1235

Aug. 1-31. [Frater Terricus pauperrimae domus templi preceptor] writes to all Christians. He reports the invasion of the Turci, their siege of the castle of Tiberias and the loss of the Christian army [at Hattin], the capture of the relic of the True Cross, the king and the master of the Knights Templar, the great number killed, including 230 Templars, who were beheaded, to which loss should be added the 60 who were killed on 1 May. Only the lord of Tripoli, dominus Reginaldus Sidonis, dominus Balianus and Terricus himself escaped. Saladin then advanced on Acre. Much of the land has fallen. Only Jerusalem, Ascalon, Tyre and Beirut are still in Christian hands, but the defenders of these cities have nearly all been lost and they cannot be held without divine intervention. Tyre is being constantly attacked and the land between Tyre, Jerusalem and Gaza is overrun.