year: 1248
text: February 7. Samarkand (Saurequant). Smbat, Constable of Armenia, informs Henry I, king of Cyprus, Emeline (Stephanie) Henry’s wife and Smbat’s sister, John of Ibelin, and Maria, John’s wife and Smbat’s sister, about his impressions from his journey through Mongol territory. He saw many cities ruined by the Mongols, as well as remains of people slain by them. The Mongols are very numerous. He refers to the death of the previous khan (Ögödei) five years earlier (actually in 1241) and because the Mongols were dispersed (in India, Cathay (Chata), Russia, Kāshghar (Chascat) and Tangut (Tanghat)) that have only just enthroned his successor (Güyüg). The Khan and his people have become Christian, and there is a strong belief in these regions in the three Magi. He saw many churches destroyed by the Turks, and speaks of a Christian king in the land of India, aided by the Mongols. He says that the pope had sent an envoy to the Khan to find out whether or not he was Christian, why he had sent his people to tread the world and why he had poor people killed. The Khan is said to have replied that God commanded his ancestors and him to send their people to kill bad people and that if the pope wanted to know whether or not he was Christian, he should come and see for himself.
February 7. Samarkand (Saurequant). Smbat, Constable of Armenia, informs Henry I, king of Cyprus, Emeline (Stephanie) Henry’s wife and Smbat’s sister, John of Ibelin, and Maria, John’s wife and Smbat’s sister, about his impressions from his journey through Mongol territory. He saw many cities... more
sources: Richard, ‘La Lettre du Connétable Smbat’, pp. 688-92; RRH 1155. English translation in Jackson, The Seventh Crusade, pp. 78-80
year: 1248
text: February 14. Hue de Gibelet, son of the late Bertran de Gibelet, with the agreement of his wife Marie Porcelete and his son Bertran, confirms his endowment of a priest to chant a daily requiem mass for his soul and that of his father in the house of the Hospital of St John in Tripoli. The priest is to be paid 50 Tripolitan besants a year, taken on the rents of his casal Bothorafiche, payable at 4 Tripolitan besants and 4 k[aroubles] monthly by his wife Marie Porcelete and after her death by his son Bertran and his heirs. If any of his heirs should wish to discontinue, the Hospital is given authority to take the rent from the fief Hue holds of the Order and employ the priest as before. He also gives 3 coles of oil, assigned on the rents of Bothorafiche, to light a permanent lamp in the church of the Hospital of St John in Tripoli. He attaches his seal to the charter. Bertran, son of Hue de Gibelet, confirms on behalf of himself and his mother the endowment and attaches his seal. Guarantors: Raimond de Mareclee, Phelippe Estomac, Raimond d’Edde, fr. Girard, prior of Crac, fr. Martin Senche, commander of the house of the Hospital in Tripoli, fr. Pierre Chavanele, fr. Robert le Hongre, fr. Guillaume Marin, Symon d’Arsuf le Chevailer, Thomas de Nazareth, Pierre my priest.
February 14. Hue de Gibelet, son of the late Bertran de Gibelet, with the agreement of his wife Marie Porcelete and his son Bertran, confirms his endowment of a priest to chant a daily requiem mass for his soul and that of his father in the house of the Hospital of St John in Tripoli. The priest is... more
sources: Richard, ‘Le comté de Tripoli dans les chartes du fonds des Porcellet’, pp. 371-73
year: 1248
text: February 20. Lyons. Pope Innocent IV writes to the patriarch of Antioch and papal legate [Opizo Fieschi], ordering him to see to the reception of Simonetto Bulgaro, canon of Sidon, in a church of Outremer as canon and brother, providing him with a prebend, if one is vacant or as soon as he can, various obstacles notwithstanding. Simonetto is described as the son of the noble Genoese Bulgarino Bulgaro, who is particularly devoted to the pope and the Roman Church.
February 20. Lyons. Pope Innocent IV writes to the patriarch of Antioch and papal legate [Opizo Fieschi], ordering him to see to the reception of Simonetto Bulgaro, canon of Sidon, in a church of Outremer as canon and brother, providing him with a prebend, if one is vacant or as soon as he can,... more
sources: Innocent IV, Les registres, 1:553, no. 3662, misdated to 19 February
year: 1248
text: February 20. Lyons. Pope Innocent IV writes to the patriarch of Antioch and papal legate (Opizo Fieschi), ordering him to provide the scholar John, son of Adelard, a Genoese judge, as soon as possible with a prebend or other fitting benefice in any of the churches of the Kingdom of Cyprus.
February 20. Lyons. Pope Innocent IV writes to the patriarch of Antioch and papal legate (Opizo Fieschi), ordering him to provide the scholar John, son of Adelard, a Genoese judge, as soon as possible with a prebend or other fitting benefice in any of the churches of the Kingdom of Cyprus.
sources: Innocent IV, Les registres, 1:553, no. 3663, misdated to February 19; Schabel et al., Bullarium, 1:374-75, no. e-34, misdated to 19 February
year: 1248
text: February 24. Lyons. Pope Innocent IV writes to all the barons, knights, nobles, crusaders and all Christians in Outremer about the crusading (in exercitu […] crucesignatorum) project of King [Louis IX] of France. The pope recalls the difficulties encountered by the Christians to liberate the Holy Land, which represents ‘a stairway to the heavenly kingdom’. Today, the project may succeed with the help of God and the involvement of the king of France, who has taken the cross and combines many physical and moral virtues. The pope also conferred on the [cardinal-]bishop of Tusculum (Frascati) [Eudes de Châteauroux] the sign of the cross and the office of papal legate just as Jethro [blessed Moses before his departure from Madian]. The authority of the legate extends to the army of the crusaders and all the provinces and Christian lands in Outremer, with the power to root up, destroy, pull down, waste, build up and plant (Jeremiah 1:10). Thus the pope orders the addressees to treat the legate honourably and to execute his orders obediently. Otherwise, the pope will respect and enforce the sentences that the legate promulgates against rebels.
February 24. Lyons. Pope Innocent IV writes to all the barons, knights, nobles, crusaders and all Christians in Outremer about the crusading (in exercitu […] crucesignatorum) project of King [Louis IX] of France. The pope recalls the difficulties encountered by the Christians to liberate the Holy... more
sources: Innocent IV, Les registres, 1:552-53, no. 3661, misdated 23 February; Schabel et al., Bullarium 1:375-76, no. e-35, misdated to 19 February
year: 1248
text: February 28. Lyons. Pope Innocent IV writes to Bishop [Giovanni Romano] and the chapter of Paphos, ordering them to receive as canon and brother Nicolinus, son of Bonvassal [of Aude] chancellor of the Kingdom of Cyprus, and to confer on him a prebend if one is vacant in their church, or the first one that becomes so. Otherwise he is sending a letter to Archbishop [Eustorge] of Nicosia to carry out the pope’s mandate.
February 28. Lyons. Pope Innocent IV writes to Bishop [Giovanni Romano] and the chapter of Paphos, ordering them to receive as canon and brother Nicolinus, son of Bonvassal [of Aude] chancellor of the Kingdom of Cyprus, and to confer on him a prebend if one is vacant in their church, or the first... more
sources: Schabel et al., Bullarium, 1:376-77, no. e-36
year: 1248
text: March 4, ind. VI. Acre. In the church of St Peter of the Pisans. Benencasa, quondam Leonardi Cascinensis filius, imperial judge and notary declares by order of Guido de S. Cassiano that he has seen and transcribed the privilege (of Pope Celestine III: 13 October 1193; RRH 711 and RRR 1346) in the presence of the priest Nicholaus, chaplain of the said church, Benvenutus diaconus, judex Sanctorus de Juvenatio, Ugolino notario quondam Bandini and other witnesses. He also describes the papal bulla: on one side two heads and the legend: SANCTUS PAULUS SANCTUS PETRUS and on the other: CELESTINUS PAPA III.
March 4, ind. VI. Acre. In the church of St Peter of the Pisans. Benencasa, quondam Leonardi Cascinensis filius, imperial judge and notary declares by order of Guido de S. Cassiano that he has seen and transcribed the privilege (of Pope Celestine III: 13 October 1193; RRH 711 and RRR 1346) in the... more
sources: Müller, Documenti, pp. 59-60, no. 36; RRH 1157
year: 1248
text: March 6, Ind. VI. Acre. In the church of St Peter of the Pisans. Benencasa quondam Leonardi Cascinensis filius, imperial judge and notary confirms to have seen and transcribed on the orders of Guido de Sancto Cassiano quondam Galli, consul comunis Pisanorum Accon et totius Syrie, the privilege of Conrad of Montferrat (October 1187: RRH 665 and RRR 1249) in presence of the priest Nicolaus, chaplain of the said, of the deacons Nicolaus, Jacobus and Benvenutus, the notary Ugolinus quondam Bandini, Ildebrandus de Gombo, Belcayrus de Vico and of other witnesses. He also describes Conrad’s appended lead seal: on both sides a knight on a horse having a standard in his right hand, surrounded by the words: S. CORR. MARCHIONIS MONTISFERRATI.
March 6, Ind. VI. Acre. In the church of St Peter of the Pisans. Benencasa quondam Leonardi Cascinensis filius, imperial judge and notary confirms to have seen and transcribed on the orders of Guido de Sancto Cassiano quondam Galli, consul comunis Pisanorum Accon et totius Syrie, the privilege of... more
sources: Müller, Documenti, p. 28, no. 23; RRH 1158
year: 1248
text: March 10, Ind. VI. Acre. In the church of St Peter of the Pisans. Benencasa, quondam Leonardi Cascinensis filius, imperial judge and notary declares by order of Guido de Sancto Cassiano quondam Galli, consul comunis Pisanorum Accon et totius Syrie, to have seen and transcribed the privilege of Conrad of Montferrat (3 March 1191: RRH 703 and RRR 1295) in the presence of Opithonis Buzaccarinus, Pipinus Conettus, Ildebrandus de Gombo, the notary Ugolinus quondam Bandini and other witnesses. He also describes Conrad’s appended lead seal: on both sides a knight on a horse having a standard in his right hand, surrounded by the inscription: S. CORR. MARCHIONIS MONTISFERRATI.
March 10, Ind. VI. Acre. In the church of St Peter of the Pisans. Benencasa, quondam Leonardi Cascinensis filius, imperial judge and notary declares by order of Guido de Sancto Cassiano quondam Galli, consul comunis Pisanorum Accon et totius Syrie, to have seen and transcribed the privilege of... more
sources: Müller, Documenti, p. 40, no. 33; RRH 1159, wrongly listed with documents copied on 14 March 1248
year: 1248
text: March 11. Ind. VI. Acre. In the church of St Peter of the Pisans. Benencasa, quondam Leonardi Cascinensis filius, imperial judge and notary declares by orders of Guido de Sancto Cassiano quondam Galli, consul comunis Pisanorum Accon et totius Syrie, to have seen and transcribed the privilege of Guy (19 November 1189: RRH 684 and RRR 1271) in the presence of Robertus Tornuli, Jacobus Vallis Sercli, Bartholomeus campsor, Bonaiunta Nullus, the notary Ugolinus quondam Bandini and other witnesses. He also describes Guy’s appended lead seal: on one side the image of a city surrounded by the letters + CIVITAS REGIS REGUM OMNIUM + and on the other side a crowned king seated on a throne holding a cross in his right hand and a globe topped by a cross in his left hand, surrounded by the letters + GUIDO DEI GRACIA REX IERUSALEM.
March 11. Ind. VI. Acre. In the church of St Peter of the Pisans. Benencasa, quondam Leonardi Cascinensis filius, imperial judge and notary declares by orders of Guido de Sancto Cassiano quondam Galli, consul comunis Pisanorum Accon et totius Syrie, to have seen and transcribed the privilege of Guy... more
sources: Müller, Documenti, 32 p. 39; RRH 1161, wrongly dated by Müller and hence RRH