RRR: Confirmation/renewal of grants
220
year: 1124
initiator: Patriarch Warmund of Jerusalem, together with his suffragan bishops, Wilelmus de Buris constabularius, Paganus cancellarius and the barones of the kingdom of Jerusalem
recipient: Venetians
text: Jan. 20 – Feb. 15. Acre. With King Baldwin II imprisoned by Balac princeps Parthorum paganorum [Balik ruler of Aleppo], and Doge Dominicus Michael [Domenico Michiel] with a large Venetian fleet and army in the kingdom of Jerusalem after defeating the Egyptian fleet off the coast of Ascalon, Patriarch Warmund of Jerusalem, together with his suffragan bishops, Willelmus de Buris constabularius, Paganus cancellarius and the barones of the kingdom of Jerusalem, met in the church of the Holy Cross in Acre to consider and affirm the commitments that King Baldwin had made to the Venetians in writing and by messengers. All the barones, whose names are written below, have confirmed by oath on the Gospels the terms of the agreement that follow. In all cities in the kingdom, whether in the royal domain or belonging to the barones, the Venetians are to have a church, an entire ruga, a platea, with or without a bath house [balnea], and an oven, free from impositions and by hereditary right. Their platea in Jerusalem is to be as much their own as the king’s property is his. If the Venetians wish in relation to cooking, milling or washing in their oven, mill or bath house in their vicus in Acre to use their own modii et buzae [weights and measures] for measuring wine, oil or honey they may do so, just as the king in his property. The Venetians’ use of weights and measures should be as follows [modiorum statere atque buze mensuris hoc modo uti liceat]. The Venetians can use the measures in dealings with fellow Venetians and when they sell to others, but when they engage in trade (commercium) with foreigners [gentes extranei] they ought to use royal measures. Venetians will pay no dues on entering, leaving, remaining, buying and exchanging, except when they bring pilgrims, when, according to custom, they will pay a third part [tercia pars] to the king. The king and barons agree to pay the Venetians annually on the Feast of the Apostles Peter and Paul the sum of 300 Saracen besants with respect to the funda of Tyre. They promise to demand no more than is customary from the people who negotiate with the Venetians. The limits of the Venetians’ quarter [platea rugaque] in Acre, which King Baldwin I gave Doge Ordelaffo [Falier] after the seizure of Sidon, are defined as stretching from the mansio of Petrus Zannus to the monastery of St Demetrius and including a machomaria and 2 lapideae mansiones [stone-built], where once there were reed huts [quᶒ quondam casule de cannis esse solebant]. The other side [of the quarter] stretches in a direct line from the house of Bernardus de Nouo Castello, which once belonged to Johannes Julianus, as far as the house of G[uibertus de] Iopen generi Lande. The Venetians throughout the kingdom, whether royal domain or the land of the barons, can enter, remain or leave as freely as though they were in Venice. Pleas and litigation involving Venetians are to be settled in the Venetian court [curia Ueneticorum]. A case brought by a non-Venetian against a Venetian will be decided in the Venetian court, but a case brought by a Venetian against a non-Venetian will be decided in the royal court (curia regis). If any ordained or lay Venetian dies intestate [‘sine lingua’] his property will be at the disposal [in potestatem] of the Venetians. If any Venetian’s ship is wrecked none of his goods will be harmed. If any Venetian dies in a shipwreck his property will pass to his heirs and to other Venetians. The Venetians will have the same jurisdiction and customary rights as the king over burgesses [burgenses] of any nation [gens] living in the Venetian vicus or houses. The Venetians are promised a third part with hereditary right of the cities of Tyre and Ascalon and a third part of all lands, not in Frankish hands and held by the Muslims [saraceni] on the [next] Feast of St Peter, which the Venetians help conquer. These they will hold freely and with sovereign rights [regaliter], just as the king will have in the other two parts. Warmund promises that on his release from captivity King Baldwin will confirm this agreement, as will anyone else who succeeds to the kingdom. So will the successors of the barones and any newly made barones. Patriarch Warmund, together with the bishops, clergy, barones and people of Jerusalem, promises assistance with respect to the Venetian cause concerning Antioch [causa Antiochena], in relation to which King Baldwin had promised [to favour the Venetians], because it had already been approved by the pope. The agreement is confirmed by: Warmundus Ierosolimorum patriarcha; Ebremarus Cesariensis archiepiscopus; Bernardus Nazarenus episcopus; Asquitinus/Alquitinus Bethleemita episcopus; Rogerius Liddensis Sancti Georgii episcopus; Gildoinus/Guildoinus/Gidonius abbas Sanctᶒ Mariᶒ de Josaphat; Gerardus/Gerartius/Girardus Sancti Sepulchri prior; Aicardus/Dicardus/Alicardus prior Templi Domini; Arnaldus prior Montis Syon; Willelmus de Buris regis constabularius. The charter was drawn up by Paganus regis cancellarius.
Jan. 20 – Feb. 15. Acre. With King Baldwin II imprisoned by Balac princeps Parthorum paganorum [Balik ruler of Aleppo], and Doge Dominicus Michael [Domenico Michiel] with a large Venetian fleet and army in the kingdom of Jerusalem after defeating the Egyptian fleet off the coast of Ascalon,... more
sources: Mayer, UKJ 3:1326-37, no. 764 (RRH no. 102)