RRR: Correspondence/envoy
1226
year: 1187
initiator: Patriarch Eraclius of Jerusalem
recipient: All Christians
text: †Oct. 16 1180 - Jul. 2 1187. Patriarch Eraclius of Jerusalem addresses a general letter to all Christians. He expatiates on the threat to the Holy Land from Turci, Arabi, Alarabi, Sarraceni and pseudochristiani. He promises remission of sins for those who come to its aid and a third part of enjoined penance to those who contribute horses, mules and arms. Those who become confratres of [the churches of] Antioch, Latakia [Licana], Jubila, Valenia, Tortosa, Tripoli, Ibielita, Beirut, [S]arbona, Tyre, Nazareth, Sebastea, Bethlehem, Mons Regalis, Ramla, Caesarea, Acre and Tiberias will each get an indulgence of 40 days. Over and above this a confrater of the church of Jerusalem, who pays an annual census, will have a fourth part of his penance remitted, can be buried even in time of interdict, will be commemorated annually as an individual, and generally on the third day after the Feast of All Saints. The indulgence can benefit dead relations. Those unable physically to make the pilgrimage to Jerusalem can fulfil their vows at Holy Sepulchre houses in Europe,
†Oct. 16 1180 - Jul. 2 1187. Patriarch Eraclius of Jerusalem addresses a general letter to all Christians. He expatiates on the threat to the Holy Land from Turci, Arabi, Alarabi, Sarraceni and pseudochristiani. He promises remission of sins for those who come to its aid and a third part of... more
sources: Jaspert, ‘Zwei unbekannte Hilfsersuchen’, pp. 508-11 [215]
RRR: Correspondence/envoy
1235
year: 1187
initiator: Frater Terricus pauperrimae domus templi preceptor
recipient: All Christians
text: Aug. 1-31. [Frater Terricus pauperrimae domus templi preceptor] writes to all Christians. He reports the invasion of the Turci, their siege of the castle of Tiberias and the loss of the Christian army [at Hattin], the capture of the relic of the True Cross, the king and the master of the Knights Templar, the great number killed, including 230 Templars, who were beheaded, to which loss should be added the 60 who were killed on 1 May. Only the lord of Tripoli, dominus Reginaldus Sidonis, dominus Balianus and Terricus himself escaped. Saladin then advanced on Acre. Much of the land has fallen. Only Jerusalem, Ascalon, Tyre and Beirut are still in Christian hands, but the defenders of these cities have nearly all been lost and they cannot be held without divine intervention. Tyre is being constantly attacked and the land between Tyre, Jerusalem and Gaza is overrun.
Aug. 1-31. [Frater Terricus pauperrimae domus templi preceptor] writes to all Christians. He reports the invasion of the Turci, their siege of the castle of Tiberias and the loss of the Christian army [at Hattin], the capture of the relic of the True Cross, the king and the master of the Knights... more
sources: Ralph of Diceto 2:49-50 (RRH no. 660)
RRR: Correspondence/envoy
1239
year: 1187
initiator: Patriarch Eraclius of Jerusalem
recipient: All Christians
text: Sept. 4-17. Jerusalem. Patriarch Eraclius of Jerusalem addresses a general letter to all Christians. He reports the disaster [at Hattin] in which 25000 Christians were killed and the relic of the True Cross fell into the hands of the Sarraceni, togther with the king of Jerusalem and 3 bishops and their companions, who were all killed. The following cities have fallen to the enemy: Acre, Nazareth, Tiberias, Safra, Grangeli, Petit Geli, Sabast, Casal Sentgili, Nablus [Daplez], Betel, Mahumeria Gran, Rametez, Bethlehem, Hebron, Turco, Petita Mafumeria, Bertogo, Castel Arnal, Bel Veder, Sent George, Tyre, Ramla, Ascalon, Jaffa, Arsur, Jorgeria, Calcalia, Caesarea, Caco, Calanco, Merle, Haifa, Betinoble, Eibeli and also 30 castles [castra]. The infidels have lain with women on altars and stabled their horses in churches. The patriarch begs for help to save Jerusalem, which Saladin is approaching with an army. It is feared that he intends to besiege the city. The patriarch offers a plenary indulgence to all who come to its aid.
Sept. 4-17. Jerusalem. Patriarch Eraclius of Jerusalem addresses a general letter to all Christians. He reports the disaster [at Hattin] in which 25000 Christians were killed and the relic of the True Cross fell into the hands of the Sarraceni, togther with the king of Jerusalem and 3 bishops and... more
sources: Jaspert, ‘Zwei unbekannte Hilfsersuchen’, pp. 511-16
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
1530
year: 1204
initiator: A., Nazarenus archiepiscopus
recipient: All Christians
text: c. June. [278] A., Nazarenus archiepiscopus writes a general letter to all Christians, including all crusaders. He expatiates on the loss of the Holy Land, particularly Jerusalem, to the pagani/Agareni. He encourages his readers to fight to recover the Holy Land, and to take the cross, following the example of Count Baldwin of Flanders and his companions, who have taken Constantinople, or, if they are unsuitable, to give alms. On the authority of the pope, he offers a plenary indulgence. He calls for the liberation of the church of Nazareth.
c. June. [278] A., Nazarenus archiepiscopus writes a general letter to all Christians, including all crusaders. He expatiates on the loss of the Holy Land, particularly Jerusalem, to the pagani/Agareni. He encourages his readers to fight to recover the Holy Land, and to take the cross, following... more
sources: Röhricht, ‘Amalrich I’, pp. 489-91, no 5 (RRH no. 797)
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)