RRR: Correspondence/envoy
2132
year: 1229
initiator: Philip of Novara
recipient: Counestable in Acre
text: *After Jul.14. After the victory over the emperor Frederick’s forces at Nicosia, Philip of Novara sends from Cyprus a song he has written to the counestable in Acre.
*After Jul.14. After the victory over the emperor Frederick’s forces at Nicosia, Philip of Novara sends from Cyprus a song he has written to the counestable in Acre.
sources: Philip of Novara, Guerra, pp. 120-2
RRR: Correspondence/envoy
2100
year: 1229
initiator: Patriarch Gerald of Jerusalem
recipient: Pope Gregory IX
text: After Feb. 18. The patriarch of Jerusalem sends Pope Gregory IX a transcript of selected clauses [in old French] of the the emperor Frederick’s truce with Sultan al-Kamil, accompanied by his criticisms of them. They are (1) the surrender of the city of Jerusalem to Frederick or his baillis; (2) the reservation of the Temple area to Sarrazins and to the practice of Islam. (3); a Sarrazin can freely pilgrimage to Bethlehem; (4) Franks cannot visit the Temple unless they profess Islam; (5) Sarrazins in Jerusalem will be subject to their own jurisdiction; (6), (7) and (8) the emperor is bound to lend no aid to any Frank engaged in warfare against Sarrazins and to defend al-Kamil; (9) Tripoli and its land, le Chrach, Castel Blanc, Tortose, Margat and Antioch are outside the truce and the emperor will not allow any help being sent to them.
After Feb. 18. The patriarch of Jerusalem sends Pope Gregory IX a transcript of selected clauses [in old French] of the the emperor Frederick’s truce with Sultan al-Kamil, accompanied by his criticisms of them. They are (1) the surrender of the city of Jerusalem to Frederick or his baillis; (2) the... more
sources: Rodenberg, Epistolae 1:296-8, no. 380
RRR: Correspondence/envoy
2101
year: 1229
initiator: Hermannus, master of the Hospital of Saint Mary of the Germans
recipient: Pope Gregory IX
text: Mar. 7-17. Frater H. Hospitalis sancta Marie domus Theutonicorum in Ierusalem minister reports to Pope Gregory IX on events in the Holy Land since the arrival of the emperor Frederick in autumn 1228. He describes how on 15 November the emperor with his army reached Jaffa to refortify its castle and prepare for an advance on Jerusalem. They were hindered by a lack of pack animals [somarii] and by bad weather that was preventing provisioning by sea, although eventually the weather eased. While work continued on the fortifications, messengers passed between the emperor and the sultan of Egypt, who was camping at Gaza with his brother Seraph, while the sultan of Damascus was established at Nablus. The sultan of Egypt restored Jerusalem to the emperor, except only the Templum Domini, which would be open to those of both sides wishing to pray there. The sultan also restored villa Sancti Georgii [Lydda] with the casalia on either side of the road to Jerusalem; Bethlehem with the casalia between it and Jerusalem; Nazareth with the casalia on either side of the road to Acre; castrum Tyronis; and the city of Sidon. The Christians can refortify Jerusalem, Jaffa, Caesarea and the new castle of Montfort, belonging to the Hospital of St Mary of the Germans. The sultan promises not to refortify castles or build new ones until the end of the truce. All prisoners taken by either side at Damietta will be returned. The emperor went to Jerusalem and wore his crown. Frater Leonardus reached Jaffa on 7 March, bringing disturbing news of events on Europe. The archiepiscopus Reginus will provide the pope with further reports.
Mar. 7-17. Frater H. Hospitalis sancta Marie domus Theutonicorum in Ierusalem minister reports to Pope Gregory IX on events in the Holy Land since the arrival of the emperor Frederick in autumn 1228. He describes how on 15 November the emperor with his army reached Jaffa to refortify its castle and... more
sources: MGH Leges 2:161-2, no. 121 (RRH no. 999)
RRR: Correspondence/envoy
2102
year: 1229
initiator: Emperor Frederick II
recipient: Pope Gregory IX
text: Mar. 18. Jerusalem. Frederick, Dei gratia Romanorum imperator semper augustus Ierusalem et Sicilie rex, writes to Pope Gregory IX, copying the letter for general circulation, including a copy sent to the king of England. He praises God for his achievements in the Holy Land. He describes, in the same terms as the magister of the Hospital of St Mary of the Germans, how he reached Jaffa on 15 November to refortify its castle and prepare for an advance on Jerusalem. He was hindered by a lack of pack animals [equitaturi] and by bad weather that was preventing provisioning by sea, although eventually the weather eased. While work continued on the fortifications, messengers passed between the emperor and the sultan of Egypt, who was camping at Gaza with his brother Scharaph, while the sultan of Damascus was established at Nablus. The sultan of Egypt restored Jerusalem to the emperor, with all the land descending down to Jaffa, except only for the Templum Domini, which would be open to Muslims wishing to pray there, alhough they must visit without weapons. He also restored Bethlehem with the land between it and Jerusalem; Nazareth with the land between it and Acre; all the terra Toronis; and the city of Sidon, the port of which had been a transit between Damascus and Egypt. The Christians can refortify Jerusalem, Jaffa, Sidon, Caesarea and the castle belonging to the Hospital of St Mary of the Germans in the mountains of Acre. The sultan promises not to refortify castles or build new ones until the end of the truce, which will last for 10 years. The truce was confirmed by oath on 18 February. On the advice of the patriarch of Jerusalem and the magistri and brothers of the [military orders], the emperor will inform the pope personally when he returns to Europe. Meanwhile he entered Jerusalem on 17 March, wore his crown and gave orders for the rebuilding of the city, which he proposes to refortify. The sultan will return all Christian prisoners, including those taken at Damietta.
Mar. 18. Jerusalem. Frederick, Dei gratia Romanorum imperator semper augustus Ierusalem et Sicilie rex, writes to Pope Gregory IX, copying the letter for general circulation, including a copy sent to the king of England. He praises God for his achievements in the Holy Land. He describes, in the... more
sources: MGH Leges 2:162-7 (RRH no. 1000)
RRR: Correspondence/envoy
2103
year: 1229
initiator: Hermannus, master of the Hospital of Saint Mary of the Germans
text: After Mar. 19. Frater H. Hospitalis sancta Marie domus Teutonicorum in Ierusalem minister describes for an unknown correspondent the entry of the emperor Frederick into Jerusalem on 17 March and his self-coronation on the 18th in the presence of the Panormitanus archiepiscopus, Capuanus archiepiscopus and many others and, at length, the justificatory speech made by Frater H himself in both Latin and German. He reports that on the following day the archbishop of Caesarea, who had been sent by the patriarch, placed the church of the Holy Sepulchre and all the Holy Places under an interdict. He describes the fury of the army and the anger of the emperor, who, after ordering the rebuilding of the city, returned to Jaffa. Frater H. understands that the interdict had been placed, because the Templum Domini had been left in the hands of the Sarraceni, even though the emperor’s homines guard the gates to the Temple area.
After Mar. 19. Frater H. Hospitalis sancta Marie domus Teutonicorum in Ierusalem minister describes for an unknown correspondent the entry of the emperor Frederick into Jerusalem on 17 March and his self-coronation on the 18th in the presence of the Panormitanus archiepiscopus, Capuanus... more
sources: MGH Leges 2:167-8 (RRH no. 1000)
RRR: Correspondence/envoy
2104
year: 1229
initiator: Patriarch Gerold of Jerusalem
recipient: Pope Gregory IX
text: Mar. 26. Acre. Patriarch Gerold of Jerusalem reports to Pope Gregory IX critically and at length on the actions of the emperor Frederick II in the Holy Land. He describes the journey of the emperor from Acre to Jaffa in November 1228, followed by the Christian army; the anger of the sultan at the refortification of Jaffa and the seizure of provisions from neighbouring casalia at a time when negotiations for a truce were in train; the emollient response of the emperor; the rejection of the emperor’s notary, who was responsible for negotiations, and the sultan’s request for direct talks with comes Thomas; the ill treatment of pilgrims; the sending of singers to please the emperor; and the emperor’s private announcement on 11 February to 4 of the leaders of the Latin East that poverty was forcing him to make a truce. The patriarch describes the terms of the truce: including the surrender of the city of Jerusalem, which could be fortified, except for the Templum Domini, which the Sarraceni can enter, Bethlehem and 2 small casalia on the road between Bethlehem and Jerusalem, the casalia on the road between Jerusalem and Jaffa, Nazareth and 2 casalia between Nazareth and Acre, Tyrum [Toron], which cannot be fortified, Sidon and 2 casalia. He stresses the absence of any grant of land outside Jerusalem to the patriarch, the Holy Sepulchre, the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem, St Mary of the Latins, St Mary of the Valley of Jehoshaphat, the Templum Domini, the Mt of Olives or Mt Sion. Only the Knights Templar gained their property between Jerusalem and Jaffa. The nobles reluctantly agreed, provided they could fortify Jerusalem. The magistri of the Military Orders and the bishops of England replied that they could not agree if the patriarch was not consulted, but the emperor replied that he would not take this step. The emperor then swore to abide by the terms of a secret codicil privately with no one present. The emperor had the support of the magister of the Hospital of St Mary of the Germans, who with, comes Thomasius and the dominus Sydonis received oaths of acceptance from the sultan of Egypt. The dominus Sydonis approached the sultan of Damascus, but he refused to agree, claiming that his relations were plotting against him. The magister of the Hospital of St Mary of the Germans asked the patriarch to come to the entry into Jerusalem. The patriarch gave reasons for his refusal. The magister sent, through frater W. de ordine Predicatorum, penitentiarius patriarche, a transcript of the truce, which the patriarch subjects to critical analysis. The patriarch continues that the emperor crowned himself in the church of the Holy Sepulchre. There followed a long speech delivered by the magister of the Hospital of St Mary of the Germans in both German and French, praising the emperor’s achievement. The Wintoniensis episcopus and the Exoniensis episcopus, the magister of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem and the preceptor of the Knights Templar [the magister being absent] met the emperor and the magister of the Hospital of St Mary of the Germans to discuss aid for the refortification of Jerusalem, but after delays they had no reply, even after the Knights Templars had offered to take responsibility for this. The emperor returned to Acre by way of Jaffa.
Mar. 26. Acre. Patriarch Gerold of Jerusalem reports to Pope Gregory IX critically and at length on the actions of the emperor Frederick II in the Holy Land. He describes the journey of the emperor from Acre to Jaffa in November 1228, followed by the Christian army; the anger of the sultan at the... more
sources: Rodenberg, Epistolae 1:299-304, no. 384 (RRH no. 1001)
RRR: Correspondence/envoy
2148
year: 1231
initiator: Pope Gregory IX
text: Feb. 28 and Apr. 25. Lateran. In a general letter, Pope Gregory IX informs the faithful of the perils facing the Holy Land. He has had letters from the emperor Frederick, the patriarch of Jerusalem and the magistri of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem and the Knights Templar, referring to a threat posed by the rex Persarum. He calls on the prelates to persuade the faithful, including crusaders, to go the aid of the Holy Land. The pope writes in the same terms to the kings of England and France.
Feb. 28 and Apr. 25. Lateran. In a general letter, Pope Gregory IX informs the faithful of the perils facing the Holy Land. He has had letters from the emperor Frederick, the patriarch of Jerusalem and the magistri of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem and the Knights Templar, referring to a... more
sources: Rodenberg, Epistolae 1:348-9, 353, nos. 433, 438 (RRH no. 1022)
RRR: Correspondence/envoy
2154
year: 1231
initiator: Pope Gregory IX
recipient: Sultan of Egypt
text: Aug. 11. Rieti. Pope Gregory IX demands that the sultan of Egypt free merchants from Ancona, who were imprisoned when they reached Alexandria, and release their goods, which he has confiscated.
Aug. 11. Rieti. Pope Gregory IX demands that the sultan of Egypt free merchants from Ancona, who were imprisoned when they reached Alexandria, and release their goods, which he has confiscated.
sources: Rodenberg, Epistolae1:362, no. 449 (RRH no. 1025)
RRR: Correspondence/envoy
2160
year: 1231
initiator: Vassalus Bibliensis episcopus
recipient: Abbot and community of La Ferté
text: Sept. 1-30. Biblium. Vassalus Bibliensis episcopus writes to the abbot and community of La Ferté, reporting that their brothers, frater Andreas and frater Egidius, on a visit to Syria, have had discussions with him over the building of a Cistercian abbey, on which work has already begun. Because there are so few Cistercians in the East, he retained frater Egidius to inspect the work and judge that it was satisfactory. Frater Egidius is now returning to the West. Vassalus informs the abbot of La Ferté that the abbey of Sanctus Sergius has been endowed with a house in the city [of Biblium], 2 casalia, a garden, vineyards and olive groves.
Sept. 1-30. Biblium. Vassalus Bibliensis episcopus writes to the abbot and community of La Ferté, reporting that their brothers, frater Andreas and frater Egidius, on a visit to Syria, have had discussions with him over the building of a Cistercian abbey, on which work has already begun. Because... more
sources: Petit, ‘Chartes de St-Serge’, pp. 23-5 (RRH no. 1028)
RRR: Correspondence/envoy
2169
year: 1232
initiator: Iohannes de Ibelino Beriti dominus
recipient: Balian de Saete, Johan de Cesaire other friends and the Commune of Acre
text: *Early in year. Johan d’Ybelin sends his vallet called Droin to Acre with letters for Balian de Saete, Johan de Cesaire other friends and the Commune of Acre, appealing for aid against the imperial forces which are besieging Beirut.
*Early in year. Johan d’Ybelin sends his vallet called Droin to Acre with letters for Balian de Saete, Johan de Cesaire other friends and the Commune of Acre, appealing for aid against the imperial forces which are besieging Beirut.
sources: ‘L’Estoire de Eracles’, pp. 393-4