1240

Sept 5-20. Jerusalem. Patriarch Eraclius of Jerusalem sends Pope Urban III news [of the battle of Hattin]. The relic of the True Cross has been lost to the Traci. The bishops of Lydda and Acre, who were in charge of the Cross, have been killed. The king has been made captive and his army has been partly killed and partly imprisoned. The following cities and castles have been lost: Gybeletum, Beirut, Sydon, Acre, [Tiberias, Nazaret]h, Sebasten, [Nablus], Haifa, Caesarea, Assur, Jaffa, Ascalon, Lydda, lbelinen, Turon, Mirabel, Bethlehem and Hebron. Only Jerusalem, surrounded by the enemies of the cross and expecting to be besieged by Saladin, who has established himself nearby, and Tyre are still in Christian hands. All the provinces and dioceses of the patriarchate except those of Tyre and Petra are occupied by the pagani. An addendum lists the places occupied by the Thurci: Gybeletum, Beirut, Acre, Thuronum, Castellum Noveum,Tiberias with all its dependences, Haifa, Caesarea, Assur, Jaffa, Ascalon, Ybelinen, Ramatha, Lydda, Mirabel, Tharenta, Bethenopolis, Hebron, Fiyr, Bethlehem, Machumia, Castruim sancte Helie, Castrum Egidii, Nablus, Gerinen, Sebasten, Nazareth and Mons Thabor.