RRR: Correspondence/envoy
1229
year: 1187
initiator: Leaders of the Latin East
recipient: Emperor Frederick I
text: Late Jul. The leaders in the Latin East [principes transmarinae ecclesiae et ceteri christianae professionis homines] write to the emperor Frederick I, who circulates their letter on Nov. 23. They narrate how on 1 May frater Gyrardus de Ridefort magister miliciae Templi, with frater Hurso, Templi senescalcus, frater Robbertus Frauiel mareschalcus, frater Laquelinus de Male, miles, frater Rogerius de Molina magister Hospitalis and other brothers, on their way to Tiberias to negotiate a end to a dispute between the count of Tripoli and the king of Jerusalem, met an army of Turci, who had invaded the land of Nazareth as far as Acre. Confident of victory, they sortied from the castle of the Knights Templar called Faba and met the enemy at Casel Robert. They were defeated. The master of the Hospital, frater Robbertus Frauiel and frater Laquelinus de Mali and many others were killed. Saladin, having devastated the land, returned to Damascus. Collecting an army, he camped at the pons Tyberiadis. Then he invaded and besieged Tiberias, taking the city after three days. The king of Jerusalem, encamped with his army at fons Saforiae, decided to relieve Tiberias. In the battle [of Hattin] that ensued, Bernardus Liddensis episcopus and Rufinus Achornensis episcopus, who carried the relic of the [True] Cross, were killed. The Cross was taken. The king, the master of the Knights Templar and Aymericus, the king’s brother and constable, were captured, as was princeps Reynaldus, who was murdered by Saladin himself. Many others were killed; including Templars and Hospitallers. The leaders appeal for assistance.
Late Jul. The leaders in the Latin East [principes transmarinae ecclesiae et ceteri christianae professionis homines] write to the emperor Frederick I, who circulates their letter on Nov. 23. They narrate how on 1 May frater Gyrardus de Ridefort magister miliciae Templi, with frater Hurso, Templi... more
sources: ‘Hugonis chronici continuatio Weingartensis’, p. 475 (RRH no. 658)