1457

Dec. 17. Pope Innocent III replies to King Leon of Cilician Armenia, whose representative, the miles Rob[ertus] de Margato, has informed the pope of the case of Rupinus, the son of R[aymundus], the elder son of Prince Bohemond [III] of Antioch, and Leon’s niece A[aliza], who was recognized as legitimate heir to the whole of the principality of Antioch apart from the dowry of I[sabella], Prince Bohemond’s wife, but was disinherited by Count Bohemond of Tripoli, the magistri of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem and the Knights Templar [militia Templi], and the commune [communia] of Antioch, while through bribery the count was asserted to be the legitimate heir. Innocent decides to reserve the case to his legates who will sail on the next passage and will decide through law not arms. In the meantime he exhorts Leon to peace so that there can be appropriate defence against the Sarraceni. He orders Count Bohemond to do nothing to prejudice the case. He is sending back Leon’s representative.