, the papal legate
recipient: Pope Honorius III
text: Jul. 28. Orvieto. Pope Honorius III reports the reception of a letter from Cardinal Pelagius, the papal legate, informing him of Muslim reinforcements from Baghdad [Baldac] and the weakness of the crusade army.
Jul. 28. Orvieto. Pope Honorius III reports the reception of a letter from Cardinal Pelagius, the papal legate, informing him of Muslim reinforcements from Baghdad [Baldac] and the weakness of the crusade army.
sources: Rodenberg, Epistolae 1:91-2, no. 126
RRR: Correspondence/envoy
1853
year: 1220
initiator: Pope Honorius III
recipient: Magistri and brothers of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem and the Knights Templar
institution: Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem
additional institution: Templars
text: Aug. 24. Orvieto. Pope Honorius III informs the magistri and brothers of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem and the Knights Templar that some inhabitants of Gaeta, sailing to Damietta, were driven by the winds to Alexandria and imprisoned. He asks them to arrange for their freedom either by ransoming or by the exchange of prisoners.
Aug. 24. Orvieto. Pope Honorius III informs the magistri and brothers of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem and the Knights Templar that some inhabitants of Gaeta, sailing to Damietta, were driven by the winds to Alexandria and imprisoned. He asks them to arrange for their freedom either by... more
sources: Rodenberg, Epistolae 1:98, no. 135
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)
RRR: Correspondence/envoy
1859
year: 1220
initiator: P. Cesariensis archiepiscopus, H. Nazarenus archiepiscopus, R. Bethlemitanus episcopus, M. abbas Templi Domini, J. abbas Montis Sion, R. abbas Vallis Josaphath, D. abbas Montis Oliveti, A. abbas Montis Thabor and F. abbas Sancte Marie de Latina
recipient: King Philip II of France
text: Oct. 1. Acre. P. Cesariensis archiepiscopus, H. Nazarenus archiepiscopus, R. Bethlemitanus episcopus, M. abbas Templi Domini, J. abbas Montis Sion, R. abbas Vallis Josaphath, D. abbas Montis Oliveti, A. abbas Montis Thabor and F. abbas Sancte Marie de Latina inform King Philip II of France of the poverty and desolation of the Holy Land. The Christians hold only the cities of Tyre and Acre, outside which Corradinus is cutting down trees and vines and destroying casalia and houses, so that nothing remains but a few viridaria close to the walls of Acre and Tyre. Milites, citizens [cives] and people are reduced to such misery that many are fleeing to Cyprus, [Cilician] Armenia and other countries to beg for help. The city of Tyre is deserted and only the king and his army maintains custody of it and Acre, but the expenses of this obligation are so great that he is himself reduced to poverty. The city revenues have declined to nothing, because the merchants are no longer coming with their merchandise. The pilgrim traffic has dried up. Nearly every one has gone to Damietta, but it has been poverty that has forced the king to leave the army [in Egypt] and return to Acre. All the revenues of the cities are pledged to creditors and the king cannot find any one to change his money. They appeal to the king of France for assistance.
Oct. 1. Acre. P. Cesariensis archiepiscopus, H. Nazarenus archiepiscopus, R. Bethlemitanus episcopus, M. abbas Templi Domini, J. abbas Montis Sion, R. abbas Vallis Josaphath, D. abbas Montis Oliveti, A. abbas Montis Thabor and F. abbas Sancte Marie de Latina inform King Philip II of France of the... more
sources: Delaborde, Chartes, pp. 123-5 (RRH no. 937)