year: 1255
text: January 30. Naples. Pope Alexander I writes to the abbot of the monastery of the Blessed Mary of the Valley of Josaphat and to his brothers both present and future professing the regular life forever, responding to their just requests by confirming the liberties and immunities conceded by his predecessors Innocent [II], Eugenius [III], Anastasius [IV] and Adrianus [IV], taking them under special papal protection as the property of St Peter. He affirms that the Benedictine way shall be followed forever without violation. He confirms their possessions given either by Duke Godfrey (Godefridus de Bouillon) or King Baldwin [I] of Jerusalem (Balduinus Jerosolimitanus) or other faithful that they justly hold or will acquire in the future by the concession of popes, the generosity of kings or princes, or oblation of the faithful. The list includes the following: By gift of the patriarchs of Jerusalem, in the territory of Jerusalem by gift of the patriarchs two thirds of the tithe of the casale of Bethsan, the tithes of the mills and gardens of Siloé (Syloe) and of the lands and vineyards that belong to the same church in that territory; the tithes and of two carrucae of which one belonged to Guy of Milly (Guido de Miliaco) and the other to Baleanus. In the territory of Nablus (Neapolitanum), the tithes of the casalia of Ascar, Bytiri and Saphet. In the territory of Acre (Acon), the tithe of the casale called Cassera and of four carrucae of land and of the olive trees pertaining to them at the casale of Ubertus de Pazeo, and half of the tithe of Baleanus de Bytiri and of the land of Beroaldus that is located on the mountain, and the entire tithe of three casalia of Balduinus Ramatensis called Gemail, Serra, and Bezezin, and the tithe of the two casalia of Cavea and Tarphim that belonged to Gunfridus de Turri. In Jaffa (Joppa), one church and the tithe of the land that belonged to Fraymericus as well as the tithe of two carrucae of land that the first King Baldwin (Balduinus) granted the church of Josaphat. In the territory of Hebron (Ebron), the tithe of the casale called Jamarvara. By gift of the prior and canons of the Lord’s Sepulchre, one oven in Jerusalem, the tithe of the land Plata Petra (Flatrock), and the tithe of the casale called Darchiboam. Of the goods (bonis: probably an error for donis) of the bishops: in the territory of Caesarea (Cesariense), the tithe of the casale called Bethalla and the tithe that comes from the monks’ own labour or that of their subjects. In the territory of Caypha [the tithe] casalis called Galgala. In Galilee (Galilea), the church of Ligio with the parish and its tithe and the tithe of the casale called Thanis, the church of St George that is situated above Tiberias (Tyberias), and the tithe of the casale named Casrielme. In the territory Ramatense, one casale called Caphyria and half its tithe, and one house within the castle of St George and another inside the walls of the machomeria (Mahomeria), and four carrucae of land in front of that castle, as well as the tithe of two carrucae of land that Baldwin of Ramla (Balduinus de Ramis) gave the church of Josaphat. In Acre (Ptolomaida), one church. In Caypha, another church. In Tyre, another church and the tithe of two casalia, Bethfella and Sardanas. Next to Sidon (Sydon) another church and the tithe of its orchard and the lands belonging to it, and the tithe of the casale named Sapharabra as well as the tithe of eight carrucae of land on Mt Sarepta. In the territory Baruch, the tithe of the orchard and of two carrucae of land. In the castle Tymini another church with parish and cemetery. In the casale of Bethalla, one chapel. In Saphyria, another chapel. Of the gifts of Godfrey (Godefridus) and the kings of Jerusalem and the barons of that land: within the walls of Jerusalem one oven and mills, houses and gardens, but outside the walls in its territory lands, vineyards, the spring of Syloa and mills, the ditch (fossa) and gardens, and two thirds of the casale of Bethsan and the casale called Darchiboam. In the territory of Nablus (Neapolis), casalia called Ascar, Bytiri, and Saphet. In the territory of Jaffa (Joppa), two carrucatae of land and the land that belonged to Fraymericus. In the territory of Caypha, a casale called Tymini and, in the castle called Cayphas, houses, an oven, the lands inside and out. In the territory of Hebron (Ebron), a casale called Jamarvara. Next to Sidon (Sydon), a casale called Capharabra and the orchard and lands. In the mountains of Sarepta eight carrucatae of land. In Baruch, houses, an oven, a mill, and an orchard, and two carrucatae of land outside. In Acre (Ptolomaida), two houses and a casale in the mountains called Casra. In the territory of Caesarea (Cesariense), a casale called Bethalla, a house in the city, and next to the road that goes to the river a casale called Meschium, and on the other side of the river Jordan a casale called Bethsura. In the territory of Ligio, four carrucatae of land and houses in the casale. In the territory Toronum, a casale called Corath. In the territory of Tiberias (Tyberias), a casale called Casrielme. In the land of Sueti a casale called Zebezeb, another called St Georgius de Chaman, and another called St Job, with all their appurtenances, and a casale called Suesme. In the territory of Gor, a casale called Jarraz. In the casale of Hubertus de Paceo, four carrucatae of land and an olive grove, and one house in the casale and a garden outside it. In the diocese of St George (Georgius) [of Lydda], a casale called Sephorie. In the territory of Tyre (Tyrus), a casale called Bethfella and another called Sardanas, and inside the city houses, an orchard and a garden. In the territory Ascalon, a casale called Machoz with all its appurtenances and the large machomeria in the same city and one of the larger orchards. Across the River Jordan the two casalia of La and Bethsura. With lands, meadows, vineyards, woods, customary payments (usuagiis), and pastures in the woods and in the open, in waters and mills, one roads and paths, and in all other liberties and immunities. The right to enter and exit freely with ships and all their goods from every port of Jerusalem without payment, and to enter and exit Acre (Ptolomaida) with all their goods without customary tribute. There follows a long list of formulaic, although not universal, rights, liberties, immunities, and prohibitions, for example exemption from tithes on their novalia that they cultivate with their own hands or at their expense, which have hitherto not been exacted, and on feed for their animals; the right to admit and retain clerics or free laymen fleeing the world; prohibition from leaving the monastery without the abbot's permission, and so on. As a token of their liberty, the monks of the Valley of Josaphat will pay one ounce of gold to the papacy every year. The bull is written by the scholaster of Parma and vice-chancellor of the Roman Church, Guglielmo, in presence of nine cardinals.
January 30. Naples. Pope Alexander I writes to the abbot of the monastery of the Blessed Mary of the Valley of Josaphat and to his brothers both present and future professing the regular life forever, responding to their just requests by confirming the liberties and immunities conceded by his... more
sources: Calendar entry in Bourel de La Roncière, Les registres, 1:33-36, no. 129; Delaborde, Chartes de Josaphat, pp. 100-105, no. XLIX; RRH 1224
year: 1255
text: February 4. Naples. Pope Alexander IV writes to all cathedral chapters in the Kingdom of Cyprus, allowing them to proceed freely to fill vacant positions of archbishop and bishop through canonical election or postulation, notwithstanding any acceptances or reservations of the non-vacant archbishopric or bishoprics of Cyprus, or any papal or legatine prohibition, which he invalidates, as long as there is no other canonical obstacle.
February 4. Naples. Pope Alexander IV writes to all cathedral chapters in the Kingdom of Cyprus, allowing them to proceed freely to fill vacant positions of archbishop and bishop through canonical election or postulation, notwithstanding any acceptances or reservations of the non-vacant... more
sources: Bourel de La Roncière, Les registres, 1:45, no. 171; T. Haluscynskyj and W. Wojnar, Acta Alexandri IV, 6, no. 5; Coureas and Schabel, The Cartulary, p. 102, no. 15; Schabel et al. [eds.], Bullarium, 1: 459-60, no. f-6
year: 1255
text: February 5. Naples. Pope Alexander IV writes to Bishop Florentinus of Acre (Acconensis), responding to his request by granting that no one can be provided with a chaplaincy, parish church, or other benefice belonging to his presentation or collation against the bishop's will, nor can he be forced to accept anyone via apostolic or legatine letters of collation in those positions, if explicit mention is not made of his name and the full text of this indulgence is not inserted.
February 5. Naples. Pope Alexander IV writes to Bishop Florentinus of Acre (Acconensis), responding to his request by granting that no one can be provided with a chaplaincy, parish church, or other benefice belonging to his presentation or collation against the bishop's will, nor can he be forced... more
sources: Bourel de La Roncière, Les registres, 1:58, no. 216
year: 1255
text: February 9. Naples. Pope Alexander IV writes to Bishop [Stephanus] of Famagusta (Famagustanus) and Abbot [Georgius] of Episcopia in the diocese of Nicosia, relating that Archbishop [Hugo] of Nicosia (Nicosiensis) informed him that certain possessions belonging to his manse are useless and requested that he be allowed to transfer them to other uses of his church either by renting them out perpetually or by selling them and buying others for the same price. The pope orders the addressees to look into the matter and to grant the archbishop permission on papal authority, if they deem it expedient. But the archbishop shall not sell these possessions before he finds others to buy, and all the money shall be used for the others, passing through the addressees' hands, notwithstanding the oath the archbishop is said to have sworn not to alienate the church's possessions. The addressees are to ensure that the pope's concession is for the good of that church, not to its detriment.
February 9. Naples. Pope Alexander IV writes to Bishop [Stephanus] of Famagusta (Famagustanus) and Abbot [Georgius] of Episcopia in the diocese of Nicosia, relating that Archbishop [Hugo] of Nicosia (Nicosiensis) informed him that certain possessions belonging to his manse are useless and requested... more
sources: Bourel de La Roncière, Les registres, 1:38, no. 138; Schabel et al. [eds.], Bullarium, pp. 460-61, no. f-7
year: 1255
text: February 11 (1254 o.s.). Ind. XIII. Acre. In the cathedral of the Holy Cross. Johannes Marraim, knight of Acre, in the presence of Ada, archdeacon and vicar of the bishop of Acre, Ugo Pellavillanus, the viscount of Acre, Alardus, Johannes Phylippi and Raimundus Odonis, jurats of the burgess court of Acre, and I, Aliottus, judex and public notary, and the witnesses listed below, for the salvation of his soul and those of his relatives, grants in free alms to the Hospitallers in the person of Hugo Revel, the magnus preceptor, all the land that he owns located on the plain of Acre within these borders: to the east the land of the casal of La Hadia, held by Rolandus Antelmi; to the south the land of the Temple, to the west the land of Johannes Costa; to the north the public road which goes to the foot of the Toron (turonis) known as the Toron of Saladin. Witnesses: Jacobus Vitalis; Rainerius juris peritus; Bonifacius the priest; fr. Johannes de Mallienc; fr. Johannes de Ceriserio; fr. Girardus de Domibus; Guidoctus de Finemonte and Stephanus de Bussello. Later the same day in the presence of Raul, lord of Blancegarde; Fulco his knight; Jacobus Vitalis; Girardus Menabovis; Guillelmus de Pinkignin; fr. Johannes de Mallienc; fr. Henricus hospitalarius, fr. Josep the treasurer, together with the magnus preceptor and the witnesses listed above, Johannes Marraim placed the magnus preceptori in corporal possession of the land. I, Aliottus Uguiccionis, judex and public notary, on the instruction of the magnus preceptor and Johannes Marrain, drew up the formal record.
February 11 (1254 o.s.). Ind. XIII. Acre. In the cathedral of the Holy Cross. Johannes Marraim, knight of Acre, in the presence of Ada, archdeacon and vicar of the bishop of Acre, Ugo Pellavillanus, the viscount of Acre, Alardus, Johannes Phylippi and Raimundus Odonis, jurats of the burgess court... more
sources: Delaville Le Roulx, Cart Hosp 2:772, no. 2714; RRH 1212
year: 1255
text: February 18. Naples. Pope Alexander IV writes to the master and brothers of the hospital of Lepers of St Lazarus of Jerusalem of the Order of St Augustine, relating that he was read their petition that claimed that the late Emperor Fr[edericus] of the Romans, before the sentence of deposition was pronounced against him, donated to them various lands, possessions, and stratias that belonged to his demesne at the time in Sicily (Sycilia), Calabria, Vallegratis, Apulia, and Terra Laboris with various exemptions from secular exactions, as is said to be more fully contained in the letter patent of the same Fr[edericus] drawn up for this. The pope responds to their request by ratifying, confirming, and strengthening this donation.
February 18. Naples. Pope Alexander IV writes to the master and brothers of the hospital of Lepers of St Lazarus of Jerusalem of the Order of St Augustine, relating that he was read their petition that claimed that the late Emperor Fr[edericus] of the Romans, before the sentence of deposition was... more
sources: ASV, Reg. Vat. 24, f. 49r, no. 333
year: 1255
text: February 18. Naples. Pope Alexander IV writes to Cardinal-Deacon O[ctavianus] of Santa Maria in Via Lata, papal legate, repeating the above and ordering him to have the master and brothers of the hospital of Lepers of St Lazarus of Jerusalem of the Order of St Augustine or their procurators put in possession of their lands and other things, having removed anyone who holds them illicitly, any indulgences notwithstanding.
February 18. Naples. Pope Alexander IV writes to Cardinal-Deacon O[ctavianus] of Santa Maria in Via Lata, papal legate, repeating the above and ordering him to have the master and brothers of the hospital of Lepers of St Lazarus of Jerusalem of the Order of St Augustine or their procurators put in... more
sources: ASV, Reg. Vat. 24, f. 49r, no. 333a
year: 1255
text: February 26. Naples. Pope Alexander IV writes to Archbishop [Hugo] of Nicosia (Nicosiensis), relating that he has heard that several nobles and other men from the archbishop's diocese commit fraud in paying the tithes they owe him and his church, withholding them so long that the delay causes the archbishop and his church serious damage and expense. Not wanting to tolerate this, the pope assigns to the archbishop the task of forcing them to cease with what is canonical, once they have been warned, without appeal, notwithstanding obstacles.
February 26. Naples. Pope Alexander IV writes to Archbishop [Hugo] of Nicosia (Nicosiensis), relating that he has heard that several nobles and other men from the archbishop's diocese commit fraud in paying the tithes they owe him and his church, withholding them so long that the delay causes the... more
sources: Coureas and Schabel, The Cartulary, p. 257, no. 99; Schabel et al. [eds.], Bullarium, pp. 461-62, no. f-8
year: 1255
text: March 1. Naples. Pope Alexander IV writes to the chancellor of Tripoli (Tripolitanus), the master of the schools of Antioch, and the minister of the Friars Minor of Tyre (Tyrensis), relating that the petition of Lord Raymundus Selemendensis (Bishmizzine) of the diocese of Tripoli (Tripolitana) that was read to him claimed that, when his uncle the late Thomas (Thomasius) [de Ham] constable of Tripoli (Tripolitanus) died, as his closer blood relative according to the custom and law of that country he came into possession of the post of constable of Tripoli (Tripolitana) and its appurtenances. Eventually the noble Lady E[schiva] de Podio (of Le Puy), asserting that she was the nearest blood relative in the line of the late constable, arranged to have R[aymundus] wickedly despoiled of the possession of the post of constable and replaced with [Bohemond VI] Prince of Antioch and Count of Tripoli (Tripolitanus). So the late Pope I[nnocentius IV] was asked on R[aymundus]'s behalf to investigate this via discreet men, since E[schiva] was not born of legitimate marriage and thus by law could not succeed Thomas in the post of constable. Thus [Innocent IV] ordered the late patriarch of Jerusalem and the archdeacon of Acre (Acconensis) to summon people as needed, hear depositions from both sides, and establish what was canonical, having their decision firmly observed via ecclesiastical censure. But in the end, when the patriarch died, the case did not go forward. Thus the pope orders the addressees, if it is so, to proceed according to [Innocent IV's] letter to the late patriarch and the archdeacon, appeal removed.
March 1. Naples. Pope Alexander IV writes to the chancellor of Tripoli (Tripolitanus), the master of the schools of Antioch, and the minister of the Friars Minor of Tyre (Tyrensis), relating that the petition of Lord Raymundus Selemendensis (Bishmizzine) of the diocese of Tripoli (Tripolitana) that... more
sources: ASV, Reg. Vat. 24, f. 35r-v, no. 269; Sbaralea 2:18-19, no. 25; summary in Bourel de La Roncière, Les registres, 1:85, no. 316; RRH 1224a
year: 1255
text: March 4. Naples. Pope Alexander IV writes to the abbot and the convent of the Virgin Mary of the Valley of Josaphat, pertaining directly to the Roman Church, of the Order of St Benedict, in the diocese of Jerusalem, relating that their petition shown to him claimed that their monastery was occupied by the Saracens on many occasions and several privileges that strengthened the monastery and the ecclesiastical ornaments and many other goods were thereby lost, the loss of the privileges causing much harm to the monastery. They asked the pope to renew these privileges lest the monastery be harmed by the loss of the originals, which the pope does, declaring that the new ones replace the originals in every way within and outside judicial proceedings.
March 4. Naples. Pope Alexander IV writes to the abbot and the convent of the Virgin Mary of the Valley of Josaphat, pertaining directly to the Roman Church, of the Order of St Benedict, in the diocese of Jerusalem, relating that their petition shown to him claimed that their monastery was occupied... more
sources: Delaborde, Chartes de Josaphat, pp. 105-6, no. L; Alexander IV, Les Registres 1:56, no. 207; RRH 1225