RRR: Correspondence/envoy
590
year: 1155
initiator: Rainald of Châtillon, prince of Antioch
recipient: King Louis VII of France
text: c.1155. R[ainald], princeps Antiochenus, writes to King Louis VII of France, describing the desperate state of the Latin East and expressing the hope that Louis will come to its aid. Stressing that he was born and brought up a subject of the French king, he asks whether Louis could provide suitable husbands for two daughters of Prince Raymond [of Antioch]. He complains that his patrimony [in France] has been unjustly seized by others. He is sending Milo de Nealphis, miles et homo vester, to describe personally conditions in the East.
c.1155. R[ainald], princeps Antiochenus, writes to King Louis VII of France, describing the desperate state of the Latin East and expressing the hope that Louis will come to its aid. Stressing that he was born and brought up a subject of the French king, he asks whether Louis could provide... more
sources: Bouquet, Recueil 16:14-15, no. 67 (RRH no. 319)
RRR: Correspondence/envoy
709
year: 1163
initiator: King Amalric
recipient: King Louis VII of France
text: Sept.- Oct. Amalric, per Dei gratiam Hieroslymorum rex, writes to King Louis VII of France. The prince of Antioch has been captured and many of his men are prisoners or dead. An earthquake has struck Antioch and neighbouring regions, leading to many deaths. His brother King Baldwin III has died. Amalric begs Louis, who knows the region, to come himself to the East and bring assistance. He is sending the archbishop of Mamistra [Mamistriae archipraesul] to provide Louis with more information.
Sept.- Oct. Amalric, per Dei gratiam Hieroslymorum rex, writes to King Louis VII of France. The prince of Antioch has been captured and many of his men are prisoners or dead. An earthquake has struck Antioch and neighbouring regions, leading to many deaths. His brother King Baldwin III has died.... more
sources: Bouquet, Recueil 16:37-38, no. 122 (RRH no. 384)
RRR: Correspondence/envoy
702
year: 1163
initiator: King Amalric
recipient: King Louis VII of France
text: Apr. 8. Fons Sephoriae. Amalric Dei gratia Hierosolymorum rex informs King Louis VII of the death of King Baldwin III on 10 February and his accession. He describes the dire state of the Latin East, the capture of Prince Rainald of Antioch and all his company, the earthquake in the previous August that had gravely damaged castles, towers and towns in the principality of Antioch. He asks Louis to come out to the East without delay.
Apr. 8. Fons Sephoriae. Amalric Dei gratia Hierosolymorum rex informs King Louis VII of the death of King Baldwin III on 10 February and his accession. He describes the dire state of the Latin East, the capture of Prince Rainald of Antioch and all his company, the earthquake in the previous August... more
sources: Bouquet, Recueil 16:36-7, no. 121 (RRH no. 396)
RRR: Correspondence/envoy
707
year: 1163
initiator: King Amalric
recipient: King Louis VII of France
text: Late Sept. Amalric, per Dei gratiam Hierosolymorum rex, writes to King Louis VII of France, describing how he has invaded Egypt with as large a force as he can muster, leaving his kingdom in as defensible a state as possible against Nur ad-Din, who had summoned all the men he could from Baghdad [Baldac] and the region of the Euphrates. Amalric has laid siege to Bilbais, putting the Egyptian army to flight, but his assault has been frustrated by the flooding of the river Nile [flumen Paradisis]. If Louis would send help Amalric holds out hopes of the conversion of Egypt to Christianity.
Late Sept. Amalric, per Dei gratiam Hierosolymorum rex, writes to King Louis VII of France, describing how he has invaded Egypt with as large a force as he can muster, leaving his kingdom in as defensible a state as possible against Nur ad-Din, who had summoned all the men he could from Baghdad [... more
sources: Bouquet, Recueil 16:59-60, no.194 (RRH no. 382)
RRR: Correspondence/envoy
708
year: 1163
initiator: Bertrandus de Blancfort, master of the Temple
recipient: King Louis VII of France
institution: Templars
text: Sept.- Oct. B[ertrandus] de Blanc[fort], pauperis militiae Templi magister, with the entire convent of the Knights Templar, writes to King Louis VII of France, describing the grave condition of the Latin East. Prince R[ainald] of Antioch and many magnates have been taken captive or killed. An earthquake has brought fortifications down, including many castles. King Baldwin III has died. Bertrand begs for Louis’s assistance. Templar brothers are being sent to give the king of France more information.
Sept.- Oct. B[ertrandus] de Blanc[fort], pauperis militiae Templi magister, with the entire convent of the Knights Templar, writes to King Louis VII of France, describing the grave condition of the Latin East. Prince R[ainald] of Antioch and many magnates have been taken captive or killed. An... more
sources: Bouquet, Recueil 16:38, no. 123 (RRH no. 383)
RRR: Correspondence/envoy
718
year: 1164
initiator: King Amalric
recipient: King Louis VII of France
text: Early in year. Amalric, Dei gratia Hierosolymorum rex, writes to King Louis VII of France. The archbishop of Mamistra [archiepiscopus Mamistranus] is travelling to France. The Latin East fears the arrival of the [Byzantine] emperor. Antioch is so weak that without assistance it will fall to either the Turci or the Graeci. Louis is asked to come out to the East in advance of the emperor.
Early in year. Amalric, Dei gratia Hierosolymorum rex, writes to King Louis VII of France. The archbishop of Mamistra [archiepiscopus Mamistranus] is travelling to France. The Latin East fears the arrival of the [Byzantine] emperor. Antioch is so weak that without assistance it will fall to either... more
sources: Bouquet, Recueil 16:39-40, no. 126 (RRH no. 394)
RRR: Correspondence/envoy
725
year: 1164
initiator: Bertrandus de Blancfort, master of the Temple
recipient: King Louis VII of France
institution: Templars
text: Apr. - May. Frater G. Fulcherii militiae Templi conservus humilis informs King Louis VII of France that he has reached Acre and transmitted the king’s salutations to the master and brothers [of the Temple]. He sends the king a ring which has been laid on the Holy Places.
Apr. - May. Frater G. Fulcherii militiae Templi conservus humilis informs King Louis VII of France that he has reached Acre and transmitted the king’s salutations to the master and brothers [of the Temple]. He sends the king a ring which has been laid on the Holy Places.
sources: Bouquet, Recueil 16:38-39, no. 124 (RRH no. 398)
RRR: Correspondence/envoy
726
year: 1164
initiator: Bertrandus de Blancfort, master of the Temple
recipient: King Louis VII of France
institution: Templars
text: Apr. - May. Bertr. de Blancafort, militiae Templi magister thanks King Louis VII of France for his reception of frater G. Fulcherii. He informs the king of the dire state of the Holy Land, especially of Antioch, which is broken and impoverished. The [Byzantine] emperor is known to be intending to arrive and the principality is exposed to the incursions of Graeci or Turci. King Louis is reminded of the misery of the see of Antioch.
Apr. - May. Bertr. de Blancafort, militiae Templi magister thanks King Louis VII of France for his reception of frater G. Fulcherii. He informs the king of the dire state of the Holy Land, especially of Antioch, which is broken and impoverished. The [Byzantine] emperor is known to be intending to... more
sources: Bouquet, Recueil 16:39, no. 125 (RRH no. 399)
RRR: Correspondence/envoy
734
year: 1164
initiator: Bohemond III, prince of Antioch
recipient: King Louis VII of France
text: Aug. 1163 - Aug. 1164. B[ohemond III] the son of Raymond who was once prince of Antioch, writes to King Louis VII of France, referring to himself as the French king’s homo et famulus. He informs the king of the dire state of Antioch, the capture of the prince [Rainald] and other men, the destruction caused by invaders and by an earthquake that destroyed fortifications and castles.
Aug. 1163 - Aug. 1164. B[ohemond III] the son of Raymond who was once prince of Antioch, writes to King Louis VII of France, referring to himself as the French king’s homo et famulus. He informs the king of the dire state of Antioch, the capture of the prince [Rainald] and other men, the... more
sources: Bouquet, Recueil 16:27-28, no. 91 (RRH no. 392)
RRR: Correspondence/envoy
736
year: 1164
initiator: Frater Gaufredus Fulcherii Hierosolymitanae domus Templi preceptor
recipient: King Louis VII of France
institution: Templars
text: Late Aug. Frater G. Fulcherii domorum pauperis militiae Templi procurator informs King Louis VII of France of the dire state of the land of Antioch and the kingdom of Jerusalem. In July King Amalric, together with the master of the Temple and other leaders of the Holy Land, invaded Egypt and besieged Syraco [Shirkuh] the conestabulus of Nur ad-Din in Berbesium [Bilbais]. Nur ad-Din responded by laying siege to Harenc, situated on the frontier between Antioch and Aleppo, with siege engines and petraries, reducing the garrison to starvation. Prince Bohemond decided to [march in] support, together with the count of Tripoli, dominus Torosius, the dux Marmistensis and brothers of the Temple. So many milites, Turcopoli and pedites were involved that there had never in modern times been such a fair army. In a battle on 12 August the prince and the count were captured. Of 600 milites and 12000 pedites, few survived. The infideles have taken Harenc and besieged Antioch. Frater G. appeals to King Louis for assistance.
Late Aug. Frater G. Fulcherii domorum pauperis militiae Templi procurator informs King Louis VII of France of the dire state of the land of Antioch and the kingdom of Jerusalem. In July King Amalric, together with the master of the Temple and other leaders of the Holy Land, invaded Egypt and... more
sources: Bouquet, Recueil 16:60-61, no. 195 (RRH no. 403)