1263

Nov. 1-30. Hermenger Christi pauperum servus et fratrum sancti hospitalis Ierusalem provisor describes the disastrious state of the Holy Land to Duke Leopold V of Austria. During the summer Saladin devastated Tortosa, except for the citadel of the Knights Templar, fired Ualenia, took the cities of Gabulum and Latakia in the region of Antioch, and the castles of Gorda, Cavea and Rochefort, and, reaching the gates of Antioch, laid siege to Tarpasac and Gaston beyond Antioch. He has devastated the whole of the principality of Antioch except for the highly fortified castle of Margatum belonging to the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem. The prince of Antioch has made a pact with Saladin to last for 7 months from October. In the kingdom of Jerusalem Cractum and Mons regalis and great castles in Arabia beyond the River Jordan have been starved into submission. Hermenger does not know what has become of Templar Saphet and Hospitaller Uidebellum, which have been besieged by Saladin.