RRR: Correspondence/envoy
2104
year: 1229
initiator: Patriarch Gerold of Jerusalem
recipient: Pope Gregory IX
text: Mar. 26. Acre. Patriarch Gerold of Jerusalem reports to Pope Gregory IX critically and at length on the actions of the emperor Frederick II in the Holy Land. He describes the journey of the emperor from Acre to Jaffa in November 1228, followed by the Christian army; the anger of the sultan at the refortification of Jaffa and the seizure of provisions from neighbouring casalia at a time when negotiations for a truce were in train; the emollient response of the emperor; the rejection of the emperor’s notary, who was responsible for negotiations, and the sultan’s request for direct talks with comes Thomas; the ill treatment of pilgrims; the sending of singers to please the emperor; and the emperor’s private announcement on 11 February to 4 of the leaders of the Latin East that poverty was forcing him to make a truce. The patriarch describes the terms of the truce: including the surrender of the city of Jerusalem, which could be fortified, except for the Templum Domini, which the Sarraceni can enter, Bethlehem and 2 small casalia on the road between Bethlehem and Jerusalem, the casalia on the road between Jerusalem and Jaffa, Nazareth and 2 casalia between Nazareth and Acre, Tyrum [Toron], which cannot be fortified, Sidon and 2 casalia. He stresses the absence of any grant of land outside Jerusalem to the patriarch, the Holy Sepulchre, the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem, St Mary of the Latins, St Mary of the Valley of Jehoshaphat, the Templum Domini, the Mt of Olives or Mt Sion. Only the Knights Templar gained their property between Jerusalem and Jaffa. The nobles reluctantly agreed, provided they could fortify Jerusalem. The magistri of the Military Orders and the bishops of England replied that they could not agree if the patriarch was not consulted, but the emperor replied that he would not take this step. The emperor then swore to abide by the terms of a secret codicil privately with no one present. The emperor had the support of the magister of the Hospital of St Mary of the Germans, who with, comes Thomasius and the dominus Sydonis received oaths of acceptance from the sultan of Egypt. The dominus Sydonis approached the sultan of Damascus, but he refused to agree, claiming that his relations were plotting against him. The magister of the Hospital of St Mary of the Germans asked the patriarch to come to the entry into Jerusalem. The patriarch gave reasons for his refusal. The magister sent, through frater W. de ordine Predicatorum, penitentiarius patriarche, a transcript of the truce, which the patriarch subjects to critical analysis. The patriarch continues that the emperor crowned himself in the church of the Holy Sepulchre. There followed a long speech delivered by the magister of the Hospital of St Mary of the Germans in both German and French, praising the emperor’s achievement. The Wintoniensis episcopus and the Exoniensis episcopus, the magister of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem and the preceptor of the Knights Templar [the magister being absent] met the emperor and the magister of the Hospital of St Mary of the Germans to discuss aid for the refortification of Jerusalem, but after delays they had no reply, even after the Knights Templars had offered to take responsibility for this. The emperor returned to Acre by way of Jaffa.
Mar. 26. Acre. Patriarch Gerold of Jerusalem reports to Pope Gregory IX critically and at length on the actions of the emperor Frederick II in the Holy Land. He describes the journey of the emperor from Acre to Jaffa in November 1228, followed by the Christian army; the anger of the sultan at the... more
sources: Rodenberg, Epistolae 1:299-304, no. 384 (RRH no. 1001)
RRR: Correspondence/envoy
2127
year: 1229
initiator: Patriarch Gerold of Jerusalem
recipient: All Christians
text: May 1-31. Acre. Patriarch Gerold of Jerusalem writes a general letter, addressed to all Christians. He describes the damage done by the emperor Frederick, who arrived, already excommunicated, with only 40 milites and no money, hoping to sustain himself from local resources. In Cyprus, he detained J. de Ybellino, his sons and the king, and took control of the kingdom through violence and fraud. He immediately sent emissaries to the sultan of Egypt to treat for peace, using the pretext of refortifying Jaffa as a means of approaching him. He claimed to have restored Jerusalem, which he entered and, although excommunicated, crowned himself in the church of the Holy Sepulchre. The Sarraceni retain the Templum Domini and the Templum Salamonis, proclaiming Islam publicly. The emperor, who had promised that the city would be refortified, left on the following day, although the Knights Templar and the Hospitallers of St John had asked him to start refortifying as he had promised. Knowing that Jerusalem could not be held unless fortified, he returned to Acre on 25 March stating that he would soon return to the West, although there was no truce with the sultan of Damascus. The leaders in the Holy Land wanted to retain the milites provided by the alms of the late king of France and the patriarch pointed out there was no truce with the sultan of Damascus, but the emperor stated that without his authority as king of Jerusalem no milites could be retained. The patriarch made a public statement of his case to the peregrini. The emperor, insisting to the magister of the Knights Templar that mercenaries [milites stipendarii] could not be retained in the Holy Land, since this would prejudice him, forbade all milites peregrini to remain and ordered comes Thomas, whom he was leaving as ballivus in terra, to punish those who stayed. He placed crossbowmen [balistarii] and archers [sagittarii] at the city gates to prevent the Knights Templars access and to deny the city provisions, and also throughout Acre and around the Templar headquarters [domus]. His followers drove out the Dominicans and some Franciscans, who had gathered to preach the Word of God. Seeing that these measures were not effective, the emperor sued unsuccessfully for peace, but he transported weapons secretly by ship to the sultan of Egypt, sent some of his milites to Cyprus to extort money and destroyed the galeae he could not take with him. He left on 1 May secretly, telling no one, leaving Jaffa destitute, poor Christians and Siriani isolated outside the town walls, and pilgrimages interrupted.
May 1-31. Acre. Patriarch Gerold of Jerusalem writes a general letter, addressed to all Christians. He describes the damage done by the emperor Frederick, who arrived, already excommunicated, with only 40 milites and no money, hoping to sustain himself from local resources. In Cyprus, he detained J... more
sources: Matthew Paris, Chronica maiora 3:179-84 (RRH no. 1015)
RRR: Council/ruling decisions/legislation
2188
year: 1232
initiator: Patriarch Gerold of Jerusalem
recipient: archbishop of Tyre
text: Sept. 29. Acre. Repeating Pope Gregory IX’s letter [7 April 1232], Patriarch Gerold of Jerusalem, the papal legate, mandates the archbishop of Tyre to represent him in the implementation of the pope’s orders with respect to the payment of tithes by the crown and subjects of the kingdom of Cyprus to the church of Cyprus. The absolution of those who had been excommunicated is to be entrusted to the archbishop of Nicosia and the bishop of Paphos.
Sept. 29. Acre. Repeating Pope Gregory IX’s letter [7 April 1232], Patriarch Gerold of Jerusalem, the papal legate, mandates the archbishop of Tyre to represent him in the implementation of the pope’s orders with respect to the payment of tithes by the crown and subjects of the kingdom of Cyprus to... more
sources: Coureas and Schabel, The Cartulary, pp. 267-9, no. 105
RRR: Correspondence/envoy
2357
year: 1239
initiator: Patriarch Gerold of Jerusalem
recipient: Clergy and people living in Jerusalem
text: Jan. 1 1230-1233 or 1237-1239. Jaffa. Patriarch Gerold of Jerusalem informs the clergy and people living in Jerusalem that he is sending the abbas Montis Oliveti and the decanus Joppensis to establish his rights. They should be received as his deputies.
Jan. 1 1230-1233 or 1237-1239. Jaffa. Patriarch Gerold of Jerusalem informs the clergy and people living in Jerusalem that he is sending the abbas Montis Oliveti and the decanus Joppensis to establish his rights. They should be received as his deputies.
sources: Bresc-Bautier, Cart St-Sépulcre, pp. 341-2, no. 184 (RRH no. 996)