RRR: Correspondence/envoy
1509
year: 1202
initiator: Philippe de Pleisset, master of the Knights Templar
recipient: Abbot of Cîteaux
institution: Templars
text: June 1-30. Frater Philippus de Plessis, pauperum militię Templi magister humilis, describes for the abbot of Cîteaux events in the Latin East. He with 100 milites spent the period from Martinmas to Pentecost on the marches of the land of Tripoli beween Castrum Album and Haman. Sephedinus with his whole army journeyed from Egypt, Jerusalem and Damascus to beyond the river Euphrates and came to an agreement with his nephew the lord of Aleppo. This threatens the Christian settlers, and peasants [agricolę] have deserted the Templars’ lands and casalia. Bad weather has ruined the crops. An earthquake on 20 May caused great destruction, knocking down a large part of Acre and killing countless people, although the Templar houses were saved. All the towers around Tyre except 3 and the walls; barbacans and houses are wrecked. Most of Tripoli is destroyed, as is the castle of Archados, the foundations of the castrum Arsum and most of the walls of Castrum Album, including the great tower, which the Templars believed to be unrivalled. The city of Tortosa and the Templar castle there were spared. A pestilence followed the earthquake. Philippus asks for the abbot’s prayers, reminding him how the Knights Templar grew from the Cistercian Order. The Templars in the East have received with pleasure frater Artaudus and frater Bernardus de Borth with their companions.
June 1-30. Frater Philippus de Plessis, pauperum militię Templi magister humilis, describes for the abbot of Cîteaux events in the Latin East. He with 100 milites spent the period from Martinmas to Pentecost on the marches of the land of Tripoli beween Castrum Album and Haman. Sephedinus with his... more
sources: Mayer, ‘Two unpublished letters’, pp. 308-10
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
1535
year: 1204
initiator: Johannes, the catholicos of the Armenians
recipient: Pope Innocent III
institution: Templars
text: Sept. - Oct. Joh[ann]es, the catholicos of the Armenians, writes to Pope Innocent III. After professing his readiness to abide by all his obligations as primate, Joannes complains about Cardinal Peter, who is allied to the Knights Templar in the dispute over the succession to Antioch and at a council he held in Antioch imposed an interdict on Cilician Armenia, without the agreement of the catholicos. Joannes reports that at the intervention of Cardinal Soffred a meeting was arranged in Acre in September to settle the dispute between King Leon and the Templars, whose behaviour has been pernicious.
Sept. - Oct. Joh[ann]es, the catholicos of the Armenians, writes to Pope Innocent III. After professing his readiness to abide by all his obligations as primate, Joannes complains about Cardinal Peter, who is allied to the Knights Templar in the dispute over the succession to Antioch and at a... more
sources: Innocent III, Die Register 8:217-20, no. 121 (RRH no. 795)
RRR: Correspondence/envoy
1550
year: 1205
initiator: Archbishop of Caesarea
institution: Templars
additional institution: Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem
text: *c. May. The archbishop of Caesarea writes to Rouen, reporting the deaths of the son of King Aimery c. 2 February and of King Aimery himself on 1 April. The crusaders [peregrini] and nearly everyone else have migrated to Constantinople. The Knights Templar and the Hospitallers of St John have established the child daughter of the [Conrad] of Montferrat as lord of the land and have given the custody of her to her uncle.
*c. May. The archbishop of Caesarea writes to Rouen, reporting the deaths of the son of King Aimery c. 2 February and of King Aimery himself on 1 April. The crusaders [peregrini] and nearly everyone else have migrated to Constantinople. The Knights Templar and the Hospitallers of St John have... more
sources: ‘Anon. cont. chron. Roberti de Monte’, p. 342 (RRH no. 803)
RRR: Correspondence/envoy
1603
year: 1208
initiator: Pope Innocent III
recipient: Patriarch of Jerusalem, the papal legate
institution: Templars
additional institution: Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem
text: Jul. 10. San Germano. Pope Innocent III informs the patriarch of Jerusalem and the magistri of the Knights Templar [militia Templi] and the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem that a major Christian army is being gathered in Germany and France, and that in Germany a general tax has been imposed with the agreement of the princes. He adds that 1000 librae Provenienses has been collected in the Temple in Paris, drawn from an alms gift from the Cistercians and from the fortieth imposed on Church incomes. This will be sent to the Holy Land. He asks them to prepare, not only in the province of Jerusalem, but also in Antioch and Tripoli, for the arrival of the Christian forces.
Jul. 10. San Germano. Pope Innocent III informs the patriarch of Jerusalem and the magistri of the Knights Templar [militia Templi] and the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem that a major Christian army is being gathered in Germany and France, and that in Germany a general tax has been imposed with... more
sources: Innocent III, Die Register 11:162-4, no. 104
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
RRR: Correspondence/envoy
1612
year: 1209
initiator: Pope Innocent III
recipient: Patriarch of Jerusalem, the papal legate
institution: Templars
additional institution: Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem
text: Mar. 5. Lateran. Pope Innocent III writes to the patriarch of Jerusalem, the papal legate. He approves the election by the canons of the church of Antioch and the translation to the patriarchate of Antioch of the bishop of Ivrea that resulted from the patriarch of Jerusalem’s mediation. He wishes the patriarch of Jerusalem to confer on the new patriarch the insignia of his office as soon as possible and he expects the two patriarchs to work together in the interests of the Holy Land. Turning to the conflict between the king of Armenia, the Knights Templar and the count of Tripoli, he orders the patriarch of Jerusalem to work for reconciliation and to insist on the observance of truces, given the danger to the Holy Land, while persuading the king to restore the Templar properties. With the ending of the dispute between Duke Philip of Swabia and Otto [of Brunswick], who has gained the [western] empire, he hopes assistance will come. Meanwhile he is sending a large sum of money, to be spent on the needs of the Holy Land by the patriarch, the Knights Templar and the Hospitallers of St John.
Mar. 5. Lateran. Pope Innocent III writes to the patriarch of Jerusalem, the papal legate. He approves the election by the canons of the church of Antioch and the translation to the patriarchate of Antioch of the bishop of Ivrea that resulted from the patriarch of Jerusalem’s mediation. He wishes... more
sources: Innocent III, Die Register 12:17-19, no. 8 (RRH no. 837)
RRR: Correspondence/envoy
1613
year: 1209
initiator: Pope Innocent III
recipient: Patriarch of Jerusalem and the magistri of the Knights Templar and the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem
institution: Templars
additional institution: Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem
text: c.Apr. 23, Lateran. Pope Innocent III informs the patriarch of Jerusalem and the magistri of the Knights Templar and the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem that Joh[ann]es de Sambuco frater Ierosolimitani Hospitalis Sancti Basilii is bringing out on the pope’s behalf 1206 and a half oboles, 9 skifati, 7 marabuttini and 80 unciae in Roman weight of skifati and broken gold pieces, the whole totalling 850 librae Provenienses. The master and brothers of the [Templar house on the] Aventine are despatching an emissary with an equivalent amount of much money. Innocent records that he entrusted 1000 auri librae Proveniensis to be carried by the Knights Templar last year, but has not had any acknowledgement. And he plans to send by means of the Hospitallers of St John and the Knights Templar a further 1400 marcae argenti to be spent as the patriarch and Joh[ann]es Brenensis comes advise. He wishes to provide the patriarch of Antioch with money for his use.
c.Apr. 23, Lateran. Pope Innocent III informs the patriarch of Jerusalem and the magistri of the Knights Templar and the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem that Joh[ann]es de Sambuco frater Ierosolimitani Hospitalis Sancti Basilii is bringing out on the pope’s behalf 1206 and a half oboles, 9 skifati... more
sources: Innocent III, Die Register 12:49-50, no. 28 (RRH no. 837a)
RRR: Correspondence/envoy
1736
year: 1216
initiator: King Leon I of Cilician Armenia
recipient: Pope Innocent III
institution: Templars
text: Before Oct. [305] After describing the refusal of the count of Tripoli to abide by the papal legates’ judgement, the miseries of warfare, and the hopes for Raymond Rupen, his nephew and the legitimate prince of Antioch, Leon, per Dei et Romani imperii gratiam rex Armeniae, recounts for Pope Innocent III how he approached Antioch with his army and entered the city without any bloodshed. Raymond Rupen was received as legitimate prince at the cathedral by the patriarch, who gave him the vexillum principale and paid liege homage [ligium homagium] to him, as did the milites and clientes belligeri at the palatium. Then the barones, milites and burgenses who had been exiled were restored to their possessions. Leon agreed to restore [to the Latins] the church of Tarsus [Tarsensis Ecclesia], for which the patriarch had consecrated as archbishop the cantor Antiochen. Ecclesiae, and the church of Mamistra [Manustana Ecclesia], which he recognized to be a suffragan see of the patriarchate and to the archbishopric of which was elected the archidiaconus Antiochiae. The fons Gustoni was restored to the abbey of St Paul. The abbots of Nigra Montana had their casalia and holdings restored and the Knights Templar were given back the castellum of Gastum, which Leon had acquired from the pagani and had detained because of the needs of warfare. Leon reports that there is now peace in the land, as the pope will learn from the Knights Templar, the Hospitallers of St John and other religious, should he enquire. Leon asks for aid and the promise of indulgences for those who come to the assistance of Cilician Armenia and Antioch.
Before Oct. [305] After describing the refusal of the count of Tripoli to abide by the papal legates’ judgement, the miseries of warfare, and the hopes for Raymond Rupen, his nephew and the legitimate prince of Antioch, Leon, per Dei et Romani imperii gratiam rex Armeniae, recounts for Pope... more
sources: Annales ecclesiastici 20:202-3 (RRH no. 817)
RRR: Correspondence/envoy
1767
year: 1217
initiator: Willelmus de Carnoto, master of the Knights Templar
recipient: Pope Honorius III
institution: Templars
additional institution: Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem
text: Oct. 1-31. Frater W. de Carnoto pauper militie Templi magister informs Pope Honorius III of the arrival at Acre of a large number of crusaders [peregrini] from the German empire and elsewhere. They have been joined by the king of Hungary and the dukes of Austria and Moravia. Al-Adil [Sephedinus], the great sultan, is immobile in Egypt, fearing the fleet from Frisia, which is due on the next passage. He has sent his son Coradinus to the frontiers of the Latin settlement. The Muslims are weaker than at any time in many years, but on the Christian side there is a great need of provisions, because the harvests have failed in Palestine and less grain has been imported than expected.There is also a severe shortage of horses. Before the arrival of the king of Hungary and the duke of Austria, the patriarch of Jerusalem, the king, the crusaders [peregrini], the brothers of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem and the Knights Templar had decided to campaign towards Nablus and to engage with Coradinus, but after their arrival the unanimous decision has been made to invade Egypt to besiege Damietta, thus opening a prudent way to the land of Jerusalem. All crusaders [crucesignati] should be prepared to bring with them large quantities of provisions and horses.
Oct. 1-31. Frater W. de Carnoto pauper militie Templi magister informs Pope Honorius III of the arrival at Acre of a large number of crusaders [peregrini] from the German empire and elsewhere. They have been joined by the king of Hungary and the dukes of Austria and Moravia. Al-Adil [Sephedinus],... more
sources: Annales ecclesiastici 20:372 (RRH no. 902)