year: 1139
initiator: Pope Innocent II
recipient: Knights Templar
institution: Templars
text: Mar. 29. Lateran. In the letter Omne datum optimum Pope Innocent II praises the Knights Templar, who are constituted by the Church as defenders. He grants them and Robertus magister religiose militie Templi a general privilege. He extends papal protection to them, confirming their possessions and their professed life, laying down that their master must always be a brother knight elected by their chapter. He exempts them from the payment of tithes on the fruits of their own labour or on produce destined for their own use. He permits them to have their own priests and clerics and to discipline them. The Templars may make use of any Latin bishop for consecrations and ordinations if the local diocesan is unwilling. They can construct oratories and cemeteries in deserted places. They can bury their own dead in times of interdict and their alms-collectors are exempt from interdicts. Benefactors enjoy indulgences.
Mar. 29. Lateran. In the letter Omne datum optimum Pope Innocent II praises the Knights Templar, who are constituted by the Church as defenders. He grants them and Robertus magister religiose militie Templi a general privilege. He extends papal protection to them, confirming their possessions and... more
sources: Hiestand, PTJ 1:204-10; 2:96-103; and see 2:67-95
RRR: Council/ruling decisions/legislation
532
year: 1152
initiator: Guillelmus Tortosanus episcopus
recipient: Ebrardus magister templi
institution: Templars
text: Feb. - Sept. 23. Tripoli. In the presence of Raymond II, comes Tripolitanus Poncii comitis filius, Guillelmus Tortosanus episcopus, having spoken to his chapter and to Count Raymond, together with the barones and burgenses of his curia and others, has asked Ebrardus magister templi and his brothers to build and occupy a new castle in Tortosa, which was taken by the Turks [Turci] and burnt, and remains deserted and destroyed with its holy places profaned, in order to assure more security and to ensure that the cathedral church of Mary, the holy mother of God and perpetual virgin, can be renewed. On the Templars’ agreement, episcopus Guillelmus and his chapter give them a part of the town in the bishop’s possession where burgenses used to live. They will build a castle there, from the entrance to the Gate as far as the house of Guillelmus de Tiberiade and as far as the Gate of St Helena. All the churches in the city with the parish rights, whether within or without in the port, are to be subject to the church of Tortosa and its bishop, except for the Templars’ own chapel in the castle of Tortosa. The churches the Templars have or will acquire in their castles and elsewhere in the diocese will be held by them freely with all parochial rights, except for those at Marraclea, Camelum, Exerc, Colea, Castrum Novum, Cratum and Lacum. Tithes of the Templar churches will be shared between the bishop and canons of Tortosa and the Templars, except for tithes of demesne [proprius laboris fratrum templi], of spoil gained in military expeditions and of those levied on animals and gardens, all of which the brothers will keep, and except for the tithes of Cratum, which have been wholly given by the bishop to magister Raimundus and the brothers of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem. All returns from villani and milites will be tithed and shared, except for all those of Castrum Album, which will go to Templars and all those of Marraclea, which will go to the see of Tortosa. Both sides swear to maintain this agreement, saving the rights of the pope and the patriarchs of Antioch and Jerusalem. Witnesses: Guillelmus Tripolitanus episcopus; Florentius preceptor Tripolis; Raymundus Tripolis comes Poncii comitis filius; Arnaldus de Crest constabularius Tripolis; Guillelmus Embriacus; Guillelmus Porcelletus; Guillelmus de Lunell marescalcus; Ugo Sine Censu; Silvius Robberti; Arbertus de Cabreria; Guillelmus Rainoardi; Rainoardus; Bertrannus de Muntpetros; Guillelmus vicecomes Tripolis; Fasianus; Ugo de Liziniaco; Joselinus de Chaumunt; Pipinus de Vinoch; Gaufridus de Sydone; Guillelmus de Corniol; Poncius de Siura; Petrus de Muntferrer; Guillelmus Rotlandi; Raymundus Lamberti; Raymundus Arnaudi; Petrus Paschalis: Raymundus Cathalanus; Petrus de Sancto Germano; Petrus Galic; Bonetus; Maurus; Petrus de Castro Novo; Raymundus Fortis; of the canons of Tortosa, Guillelmus Ugonis, Poncius Cathalanus sacristes; Heliyas.
Feb. - Sept. 23. Tripoli. In the presence of Raymond II, comes Tripolitanus Poncii comitis filius, Guillelmus Tortosanus episcopus, having spoken to his chapter and to Count Raymond, together with the barones and burgenses of his curia and others, has asked Ebrardus magister templi and his brothers... more
sources: Riley-Smith, ‘The Templars and the castle of Tortosa’, pp. 284-7
RRR: Confirmation/renewal of grants
1094
year: 1182
initiator: Pope Lucius III
recipient: Arnau, magister of the Knights Templar
institution: Templars
text: Jan. 5. Pope Lucius III writes to Arnau, the magister of the Knights Templar, renewing the privilege Omne datum optimum for the Order and adding further rights.
Jan. 5. Pope Lucius III writes to Arnau, the magister of the Knights Templar, renewing the privilege Omne datum optimum for the Order and adding further rights.
sources: Prutz, Malteser Urkunden, no. 20; Claverie, L’ordre du Temple 3:62-3, no. 21
RRR: Privilege/exemption
1309
year: 1191
initiator: King Philip II of France
recipient: Templars
institution: Templars
text: Jul. 13 - Aug. 1. [237] In the palatium of the king of France. King Philip II of France grants privileges to the Templars in his kingdom. Signatories: Guido buticularius; Matheus camerarius; Radulfus constabularius.
Jul. 13 - Aug. 1. [237] In the palatium of the king of France. King Philip II of France grants privileges to the Templars in his kingdom. Signatories: Guido buticularius; Matheus camerarius; Radulfus constabularius.
sources: Delaborde, Recueil 1:467-8, no. 378
RRR: Privilege/exemption
2209
year: 1233
initiator: Knights Templar and the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem
recipient: Citizens of Marseille
institution: Templars
additional institution: Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem
text: Oct. 3. Acre. In the palacium of dominus Odo conestabulus et bajulus. The record of an agreement reached in the presence of dominus Odo de Montebeliardo, conestabulus regni Hierosolimitani et bajulus ejusdem regni pro domino imperatore between on one side the Knights Templar and the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem and on the other the citizens of Marseille. The lords and viscounts of Marseille - Roncelinus, Hugo, Raimundus de Baucio and Geraldus Ademarii de Montilio and their wives - and Raimundus Gaufridus de Tritis, had granted the Orders the rights to have ships [naves et ligna] in the port of Marseille and to sail to wherever they wish carrying pilgrims and merchants, but the magistri of the Orders complained of extortions and wanted the ships and goods of Marseille [in Acre] to be confiscated until they were repaid an estimated 2000 marchae argenti. Johannes de S. Hylario consul Massiliensium in Accon argued that he had no power to reply to the charges and he appealed for justice from the conestabulus and his court. The magistri of the Orders and the representatives of Marseille, dominus Rostagnus de Podio Alto and dominus Guittelminus de Caranzon, come to an agreement through the mediation of the dominus conestabulus, dominus Johannes de Ybelino dominus Beriti and other prudhommes [proceres]. Rostagnus and Guittelminus, having plenary authority granted in Marseille, allow the Orders the right have 1 ship [navis] each, making use of the port of Marseille twice a year, in the August passage and the Easter or March passage. Each of the two ships can carry up to 1500 pilgrims or merchants. The Orders can make use of additional ships for their own needs, but these cannot carry pilgrims or merchants. The magistri promise not to embark pilgrims or merchants in the ports from Collioure to Monaco. Frater Hermannus de Peragors magister domus militie Templi, frater Gerinus magister domus Hospitalis sancti Johannis, Rostagnus and Guittelminus attach their seals, as does Odo de Montebiliardo. Witnesses: Odo de Montebiliardo conestabulus regni Iherosolimitani et bajulus regni pro domino imperatore; dominus Johannes de Ybelino dominus Beryti; dominus Johannes dominus Cesarie; dominus Gauterius de Flori miles; dominus Anricus de Nazareno miles; dominus Manabeus miles; of the Knights Templar, frater Balduinus de Beuraje; frater Renaldus Alamannus; frater Jacobus del Bois commendator domus Templi Acconensis; frater Geraldus de Jussac; frater Guilelmus Arnaldi; of the brothers of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem, frater Arnaldus de Montbrun marescalcus Hospitalis sancti Johannis; frater Guillelmus de Monte Acuto draperius; frater Rogerius Hispanus; frater Guillelmus de Castronovo; frater Nivelo; frater Rainerius Alamannus. The charter was written, at the request of both sides, by Petrus de Servaria publicus notarius.
Oct. 3. Acre. In the palacium of dominus Odo conestabulus et bajulus. The record of an agreement reached in the presence of dominus Odo de Montebeliardo, conestabulus regni Hierosolimitani et bajulus ejusdem regni pro domino imperatore between on one side the Knights Templar and the Hospital of St... more
sources: Delaville Le Roulx, Cart Hosp 2:462-4, no. 2067; Mayer, UKJ 3:1363-6, no. 785 (RRH no. 1046)
RRR: Confirmation/renewal of grants
2306
year: 1237
initiator: Pope Gregory IX
recipient: Magister and brothers of the Knights Templar
institution: Templars
text: [Dec. 3. Lateran. Pope Gregory IX assures the magister and brothers of the Knights Templar of their exemption from tithes on wool, milk, eggs and lambs.
[Dec. 3. Lateran. Pope Gregory IX assures the magister and brothers of the Knights Templar of their exemption from tithes on wool, milk, eggs and lambs.
sources: Gregory IX, Les Registres 2:817, no. 3963. Calendar entry