RRR: Correspondence/envoy
2102
year: 1229
initiator: Emperor Frederick II
recipient: Pope Gregory IX
text: Mar. 18. Jerusalem. Frederick, Dei gratia Romanorum imperator semper augustus Ierusalem et Sicilie rex, writes to Pope Gregory IX, copying the letter for general circulation, including a copy sent to the king of England. He praises God for his achievements in the Holy Land. He describes, in the same terms as the magister of the Hospital of St Mary of the Germans, how he reached Jaffa on 15 November to refortify its castle and prepare for an advance on Jerusalem. He was hindered by a lack of pack animals [equitaturi] and by bad weather that was preventing provisioning by sea, although eventually the weather eased. While work continued on the fortifications, messengers passed between the emperor and the sultan of Egypt, who was camping at Gaza with his brother Scharaph, while the sultan of Damascus was established at Nablus. The sultan of Egypt restored Jerusalem to the emperor, with all the land descending down to Jaffa, except only for the Templum Domini, which would be open to Muslims wishing to pray there, alhough they must visit without weapons. He also restored Bethlehem with the land between it and Jerusalem; Nazareth with the land between it and Acre; all the terra Toronis; and the city of Sidon, the port of which had been a transit between Damascus and Egypt. The Christians can refortify Jerusalem, Jaffa, Sidon, Caesarea and the castle belonging to the Hospital of St Mary of the Germans in the mountains of Acre. The sultan promises not to refortify castles or build new ones until the end of the truce, which will last for 10 years. The truce was confirmed by oath on 18 February. On the advice of the patriarch of Jerusalem and the magistri and brothers of the [military orders], the emperor will inform the pope personally when he returns to Europe. Meanwhile he entered Jerusalem on 17 March, wore his crown and gave orders for the rebuilding of the city, which he proposes to refortify. The sultan will return all Christian prisoners, including those taken at Damietta.
Mar. 18. Jerusalem. Frederick, Dei gratia Romanorum imperator semper augustus Ierusalem et Sicilie rex, writes to Pope Gregory IX, copying the letter for general circulation, including a copy sent to the king of England. He praises God for his achievements in the Holy Land. He describes, in the... more
sources: MGH Leges 2:162-7 (RRH no. 1000)
RRR: Correspondence/envoy
2103
year: 1229
initiator: Hermannus, master of the Hospital of Saint Mary of the Germans
text: After Mar. 19. Frater H. Hospitalis sancta Marie domus Teutonicorum in Ierusalem minister describes for an unknown correspondent the entry of the emperor Frederick into Jerusalem on 17 March and his self-coronation on the 18th in the presence of the Panormitanus archiepiscopus, Capuanus archiepiscopus and many others and, at length, the justificatory speech made by Frater H himself in both Latin and German. He reports that on the following day the archbishop of Caesarea, who had been sent by the patriarch, placed the church of the Holy Sepulchre and all the Holy Places under an interdict. He describes the fury of the army and the anger of the emperor, who, after ordering the rebuilding of the city, returned to Jaffa. Frater H. understands that the interdict had been placed, because the Templum Domini had been left in the hands of the Sarraceni, even though the emperor’s homines guard the gates to the Temple area.
After Mar. 19. Frater H. Hospitalis sancta Marie domus Teutonicorum in Ierusalem minister describes for an unknown correspondent the entry of the emperor Frederick into Jerusalem on 17 March and his self-coronation on the 18th in the presence of the Panormitanus archiepiscopus, Capuanus... more
sources: MGH Leges 2:167-8 (RRH no. 1000)
RRR: Correspondence/envoy
2104
year: 1229
initiator: Patriarch Gerold of Jerusalem
recipient: Pope Gregory IX
text: Mar. 26. Acre. Patriarch Gerold of Jerusalem reports to Pope Gregory IX critically and at length on the actions of the emperor Frederick II in the Holy Land. He describes the journey of the emperor from Acre to Jaffa in November 1228, followed by the Christian army; the anger of the sultan at the refortification of Jaffa and the seizure of provisions from neighbouring casalia at a time when negotiations for a truce were in train; the emollient response of the emperor; the rejection of the emperor’s notary, who was responsible for negotiations, and the sultan’s request for direct talks with comes Thomas; the ill treatment of pilgrims; the sending of singers to please the emperor; and the emperor’s private announcement on 11 February to 4 of the leaders of the Latin East that poverty was forcing him to make a truce. The patriarch describes the terms of the truce: including the surrender of the city of Jerusalem, which could be fortified, except for the Templum Domini, which the Sarraceni can enter, Bethlehem and 2 small casalia on the road between Bethlehem and Jerusalem, the casalia on the road between Jerusalem and Jaffa, Nazareth and 2 casalia between Nazareth and Acre, Tyrum [Toron], which cannot be fortified, Sidon and 2 casalia. He stresses the absence of any grant of land outside Jerusalem to the patriarch, the Holy Sepulchre, the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem, St Mary of the Latins, St Mary of the Valley of Jehoshaphat, the Templum Domini, the Mt of Olives or Mt Sion. Only the Knights Templar gained their property between Jerusalem and Jaffa. The nobles reluctantly agreed, provided they could fortify Jerusalem. The magistri of the Military Orders and the bishops of England replied that they could not agree if the patriarch was not consulted, but the emperor replied that he would not take this step. The emperor then swore to abide by the terms of a secret codicil privately with no one present. The emperor had the support of the magister of the Hospital of St Mary of the Germans, who with, comes Thomasius and the dominus Sydonis received oaths of acceptance from the sultan of Egypt. The dominus Sydonis approached the sultan of Damascus, but he refused to agree, claiming that his relations were plotting against him. The magister of the Hospital of St Mary of the Germans asked the patriarch to come to the entry into Jerusalem. The patriarch gave reasons for his refusal. The magister sent, through frater W. de ordine Predicatorum, penitentiarius patriarche, a transcript of the truce, which the patriarch subjects to critical analysis. The patriarch continues that the emperor crowned himself in the church of the Holy Sepulchre. There followed a long speech delivered by the magister of the Hospital of St Mary of the Germans in both German and French, praising the emperor’s achievement. The Wintoniensis episcopus and the Exoniensis episcopus, the magister of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem and the preceptor of the Knights Templar [the magister being absent] met the emperor and the magister of the Hospital of St Mary of the Germans to discuss aid for the refortification of Jerusalem, but after delays they had no reply, even after the Knights Templars had offered to take responsibility for this. The emperor returned to Acre by way of Jaffa.
Mar. 26. Acre. Patriarch Gerold of Jerusalem reports to Pope Gregory IX critically and at length on the actions of the emperor Frederick II in the Holy Land. He describes the journey of the emperor from Acre to Jaffa in November 1228, followed by the Christian army; the anger of the sultan at the... more
sources: Rodenberg, Epistolae 1:299-304, no. 384 (RRH no. 1001)
RRR: Correspondence/envoy
2127
year: 1229
initiator: Patriarch Gerold of Jerusalem
recipient: All Christians
text: May 1-31. Acre. Patriarch Gerold of Jerusalem writes a general letter, addressed to all Christians. He describes the damage done by the emperor Frederick, who arrived, already excommunicated, with only 40 milites and no money, hoping to sustain himself from local resources. In Cyprus, he detained J. de Ybellino, his sons and the king, and took control of the kingdom through violence and fraud. He immediately sent emissaries to the sultan of Egypt to treat for peace, using the pretext of refortifying Jaffa as a means of approaching him. He claimed to have restored Jerusalem, which he entered and, although excommunicated, crowned himself in the church of the Holy Sepulchre. The Sarraceni retain the Templum Domini and the Templum Salamonis, proclaiming Islam publicly. The emperor, who had promised that the city would be refortified, left on the following day, although the Knights Templar and the Hospitallers of St John had asked him to start refortifying as he had promised. Knowing that Jerusalem could not be held unless fortified, he returned to Acre on 25 March stating that he would soon return to the West, although there was no truce with the sultan of Damascus. The leaders in the Holy Land wanted to retain the milites provided by the alms of the late king of France and the patriarch pointed out there was no truce with the sultan of Damascus, but the emperor stated that without his authority as king of Jerusalem no milites could be retained. The patriarch made a public statement of his case to the peregrini. The emperor, insisting to the magister of the Knights Templar that mercenaries [milites stipendarii] could not be retained in the Holy Land, since this would prejudice him, forbade all milites peregrini to remain and ordered comes Thomas, whom he was leaving as ballivus in terra, to punish those who stayed. He placed crossbowmen [balistarii] and archers [sagittarii] at the city gates to prevent the Knights Templars access and to deny the city provisions, and also throughout Acre and around the Templar headquarters [domus]. His followers drove out the Dominicans and some Franciscans, who had gathered to preach the Word of God. Seeing that these measures were not effective, the emperor sued unsuccessfully for peace, but he transported weapons secretly by ship to the sultan of Egypt, sent some of his milites to Cyprus to extort money and destroyed the galeae he could not take with him. He left on 1 May secretly, telling no one, leaving Jaffa destitute, poor Christians and Siriani isolated outside the town walls, and pilgrimages interrupted.
May 1-31. Acre. Patriarch Gerold of Jerusalem writes a general letter, addressed to all Christians. He describes the damage done by the emperor Frederick, who arrived, already excommunicated, with only 40 milites and no money, hoping to sustain himself from local resources. In Cyprus, he detained J... more
sources: Matthew Paris, Chronica maiora 3:179-84 (RRH no. 1015)
RRR: Correspondence/envoy
2128
year: 1229
initiator: Leaders of the Holy Land
recipient: Emperor Frederick II
text: *Summer. The leaders in the Holy Land send Jofroi le Tor and Johan de Bailluel as emissaries to the emperor Frederick, asking that his son Conrad be sent to the East as soon as possible, to be received as plus dreit heir aparant of the kingdom of Jerusalem.
*Summer. The leaders in the Holy Land send Jofroi le Tor and Johan de Bailluel as emissaries to the emperor Frederick, asking that his son Conrad be sent to the East as soon as possible, to be received as plus dreit heir aparant of the kingdom of Jerusalem.
sources: L’Estoire de Eracles’, p. 380
RRR: Correspondence/envoy
2129
year: 1229
initiator: Pope Gregory IX
recipient: Archbishop of Milan
text: Jun. 13. Perugia. Writing to the archbishop of Milan, Pope Gregory IX states that he has received detailed reports from the patriarch of Jerusalem, the magistri of the Knights Templar and the Hospital of St John and other leaders, contradicting the descriptions of the truce with the Muslims given by the emperor Frederick II and the magister of the hospital of St Mary of the Germans.
Jun. 13. Perugia. Writing to the archbishop of Milan, Pope Gregory IX states that he has received detailed reports from the patriarch of Jerusalem, the magistri of the Knights Templar and the Hospital of St John and other leaders, contradicting the descriptions of the truce with the Muslims given... more
sources: Claverie, L’ordre du Temple 2:415-16, no. 4
RRR: Correspondence/envoy
2148
year: 1231
initiator: Pope Gregory IX
text: Feb. 28 and Apr. 25. Lateran. In a general letter, Pope Gregory IX informs the faithful of the perils facing the Holy Land. He has had letters from the emperor Frederick, the patriarch of Jerusalem and the magistri of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem and the Knights Templar, referring to a threat posed by the rex Persarum. He calls on the prelates to persuade the faithful, including crusaders, to go the aid of the Holy Land. The pope writes in the same terms to the kings of England and France.
Feb. 28 and Apr. 25. Lateran. In a general letter, Pope Gregory IX informs the faithful of the perils facing the Holy Land. He has had letters from the emperor Frederick, the patriarch of Jerusalem and the magistri of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem and the Knights Templar, referring to a... more
sources: Rodenberg, Epistolae 1:348-9, 353, nos. 433, 438 (RRH no. 1022)
RRR: Correspondence/envoy
2154
year: 1231
initiator: Pope Gregory IX
recipient: Sultan of Egypt
text: Aug. 11. Rieti. Pope Gregory IX demands that the sultan of Egypt free merchants from Ancona, who were imprisoned when they reached Alexandria, and release their goods, which he has confiscated.
Aug. 11. Rieti. Pope Gregory IX demands that the sultan of Egypt free merchants from Ancona, who were imprisoned when they reached Alexandria, and release their goods, which he has confiscated.
sources: Rodenberg, Epistolae1:362, no. 449 (RRH no. 1025)
RRR: Correspondence/envoy
2160
year: 1231
initiator: Vassalus Bibliensis episcopus
recipient: Abbot and community of La Ferté
text: Sept. 1-30. Biblium. Vassalus Bibliensis episcopus writes to the abbot and community of La Ferté, reporting that their brothers, frater Andreas and frater Egidius, on a visit to Syria, have had discussions with him over the building of a Cistercian abbey, on which work has already begun. Because there are so few Cistercians in the East, he retained frater Egidius to inspect the work and judge that it was satisfactory. Frater Egidius is now returning to the West. Vassalus informs the abbot of La Ferté that the abbey of Sanctus Sergius has been endowed with a house in the city [of Biblium], 2 casalia, a garden, vineyards and olive groves.
Sept. 1-30. Biblium. Vassalus Bibliensis episcopus writes to the abbot and community of La Ferté, reporting that their brothers, frater Andreas and frater Egidius, on a visit to Syria, have had discussions with him over the building of a Cistercian abbey, on which work has already begun. Because... more
sources: Petit, ‘Chartes de St-Serge’, pp. 23-5 (RRH no. 1028)
RRR: Correspondence/envoy
2169
year: 1232
initiator: Iohannes de Ibelino Beriti dominus
recipient: Balian de Saete, Johan de Cesaire other friends and the Commune of Acre
text: *Early in year. Johan d’Ybelin sends his vallet called Droin to Acre with letters for Balian de Saete, Johan de Cesaire other friends and the Commune of Acre, appealing for aid against the imperial forces which are besieging Beirut.
*Early in year. Johan d’Ybelin sends his vallet called Droin to Acre with letters for Balian de Saete, Johan de Cesaire other friends and the Commune of Acre, appealing for aid against the imperial forces which are besieging Beirut.
sources: ‘L’Estoire de Eracles’, pp. 393-4