RRR: Correspondence/envoy
1246
year: 1187
initiator: Patriarch Aimery of Antioch
recipient: All Christians
text: Oct. 1-12. Patriarch Aimery of Antioch addresses an appeal to all Christians. He describes the victory of Saladin and the Turci [at the battle of Hattin], the capture of the king, his brother the constabularius and the master of the Knights Templar, the deaths of Rainaldus princeps, killed by Saladin himself, the bishops of Lydda and Acre, Templars, Hospitallers, 1200 milites and 30000 pedites, and the seizure of the relic of the True Cross. Tiberias has been taken, together with Acre, Haifa, Caesarea, Jaffa, Nazareth, Sebasten, Nablus, Lydda, Ramata, Arsur, Bethlehem, Hebron, Sidon, Beirut, Biblis and Ascalon. Their inhabitants have been captured and now Jerusalem is besieged. He begs for help. Otherwise, the Holy Sepulchre and then Antioch itself will be lost. He reminds Christians of the achievement of their ancestors when they conquered the Holy Land. He is sending the Valeniensis episcopus and the Gabulensis episcopus to the West for aid.
Oct. 1-12. Patriarch Aimery of Antioch addresses an appeal to all Christians. He describes the victory of Saladin and the Turci [at the battle of Hattin], the capture of the king, his brother the constabularius and the master of the Knights Templar, the deaths of Rainaldus princeps, killed by... more
sources: Mayer, ‘Zwei unedierte Texte’, pp. 100-3, no. 2
RRR: Correspondence/envoy
1247
year: 1187
initiator: Bohemond III, prince of Antioch
recipient: All Christian prelates, clergy and people
text: Mid Oct. [220] Bohemond III princeps Antiocenus sends a general letter to all Christian prelates, clergy and people. Saladin has killed Templars and Hospitallers and imprisoned the king [of Jerusalem]. He has seized the relic of the True Cross and is besieging Jerusalem. Ascalon has fallen and is without Christian inhabitants. Nazareth has been occupied by the Turci. Acre, and the territory as far as Tyre, Ascalon and Jerusalem is lost and the Christian religion in that region is no more. Only the principality of Antioch survives. Bohemond is sending the Tharsensis archiepiscopus, Antioceni principatus cancellarius, to the West to plead for assistance.
Mid Oct. [220] Bohemond III princeps Antiocenus sends a general letter to all Christian prelates, clergy and people. Saladin has killed Templars and Hospitallers and imprisoned the king [of Jerusalem]. He has seized the relic of the True Cross and is besieging Jerusalem. Ascalon has fallen and is... more
sources: Chroust, Tageno, pp. 202-3 (RRH no. 663)
RRR: Correspondence/envoy
1257
year: 1188
initiator: Patriarch Eraclius of Jerusalem
recipient: Emperor Frederick I
text: †Jul. 4 1187 - Mar. 27 1188. [222] Patriarch Eraclius of Jerusalem writes to the western emperor Frederick I. He describes the destruction of cities and towns in the Holy Land and he encourages the emperor to come to its assistance.
†Jul. 4 1187 - Mar. 27 1188. [222] Patriarch Eraclius of Jerusalem writes to the western emperor Frederick I. He describes the destruction of cities and towns in the Holy Land and he encourages the emperor to come to its assistance.
sources: Kegel, pp. 129-30, no. 76 (RRH no. 646)
RRR: Correspondence/envoy
1256
year: 1188
initiator: Corradus, son of the marquess of Montferrat
recipient: King Bela III of Hungary
text: Jan. 1-31. Tyre. C[onradus] montis Ferrarię marchio, together with the magnus pręceptor templi, the pręceptor hospitalis, Vgo Tiberiadis quondam dominus, frater eius A. and others defending Tyre, appeals to King Bela III of Hungary for speedy assistance. He narrates how Saladin was victorious in July, carrying the relic of the True Cross to Damascus and seizing Jerusalem and all the land. Only Tyre resists. Saladin invested Tyre with siege engines of all kinds by land and sea from the Feast of All Saints to the Feast of the Circumcision. On the Feast of St Silvester Conradus himself defeated the Muslim fleet and captured the admirals Bederdinus, Caydus and Adelmensis, together with galleys, so that the Christians now have 15. The Christians also still hold Craccus, Mons Regalis, Belveder, Saffeta and Belfort.
Jan. 1-31. Tyre. C[onradus] montis Ferrarię marchio, together with the magnus pręceptor templi, the pręceptor hospitalis, Vgo Tiberiadis quondam dominus, frater eius A. and others defending Tyre, appeals to King Bela III of Hungary for speedy assistance. He narrates how Saladin was victorious in... more
sources: Chroust, Tageno, pp. 199-201 (RRH no. 670)
RRR: Correspondence/envoy
1313
year: 1191
initiator: King Richard I of England
recipient: Abbot of Clairvaux
text: Oct. 1. Jaffa. Writing to the abbot of Clairvaux, King Richard I of England describes events after Acre fell to him and to the king of France. When negotiations with Saladin for the return of the relic of the True Cross and 1500 Christian prisoners broke down, Richard had 2600 Muslim [Sarraceni] prisoners killed, preserving only a few of the more noble as hostages. After the king of France left and Acre was restored, he prepared to march to Jaffa, accompanied by the dux Burgundiae with the French [Francigeni], comes Henricus and many counts, barons and people. The Christians marched with diffficulty to Caesarea, where they rested, before proceeding to Jaffa. Saladin attacked near the castle of Assur and was put to flight. The Christians sustained few losses, other than that of Jacobus de Avennis. Jaffa was reached and refortified, but Richard found Ascalon destroyed and much of the land ravaged. He intends to to stay in the Holy Land until after Easter, although he has exhausted his resources. The dux Burgundiae with the French and comes Henricus will remain. Richard appeals to the abbot of Clairvaux to encourage the recruitment of more settlers and crusaders.
Oct. 1. Jaffa. Writing to the abbot of Clairvaux, King Richard I of England describes events after Acre fell to him and to the king of France. When negotiations with Saladin for the return of the relic of the True Cross and 1500 Christian prisoners broke down, Richard had 2600 Muslim [Sarraceni]... more
sources: Roger of Howden, Chronica 3:130-3
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
1382
year: 1197
initiator: Pope Celestine III
recipient: Chapter of the cathedral of Nicosia
text: Jan. 2. Lateran. Referring to his reform of the church of Cyprus, the election of A[lanus] cancellarius regis to the archbishopric of Nicosia and of magister B. archidiaconus Laudicensis to the bishopric of Paphos, and their consecration by the archbishop of Nazareth and the bishops of Bethlehem and Acre, Pope Celestine III informs the chapter of the cathedral of Nicosia that he has sent the pallium, requested by the chapter, through the bishop of Paphos and Leonardus and Radulphus, canonici Nicosienses. He encourages the chapter to be obedient to the archbishop.
Jan. 2. Lateran. Referring to his reform of the church of Cyprus, the election of A[lanus] cancellarius regis to the archbishopric of Nicosia and of magister B. archidiaconus Laudicensis to the bishopric of Paphos, and their consecration by the archbishop of Nazareth and the bishops of Bethlehem... more
sources: Schabel, Bullarium 1:104-5, no. a-4
RRR: Correspondence/envoy
1425
year: 1198
initiator: Patriarch Aymar Monachus of Jerusalem and the chapter of the Holy Sepuchre
recipient: All the faithful, clergy and laity, in the duchy of Poland
institution: Holy Sepulchre
text: Dec. 25 1197 - Dec. 24 1198. Patriarch [Aymar] Monachus of Jerusalem and the chapter of the Holy Sepuchre write to all the faithful, clergy and laity, in the duchy of Poland. They recount how the late dominus Iaczo visited the church of the Holy Sepulchre and asked that canons should return with him to Poland. A canon went back with him. With the agreement of the dukes, the canons of the Holy Sepulchre were given many properties and liberties, which are listed. They appeal for more alms-giving.
Dec. 25 1197 - Dec. 24 1198. Patriarch [Aymar] Monachus of Jerusalem and the chapter of the Holy Sepuchre write to all the faithful, clergy and laity, in the duchy of Poland. They recount how the late dominus Iaczo visited the church of the Holy Sepulchre and asked that canons should return with... more
sources: Nakielski, Miechovia, pp. 83-6 [260] (RRH no. 749)
RRR: Correspondence/envoy
1438
year: 1199
initiator: Gaufridus de Donjon, master of the Hospital
recipient: King Sancho VII of Navarre
text: Apr. 23. Acre. Frater Gaufridus, Christi pauperum servus et domus Hospitalis Ierusalem humilis magister, writes to King Sancho VII of Navarre, explaining the politics of Ayyubid family relationships following Saladin’s death. He describes the attempts made by Saladin’s son, the domnus Babilonie [al-‘Aziz ‘Uthman of Egypt]], to displace his elder brother the domnus Damasci [al-Afdal ‘Ali of Damascus], the efforts of Cephedinus frater Saladini [al-‘Adil] to reconcile his nephews and his support for al-‘Aziz, who has replaced al-Afdal as the senior Ayyubid prince [honore Laoce quod interpretatur corone decoravit]. Gaufridus reminds Sancho that the truces negotiated between Saladin and King Richard I of England have ended. al-‘Adil and al-‘Aziz have reached Jerusalem and their intentions with respect to a renewal of the truce are not known in Acre. The county of Tripoli is not covered by any truce. He adds that the Holy Land, which is short of manpower, can be reconquered if the Christians will increase the forces at their disposal.
Apr. 23. Acre. Frater Gaufridus, Christi pauperum servus et domus Hospitalis Ierusalem humilis magister, writes to King Sancho VII of Navarre, explaining the politics of Ayyubid family relationships following Saladin’s death. He describes the attempts made by Saladin’s son, the domnus Babilonie [al... more
sources: Garcia Larragueta, El Gran Priorado 2:87-8, no. 86 (RRH no. 752)
RRR: Correspondence/envoy
1439
year: 1199
initiator: Aimery of Cyprus
recipient: Pope Innocent III
text: *Summer. King Aimery of Jerusalem appeals for assistance to Pope Innocent III, who refers to his emissaries in letters to the kings of France and England [c. Dec. 15-20 1199]. Perhaps in response to the pope’s request for information, Aimery has reported the lack of manpower in the Latin East, but has added that quarrels amongst the Sarraceni could lead to a Christian recovery.
*Summer. King Aimery of Jerusalem appeals for assistance to Pope Innocent III, who refers to his emissaries in letters to the kings of France and England [c. Dec. 15-20 1199]. Perhaps in response to the pope’s request for information, Aimery has reported the lack of manpower in the Latin East, but... more
sources: Innocent III, Die Register 2:460, no. 241; Schabel, Bullarium 1:120, no. b-7