RRR: Correspondence/envoy
1441
year: 1199
initiator: King Leon I of Cilician Armenia
recipient: Pope Innocent III
text: May 23. Tarsus. Leon, per dei et Romani imperii gratiam rex omnium Armeniorum, writes to Pope Innocent III. He reports how, under instruction from the archbishop of Mainz he desires to bring all Armenians into unity with the Roman Church. The archbishop will relay to the pope all the troubles facing the Latin East and Cilician Armenia. Leon appeals for assistance.
May 23. Tarsus. Leon, per dei et Romani imperii gratiam rex omnium Armeniorum, writes to Pope Innocent III. He reports how, under instruction from the archbishop of Mainz he desires to bring all Armenians into unity with the Roman Church. The archbishop will relay to the pope all the troubles... more
sources: Innocent III, Die Register 2:408-9, no. 210 (RRH no. 755)
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)
year: 1201
initiator: King Leon I of Cilician Armenia
recipient: Genoese
text: Mar. 1-31. Leon, Dei gratia rex Armeniorum, filius Stephanus et de potenti genere Rupinorum, postquam divina clementia promotus sum ad regalem dignitatem et sublimatus regali corone per manus Romani Imperii, wishes to encourage the Genoese to come to his kingdom. And so he makes a grant, signed in both Armenian and Latin, to Ogerius de Pallo, representing the Genoese. He gives freedom to come and go and sell throughout his land, entering and leaving through his ports. He gives the Genoese and their goods and merchandise safe conduct thoughout his land and those of his barones, so that the Genoese are freed on their purchases and sales from all servitium, drictura, pactum, exactio, angaria tributi vectigalis. Their goods are to be safe in shipwrecks. He gives land in his cities of Sisum, Mamista and Tharsus, so that in each the Genoese may build a church, a fundum, houses and a curia, in which they will have jurisdiction over Genoese, although if a Genoese has a claim against a man of another nationality the case will be decided in the royal curia. The Genoese are held to defend the rights of the king and men [of Cilician Armenia]. The charter was drawn up by Iohannes archiepiscopus Sisensis, Trium Arcium abbas, totius regni Armenie legatus et cancellarius.
Mar. 1-31. Leon, Dei gratia rex Armeniorum, filius Stephanus et de potenti genere Rupinorum, postquam divina clementia promotus sum ad regalem dignitatem et sublimatus regali corone per manus Romani Imperii, wishes to encourage the Genoese to come to his kingdom. And so he makes a grant, signed in... more
sources: Rovere and Puncuh I Libri 1/2:164-6, no. 344 (RRH no.781)
RRR: Correspondence/envoy
1492
year: 1201
initiator: King Leon I of Cilician Armenia
recipient: Pope Innocent III
institution: Templars
text: Oct. 1. Sis. King Leon I of Cilician Armenia assures Pope Innocent III of his devotion. He reports that the vexillum sancti Petri sent by the pope has arrived and will always be carried in his armies against enemies of the Cross. He is maintaining peace with the citizens of Antioch and the count of Tripoli, but he informs the pope that the count of Tripoli and the citizens of Antioch have sent messengers to Roconidinus [Rukn ad-Din Sulaiman of Konya] entering into an alliance against him. He has stationed himself on the borders of Antioch. He has committed the case of his nephew Rupinus to the papal legates, but asks for the archbishop of Mainz to be made judge in his cause. He is grateful to the pope for writing to the count of Tripoli. In July he led his army on campaign against the Muslims, who are divided among themselves, and asked the Knights Templar, whose possessions in his country are worth 20000 besants, to come to his aid. The Templars came to Antioch and Leon asked the magister to join with him and the patriarch of Antioch in sending messengers to the Holy See over the issue of Gaston, which the pope wanted him to surrender to the Knights Templar. Leon offered to hand over Gaston provided the Templars gave support to his nephew Rupinus and lodged him in that castle. He and Rupinus sought to become confratres and assist the Templars in recovering another of their castles called Trapesach, but the Templars refused. Leon assures the pope of his attachment to the Latin faith. He is sending to the pope as a representative his miles called Garnerius Teuton.
Oct. 1. Sis. King Leon I of Cilician Armenia assures Pope Innocent III of his devotion. He reports that the vexillum sancti Petri sent by the pope has arrived and will always be carried in his armies against enemies of the Cross. He is maintaining peace with the citizens of Antioch and the count of... more
sources: Innocent III, ‘Register’ 214:1003-6, no. 43 (RRH no. 785)
RRR: Privilege/exemption
1494
year: 1201
initiator: King Leon I of Cilician Armenia
recipient: Doge and citizens of Venice
text: Dec. 1-31. Leon, son of Stephen of the powerful family of Rupinids, dei gratia rex Armeniorum, makes a sealed grant to the doge and citizens of Venice, represented by Jacobus Badoarius, the son of the knight Johannes Badoarius, the emissary of the doge, who has a safe-conduct. He gives all Venetians freedom to go and return to his cities, ports and bridges with their merchandise, to buy and sell and export without paying dues [servitium, drictura, angaria et passagia], except when they are permanenly resident in the East and have come from other ports in the Levant, when they will pay as do all Christians, and except when they bring in silver and gold and mint besants or money, in which case they must pay the same dues [drictura] as do those in the territory of Acre. They will be safe if shipwrecked. They will be free to travel by land to any city, Christian or Muslim [Saraceni] with which Leon has a peace or truce agreement. The goods of those who are dying or die will be secure, but if intestate, the goods will be deposited with Johannes Sisensi archiepiscopus, regis Armenie cancellarius, and will be sent to the doge on his request. Disputes among Venetians will be settled by the Venetians themselves, although if they cannot be resolved, they will be treated in the presence of the archbishop. Disputes between a Venetian and a non-Venetian, including those leading to death, will be heard in the curia regalis. Leon makes an eleemosynary grant to the Venetians of a church and provisions for priests and clergy in Mamistra, together with a fundicum, in which they can store their merchandise, and a site for building a house. The charter was drawn up by dominus Johannes archiepiscopus Sisensis Armenie cancellarius.
Dec. 1-31. Leon, son of Stephen of the powerful family of Rupinids, dei gratia rex Armeniorum, makes a sealed grant to the doge and citizens of Venice, represented by Jacobus Badoarius, the son of the knight Johannes Badoarius, the emissary of the doge, who has a safe-conduct. He gives all... more
sources: Tafel and Thomas, Urkunden 1:373-85, no. 94 (RRH no. 786)
RRR: Correspondence/envoy
1534
year: 1204
initiator: King Leon I of Cilician Armenia
recipient: Pope Innocent III
institution: Templars
text: Sept.- Oct. Leon, per Dei et R. imperatoris gratiam rex Armeniorum, complains to Pope Innocent III about Cardinal Peter of St Marcellus. With the catholicos, his barones and many noble crusaders [peregrini], Leon had received the cardinal, who had come as papal legate to bring peace between his nephew and the count of Tripoli, the usurper of the principality of Antioch. After the catholicos had repeated his promises as a primate with respect to the Holy See, the discussion turned, in the absence of Cardinal Soffred who was in Acre, to the dispute over Antioch. Leon appealed to Cardinal Peter as legate, citing as witnesses the patriarch of Antioch, the Hospitallers of St John, the Knights Templar and the religious of Nigra Montana. But he discovered that Cardinal Peter had made a private arrangement with the count of Tripoli, the Templars and the citizens of Antioch. Leon went to Antioch to treat for peace, but the count of Tripoli failed to attend the meeting. Before the cardinal’s arrival, Leon and his forces had entered Antioch by force on the eve of the start of Advent, but the patriarch of Antioch intervened and the Templars, who were alllied to the count of Tripoli and the sultan of Aleppo, raising their vexillum Balzanum, had fortified the city towers and had attacked the Armenian forces in and outside the city. Leon had responded by confiscating all Templar possessions in his kingdom. Cardinal Peter ordered him to restore the Templar properties, but Leon demanded the Templars withdraw their opposition to his nephew. Without the agreement of Cardinal Soffred, Peter then summoned a council and imposed an interdict on Cilician Armenia. The catholicos J. and his suffragans refused to enforce this, on the grounds that the catholicos had not been involved, and appealed to the Holy See. At the demand of the cardinals, King Aimery of Jerusalem and Cyprus and all the noble crusaders [peregrini], Leon sent his relation Constantius de Camardesio to Acre in September to negotiate peace with the Templars. Leon asks Pope Innocent to order the Templars to cease their hostility. The Hospitallers and other religious are not hostile.
Sept.- Oct. Leon, per Dei et R. imperatoris gratiam rex Armeniorum, complains to Pope Innocent III about Cardinal Peter of St Marcellus. With the catholicos, his barones and many noble crusaders [peregrini], Leon had received the cardinal, who had come as papal legate to bring peace between his... more
sources: Innocent III, Die Register 8:211-17, no. 120 (RRH no. 795)
RRR: Correspondence/envoy
1536
year: 1204
initiator: King Leon I of Cilician Armenia
recipient: Pope Innocent III
text: Oct.- Nov. Leon, per Dei et Romani imperii gratiam rex Armeniorum, complains to Pope Innocent III about Cardinal Peter of St Marcellus the papal legate and his treatment of his dispute with the count of Tripoli. He has already described Peter as being openly his adversary. Peter has forbidden him to fight, in spite of the fact that the citizens of Antioch and the Templars are in alliance with the pagani to burn his tuguria of Gastum, and the count has seized Antioch against the orders of Cardinal Soffred. A meeting between King Aimery of Jerusalem, the comitissa Flandriae, the magistri of the Knights Templar and the Hospitallers of St John and the noble peregrini decided to proceed against any party that refused to be subject to the judgement of the cardinals. The dominus Cremonen. was sent to transmit this decision to the parties. Leon had delegated C. de Camardesio, his relative, to convey Leon’s agreement. The count of Tripoli did not arrive on the appointed day, did not excuse himself and refused to abide by the judgement, but Cardinal Peter, refusing to listen to Cardianal Soffred’s advice, did not give Leon justice. Leon, therefore, asks for new judge delegates, referring to the patriarch of Antioch, Cardinal Soffred, King Aimery of Jerusalem and the magister of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem.
Oct.- Nov. Leon, per Dei et Romani imperii gratiam rex Armeniorum, complains to Pope Innocent III about Cardinal Peter of St Marcellus the papal legate and his treatment of his dispute with the count of Tripoli. He has already described Peter as being openly his adversary. Peter has forbidden him... more
sources: Maleczek, Petrus, pp. 302-5 (RRH no. 798)
RRR: Correspondence/envoy
1609
year: 1209
initiator: King Leon I of Cilician Armenia
recipient: Pope Innocent III
institution: Templars
text: Early in the year [or autumn 1204]. King Leon of Cilician Armenia sends a gift of precious cloths to Pope Innocent III, carried by a brother of the Hospital of St Mary of the Germans. He tells the pope of presents he had sent before, carried by one of his milites called Sicardus, which had been taken by a Genoese pirate called Alamanus, as was witnessed by Galganus son of Risus, a shipmaster from Barletta, who owned the ship that was seized. Letters and presents for the pope had also been seized by the homines of the count of Tripoli. Leon begs the pope to forbid the Knights Templar to assist the count of Tripoli against him and his nephew over Antioch.
Early in the year [or autumn 1204]. King Leon of Cilician Armenia sends a gift of precious cloths to Pope Innocent III, carried by a brother of the Hospital of St Mary of the Germans. He tells the pope of presents he had sent before, carried by one of his milites called Sicardus, which had been... more
sources: Maleczek, ‘Ein unbekannter Brief’, p. 25
year: 1210
initiator: King Leon I of Cilician Armenia
recipient: Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem
institution: Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem
text: *Aug. 1-31. With the agreement of his nephew Raymond Rupen, King Leon of [Cilician] Armenia [confirms] his gift to the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem of the city of Selesk with its castle, Camardes and Châteauneuf, with the same dependencies attached to them as in the time of the Greeks and the Sarrasins. The charter is signed in red by the king and counter-signed by his secrétaire.
*Aug. 1-31. With the agreement of his nephew Raymond Rupen, King Leon of [Cilician] Armenia [confirms] his gift to the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem of the city of Selesk with its castle, Camardes and Châteauneuf, with the same dependencies attached to them as in the time of the Greeks and the... more
sources: Delaville Le Roulx, Cart Hosp 2:119, no. 1350 (RRH no. 841)
year: 1210
initiator: King Leon I of Cilician Armenia
recipient: Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem
institution: Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem
text: Aug. 1-31. With the agreement of his heir Raymond Rupen, the son of Raymond, the first born son of Prince Bohemond of Antioch, Leon, filius domini Stephani bone memorie, Dei et Romani imperii gratia rex Armenie, records under seal that he has given Laranda to the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem, to be held by it when he or his heirs or other Christians take Laranda from the pagani. He gives the Hospital freedom make peace or war with Laranda or on any other frontier of its territory, provided the defence of his kingdom is assured. He will abide by truces made by the Hospital and will defend the lands of the Hospital if it is at war with a neighbour with which he has a truce. The Hospitallers may keep all the booty they gain in warfare. They also have the right to arrest all those subject to them who act against the Christian faith throughout his kingdom and to judge them according to their own justice. Witnesses: of the clergy, Petrus Tarsensis electus; Joannes Tarsensis cantor; Helias Tarsensis thesaurarius; of the brothers of the Hospital of St John, frater Heymericus Selefkie castellanus; frater Gofredus marescalcus; frater Albertus Roirad preceptor Selefkie; frater Helias de Turre; of the barones, Constantius comestabulis; Adam de Guastone senescalcus; Osto de Tabaria; Robertus Mansel Antiochie comestabulis; Rogerius de Monte comestabulis; Basilius marescalcus; Baharam filius Gofredi de Corco. The charter was written by Bartholomeus regis duane secretorum protonotarius.
Aug. 1-31. With the agreement of his heir Raymond Rupen, the son of Raymond, the first born son of Prince Bohemond of Antioch, Leon, filius domini Stephani bone memorie, Dei et Romani imperii gratia rex Armenie, records under seal that he has given Laranda to the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem,... more
sources: Delaville Le Roulx, Cart Hosp 2:118-19, no. 1349 (RRH no. 843)