RRR: Correspondence/envoy
1372
year: 1196
initiator: Gaufridus de Donjon, master of the Hospital
recipient: King Sancho VII of Navarre
institution: Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem
text: Apr. 1-30. Frater Gaufridus domus Hospitalis [Iherusalem] humilis magister et Christi pauperum servus writes to King Sancho VII of Navarre. He calls for assistance, dwelling on the danger facing the Latin East, the appeals from his brothers in captivity and the absence of enough defenders. He reports that Sefedinus [al-‘Adil], ruler of Old Cairo [Babilon] and Damascus, has raided the county of Tripoli and is expected in Palestine any day. He has made his son [al-Muazzam ‘Isa], lord of Jerusalem. He adds that the Nile has flooded disastrously and that Egypt is suffering extreme famine.
Apr. 1-30. Frater Gaufridus domus Hospitalis [Iherusalem] humilis magister et Christi pauperum servus writes to King Sancho VII of Navarre. He calls for assistance, dwelling on the danger facing the Latin East, the appeals from his brothers in captivity and the absence of enough defenders. He... more
sources: Garcia Larragueta, El Gran Priorado 2:89-90, no. 87 (RRH no. 728)
RRR: Correspondence/envoy
1438
year: 1199
initiator: Gaufridus de Donjon, master of the Hospital
recipient: King Sancho VII of Navarre
text: Apr. 23. Acre. Frater Gaufridus, Christi pauperum servus et domus Hospitalis Ierusalem humilis magister, writes to King Sancho VII of Navarre, explaining the politics of Ayyubid family relationships following Saladin’s death. He describes the attempts made by Saladin’s son, the domnus Babilonie [al-‘Aziz ‘Uthman of Egypt]], to displace his elder brother the domnus Damasci [al-Afdal ‘Ali of Damascus], the efforts of Cephedinus frater Saladini [al-‘Adil] to reconcile his nephews and his support for al-‘Aziz, who has replaced al-Afdal as the senior Ayyubid prince [honore Laoce quod interpretatur corone decoravit]. Gaufridus reminds Sancho that the truces negotiated between Saladin and King Richard I of England have ended. al-‘Adil and al-‘Aziz have reached Jerusalem and their intentions with respect to a renewal of the truce are not known in Acre. The county of Tripoli is not covered by any truce. He adds that the Holy Land, which is short of manpower, can be reconquered if the Christians will increase the forces at their disposal.
Apr. 23. Acre. Frater Gaufridus, Christi pauperum servus et domus Hospitalis Ierusalem humilis magister, writes to King Sancho VII of Navarre, explaining the politics of Ayyubid family relationships following Saladin’s death. He describes the attempts made by Saladin’s son, the domnus Babilonie [al... more
sources: Garcia Larragueta, El Gran Priorado 2:87-8, no. 86 (RRH no. 752)
RRR: Correspondence/envoy
1508
year: 1202
initiator: Gaufridus de Donjon, master of the Hospital
recipient: King Sancho VII of Navarre
text: Jun. 1-30. Frater Gaufridus, domus Hospitalis Ierusalem humilis magister et Christi pauperum servus, describes for King Sancho VII of Navarre an earthquake that caused massive destruction on 20 May. The towers, royal palace and walls of Acre were partly demolished, and countless houses are in ruins. The walls, towers, churches and houses in Tyre are so wrecked that they are unlikely to be restored in present lifetimes. There have been countless deaths. The walls and houses of Tripoli are damaged. The towers, walls, houses and fortifications of Archay are overturned and the place is not habitable. The Hospitaller castles [castra] of Cratum and Margatum need restoration. Antioch and parts of Armenia have not been so badly affected, but there has also been a disease spreading among animals and the crops have been ruined by the weather.
Jun. 1-30. Frater Gaufridus, domus Hospitalis Ierusalem humilis magister et Christi pauperum servus, describes for King Sancho VII of Navarre an earthquake that caused massive destruction on 20 May. The towers, royal palace and walls of Acre were partly demolished, and countless houses are in ruins... more
sources: Mayer, ‘Two unpublished letters’, pp. 306-8 (RRH no. 789)