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
1443
year: 1199
initiator: King Leon I of Cilician Armenia
recipient: Pope Innocent III
institution: Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem
additional institution: Templars
text: c. May 1-31. Leon, per Dei et Romani imperii rex Armeniorum, writes to Pope Innocent III. After expatiating on the threat posed to Cilician Armenia, he describes the death of Raymundus, the elder son of Prince Bohemond [III] of Antioch. Raymundus had married Leon’s niece Aaliza/Aelide and had had a son, called Rupinus, who had been baptized by the archbishop of Mainz. Before his death Raymundus had asked his father to assure the inheritance of Rupinus to Antioch. Bohemond had confirmed Rupinus as his heir in the presence of all his barones and had made all his liege men [homines ligii] swear liege homage [ligium hominium] to Rupinus. Leon sends the sealed record to the pope. But Count [Bohemond IV] of Tripoli, together with the magister et conventus Templi and the magister et conventus Hospitalis came to Antioch to drive Leon from his land and stayed for 3 months. Prince Bohemond [III] was expelled from Antioch by an alliance with the commune [communia], which declared that Count Bohemond was the legitimate heir. Leon appealed to the pope, after which the Knights Templar and the Hospitallers of St John began peace discussions. Leon sends his miles R[obertus] de Margat to the pope asking for his intervention.
c. May 1-31. Leon, per Dei et Romani imperii rex Armeniorum, writes to Pope Innocent III. After expatiating on the threat posed to Cilician Armenia, he describes the death of Raymundus, the elder son of Prince Bohemond [III] of Antioch. Raymundus had married Leon’s niece Aaliza/Aelide and had had a... more
sources: Innocent III, Die Register 2:462-5, no. 242 (RRH no. 756)
RRR: Agreement/treaty
1449
year: 1199
initiator: Bohemond IV, count of Tripoli
recipient: Gaufridus de Donjon, master of the Hospital
institution: Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem
text: Sept. 6. Bohemond, the son of Prince Bohemond of Antioch, Dei gratia Tripolis comes, records under seal that out of fear for the lord of the Assassins [dominus Assessinorum] he has come to an agreement with frater Gaufridus de Donjon magister sancte domus Hospitalis Iherusalem and the brothers of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem over the lordship of Maraclea and Camelum, which he gave them and they have possessed for some time. At Bohemond’s request the Hospitallers allow him to hold the lordship for life on condition that if the Hospitallers have the agreement of the legitimate heirs to the lordship, it will revert to them. The lordship will be restored to them on Bohemond’s death. If the lordship reverts to the Hospitallers, they will pay Bohemond within a month 6000 Saracen besants for Camelum and will absolve Bohemond from his debt to them of 300 besants. This written agreement will then be returned to them. Witnesses: Petrus de Ravendell; Girardus constabularius; Raymundus de Scandalione; Gaufridus de Cusantiis; of the brothers of the Hospital, frater Petrus de Mirmanda castellanus Crati; frater Petrus de Scutai castellanus Margati; frater Hylarius capellanus; frater Gaufridus Ratus bajulus domus Antiochie; frater Rogerius de Campania; frater Fortunus olim castellanus Emposte; frater Rollandus Burgundensis; frater Sancius Alvernensis; frater Villelmus de Morent; frater Symon senescalcus. [265]
Sept. 6. Bohemond, the son of Prince Bohemond of Antioch, Dei gratia Tripolis comes, records under seal that out of fear for the lord of the Assassins [dominus Assessinorum] he has come to an agreement with frater Gaufridus de Donjon magister sancte domus Hospitalis Iherusalem and the brothers of... more
sources: Delaville Le Roulx, Cart Hosp 1:682-3, no. 1096 (RRH no. 759)
RRR: Correspondence/envoy
1489
year: 1201
initiator: Gaufridus de Donjon, master of the Hospital
recipient: Prior Anglie of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem
institution: Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem
text: Dec. 24 1200 - early summer 1201. [270] The magister Hospitalis Jerusalem informs the prior Anglie of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem that the bishop of Acre, many pilgrims and many Hospitallers on their way to the West on the business of the Holy Land perished in a shipwreck off Biblium on the coast of Tripoli during the last passagium. Other ships carrying Hospitaller messengers from Acre were forced by storm damage to seek refuge in Tripoli. He reports that in the Muslim world the lord of Damascus, Sephadinus [al-‘Adil], has become master of Cairo [Babilon], expelling his nephew and others and is in a tense relationship with the sultan of Aleppo and many others. The Nile has failed to flood, leading to famine and the loss of livestock in Egypt, and a host of Egyptians have descended, like locusts, on the Holy Land. A young low-born Saracenus has been preaching an evangelical Christian campaign and has converted and baptized 2000. With the threat posed to the Latin East by the union of Damascus and Cairo, he appeals for help to the prior and to the king of England. He adds that in the invasion of Sicily by the Germans and Lombards the Hospitaller commandery [domus] of Barletta has been abandoned and that since the prior Anglie himself left the East no provisions have been received from the kingdom of Sicily, leading the Order to great expense in supplying its commanderies [domus] and castles. He needs money from the western Hospitaller communities. He asks for help to be sent on the next passagium in March.
Dec. 24 1200 - early summer 1201. [270] The magister Hospitalis Jerusalem informs the prior Anglie of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem that the bishop of Acre, many pilgrims and many Hospitallers on their way to the West on the business of the Holy Land perished in a shipwreck off Biblium on... more
sources: Delaville Le Roulx, Cart Hosp 2:1-2, no. 1131 (RRH no. 787)
RRR: Eleemosynary grant
1589
year: 1207
initiator: Raymond Rupen, prince of Antioch
recipient: Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem
institution: Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem
text: May 22. [Raymond] Rupin, Dei gratia Antiochie princeps, makes an eleemosynary grant to the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem. He gives the city of Gibel. He has asked his uncle and guardian, Leon, Dei et Romani imperii gratia rex Armenie, to issue a sealed confirmation. In the presence of frater Gobertus preceptor domus Hospitalis Antiochie, frater Girent Dedolue and frater Bernardus, he promises frater Garinus de Monte Acuto marescalcus domus Hospitalis, that he will confirm this under seal when he comes of age. Witnesses: Leo rex Armenie, [balius] Rupini principis Antiochie, who seals the charter; Eburgarib regni Armenie comestabulis; Basilius Sefricum regni Armenie marescalcus; Adam de Gastonis; Robertus civitatis Antiochie comestabulus; frater Garinus de Monte Acuto marescalcus Hospitalis; frater Gobertus domus Hospitalis Antiochie; frater Girencius Dedolue ejusdem domus; frater Bernardus ejusdem domus. The charter was drawn up during the mastership of frater Gofredus li Rat magister Hospitalis by Basilius cancellarius domini L. regis Armenie.
May 22. [Raymond] Rupin, Dei gratia Antiochie princeps, makes an eleemosynary grant to the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem. He gives the city of Gibel. He has asked his uncle and guardian, Leon, Dei et Romani imperii gratia rex Armenie, to issue a sealed confirmation. In the presence of frater... more
sources: Delaville Le Roulx, Cart Hosp 2:70-1, no. 1262 (RRH no. 820)
RRR: Correspondence/envoy
2435
year: 1243
initiator: Emperor Frederick II
recipient: Thomas de Aquino regis Iherosolimitani balius et sacri imperii in partibus transmarinis legatus
institution: Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem
text: Aug. 31. Melfi. Frederick, dei gracia Romanorum imperator semper augustus Iherusalem et Sicile rex, records under seal that frater Goffridus Balianus, representing the magister and brothers of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem, came into his presence and asked that the castle of Ascalon be committed to the Order’s care and that it be repaid any necessary expenses. Mindful of the support the Order has given him overseas, Frederick agrees to this request. He has written to Thomas de Aquino regis Iherosolimitani balius et sacri imperii in partibus transmarinis legatus, ordering him to estimate first, by means of the testimony of one or two suitable subjects, what the expenses are, and then to commit the custody of the castle to the magister and brothers, with the commitment to repay the expenses, on his behalf and on that of his son Conrad, Romanorum in regem electus semper augustus et regni Iherosolimitani heres. If the Hospitallers of St John should lose the castle after an assault and long siege, and not through blame or negligence, their costs will be repaid.
Aug. 31. Melfi. Frederick, dei gracia Romanorum imperator semper augustus Iherusalem et Sicile rex, records under seal that frater Goffridus Balianus, representing the magister and brothers of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem, came into his presence and asked that the castle of Ascalon be... more
sources: Mayer, UKJ 3:1180-4, nos. 691-2 (RRH no. 1112)