RRR: Correspondence/envoy
783
year: 1167
initiator: Bertrandus de Blancfort, master of the Temple
recipient: King Louis VII of France
institution: Templars
text: (c. 1167). B. domus Templi magister, together with his convent, writes to King Louis VII of France. While Guillelmus de Deoper was on pilgrimage to the Holy Land, some of his neighbours invaded and devastated his land. He asks for justice, fearing that otherwise many who would otherwise travel to the East would fear to do so, to the detriment of the church in the East.
(c. 1167). B. domus Templi magister, together with his convent, writes to King Louis VII of France. While Guillelmus de Deoper was on pilgrimage to the Holy Land, some of his neighbours invaded and devastated his land. He asks for justice, fearing that otherwise many who would otherwise travel to... more
sources: Bouquet, Recueil 16:145, no. 439 (RRH no. 437)
RRR: Correspondence/envoy
853
year: 1170
initiator: Radulphus Sebastensis episcopus
recipient: Clergy and Christian faithful of the Church
text: Early 1170. [121] Radulphus Sebastensis episcopus, together with his convent, addresses a general letter to the clergy and Christian faithful of the Church [in the West]. He describes the wealth of relics of the prophets discovered in his church, including the bodies of Elisha, Obadiah and especially the bones of St John the Baptist, and he draws attention to the poverty of his diocese and the fact that the rebuilding of his church, which has been initiated, using the best stone, cannot be completed without financial assistance. He reports that, on the advice of other prelates in the Latin East, he has sent some of his canons to the West, carrying with them fragments of ashes and bones of St John the Baptist and relics of Elisha and Obadiah. He asks his readers to receive the relics as gifts, but also to provide the canons with properties from their endowments, in order to benefit from the prayers of intercession [of the communities that will be established on them]. On the authority of the patriarch of Jerusalem and drawing on the merits of the patriarchs and prophets represented by the relics in his church, he assures his readers of an indulgence, which will vary in proportion to the assistance given. He adds that if those who have vowed to make a pilgrimage to Compostela commute their vow to a gift to this building work of half their intended expenses, he will absolve them from their vow and penance. He promises all benefactors a share in the merits of the city of Jerusalem.
Early 1170. [121] Radulphus Sebastensis episcopus, together with his convent, addresses a general letter to the clergy and Christian faithful of the Church [in the West]. He describes the wealth of relics of the prophets discovered in his church, including the bodies of Elisha, Obadiah and... more
sources: Kedar, ‘Raising Funds’, pp. 454-5
RRR: Correspondence/envoy
874
year: 1171
initiator: Girbertus [of Assailly], master of the Hospital
recipient: Archbishop of Trani
institution: Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem
text: Before Jan. 19 1163 - Sept. 1171. frater G. sancte domus Hospitalis Jerhusalem magister humilis et Christi pauperum servus writes to the archbishop of Trani. He describes the needs of the Holy Land. He and his brothers of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem, combining warfare with the religious life [religioni miliciam commiscentes], are faced with greater expenses than they can afford. He asks the archbishop to appeal to his people to provide the Hospital with financial support [beneficia] for the remission of their sins.
Before Jan. 19 1163 - Sept. 1171. frater G. sancte domus Hospitalis Jerhusalem magister humilis et Christi pauperum servus writes to the archbishop of Trani. He describes the needs of the Holy Land. He and his brothers of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem, combining warfare with the religious... more
sources: Delaville Le Roulx, Cart Hosp 4:247-8, no. 310bis (RRH no. 422)
RRR: Correspondence/envoy
875
year: 1171
initiator: Brothers of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem
recipient: Pope Alexander III
institution: Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem
text: Sept/Oct. [127] Jerusalem. The Hospital of St John. The brothers of the [central] convent of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem report to Pope Alexander III on the dissension that has arisen in their Order. Magister Gibertus, against the advice of King Amalric, who stressed the dangers facing the Holy Land, resigned his office in order to lead a solitary life. On the journey from his house he was intercepted by the preceptor and the procurator infirmorum, together with [….] and many other brothers carrying letters from the marescalcus and the convent, forbidding him to take this step before consulting the pope and the Order’s chapter. Girbertus ignored them, entered a cave to follow the religious life and, placing the insignia of the magisterium [belt, seal and purse] on the altar of the cave, absolved the brothers from all their obligations to him. The preceptor, having taken advice from the procurator infirmorum, the castellanus Gibilini, the castellanus Bellimontis and many brothers, sought the assistance of the patriarch of Jerusalem, the bishop of Bethlehem, the bishop of Lydda, the abbot of Mt Sion and the abbot of St Mary of the Valley of Jehoshaphat. The prelates tried to persuade Gibertus to reconsider and, when he refused, the patriarch, with the advice of the bishop of Bethlehem, the bishop of Lydda, the preceptor Hospitalis, the procurator informorum, the castellanus Gibelini, the castellanus Bellimontis and 30 or more of the brothers, formally ordered him on the pope’s behalf to resume his post, threatening him with excommunication and stressing that he could not resign without papal authority. Submitting to these arguments, Gibertus returned to his house, to which the patriarch came, together with the bishops of Bethlehem and Lydda and others. He was reinvested with the belt, seal and purse in the presence of the aforesaid lords by the preceptor, the procurator infirmorum and some other brothers. The brothers then summoned Gibertus to a chapter in the palatium. The patriarch forbade the magister on the pope’s behalf and with the threat of excommunication, to lay down the magisterium without papal consent or to try to subject himself to another religious order. At the same time the patriarch forbade the brothers and the convent to presume to elect another before they had received a mandate from the pope. The patriarch and the preceptor, together with the brothers who supported him, appealed formally to the pope. Most of the brothers were now opposed to the resumption of the magisterium by Gibertus, who, joined by the archdeacon of Jerusalem and the procurator infirmorum of the Hospital, asked in vain for the appeal to Rome and the threat of excommunication to be rescinded. When Gibertus had retaken his place in chapter the brothers unanimously exhorted him to keep the magisterium, but they added that he should agree to reform. He should not accept castles [castella] or fortifications on the frontiers with the Turci. He should not weigh down the Order with superfluous and useless expenses. He should not enter into any major business without the knowledge of chapter. His response was to admit his extravagance, but to renounce the magisterium again. Although Frater Pontius Blauus, together with the brothers who supported him, forbade him to lay down the magisterium without the pope’s agreement, Gibertus called on the brothers to elect another magister. He withdrew, taking 12 electors with him. Pontius Blauus repeated his prohibition, but the electors returned with Gibertus to the chapter and asked all the brothers to consent to the man [Castus] they had elected. The greater part of the chapter agreed, but Pontius Blauus was silent. Gibertus announced in the presence of the sick patients [in the hospital] that he had resigned the magisterium and retired to the cave. Four months later great dissension arose among the brothers, most of whom were ignorant of the contents of the letters written by the preceptor, together with the prior clericorum, the marescalcus, the prior Apulie [Apulia], the prior Messane [Messina], frater [Pio]tus and other brothers to the pope. Certain of the brothers said that until they had some command from the pope on this matter they did not want to obey any magister electus, since the election had been made in contempt of the Roman Church and against the appeal and prohibition. Others asserted that the election ought to be considered valid because the magister had voluntarily given up his office and the election had been made in his presence and with his advice. Meanwhile Pontius Blauus, who had been preceptor when the controversy arose, together with the [new] preceptor and other brothers, went to King Amalric and in his presence renewed the formal appeal and placed himself and his companions under papal protection, because Gibertus had resigned the magisterium after the appeal and prohibition and because they had elected him magister in spite of these. The preceptor questioned the action of Pontius Blauus on the grounds that it was against the usages of the Hospital, particularly as he had been promised justice, but Pontius claimed to be now under a superior jurisdiction. Preceptor O. deprived Pontius and his companion frater P. of their horses and armour [arnesium], because, not knowing their plans, he did not want to endanger the Order’s property. On behalf of the Hospital he forbade Pontius to travel to the pope. After this, Gibertus, having heard of the dissension, returned from his cave, suggesting that he take back the magisterium and at the same time travel to Italy to appeal directly to the pope. He had the support of some milites fratres, but this led to a debate in chapter on whether he and his companions should be prevented from leaving, according to the Order’s consuetudines. King Amalric, saddened by the dissension and appealed to by the patriarch on behalf of both factions, met the patriarch, the bishops of Lydda and Hebron, the abbot of Mt Sion, the prior of the Holy Sepulchre, the barones and many probi homines, clerical and lay, the preceptor Templi, the preceptor Hospitalis, the brothers of both factions and the citizens of Jerusalem in the chapter of the Holy Sepulchre. It was agreed that the whole truth of the matter be revealed to the pope so that he might settle the case. Witnesses: Dominus Almaricus patriarcha Ierosolimitanus; Dominus Amalrichus Iherosolimorum rex; Dominus Radulfus episcopus Bethleem; Dominus Bernardus episcopus Liddensis; Dominus Reinaldus episcopus Ebronensis; Dominus Reinaldus abbas Montis [Sion]; Dominus Petrus abbas Vallis Iosaphat; Dominus Petrus prior Dominici Sepvlcri. [128]
Sept/Oct. [127] Jerusalem. The Hospital of St John. The brothers of the [central] convent of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem report to Pope Alexander III on the dissension that has arisen in their Order. Magister Gibertus, against the advice of King Amalric, who stressed the dangers facing the... more
sources: Hiestand, PTJ 2:222-7, no. 19 (RRH no. 480)
RRR: Correspondence/envoy
877
year: 1171
initiator: Pope Alexander III
recipient: All the faithful in the kingdom of France
text: Before Dec. 8 1170 or 1171. Letters from the archdiocese of Nazareth have reached Pope Alexander III, who writes to all the faithful in the kingdom of France. The pope describes the miserable state of the Latin East, ravaged by earthquakes and by invasion by the enemies of Christ. He draws special attention to the occupation by them of a great and well populated casale belonging to the church of Nazareth, the captivity of clergy and other inhabitants, and the resulting poverty of the canons. Without assistance they will not be able to fulfil their duties in their church. He asks that the canons and their representatives [nuntii] be received well and given assistance.
Before Dec. 8 1170 or 1171. Letters from the archdiocese of Nazareth have reached Pope Alexander III, who writes to all the faithful in the kingdom of France. The pope describes the miserable state of the Latin East, ravaged by earthquakes and by invasion by the enemies of Christ. He draws special... more
sources: Hiestand, PK, pp. 393-4, no. 198 (RRH no. 481)
RRR: Correspondence/envoy
873
year: 1171
initiator: Girbertus [of Assailly], master of the Hospital
recipient: King Louis VII of France
institution: Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem
text: Before Jan. 19 1163 - Sept. 1171. Gibertus sancti hospitalis Hierusalem custos, with all his convent, writes to King Louis VII of France, who has been generous and benevolent to the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem. Gibertus asks the king to maintain and defend it.
Before Jan. 19 1163 - Sept. 1171. Gibertus sancti hospitalis Hierusalem custos, with all his convent, writes to King Louis VII of France, who has been generous and benevolent to the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem. Gibertus asks the king to maintain and defend it.
sources: Bouquet 16:28-9, no. 93; also in Delaville Le Roulx, Cart Hosp 1:223-4, no. 310 (RRH no. 374)
RRR: Correspondence/envoy
892
year: 1173
initiator: Petrus Dominici Sepulcri prior
recipient: Archbishop Henry of Reims
institution: Holy Sepulchre
text: Summer. P. Dominici Sepulcri prior writes to Archbishop H. of Reims, asking for help and pointing out that although the Holy Sepulchre has established houses or dwellings [mansiones] in nearly all Christian kingdoms there is none in the kingdom of the archbishop’s brother [France]. He commends A. subprior noster and asks for the establishment of a Holy Sepulchre presence in the diocese of Reims.
Summer. P. Dominici Sepulcri prior writes to Archbishop H. of Reims, asking for help and pointing out that although the Holy Sepulchre has established houses or dwellings [mansiones] in nearly all Christian kingdoms there is none in the kingdom of the archbishop’s brother [France]. He commends A.... more
sources: Bouquet, Recueil 16:200, no. 200 (RRH no. 499)
RRR: Correspondence/envoy
893
year: 1173
initiator: Josbertus, master of the Hospital
recipient: Archbishop Henry of Reims
institution: Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem
text: Autumn. Josbertus Christi pauperum servus et sancti Hospitalis Jerusalem magister writes to Archbishop H.of Reims, asking him to patronize the Hospitallers and to help the Hospital establish some receptaculum, refugium atque solamen in his diocese.
Autumn. Josbertus Christi pauperum servus et sancti Hospitalis Jerusalem magister writes to Archbishop H.of Reims, asking him to patronize the Hospitallers and to help the Hospital establish some receptaculum, refugium atque solamen in his diocese.
sources: Bouquet 16:199-200, no. 199; also in Delaville Le Roulx, Cart Hosp 1:303-4, no. 438 (RRH no. 505)
RRR: Correspondence/envoy
894
year: 1173
initiator: Patriarch Amalric of Jerusalem together with N. prior and all the canons of the Holy Sepulchre
recipient: King Louis VII of France
institution: Holy Sepulchre
text: Autumn. Patriarch Amalric of Jerusalem, together with N. prior and all the canons of the Holy Sepulchre, writes to King Louis VII of France, commending S. canonicus noster and asking the king to grant him a hospitale or other place, as a house [refugium] for the canons of the Holy Sepulchre.
Autumn. Patriarch Amalric of Jerusalem, together with N. prior and all the canons of the Holy Sepulchre, writes to King Louis VII of France, commending S. canonicus noster and asking the king to grant him a hospitale or other place, as a house [refugium] for the canons of the Holy Sepulchre.
sources: Bouquet, Rceueil 16:167-8, no. 491 (RRH no. 506)
RRR: Correspondence/envoy
902
year: 1173
initiator: Patriarch Amalric of Jerusalem
recipient: Hildegard of Bingen
text: 1157 - 1173. [135] Patriarch Amalric of Jerusalem writes to Hildegard of Bingen, asking to be remembered in her prayers and those of her sisters.
1157 - 1173. [135] Patriarch Amalric of Jerusalem writes to Hildegard of Bingen, asking to be remembered in her prayers and those of her sisters.
sources: Hildegard of Bingen 1:91-2, no. 34 (RRH no. 460)