1868

† *(1220). A letter, said to have been written by Ricardus de Jerico to ‘Manasses’, reports that the crusade army, accompanied by the patriarcha [of Jerusalem], who carried the relic of the True Cross, episcopus Acconensis, legatus papae, Bethleemitanus episcopus, Nazarenus episcopus, Damiatinus episcopus, magister Oliverius, prior de valle Josaphat and Aquilejensis patriarcha, heavily defeated the rex Barbariae on Ascension Day, killing 148000 enemies and imprisoning the rex Barbariae with 100 satrapi in castellum Meregardi. The Christians were offered tribute, 8 castles and Christian captives held in 6 cities. At Pentecost the queen of Persia, together with 400000 women and the wife of the caliph in Baghdad, and Sephadinus with 300 princes were baptized. Alexandria was besieged 8 days before Pentecost. The bishop of Damietta has a revenue of 1000 talenta and has established 40 canons, each prebend being worth 100 talenta. [The monastery of] St Catherine was taken on the Feast of SS.Philip and James.