year: 1245
text: February 22. Lyons. Pope Innocent IV orders the patriarch of Jerusalem and papal legate (Robert de Nantes) and the archbishop of Nazareth (Henry, formerly bishop of Paphos) to see to it that the agent and nuncio of his relative Niccolò [Lercari] – papal chamberlain and provost of the church of Genoa – as cantor of the church of Tripoli is put into corporal possession of the chantry, prebend and houses that the bishop-elect of Bethlehem G[ottifredo] dei Prefetti possessed previously in the church of Tripoli with some secondary rights (extrinseca et intrinseca ac alia que minuta dicuntur), which the pope conferred on Niccolò with his ring, and to have their incomes and revenues paid to the agent and nuncio without any reduction, minus the daily distributions.
February 22. Lyons. Pope Innocent IV orders the patriarch of Jerusalem and papal legate (Robert de Nantes) and the archbishop of Nazareth (Henry, formerly bishop of Paphos) to see to it that the agent and nuncio of his relative Niccolò [Lercari] – papal chamberlain and provost of the church of... more
sources: Innocent IV, Les registres, 1:170, no. 1079
year: 1245
text: February 27. Foggia. Frederick, Dei gratia Romanorum imperator, semper Augustus, Jerusalem et Sicilie rex, transmits to Earl Richard of Cornwall what he has heard from the Hospital of St Mary of the Germans: the distress of the Holy Land; the invasion of the Khwarazmians and the disaster at La Forbie, leading to the loss of all the convent of the Knights Templar – 300 brothers – together with 200 brothers of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem and all the brothers of the Hospital of St Mary of the Germans. The only men to escape from the battle were the patriarch of Jerusalem, the dominus de Monteforti, who was regni vexillifer, and 4 milites and servientes of the Knights Templar, 19 brothers of the Hospital of St John and 3 servientes of the Hospital of St Mary. The bishop (episcopus) de Sancto Georgio (Ramla / Lydda), the lord of Haifa (dominus de Cayfa) and G. count of Jaffa (comes Joppensis) were killed. The archbishop of Tyre was wounded and imprisoned. Frederick blames the pride of the Knights Templar, who allowed the emissaries of the sultan of Damascus to engage in Muslim prayer while staying with them, and the barones of the kingdom. They entered into an alliance with the sultans of Damascus and Crac (Kerak) against the Egyptians, against the advice of Frederick himself, the Hospital of St John and the Hospital of St Mary. Frederick describes the treachery of the Muslim allies. He puts the danger to the Holy Land in the context of threats to Christianity coming from every direction and calls for assistance. Frederick also describes his long-time support for the cause of the Crusader States and the damage caused in this respect by the conflict with the papacy
February 27. Foggia. Frederick, Dei gratia Romanorum imperator, semper Augustus, Jerusalem et Sicilie rex, transmits to Earl Richard of Cornwall what he has heard from the Hospital of St Mary of the Germans: the distress of the Holy Land; the invasion of the Khwarazmians and the disaster at La... more
sources: Matthew Paris, Chronica maiora 4:300-5; RRH 1133
year: 1245
text: March 5. Lyons. Pope Innocent IV writes to the king and people of the Mongols (Tartari), explaining the basics of Christianity and the pope's role as successor of the one who received the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven as Christ's vicar. It is the pope's office to care for the addressees' and all others' souls, but because he cannot be everywhere, and he does not want to be negligent by his absence, the pope sends wise men in his stead. Thus he is sending to the addressees Brother Lawrence of Portugal (Laurentius de Portugallia) and his associates of the Order of Friars Minor (Franciscans), the bearers of the present letter, decent men who know Holy Scripture, to inform the addressees about God's Son Jesus Christ so that they worship His glorious name in observing the Christian faith. He urges the addressees to receive the friars kindly and treat them honourably out of reverence for God, discussing with them the above and providing them safe conduct in coming and going and other necessities so that they can return safely to the pope's presence. The pope closes by stressing that he has chosen these friars because they have proven themselves in their religious life and their knowledge of Scripture and will be more useful for the addressees. If he had thought that prelates or more powerful men would be better for the task, he would have sent them instead.
March 5. Lyons. Pope Innocent IV writes to the king and people of the Mongols (Tartari), explaining the basics of Christianity and the pope's role as successor of the one who received the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven as Christ's vicar. It is the pope's office to care for the addressees' and all... more
sources: Lupprian, pp. 141-45, no. 20; RRH 1134
year: 1245
text: March 10. Lyons. Pope Innocent IV writes to the master, commanders, and brothers of the Order of the Militia of the Temple of Jerusalem, recommending Dominicus of Aragon of the Order of Friars Minor (Franciscans), who is setting off for Armenia as papal legate, and asking them to assist him on his voyage.
March 10. Lyons. Pope Innocent IV writes to the master, commanders, and brothers of the Order of the Militia of the Temple of Jerusalem, recommending Dominicus of Aragon of the Order of Friars Minor (Franciscans), who is setting off for Armenia as papal legate, and asking them to assist him on his... more
sources: Unpublished; summary, from ASV, A.A. Arm. I-XVIII, no. 2084, in Claverie, L’Ordre du Temple 3: 513-14, no. 579
year: 1245
text: March 13. Lyons. Pope Innocent IV writes [to the king and people of the Mongols (Tartari)], relating that since not only humans but also irrational animals and the elements are joined in union after the example of the celestial spirits, all of which God the Maker has arranged in a perpetual, peaceful, and stable order, the pope has reason to wonder greatly that the addressees, as he has heard, have invaded many regions of the Christians and others, laid horrible waste to them, do not cease to extend their depopulating hands in continued fury, and, dissolving the chains of natural kinship, considering neither sex nor age, rage with their sword against all without distinction. The pope desires that all live in the unity of peace under the fear of God, so he warns and urges the addressees to stop these attacks, especially the persecution of Christians, and to make fitting satisfaction to placate the anger of divine majesty at so many and such great offenses, which anger they have without doubt seriously provoked. Nor must they rage more widely simply because omnipotent God has thus far permitted them to use their sword against other nations, who became so arrogant that when they refused to humble themselves. He did not hesitate to punish their iniquity in time and yet in the future He will do so more severely. And behold brother J [Johannes of Plano Carpini] and his associates, the bearers of this letter, etc., as in the letter of March 5, RRR 2491.
March 13. Lyons. Pope Innocent IV writes [to the king and people of the Mongols (Tartari)], relating that since not only humans but also irrational animals and the elements are joined in union after the example of the celestial spirits, all of which God the Maker has arranged in a perpetual,... more
sources: Lupprian, pp. 146-49, no. 21; RRH 1134
year: 1245
text: March 13. Lyons. Pope Innocent IV writes to Archbishop [Eustorge] of Nicosia, relating that the archbishop asked to be able to wear the pallium outside his province, although it had been conceded to him for use inside his church, because in conducting his church’s affairs, working for the aid of the Holy Land, or consecrating a suffragan – as there are rarely enough bishops in his province to assist him – it is often necessary for him to go outside his province. The pope grants him the right to wear the pallium in the aforesaid cases if for those reasons and for consecrating his suffragans or ordaining clerics he has to go to a different church, as long as he to whom the church belongs permits it.
March 13. Lyons. Pope Innocent IV writes to Archbishop [Eustorge] of Nicosia, relating that the archbishop asked to be able to wear the pallium outside his province, although it had been conceded to him for use inside his church, because in conducting his church’s affairs, working for the aid of... more
sources: Innocent IV, Les registres, 1:175, no. 1117; Schabel et al., Bullarium, 1:347-48, no. e-7
year: 1245
text: March 22. Lyons. Pope Innocent IV writes to the brothers of the Order of Friars Minor (Franciscans) setting off for the lands of the Saracens (Sarraceni), Pagans (Pagani), Greeks (Greci), Bulgarians (Bulgari), Cumans (Cumani), Ethiopians (Ethyopi), Syrians (Syri), Iberians (Iberi), Alans (Alani), Crimeans (Gazari), Goths (Gothi), Cerkess (Zici), Ruthenians (Rutheni), Jacobites (Jacobini), Nubians (Nubiani), Nestorians (Nestorini), Georgians (Georgiani), Armenians (Armeni), Indians (Indi), Mesoliti (probably people from Mosul), and other infidel nations of the East or of any other regions, speaking of the importance of their mission at the eleventh hour, as in the Apocalypse, in which the pope is sending them to raise the standard of the King of Glory for peoples who do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and to bring back the sons who do not obey the Holy Roman Church, to illuminate the blind multitude, exterminate heretical falsity, strengthen wavering souls, and comfort the faithful. To honour their ministry more fully and honourably, the pope grants that they can preach the Word of God in lands that do not yet obey the magisterium of the Apostolic See, safely communicate with the people there even if some of them are bound by excommunication, and convert to the unity of the Christian faith those wishing to receive it, baptise them, and add them to the sons of the Holy Church, as well as make clerics from those who have been added and promote them to the order of acolyte. They can also absolve, according to the form of the Church, those bound by excommunication who wish to return to obedience to the Apostolic See and give dispensations to those who received holy orders and celebrated the divine offices while so bound. They can do the same with people of those lands who celebrated at improper times or before the legitimate age or who received or conferred all orders on the same day or skipped the minor orders for the major ones if the proper form was followed. They can also give dispensations to people of those nations who married after taking holy orders or did so at prohibited levels so they can remain in those orders. Those who have returned to the unity of the Catholic Church shall live among their people and communicate with them, and clerics of those nations returning to obedience to the Apostolic See shall enjoy the clerical privilege. The friars can also hear the confessions of all the faithful in those lands and enjoin penance. They can absolve excommunicates, as long as they do fitting satisfaction for the injury and damage to those who suffered. They can also give dispensations for irregularities in those parts in cases for which papal legates usually give them, even to clerics of those parts suffering from defect of birth, as long as they are not born of adultery or incest or of parents in religious orders. They can give dispensations to those who abandoned the unity of the Catholic Church or religious orders or clerical orders, if they humbly wish to return and do satisfaction for what they did, so that those in religious orders are taken up again in their places. They can even absolve those who have killed clerics and religious persons in those parts, and they can found churches anew, reconcile churches that were profaned, and provide worthy rectors to churches they newly founded. To those who are newly converted from gentiles or schismatics they can give license to keep the wives they married within the degrees prohibited by divine law. They can hear married cases in those parts that normally are deferred to the pope. They can compel with ecclesiastical censure those who are in discord to make peace and concord between them and those who live inordinately by their crimes to make satisfaction as is just. In addition, they can receive orders and other sacraments from Catholic patriarchs, archbishops, and bishops, as well as priestly vestments, altars cloths, and corporals for those among them who are priests when it is necessary for them to bless where there are not many Catholic bishops. Finally, they can do other things for the increase and spread of the catholic faith and the reprobation of those who contradict holy traditions.
March 22. Lyons. Pope Innocent IV writes to the brothers of the Order of Friars Minor (Franciscans) setting off for the lands of the Saracens (Sarraceni), Pagans (Pagani), Greeks (Greci), Bulgarians (Bulgari), Cumans (Cumani), Ethiopians (Ethyopi), Syrians (Syri), Iberians (Iberi), Alans (Alani),... more
sources: ASV, Reg. Vat. 21, f. 206r-v, no. 656; summary Innocent IV, Les registres, no. 1362
year: 1245
text: March 1-31. Hetoum, by the grace of God king of Armenia (Dei gracia Rex Armenie), son of Constantinus, and Queen Helysabeth, his wife and the daughter of the late King Leon of Armenia, of the family of Rupenids, grant under seal to Doge Jacopo Tiepolo and the Commune of Venice, represented by Petrus Dandulo, freedom to enter and leave their land, as already granted by King Leon. All Venetian merchants and men will be secure in their persons and goods, and they may buy and sell without the payment of dues. They are to be free in the ports, cities, bridges and other exits, except that when Venetians living in the East (in cismarinis partibus) enter per Portellam (i.e. by way of the Portella, the pass between the mountain and the sea north of Alexandretta linking Cilicia and the principality of Antioch) they are liable to pay the customary rates and all Venetians who bring in gold or silver and mint besants or other money should pay the same dues as do those who mint besants in the neighbourhood of Acre. Venetian persons and goods will be secure in the case of shipwreck, but passengers who are not Venetian will be subject to the king. The Venetians will not exercise protection over the goods and ships of other people. Venetians may travel to and trade in any Christian or Muslim territory, which has truces with [Cilician] Armenia. The crown will work to restore any losses incurred on such a journey. The goods of Venetians who die will be protected. The goods of Venetians who die intestate will be held by the crown until it receives sealed letters from the doge or his Baiulus in Acre. It will then carry out whatever is ordered. Disputes between Venetians will be settled by a responsible man, appointed by the crown. Any dispute between Armenians and Venetians that ends in death will be judged in the royal court. Disputes that can be settled will be judged by the Sisiensis Archiepiscopus. Other disputes between Venetians and other men will be heard in the royal court. Hetoum and Helysabeth make the eleemosynary grant of a church, house and place for a further house and warehouse, for the use of a priest and cleric, in the city of Mamistra. The charter was drawn up by Gregorius sacerdos cancellarius. Signed in red ink in Armenian script and sealed with a golden bull.
March 1-31. Hetoum, by the grace of God king of Armenia (Dei gracia Rex Armenie), son of Constantinus, and Queen Helysabeth, his wife and the daughter of the late King Leon of Armenia, of the family of Rupenids, grant under seal to Doge Jacopo Tiepolo and the Commune of Venice, represented by... more
sources: I trattati con il regno armeno di Cilicia 1201-1233, ed. A. Sopracasa, doc. 2, pp. 35-38; RRH 1141
year: 1245
text: April 3. Acre. Johannes and Symon de Treucis, brothers and knights, with the agreement of our mother, grant the Hospital, through the hands of brother Joannes de Ronay, general preceptor of that house three carrucatas of land, and one area and one house that we owe in Casale Album, located in the plain of Acre near the road leading to Coquetum, a village belonging to the Hospital. The above-mentioned preceptor gave Johannes and Symon 600 Saracen besants; the borders of the land granted are as follows: on the East it borders the land of the village of Coquet; on the West, the land of the Templar order and that of St. Thomas; on the south to another piece of land belonging to the Hospital and on the north to land belonging to St. Samuel. Radulfus, bishop of Acre (episcopus Acconensis), signed the deed, Rolandus de Luca, Gervasius Malguastel, vicecomes Acre (Acconensis), Stephanus de Salvingni, Alardus, Symon Bartolomaei, Johannes de Nefin, Guido Aurifaber, Johannes Philippi, Petrus Michaeli.
April 3. Acre. Johannes and Symon de Treucis, brothers and knights, with the agreement of our mother, grant the Hospital, through the hands of brother Joannes de Ronay, general preceptor of that house three carrucatas of land, and one area and one house that we owe in Casale Album, located in the... more
sources: Delaville le Roulx, Cart. Hosp. 2:627-28, no. 2353; RRH 1135
year: 1245
text: April 23. Apud Drejam. Mathildis countess of Nevers (comitissa Nivernensis) grants Gottifredo dei Prefetti (Gottiffridus de Praefectis), bishop-elect of Bethlehem and his successors 40 libre turonensium annually. Gottifredo (Gottiffidus) for his part promises that he and his successor as the chapter of Bethlehem will pray for her and her family.
April 23. Apud Drejam. Mathildis countess of Nevers (comitissa Nivernensis) grants Gottifredo dei Prefetti (Gottiffridus de Praefectis), bishop-elect of Bethlehem and his successors 40 libre turonensium annually. Gottifredo (Gottiffidus) for his part promises that he and his successor as the... more
sources: Gallia christiana 12, instrum. cols. 237-38, no. 1; RRH 1136