RRR: Correspondence/envoy
1806
year: 1218
initiator: Oliver of Paderborn
recipient: Archbishop and clergy of Cologne
institution: Templars
additional institution: Hospital of Saint Mary of the Germans
text: Sept. 14. In the siege of Damietta. Oliver of Paderborn [Oliverus peccator, dictus Coloniensis scolasticus] records for the archbishop and clergy of Cologne, what he has heard and seen. He recounts the actions of the Fifth Crusade before his arrival: the stationing of the patriarch and the True Cross outside Acre [in castra Domini] on the other side of Recordana; the first campaign by way of the plain of Faba to the fons Tubanie, and from there to Betsaida, then across the Jordan, around the east side of the Sea of Galilee, and back to Acre by way of Capharnaum; the second campaign to Mons Thabor and the failure to attack it; and the third expedition to Sarepta on the borders of Tyre and Sidon. He describes the departure of the kings of Hungary and Cyprus, the second of whom died in Tripoli; the trepidation of many crusaders who gathered in Acre to wait for the next passage home; the expedition of the king of Jerusalem, the duke of Austria, the Monasteriensis episcopus and the Traiectensis episcopus to Caesarea; and the construction between Haifa and Caesarea, on the site of the Castrum filii Dei called Districtum, by the Knights Templar, together with some peregrini and Hospitallers of St Mary of the Germans, of Castrum Peregrinorum, although a Muslim assault had to be driven off. He records the castle in detail and the expenses needed to build it. He reports that the Knights Templar intend to move their headquarters there, away from the sinful distractions of Acre. He goes on to describe the invasion of Egypt, the establishment of the Christian camp opposite Damietta, the attacks on the tower built in the middle of the Nile and their lack of success until Oliver’s Germans and Frisians constructed an ingenious floating siege engine. He records their eventual success, the final assault being led by a young knight from Liège.
Sept. 14. In the siege of Damietta. Oliver of Paderborn [Oliverus peccator, dictus Coloniensis scolasticus] records for the archbishop and clergy of Cologne, what he has heard and seen. He recounts the actions of the Fifth Crusade before his arrival: the stationing of the patriarch and the True... more
sources: Oliver of Paderborn, ‘Briefe’, pp. 288-95, no. 3
RRR: Correspondence/envoy
1808
year: 1218
initiator: James of Vitry
recipient: Pope Honorius III
text: Sept. 14 and 22. In the army besieging Damietta. James of Vitry [I. Acconensis ecclesie minister] writes to Pope Honorius and to his friends. He narrates how, after returning from Caesarea, the Christian army in Palestine built a new castle [Castrum Peregrinorum] by the sea, at a place on the road to Jerusalem called Districte, how the Sarraceni made an unsuccessful attack on Caesarea, how, after the Christian army had returned to Acre, a fleet of 40 Frisian and German cogones arrived not long after Easter and a council-of-war [commune consilium] decided to invade Egypt [Egyptum]. He describes the wealth of Egypt, its flatness, the absence of major fortifications other than Damiata, Babylonia - called Kayre by the Egyptians - and Alexandria, the sites of Christian pilgrimage in the country and the fact that it is the centre of the production of balsam. He maintains that most of the population are still Christian, if pacific, and comments on the fact that there are Christian populations in the East. He narrates how on 24 May the patriarch of Jerusalem embarked with the relic of the True Cross, which was a splinter of that which had been lost [at Hattin], how the army voyaged to Egypt, arrived before Damietta and established an encampment on an island before the city. He describes the practice of the incubination of hen eggs, the situation of the city, the flooding of the river Nile, sickness in the army, the difficulty, even with siege engines, of ship-borne assaults on a strong tower in the middle of the river from which a chain barred the progress of shipping. The attacks continued for 4 months until the Frisians, under magister Oliverus Coloniensis cancellarius, constructed a magnificent and expensive floating siege engine on 2 ships and the tower was captured. At the time of writing [14 September] the Christians, who were expecting reinforcements, were planning a crossing of the Nile to attack Damietta. Many Sarraceni were deserting and being baptized, while part of the garrison of Mons Thabor had been sent to Egypt and their castle had been destroyed, as had been the city of Gibelet [Gibel ?] and 5 fortresses between Tyre and Damascus, at a time when the Christians had strengthened the fortresses [munitiones] of Districtum and Caesarea on the way to Jerusalem. Further, the sultan of Egypt had died from sorrow at the loss of the tower in the Nile. James of Vitry asks for prayers that the Christians successfully take Egypt. In the copy of his letter to the pope, James reports that 9 ships with domnus Petrus Hanibal and other Romans arrived in the week after 24 August. Cardinal Pelagius of Albano, the papal legate, has reached Acre with a Roman prince and is daily expected in Egypt. In the copy of his letter to his friends, James of Vitry asks for prayers for those who have died, including magister Walterus de Tornacho archidiaconus ecclesie Acconensis, who did much good in Acre; magister Constantius de Duacho decanus ecclesie Acconensis; domnus Iohannes de Cameracho ecclesie Acconensis cantor; domnus Reinerus, a cleric in James’s household who became Sancti Michaelis in Accon pastor; H. serviens episcopi Acconensis; magister Thomas cancellarius Noviomensis; magister Leonius qui legebat de Theologia in civitate Acconensi; magister Alexander nepos magistri R. cardinalis; Iohannes iunior de Cameraco nepos cantoris ecclesie Acconensis; magister Reinaldus de Barbachon ecclesie Acconensis thesaurarius. James adds that he was very ill for 2 months in the camp before Damietta.
Sept. 14 and 22. In the army besieging Damietta. James of Vitry [I. Acconensis ecclesie minister] writes to Pope Honorius and to his friends. He narrates how, after returning from Caesarea, the Christian army in Palestine built a new castle [Castrum Peregrinorum] by the sea, at a place on the road... more
sources: James of Vitry, Lettres, pp. 101-11, no. 4 (RRH no. 915)
RRR: Correspondence/envoy
1826
year: 1219
initiator: James of Vitry
recipient: Pope Honorius III
institution: Templars
additional institution: Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem
text: May - Sept. 1-30. [317] James of Vitry [I. Acconensis ecclesie minister] writes to Pope Honorius III. He continues his narrative of the Fifth Crusade, describing how the Christian army reached Damietta, took the strong tower in the middle of the river Nile, breaking the iron chains that stretched across the river and prevented ships passing up stream, although the Sarraceni sank ships to impede any progress. Cardinal Pelagius had his cog hauled into the upper river, as had James of Vitry himself, although with losses, including his barbota with 20 men on board, and the cog of the Knights Templar, which had to fight its way upstream with heavy losses. He describes galley battles [galeae] with losses on both sides and the attempt by the Sarraceni to build a bridge up-river, the sufferings during the winter from storms, floods, cold and disease, the deaths of Cardinal Robert de Courçon and the bishop of Paris, the building of a canal round the Christian camp, the fasting and liturgical processions decreed by Cardinal Pelagius of Albano and the patriarch of Jerusalem, and their expulsion of malefactors, the passage of ships up the canal, the flight of the sultan of Egypt, the building of a pontoon by the Christians, their occupation of the bank on which the city stood, its encirclement and the preparation of siege-engines, the arrival of major Muslim reinforcements under Coradinus rex Damasci [al-Mu‘azzam], the brother of the sultan of Egypt, and their withdrawal after an unsuccessful assault on the Christians, because of threats to Aleppo and Damascus from the sultan of Konya, the king of Cilician Armenia and one of Saladin’s sons. James returns to his letter, the early part of which had been written at the time of the Easter passage. He describes attacks on the city, a break down in discipline and a Muslim attack that resulted in heavy Christian losses. He reports the deaths or captivity of 200 milites of the Knights Templar and the Hospitallers of St John of Jerusalem and others, among whom were the electus Belvacensis, domnus Walter regis Francie camerarius, filius eius vicecomes de Bellomonte, domnus Iohannes de Archies, domnus Andreas de Espoisse and domnus Andreas de Nantuel, the brother of the electus. He reports desertions from the Christian army, but also that the Muslims in Damietta face starvation. He hopes that once Damietta is taken the crusade will advance into Egypt and will then recover Jerusalem.
May - Sept. 1-30. [317] James of Vitry [I. Acconensis ecclesie minister] writes to Pope Honorius III. He continues his narrative of the Fifth Crusade, describing how the Christian army reached Damietta, took the strong tower in the middle of the river Nile, breaking the iron chains that stretched... more
sources: James of Vitry, Lettres, pp. 112-22, no. 5 (RRH no. 924)
RRR: Correspondence/envoy
2467
year: 1244
initiator: Patriarch Robert of Jerusalem, the papal legate, the queen of Cyprus, who is Bauilla regni Ierosolimitani, Tirenensis archiepiscopus, R. Acconensis episcopus, G. Sidonensis episcopus, R. Lidenensis episcopus, frater Hermannus Petragoricensis magister milicie Templi, frater Willelmus magister domus Hospi-talis sancti Johannis, praeceptor domus sancte Marie Teutonicorum, Odo de Monte Beligardo dominus Tyberiadensis et constabularius regni Ierosolimitani and Philippus de Monte forti dominus Turonensis
recipient: Pope Innocent IV
text: Sept. 11. Acre. Patriarch Robert of Jerusalem, the papal legate, the queen of Cyprus, who is Bauilla regni Ierosolimitani, Tirenensis archiepiscopus, R. Acconensis episcopus, G. Sidonensis episcopus, R. Lidenensis episcopus, frater Hermannus Petragoricensis magister milicie Templi, frater Willelmus magister domus Hospitalis sancti Johannis, praeceptor domus sancte Marie Teutonicorum, Odo de Monte Beligardo dominus Tyberiadensis et constabularius regni Ierosolimitani and Philippus de Monte forti dominus Turonensis inform Pope Innocent IV of the arrival of the Khorezmians, to whom the patriarch had already referred in a letter to the pope. They had been driven from their lands by the Mongols and were accompanied by their families and have occupied a large part of the province of Jerusalem, from Niro militum, 8 miliari from Jerusalem, to Ascalon and Gaza. They are allied to the sultan of Egypt, who believes that they will subjugate Damascus and the Christians for him. They had first arrived from the north, by way of the pons ferreus near Antioch and had been bought off by the rulers of Damascus, Aleppo and Homs [Camella]. The Christians in the Holy Land, who are short of soldiers, had called for assistance from the king of Cyprus, the prince of Antioch and the sultans of Damascus and Homs [Camella]. The Khorezmians then assaulted the city of Jerusalem, which they entered on 11 July, killing many inhabitants, including Armenians who had sought refuge in the church of sanctus Iacobus Armenorum, and decapitating the imperial castellan [castellanus imperialis] and the praeceptor of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem before withdrawing. The leaders in the Holy Land sent messages to the sultan of Damascus, begging for assistance, and sent the Dominican frater Simon to Jerusalem. He comforted and encouraged the people to defend the city, but a great part of the armed men in Jerusalem withdrew to Jaffa. They were followed on 23 August by 6000 of the inhabitants, but 2000 were killed on their journey to the plain of Ramla. The Khorezmians then returned and reentered Jerusalem. Among the martyrs killed while celebrating at the altars was magister Petrus de Montranda Remensis et Sconensis canonicus. The leaders describe the sacrileges and looting in the church of the Holy Sepulchre, the church of the Nativity at Bethlehem, and the churches of Mt Sion and the Templum Domini. They describe the devastation elsewhere around Tiberias and near Acre. They appeal for assistance.
Sept. 11. Acre. Patriarch Robert of Jerusalem, the papal legate, the queen of Cyprus, who is Bauilla regni Ierosolimitani, Tirenensis archiepiscopus, R. Acconensis episcopus, G. Sidonensis episcopus, R. Lidenensis episcopus, frater Hermannus Petragoricensis magister milicie Templi, frater Willelmus... more
sources: Chronica de Mailros, pp. 156-62 (RRH no. 1123)
RRR: Correspondence/envoy
2472
year: 1244
initiator: Guillelmus de Castro novo, master of the Hospital
recipient: Dominus M. de Merlai
text: Beginning of Nov. Frater G. de Novo Castro sanctae domus Jerusalem magister humilis et pauperum Christi custos informs dominus M. de Merlai of events in the Holy Land. He has already written to him about his dismay at the truce with the sultan of Damascus and Seisser sultan of Kerak, involving the return of most of the land west of the Jordan in return for an armed alliance against the sultan of Egypt. The allied forces mustered at Gaza. Meanwhile the patriarch of Jerusalem, who had just returned from the West, wished to visit Jerusalem and G. was to go with him. They were in Jerusalem when the land was invaded by the Khorezmians, who had been called in by the sultan of Egypt. They agreed to evacuate the city and lead the inhabitants to Jaffa. Misled into thinking that the city was secured, the people returned there, only to be besieged by the Khorezmians. 7000 men, women and young persons, who tried to flee, were massacred or enslaved. The Khorezmians killed those left in the city, including the monks, the old, and the debilitated, who had sought refuge on the church of the Holy Sepulchre. Referring to the bravery of the Christians, G. goes on to describe briefly the battle on 17 October [La Forbie], during which the Knights Templar and the Hospitallers of St John, summoned with others by the patriarch, fought the Khorezmians and Egyptians. Killed were the magister militiae Templi, the magister Hospitalis, the magistri of other Orders, together with their convents. Dominus Walterus comes de Bresna was captured and dominus Philippus de Muntforti was slain. Only 18 Knights Templar and 16 Hospitallers of St John escaped.
Beginning of Nov. Frater G. de Novo Castro sanctae domus Jerusalem magister humilis et pauperum Christi custos informs dominus M. de Merlai of events in the Holy Land. He has already written to him about his dismay at the truce with the sultan of Damascus and Seisser sultan of Kerak, involving the... more
sources: Matthew Paris, Chronica maiora 4:307-11 (RRH no. 1125)
RRR: Correspondence/envoy
2473
year: 1244
initiator: Patriarch Robert of Jerusalem, the papal legate, Henricus archiepiscopus Nazarenus, J. Cesariensis electus, R. episcopus Acconensis, Sydonensis episcopus, frater Guillermus de Rokaforti vicemagister domus militiae Templi and his order’s convent, H. prior Dominici Sepulchri, abbas Sancti Samuelis Praemonstratensis ordinis, B. abbas Montis Oliveti, J. abbas Templi Domini, P., abbas Montis Thabor and R. abbas Montis Syon
text: Nov. 25. Acre. In a general letter addressed under seal to the prelates and clergy in the kingdoms of France and England, Patriarch Robert of Jerusalem, the papal legate, Henricus archiepiscopus Nazarenus, J. Cesariensis electus, R. episcopus Acconensis, Sydonensis episcopus, frater Guillermus de Rokaforti vicemagister domus militiae Templi and his order’s convent, H. prior Dominici Sepulchri, abbas Sancti Samuelis Praemonstratensis ordinis, B. abbas Montis Oliveti, J. abbas Templi Domini, P., abbas Montis Thabor and R. abbas Montis Syon describe the disasters they have faced in the Holy Land: the invasion by way of Saphet and Tiberias of the nomadic Khorezmians, who had been expelled from their lands by the Mongols; their alliance with the sultan of Egypt; their occupation of the land from Turon Militum, near Jerusalem, to Gaza; the defensive alliance of the Christians, led by the magistri of the Knights Templar and the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem, the praeceptor of the Hospital of St Mary of the Germans and the nobles with the sultans of Damascus and Homs [Chamela]; the evacuation of the Christians from the city of Jerusalem, trusting in a truce with the sultan of Kerak and the rustici Sarraceni in the mountains, and their losses on the way to Ramla; the Khorezmian occupation of Jerusalem and massacre of those seeking refuge in the church of the Holy Sepulchre, which was vandalized, together with the tombs of the kings, the profanities at Mt Sion, the Templum Domini, St Mary of the Valley of Jehoshaphat and the church of the Nativity at Bethlehem. The patriarch and others describe the advance of the Christian army from Acre along the coast by way of Caesarea, the granting of an indulgence to the soldiers, and the battle before Gaza [La Forbie] on 17 October. Of the convents of the military orders, only 33 Knights Templar, 26 Hospitallers of St John and 3 Hospitallers of St Mary of the Germans escaped, as did the patriarch of Jerusalem, the constabularius Acconensis, Philippus de Monteforti and others who fled to Ascalon. Most nobles and knights were taken or killed. It is not known whether the archbishop of Tyre, the bishop of Ramla [episcopus Sancti Georgii], the abbas of St Mary of the Valley of Jehoshaphat, the magister of the Knights Templar, the praeceptor of the Hospital of St Mary of the Germans and many other churchmen have been killed or captured. The magister of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem and comes Galterus de Brena have been taken as prisoners to Cairo. The patriarch and others have sent letters to the king of Cyprus and the prince of Antioch, but do not know what response there has been. They are now in Acre, while the Khorezmians roam through the land as far as Nazareth and Saphet, dividing up the properties amongst themselves and exacting the rents. They have received letters from Ascalon, where the castellan and brothers of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem are being besieged by the Egyptians, appealing for assistance. Fearful that unless aid from Europe arrives on the next passage in March the land will be lost, the patriarch and others beseech for help. They are sending the bishop of Beirut and Arnulphus ordinis Praedicatorum, risking the dangers of a winter sailing, to explain the situation further.
Nov. 25. Acre. In a general letter addressed under seal to the prelates and clergy in the kingdoms of France and England, Patriarch Robert of Jerusalem, the papal legate, Henricus archiepiscopus Nazarenus, J. Cesariensis electus, R. episcopus Acconensis, Sydonensis episcopus, frater Guillermus de... more
sources: Matthew Paris, Chronica maiora 4:337-344; see also ‘Annales monasterii. Burtonensis’, pp. 257-63 (RRH no. 1127)