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)
RRR: Council/ruling decisions/legislation
1790
year: 1218
initiator: Patriarch Ralph of Jerusalem, King John of Jerusalem, E. Nychosiensis archiepiscopus, I. Acconensis episcopus, R. Beetlemitanus episcopus, L. dux Austrie, G. Hospitalis sancti Iohannis Ierosolimitanus magister, W. militie Templi magister, Hermannus Hospitalis Teutonicorum magister, and all the barones, clergy and people engaged in the crusade.
recipient: Pope Honorius III
text: Jun. 15. [313] In the camp at Damietta. Patriarch R. of Jerusalem, King John of Jerusalem, E. Nychosiensis archiepiscopus, I. Acconensis episcopus, R. Beetlemitanus episcopus, L. dux Austrie, G. Hospitalis sancti Iohannis Ierosolimitani magister, W. militie Templi magister, Hermannus Hospitalis Teutonicorum magister, and all the barones, clergy and people engaged in the crusade, inform Pope Honorius III [who circulates this letter c.August 13] of their decision to invade Egypt, stressing the threat to the Holy Land when Damascus and Egypt are united. They report their arrival in Egypt on 29 May, their erection of siege engines in order to take a tower in the middle of the Nile, from which a chain stretches to the city, impeding the passage of shipping, the success of their naves and galee in preventing Muslim relief to the city by river, the dangers facing their army, their need for assistance, especially from the crusaders gathered in Genoa, and their confidence in final success in Egypt.
Jun. 15. [313] In the camp at Damietta. Patriarch R. of Jerusalem, King John of Jerusalem, E. Nychosiensis archiepiscopus, I. Acconensis episcopus, R. Beetlemitanus episcopus, L. dux Austrie, G. Hospitalis sancti Iohannis Ierosolimitani magister, W. militie Templi magister, Hermannus Hospitalis... more
sources: Rodenberg, Epistolae 1:54-6, no. 77 (RRH no. 911)
RRR: Correspondence/envoy
1804
year: 1218
initiator: James of Vitry
recipient: Pope Honorius III
institution: Templars
text: After Aug. 24. [314] James of Vitry [I. Acconensis ecclesie minister] writes to Pope Honorius III. He describes how in 1217 the kings of Hungary, Cyprus and Jerusalem, the duke of Austria, the Knights Templar, the Hospitallers of St John, princes and counts, knights [equites] and footsoldiers, in a greater army than any since the city’s fall [in 1191], gathered at Acre and decided to launch a destructive raid against Damascus, but was ambushed by the Sarraceni and lost many men. It then made unsuccessful assaults on Mons Thabor [without siege engines], Belfort and Belinas. After Epiphany [6 January 1218] the king of Hungary left, travelling by way of Tripoli, Antioch and Constantinople. He was accompanied as far as Tripoli by the king of Cyprus, who died there, and by the count of Tripoli, betrothed to the sister of the king of Cyprus, who was forced by Muslim pressure to make a truce with the Sarraceni. The king of Jerusalem, the duke of Austria, the patriarch, James of Vitry himself [episcopus Acconensis], the Hospitallers of St John and most of the diminished Christian force refortified the castle of Caesarea. The Knights Templar spent an enormous sum of money building a new castle [Castrum Peregrinorum]. After returning to Acre, the Christian army was joined by Oliver of Paderborn [magister Oliverus Coloniensis ecclesie canonicus], authorized to preach the cross, who brought a fleet of cogs [cogones] containing major reinforcements. The decision was made to invade Egypt [Babylonia] and the army left Acre by sea on 24 May, reaching the Egyptian city of Damietta. The Christians established a siege camp and took a great tower in the middle of the river Nile on 24 August. They are planning to attack Damietta in spite of its strength.
After Aug. 24. [314] James of Vitry [I. Acconensis ecclesie minister] writes to Pope Honorius III. He describes how in 1217 the kings of Hungary, Cyprus and Jerusalem, the duke of Austria, the Knights Templar, the Hospitallers of St John, princes and counts, knights [equites] and footsoldiers, in a... more
sources: James of Vitry, Lettres, pp. 98-100, no. 3 (RRH no. 913)
RRR: Correspondence/envoy
1808
year: 1218
initiator: James of Vitry
recipient: Pope Honorius III
text: Sept. 14 and 22. In the army besieging Damietta. James of Vitry [I. Acconensis ecclesie minister] writes to Pope Honorius and to his friends. He narrates how, after returning from Caesarea, the Christian army in Palestine built a new castle [Castrum Peregrinorum] by the sea, at a place on the road to Jerusalem called Districte, how the Sarraceni made an unsuccessful attack on Caesarea, how, after the Christian army had returned to Acre, a fleet of 40 Frisian and German cogones arrived not long after Easter and a council-of-war [commune consilium] decided to invade Egypt [Egyptum]. He describes the wealth of Egypt, its flatness, the absence of major fortifications other than Damiata, Babylonia - called Kayre by the Egyptians - and Alexandria, the sites of Christian pilgrimage in the country and the fact that it is the centre of the production of balsam. He maintains that most of the population are still Christian, if pacific, and comments on the fact that there are Christian populations in the East. He narrates how on 24 May the patriarch of Jerusalem embarked with the relic of the True Cross, which was a splinter of that which had been lost [at Hattin], how the army voyaged to Egypt, arrived before Damietta and established an encampment on an island before the city. He describes the practice of the incubination of hen eggs, the situation of the city, the flooding of the river Nile, sickness in the army, the difficulty, even with siege engines, of ship-borne assaults on a strong tower in the middle of the river from which a chain barred the progress of shipping. The attacks continued for 4 months until the Frisians, under magister Oliverus Coloniensis cancellarius, constructed a magnificent and expensive floating siege engine on 2 ships and the tower was captured. At the time of writing [14 September] the Christians, who were expecting reinforcements, were planning a crossing of the Nile to attack Damietta. Many Sarraceni were deserting and being baptized, while part of the garrison of Mons Thabor had been sent to Egypt and their castle had been destroyed, as had been the city of Gibelet [Gibel ?] and 5 fortresses between Tyre and Damascus, at a time when the Christians had strengthened the fortresses [munitiones] of Districtum and Caesarea on the way to Jerusalem. Further, the sultan of Egypt had died from sorrow at the loss of the tower in the Nile. James of Vitry asks for prayers that the Christians successfully take Egypt. In the copy of his letter to the pope, James reports that 9 ships with domnus Petrus Hanibal and other Romans arrived in the week after 24 August. Cardinal Pelagius of Albano, the papal legate, has reached Acre with a Roman prince and is daily expected in Egypt. In the copy of his letter to his friends, James of Vitry asks for prayers for those who have died, including magister Walterus de Tornacho archidiaconus ecclesie Acconensis, who did much good in Acre; magister Constantius de Duacho decanus ecclesie Acconensis; domnus Iohannes de Cameracho ecclesie Acconensis cantor; domnus Reinerus, a cleric in James’s household who became Sancti Michaelis in Accon pastor; H. serviens episcopi Acconensis; magister Thomas cancellarius Noviomensis; magister Leonius qui legebat de Theologia in civitate Acconensi; magister Alexander nepos magistri R. cardinalis; Iohannes iunior de Cameraco nepos cantoris ecclesie Acconensis; magister Reinaldus de Barbachon ecclesie Acconensis thesaurarius. James adds that he was very ill for 2 months in the camp before Damietta.
Sept. 14 and 22. In the army besieging Damietta. James of Vitry [I. Acconensis ecclesie minister] writes to Pope Honorius and to his friends. He narrates how, after returning from Caesarea, the Christian army in Palestine built a new castle [Castrum Peregrinorum] by the sea, at a place on the road... more
sources: James of Vitry, Lettres, pp. 101-11, no. 4 (RRH no. 915)
RRR: Correspondence/envoy
1828
year: 1219
initiator: R. patriarcha, J. rex Hierosolymitanus, Burdegalensis aarchiepiscopus, Nicosiensis archiepiscopus, P. Albanensis episcopus, J. Acconensis episcopus, Lucanensis episcopus, hospitalis Sancti Johannis magister, Templi magister, hospitalis Alemannorum magister, comes Cestrie, comes de Salesburges, comes de Guado, S. de Jovisvilla, S. de Maloleone, E. de Casten, the leaders of the crusade [consules communitatuum]
recipient: Pope Honorius III
text: Nov. 11. Damietta. R. patriarcha, J. rex Hierosolymitanus, Burdegalensis aarchiepiscopus, Nicosiensis archiepiscopus, P. Albanensis episcopus, J. Acconensis episcopus, Lucanensis episcopus, hospitalis Sancti Johannis magister, Templi magister, hospitalis Alemannorum magister, comes Cestrie, comes de Salesburges, comes de Guado, S. de Jovisvilla, S. de Maloleone, E. de Casten, the leaders of the crusade [consules communitatuum], write to Pope Honorius III, announcing the fall of Damietta. They describe the capture of the city on 4-5 November, the dreadful conditions they discovered within, the flight of the Muslim leaders and the distress of the sultan. Now that the entry to Egypt is open, they beg for reinforcements in men and money. Cairo should be easily taken and as a result the kingdom of Jerusalem, which is maintained with Egyptian resources, will be liberated. They are concerned that a large part of the present army will return home on the next passage. They ask the pope to compel the emperor Frederick II and other crusaders [crucesignati] to fulfil their vows. They question whether the crusade twentieth has been diverted to other uses.
Nov. 11. Damietta. R. patriarcha, J. rex Hierosolymitanus, Burdegalensis aarchiepiscopus, Nicosiensis archiepiscopus, P. Albanensis episcopus, J. Acconensis episcopus, Lucanensis episcopus, hospitalis Sancti Johannis magister, Templi magister, hospitalis Alemannorum magister, comes Cestrie, comes... more
sources: Röhricht, Studien, pp. 43-6, no. 6 (RRH no. 925)
RRR: Correspondence/envoy
1826
year: 1219
initiator: James of Vitry
recipient: Pope Honorius III
institution: Templars
additional institution: Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem
text: May - Sept. 1-30. [317] James of Vitry [I. Acconensis ecclesie minister] writes to Pope Honorius III. He continues his narrative of the Fifth Crusade, describing how the Christian army reached Damietta, took the strong tower in the middle of the river Nile, breaking the iron chains that stretched across the river and prevented ships passing up stream, although the Sarraceni sank ships to impede any progress. Cardinal Pelagius had his cog hauled into the upper river, as had James of Vitry himself, although with losses, including his barbota with 20 men on board, and the cog of the Knights Templar, which had to fight its way upstream with heavy losses. He describes galley battles [galeae] with losses on both sides and the attempt by the Sarraceni to build a bridge up-river, the sufferings during the winter from storms, floods, cold and disease, the deaths of Cardinal Robert de Courçon and the bishop of Paris, the building of a canal round the Christian camp, the fasting and liturgical processions decreed by Cardinal Pelagius of Albano and the patriarch of Jerusalem, and their expulsion of malefactors, the passage of ships up the canal, the flight of the sultan of Egypt, the building of a pontoon by the Christians, their occupation of the bank on which the city stood, its encirclement and the preparation of siege-engines, the arrival of major Muslim reinforcements under Coradinus rex Damasci [al-Mu‘azzam], the brother of the sultan of Egypt, and their withdrawal after an unsuccessful assault on the Christians, because of threats to Aleppo and Damascus from the sultan of Konya, the king of Cilician Armenia and one of Saladin’s sons. James returns to his letter, the early part of which had been written at the time of the Easter passage. He describes attacks on the city, a break down in discipline and a Muslim attack that resulted in heavy Christian losses. He reports the deaths or captivity of 200 milites of the Knights Templar and the Hospitallers of St John of Jerusalem and others, among whom were the electus Belvacensis, domnus Walter regis Francie camerarius, filius eius vicecomes de Bellomonte, domnus Iohannes de Archies, domnus Andreas de Espoisse and domnus Andreas de Nantuel, the brother of the electus. He reports desertions from the Christian army, but also that the Muslims in Damietta face starvation. He hopes that once Damietta is taken the crusade will advance into Egypt and will then recover Jerusalem.
May - Sept. 1-30. [317] James of Vitry [I. Acconensis ecclesie minister] writes to Pope Honorius III. He continues his narrative of the Fifth Crusade, describing how the Christian army reached Damietta, took the strong tower in the middle of the river Nile, breaking the iron chains that stretched... more
sources: James of Vitry, Lettres, pp. 112-22, no. 5 (RRH no. 924)
RRR: Correspondence/envoy
1850
year: 1220
initiator: Cardinal Pelagius of Albano, the papal legate
recipient: Pope Honorius III
text: Jul. 28. Orvieto. Pope Honorius III reports the reception of a letter from Cardinal Pelagius, the papal legate, informing him of Muslim reinforcements from Baghdad [Baldac] and the weakness of the crusade army.
Jul. 28. Orvieto. Pope Honorius III reports the reception of a letter from Cardinal Pelagius, the papal legate, informing him of Muslim reinforcements from Baghdad [Baldac] and the weakness of the crusade army.
sources: Rodenberg, Epistolae 1:91-2, no. 126
RRR: Correspondence/envoy
1863
year: 1220
initiator: Cardinal Pelagius of Albano, the papal legate
recipient: Pope Honorius III
text: Nov. 27. Pope Honorius III reports receiving a letter from Cardinal Pelagius of Albano, describing the weakness of the Christian army at Damietta and the many defections from it.
Nov. 27. Pope Honorius III reports receiving a letter from Cardinal Pelagius of Albano, describing the weakness of the Christian army at Damietta and the many defections from it.
sources: Rodenberg, Epistolae 1:104-5, no. 146
RRR: Correspondence/envoy
1948
year: 1223
initiator: Nicolaus Alexandrine sedis patriarcha
recipient: Pope Honorius III
text: Summer. Nicolaus Alexandrine sedis patriarcha writes to Pope Honorius III about the sufferings of the Christians in Egypt and the discrimination against them, which have worsened since the crusaders’ failure at Damietta. He sends advice to the emperor Frederick II, suggesting that a landing be made through the flumen Rasceti and the town called Foha.
Summer. Nicolaus Alexandrine sedis patriarcha writes to Pope Honorius III about the sufferings of the Christians in Egypt and the discrimination against them, which have worsened since the crusaders’ failure at Damietta. He sends advice to the emperor Frederick II, suggesting that a landing be made... more
sources: Rodenberg, Epistolae 1:162-3, no. 233 (RRH no. 964)
RRR: Correspondence/envoy
1964
year: 1224
initiator: Queen Rusudan of Georgia
recipient: Pope Honorius III
text: Before May 12. Queen Rusudan of Georgia [Russutana regina de Aneguia] informs Pope Honorius of the death of her brother the king and excuses herself from answering the call for assistance from the papal legate at Damietta because of the incursions and damage done by the Tartari. She is sending Iohannes her comestabulus to support the emperor Frederick when he arrives. She is sending David episcopus de Hanii to inform the pope personally.
Before May 12. Queen Rusudan of Georgia [Russutana regina de Aneguia] informs Pope Honorius of the death of her brother the king and excuses herself from answering the call for assistance from the papal legate at Damietta because of the incursions and damage done by the Tartari. She is sending... more
sources: Rodenberg, Epistolae 1:178-9, no. 251 (RRH no. 967) [331]