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)
RRR: Correspondence/envoy
1863
year: 1220
initiator: Cardinal Pelagius of Albano, the papal legate
recipient: Pope Honorius III
text: Nov. 27. Pope Honorius III reports receiving a letter from Cardinal Pelagius of Albano, describing the weakness of the Christian army at Damietta and the many defections from it.
Nov. 27. Pope Honorius III reports receiving a letter from Cardinal Pelagius of Albano, describing the weakness of the Christian army at Damietta and the many defections from it.
sources: Rodenberg, Epistolae 1:104-5, no. 146
RRR: Correspondence/envoy
1888
year: 1221
initiator: Oliver of Paderborn
recipient: Egyptian theologians
text: Sept. 1-30. Oliver of Paderborn tries to persuade Egyptian theologians of the truth of Christianity.
Sept. 1-30. Oliver of Paderborn tries to persuade Egyptian theologians of the truth of Christianity.
sources: Oliver of Paderborn, ‘Briefe’, pp. 307-14, no. 6; also ed. Röhricht, ‘Die Briefe’, pp. 202-6, no.6 (RRH no. 948)
RRR: Correspondence/envoy
1872
year: 1221
initiator: James of Vitry
recipient: Pope Honorius III, Abbot Walter of Villers, Master John of Nivelles, his brothers and friends at and near Oignies, Duke Leopold of Austria, Stephen dean of Paris, Philip chancellor of Paris, all the masters and scholars living in Paris
text: Apr. 18. [323] James of Vitry [Iacobus Acconensis ecclesie minister/Acconensis episcopus] writes to Pope Honorius III, Abbot Walter of Villers, Master John of Nivelles, his brothers and friends at and near Oignies, Duke Leopold of Austria, Stephen dean of Paris, Philip chancellor of Paris, all the masters and scholars living in Paris, and his friends everywhere. He continues his account of events at Damietta. He dwells on bad behaviour in the Christian army, dissensions, the departures of the king of Jerusalem, the magister of the Knights Templar with most of his brothers, nearly all the French [Francigene] milites, the patriarch of Jerusalem, the Cypriots and nearly all the settlers in the Latin East, which gravely weaken the crusade, although comes Matheus from Sicily remains with milites retained at his own expense. The Christians remain in Damietta. The sultan of Egypt and his army are not far off and threaten them. James describes the dangers attached to the raiding expeditions of milites and Turcopoles, particularly from Beduini, the imprisonment of more than 3000 Christian captives, taken not only in battle but by Muslim pirates at sea, in Alexandria, Cairo and Damascus, combats between Christians and Muslims, Christian deserters and their treatment by the Sarraceni. He records how the sultan of Egypt persuaded his brother Coradinus, the sultan of Damascus, to besiege the new castle near Acre called Castrum Peregrinum, leading to many leaving Damietta to go to the castle’s relief and the refusal of those in Acre to travel to Egypt. The sultan also ordered another brother called Saleph, who was prince of Calaph in terra Assyriorum, to raid Antioch and Tripoli, with the result that no help is to be had from the principality or county, while Muslim galleys impede the transport of peregrini and merchandise and deprive the crusade of assistance from Cyprus. Muslim attacks on Thaneos and Damietta have increased. There has been an outburst of Christian fervour, so that the army has become like a monastery [quasi claustrum monachorum], and moral and sumptuary sanctions have been imposed, including the expulsion, whipping and branding of prostitutes and fines for tavern drinking or gambling. James describes the enormous efforts made at port and fortification construction, especially as suitable stone can only be found in Cyprus and Syria. The Christians now have 4 fortifications in Egypt: Damietta, Thanis, Turonum in sabulo and castrum Butavant, which is surrounded by water. Meanwhile the Sarraceni are weakened by dissension and fear the approach of David rex Indorum, commonly known as Prester John [presbyter Iohannes]. James incorporates a history of the deeds and conquests of David/Presbyter Iohannes, which he says has been translated from Arabic into Latin and had been brought to the count of Tripoli by merchants carrying spices and precious stones from the East. He has heard that David, who intends to subdue all the Muslim lands, has sent 3 armies, one to the land of Calaph [Aleppo] held by the brother of the sultan of Egypt, one to Baldach [Baghdad] and the third towards Mausa [Mosul], which used to be called Nineveh and is only 15 days’ march from Antioch. James had heard that some Christian prisoners were sent to Baghdad and on to King David, who, when he knew they were Christians, returned them to Antioch. James describes the consternation among the Muslims, the release to the crusade of the electus Belvacensis, frater eius, vicecomes Bellimontis, Iohannes de Archies, Odo de Castellione, Andreas de Espoisse and some Knights Templars, Hospitallers of St John of Jerusalem and Hospitallers of St Mary of Germans, with renewed offers of a truce. The crusaders are also glad to hear that the emperor Frederick II was arriving with a large army in the following August. James writes that an Arabic book of prophecy, which has come into his possession, prophesies the successes of Saladin and the Third Crusade and foretells future Christian successes in Egypt and Syria and the liberation of Jerusalem. For him this message is reinforced by an apocryphal gospel, provided by the Suriani, containing similar prophecies. James has used it, the news of King David and the planned arrival of the emperor Frederick, to preach a comforting sermon to the crusaders in Egypt.
Apr. 18. [323] James of Vitry [Iacobus Acconensis ecclesie minister/Acconensis episcopus] writes to Pope Honorius III, Abbot Walter of Villers, Master John of Nivelles, his brothers and friends at and near Oignies, Duke Leopold of Austria, Stephen dean of Paris, Philip chancellor of Paris, all the... more
sources: James of Vitry, Lettres, pp. 134-53, no. 7 (RRH no. 941)
RRR: Correspondence/envoy
1874
year: 1221
initiator: John of Brienne
recipient: Countess Blanche of Champagne and her son Thibaut
text: April. 11-30. Acre. King John of Jerusalem writes to Countess Blanche of Champagne and her son Thibaut, requesting that they put his nephew Walter, the son of Count Walter of Brienne, in possession of the county of Brienne, which he has inherited.
April. 11-30. Acre. King John of Jerusalem writes to Countess Blanche of Champagne and her son Thibaut, requesting that they put his nephew Walter, the son of Count Walter of Brienne, in possession of the county of Brienne, which he has inherited.
sources: Layettes du trésor des chartes 1:516, no. 1446 (RRH no. 943)
RRR: Correspondence/envoy
1878
year: 1221
initiator: Pope Honorius III
recipient: Cardinal Pelagius of Albano, the papal legate, the Knights Templar, the Hospitallers of St John, the magister and brothers of the Hospital of St Mary of the Germans and the archbishop of Bordeaux
text: Jun. 20. Lateran. Pope Honorius III informs Cardinal Pelagius of Albano, the papal legate, the Knights Templar, the Hospitallers of St John, the magister and brothers of the Hospital of St Mary of the Germans and the archbishop of Bordeaux that the emperor Frederick has promised to cross to the East in the following March passagium and that further men and money, including a force led by the marquis of Montferrat, are expected.
Jun. 20. Lateran. Pope Honorius III informs Cardinal Pelagius of Albano, the papal legate, the Knights Templar, the Hospitallers of St John, the magister and brothers of the Hospital of St Mary of the Germans and the archbishop of Bordeaux that the emperor Frederick has promised to cross to the... more
sources: Claverie, Honorius, pp. 366-8, no. 54
RRR: Correspondence/envoy
1880
year: 1221
initiator: Pope Honorius III
recipient: Archbishop and chapter of the church of Apamea
text: Jul. 9. Lateran. Replying to an appeal from the archbishop and chapter of the church of Apamea, Pope Honorius III commiserates with them over the loss of their possessions. They fear that in the legal cases they bring against Christian clergy and laity, who are occupying their properties, the evidence of Suriani or Armeni will be inadmissable in the face of evidence from Franks [Francigenae]. He allows the chapter to make use of Graeci, Suriani, Armeni and generally all Christian faithful as witnesses. He writes in the same way to the patriarch and chapter of the church of Antioch.
Jul. 9. Lateran. Replying to an appeal from the archbishop and chapter of the church of Apamea, Pope Honorius III commiserates with them over the loss of their possessions. They fear that in the legal cases they bring against Christian clergy and laity, who are occupying their properties, the... more
sources: Claverie, Honorius, pp. 369-70, no. 56
RRR: Correspondence/envoy
1885
year: 1221
initiator: P. de Albeneio
recipient: Earl of Chester
text: After Sept. 10. P. de Albeneio [325] writes to his friend the earl of Chester [comes Cestriae et Lincolniae]. After a sea-voyage from Marseille to Damietta, he arrived to hear of the disastrous campaign, undertaken by the king of Jerusalem, who, he had heard, was opposed to it, the papal legate, the duke of Bavaria, the Knights Templars and Hospitallers of St John of Jerusalem, who led 1000 milites crucesignati, another 5000 milites and 40000 foot soldiers [pedites]. He describes how the army became trapped between Damietta and Cairo [Babylonia], how, under attack from the sultan and his brother Conradinus, it was forced to withdraw with the Nile in flood, how it lost many dead and captured and was compelled to exchange hostages and make a truce of 8 years with the sultan, involving the return of Damietta and all captives. He decided to journey to Acre, which he reached on 9 September. Damietta was formally surrendered on the following day. He reports that the king of Jerusalem intends to visit the West for assistance.
After Sept. 10. P. de Albeneio [325] writes to his friend the earl of Chester [comes Cestriae et Lincolniae]. After a sea-voyage from Marseille to Damietta, he arrived to hear of the disastrous campaign, undertaken by the king of Jerusalem, who, he had heard, was opposed to it, the papal legate,... more
sources: Roger of Wendover 4:75-7
RRR: Correspondence/envoy
1886
year: 1221
initiator: Petrus de Monteacuto, master of the Knights Templar
recipient: Frater A. Martel, locum praeceptoris militum Templi tenens in Anglia
text: Mid Sept. Acre. Frater P. de Monte-acuto militum Templi magister informs frater A. Martel, locum praeceptoris [militum Templi] tenens in Anglia, of the disastrous events in Egypt that followed the fall of Damietta. A council, comprising the papal legate, the duke of Bavaria, who represented the emperor and wanted to advance, the magistri of the Knights Templar, the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem and the Hospital of St Mary of the Germans, counts, barones and all the rest unanimously agreed to go on to the offensive. The king of Jerusalem, who had been summoned, came with his barones and armed galeiae and naves. On 30 June the king, the legate and the army marched to meet the sultan. They reached his camp, established in the middle of the Nile, and prepared to build bridges, but their numbers were reduced by 10,000 men or more by crusaders leaving without permission. The sultan’s galeiae, taking advantage of the flooding of the Nile, cut of the Christians’ line of communication and provisions. The Christians decided to retire, but were blocked by the forces of the sultan’s brothers, Seraph sultan of Aleppo and Coradinus sultan of Damascus, together with the sultans of Homs, Hamah,and Coilanbar. The Christians, deprived of provisions that had been lost in the river, and impeded by the Nile flood, were forced to make a truce. They surrendered Damietta and any prisoners [esclavi] that could be found in Tyre and Acre in return for the relic of the True Cross and Christian prisoners [esclavi] in the kingdoms of Egypt and Damascus. When the Christian leaders disclosed the terms, the bishop of Acre, the cancellarius and Henricus comes de Malta were displeased and wished to defend Damietta, but this proved to be impossible. The Christians agreed to a truce of 8 years with the sultan of Egypt, who supplied them with food.
Mid Sept. Acre. Frater P. de Monte-acuto militum Templi magister informs frater A. Martel, locum praeceptoris [militum Templi] tenens in Anglia, of the disastrous events in Egypt that followed the fall of Damietta. A council, comprising the papal legate, the duke of Bavaria, who represented the... more
sources: Roger of Wendower 4:77-9 (RRH no. 946)