1255

Jan. 1-31. Terricus magnus preceptor domus Templi Jerusalem writes to King Henry II of England. He reports the loss of Jerusalem. The Syrii have custody of the [church of the Holy] Sepulchre until 4 days after Michaelmas. 10 Hospitallers are allowed to care for the sick in the Hospital of St John in Jerusalem for one more year. Saladin has thrown down the cross from the Templum Domini and has cleansed the city in accordance with his religion. [221] The Hospitallers are still defending Belliverium.They have captured 2 caravans of the Sarraceni, carrying arms and provisions looted from the castrum of Faba, which the Sarraceni have destroyed. The following places are still resisting Saladin: Gragcus Montis Regalis, Mons Regalis, Saphet Templi, Gragchus Hospitalis, Margatum, Castellum Blancum, the lands of Tripoli and Antioch. Saladin besieged Tyre from the Feast of St Martin to the Feast of the Circumcision. On the vigil of the Feast of St Silvester Conradus marchio distributed milites and pedites on the walls and, assembling 17 galleys [galei] and 10 smaller ships [naviculi] with the help of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem and the Knights Templar, defeated Saladin’s fleet, capturing 11 Muslim galleys and a number of leading officers. On Saladin’s orders the surviving ships were burnt.