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
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
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)