RRR: Correspondence/envoy
223
year: 1124
initiator: Raymond du Puy, master of the Hospital
institution: Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem
text: Sept. 19 1121 – c. Dec. 13 1124. [37] Reginmundus, per gratiam dei post obitum domini G[iraldi] factus servus pauperum Christi, with all the clergy and people who fight for the honour of God in Jerusalem, thanks all the faithful for their almsgiving in favour of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem and encourages them to give more and to enter into confraternity. He informs them of the alms-collectors he has sent to Europe and assures benefactors that they will share in the merits of Jerusalem.
Sept. 19 1121 – c. Dec. 13 1124. [37] Reginmundus, per gratiam dei post obitum domini G[iraldi] factus servus pauperum Christi, with all the clergy and people who fight for the honour of God in Jerusalem, thanks all the faithful for their almsgiving in favour of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem... more
sources: Delaville Le Roulx, Cart Hosp 1:38-9, no. 46 (RRH no. 98)
RRR: Correspondence/envoy
782
year: 1167
initiator: Girbertus [of Assailly], master of the Hospital
recipient: King Louis VII of France
institution: Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem
text: (c. 1167). Gibertus Christi pauperum servus et hospitalis Hierusalem magister writes to King Louis VII of France, on whom pilgrims to Jerusalem rely for the protection of their goods and possessions. He asks for justice for Guillelmus de Donperre, who is staying in Jerusalem but whose land [in France] has been put to the torch by certain malefactors.
(c. 1167). Gibertus Christi pauperum servus et hospitalis Hierusalem magister writes to King Louis VII of France, on whom pilgrims to Jerusalem rely for the protection of their goods and possessions. He asks for justice for Guillelmus de Donperre, who is staying in Jerusalem but whose land [in... more
sources: Bouquet, Recueil 16:145, no. 438 (RRH no. 436)
RRR: Correspondence/envoy
873
year: 1171
initiator: Girbertus [of Assailly], master of the Hospital
recipient: King Louis VII of France
institution: Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem
text: Before Jan. 19 1163 - Sept. 1171. Gibertus sancti hospitalis Hierusalem custos, with all his convent, writes to King Louis VII of France, who has been generous and benevolent to the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem. Gibertus asks the king to maintain and defend it.
Before Jan. 19 1163 - Sept. 1171. Gibertus sancti hospitalis Hierusalem custos, with all his convent, writes to King Louis VII of France, who has been generous and benevolent to the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem. Gibertus asks the king to maintain and defend it.
sources: Bouquet 16:28-9, no. 93; also in Delaville Le Roulx, Cart Hosp 1:223-4, no. 310 (RRH no. 374)
RRR: Correspondence/envoy
874
year: 1171
initiator: Girbertus [of Assailly], master of the Hospital
recipient: Archbishop of Trani
institution: Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem
text: Before Jan. 19 1163 - Sept. 1171. frater G. sancte domus Hospitalis Jerhusalem magister humilis et Christi pauperum servus writes to the archbishop of Trani. He describes the needs of the Holy Land. He and his brothers of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem, combining warfare with the religious life [religioni miliciam commiscentes], are faced with greater expenses than they can afford. He asks the archbishop to appeal to his people to provide the Hospital with financial support [beneficia] for the remission of their sins.
Before Jan. 19 1163 - Sept. 1171. frater G. sancte domus Hospitalis Jerhusalem magister humilis et Christi pauperum servus writes to the archbishop of Trani. He describes the needs of the Holy Land. He and his brothers of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem, combining warfare with the religious... more
sources: Delaville Le Roulx, Cart Hosp 4:247-8, no. 310bis (RRH no. 422)
RRR: Correspondence/envoy
875
year: 1171
initiator: Brothers of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem
recipient: Pope Alexander III
institution: Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem
text: Sept/Oct. [127] Jerusalem. The Hospital of St John. The brothers of the [central] convent of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem report to Pope Alexander III on the dissension that has arisen in their Order. Magister Gibertus, against the advice of King Amalric, who stressed the dangers facing the Holy Land, resigned his office in order to lead a solitary life. On the journey from his house he was intercepted by the preceptor and the procurator infirmorum, together with [….] and many other brothers carrying letters from the marescalcus and the convent, forbidding him to take this step before consulting the pope and the Order’s chapter. Girbertus ignored them, entered a cave to follow the religious life and, placing the insignia of the magisterium [belt, seal and purse] on the altar of the cave, absolved the brothers from all their obligations to him. The preceptor, having taken advice from the procurator infirmorum, the castellanus Gibilini, the castellanus Bellimontis and many brothers, sought the assistance of the patriarch of Jerusalem, the bishop of Bethlehem, the bishop of Lydda, the abbot of Mt Sion and the abbot of St Mary of the Valley of Jehoshaphat. The prelates tried to persuade Gibertus to reconsider and, when he refused, the patriarch, with the advice of the bishop of Bethlehem, the bishop of Lydda, the preceptor Hospitalis, the procurator informorum, the castellanus Gibelini, the castellanus Bellimontis and 30 or more of the brothers, formally ordered him on the pope’s behalf to resume his post, threatening him with excommunication and stressing that he could not resign without papal authority. Submitting to these arguments, Gibertus returned to his house, to which the patriarch came, together with the bishops of Bethlehem and Lydda and others. He was reinvested with the belt, seal and purse in the presence of the aforesaid lords by the preceptor, the procurator infirmorum and some other brothers. The brothers then summoned Gibertus to a chapter in the palatium. The patriarch forbade the magister on the pope’s behalf and with the threat of excommunication, to lay down the magisterium without papal consent or to try to subject himself to another religious order. At the same time the patriarch forbade the brothers and the convent to presume to elect another before they had received a mandate from the pope. The patriarch and the preceptor, together with the brothers who supported him, appealed formally to the pope. Most of the brothers were now opposed to the resumption of the magisterium by Gibertus, who, joined by the archdeacon of Jerusalem and the procurator infirmorum of the Hospital, asked in vain for the appeal to Rome and the threat of excommunication to be rescinded. When Gibertus had retaken his place in chapter the brothers unanimously exhorted him to keep the magisterium, but they added that he should agree to reform. He should not accept castles [castella] or fortifications on the frontiers with the Turci. He should not weigh down the Order with superfluous and useless expenses. He should not enter into any major business without the knowledge of chapter. His response was to admit his extravagance, but to renounce the magisterium again. Although Frater Pontius Blauus, together with the brothers who supported him, forbade him to lay down the magisterium without the pope’s agreement, Gibertus called on the brothers to elect another magister. He withdrew, taking 12 electors with him. Pontius Blauus repeated his prohibition, but the electors returned with Gibertus to the chapter and asked all the brothers to consent to the man [Castus] they had elected. The greater part of the chapter agreed, but Pontius Blauus was silent. Gibertus announced in the presence of the sick patients [in the hospital] that he had resigned the magisterium and retired to the cave. Four months later great dissension arose among the brothers, most of whom were ignorant of the contents of the letters written by the preceptor, together with the prior clericorum, the marescalcus, the prior Apulie [Apulia], the prior Messane [Messina], frater [Pio]tus and other brothers to the pope. Certain of the brothers said that until they had some command from the pope on this matter they did not want to obey any magister electus, since the election had been made in contempt of the Roman Church and against the appeal and prohibition. Others asserted that the election ought to be considered valid because the magister had voluntarily given up his office and the election had been made in his presence and with his advice. Meanwhile Pontius Blauus, who had been preceptor when the controversy arose, together with the [new] preceptor and other brothers, went to King Amalric and in his presence renewed the formal appeal and placed himself and his companions under papal protection, because Gibertus had resigned the magisterium after the appeal and prohibition and because they had elected him magister in spite of these. The preceptor questioned the action of Pontius Blauus on the grounds that it was against the usages of the Hospital, particularly as he had been promised justice, but Pontius claimed to be now under a superior jurisdiction. Preceptor O. deprived Pontius and his companion frater P. of their horses and armour [arnesium], because, not knowing their plans, he did not want to endanger the Order’s property. On behalf of the Hospital he forbade Pontius to travel to the pope. After this, Gibertus, having heard of the dissension, returned from his cave, suggesting that he take back the magisterium and at the same time travel to Italy to appeal directly to the pope. He had the support of some milites fratres, but this led to a debate in chapter on whether he and his companions should be prevented from leaving, according to the Order’s consuetudines. King Amalric, saddened by the dissension and appealed to by the patriarch on behalf of both factions, met the patriarch, the bishops of Lydda and Hebron, the abbot of Mt Sion, the prior of the Holy Sepulchre, the barones and many probi homines, clerical and lay, the preceptor Templi, the preceptor Hospitalis, the brothers of both factions and the citizens of Jerusalem in the chapter of the Holy Sepulchre. It was agreed that the whole truth of the matter be revealed to the pope so that he might settle the case. Witnesses: Dominus Almaricus patriarcha Ierosolimitanus; Dominus Amalrichus Iherosolimorum rex; Dominus Radulfus episcopus Bethleem; Dominus Bernardus episcopus Liddensis; Dominus Reinaldus episcopus Ebronensis; Dominus Reinaldus abbas Montis [Sion]; Dominus Petrus abbas Vallis Iosaphat; Dominus Petrus prior Dominici Sepvlcri. [128]
Sept/Oct. [127] Jerusalem. The Hospital of St John. The brothers of the [central] convent of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem report to Pope Alexander III on the dissension that has arisen in their Order. Magister Gibertus, against the advice of King Amalric, who stressed the dangers facing the... more
sources: Hiestand, PTJ 2:222-7, no. 19 (RRH no. 480)
RRR: Correspondence/envoy
893
year: 1173
initiator: Josbertus, master of the Hospital
recipient: Archbishop Henry of Reims
institution: Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem
text: Autumn. Josbertus Christi pauperum servus et sancti Hospitalis Jerusalem magister writes to Archbishop H.of Reims, asking him to patronize the Hospitallers and to help the Hospital establish some receptaculum, refugium atque solamen in his diocese.
Autumn. Josbertus Christi pauperum servus et sancti Hospitalis Jerusalem magister writes to Archbishop H.of Reims, asking him to patronize the Hospitallers and to help the Hospital establish some receptaculum, refugium atque solamen in his diocese.
sources: Bouquet 16:199-200, no. 199; also in Delaville Le Roulx, Cart Hosp 1:303-4, no. 438 (RRH no. 505)
RRR: Correspondence/envoy
1016
year: 1178
initiator: Roger de Moulins, master of the Hospital
recipient: Christian faithful
institution: Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem
text: Jan 1 - Dec. 24. [152] Rogerius [in ms. Raimundus] in hospitio sancti Johannis dictus magister imo humilis minister writes a general letter to the Christian faithful, commending its bearer, who has been gravely wounded in the fighting that surrounded the Battle of Mont Gisard. Rogerius describes the participation of Flandrie comes Philippus in the siege of the castle called Hermgen, Saladin’s investment of castrum beati Georgii with an army of 75000 and the resulting victory [at Mont Gisard] by a Christian army of 3000, who were aided by the presence of the relic of the True Cross, carried by the bishop of Bethlehem. Rogerius puts the Christian dead at 1100 men and the wounded at 750. The injured were admitted to the Hospital of St John in Jerusalem, which already contained 900 patients. The Sarraceni lost 30000 killed and 15000 made captive. He begs assistance for the bearer, who was so badly wounded that he can no longer bear arms.
Jan 1 - Dec. 24. [152] Rogerius [in ms. Raimundus] in hospitio sancti Johannis dictus magister imo humilis minister writes a general letter to the Christian faithful, commending its bearer, who has been gravely wounded in the fighting that surrounded the Battle of Mont Gisard. Rogerius describes... more
sources: Röhricht, Beiträge 2:127- 128, not. 45 (RRH no. 564)
RRR: Correspondence/envoy
1237
year: 1187
initiator: Brothers of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem
recipient: Dominus Archumbaldus magister Hospitalarium Italię and their brothers overseas
institution: Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem
text: Aug. 1-31. [Brothers of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem] write to dominus Archumbaldus magister Hospitalarium Italię and their brothers overseas. They narrate how the king of Jerusalem and the count of Tripoli, with whom he had made peace, were at Saphora with 30000 men around 29 June, when Saladin reached and took Tiberias with 80000. The king advanced and fought all day on 3 July at Marestutia. He pitched his tent that night at Saluubia and the next day the master of the Knights Templars lost most of his brothers, after which the king moved to Naim and was helped by the count of Tripoli to reach a hill which was a natural fortress. The Turci lit fires around the hill and the Christian force, faced with great heat, was deprived of food and drink. Then Baldoinus de Fatinor, Bachaberbocus de Tabaria and Leisius with 3 companions deserted and revealed to Saladin the state of the Christian army. Saladin sent Techedinus with 20000 picked knights to overcome the Christians. The king and the relic of the True Cross were taken, as were comes Gabula, Milo de Calauerdo, Onfredus iuvenis, princeps Renaldus, who was killed, Galterius de Arsun, Hugo de Gibelen, domnus de Botrono and domnus de Marachele, and 1000 others of the better men. No more than 200 escaped, including the count of Tripoli, domnus Basianus and Reinardus domnus Sidonis. Saladin then took Saphora, Nazareth, Mt Tabor, Acre, Haifa, Caesarea, Jaffa, Nablus, Ram [Ramla], Sanctus Georgius [Lydda], Ybellinon, Bellefort, Mirabel, Tyronus, Gwaler, Gazer and Audurum. When the Hospitaller galley left Tyre, [some of those who had surrendered] sent Sabani to Saladin to advise him to move on Jerusalem which would surrender. [219] The Hospitallers fled in their galley to Lechia [Latakia], where they heard that Tyre had fallen. They hope that the following cities can be saved if help comes from the West: Jerusalem, Tyre, Ascalon, Marchart, Antioch, Lassar, Saona and Tripoli. Like ants, large numbers of Sarraceni and Turci have overrun the country from Tyre, which they are besieging, to Jerusalem.
Aug. 1-31. [Brothers of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem] write to dominus Archumbaldus magister Hospitalarium Italię and their brothers overseas. They narrate how the king of Jerusalem and the count of Tripoli, with whom he had made peace, were at Saphora with 30000 men around 29 June, when... more
sources: ‘Historia de expeditione Friderici imperatoris’, pp. 2-4 (RRH no. 661)
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)