1436

Feb. 8. Lateran. Pope Innocent III rebukes the magister and brothers of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem for resorting to force in their dispute with the Knights Templar over possessions in Margatum and Valenia, expressing disgust at Christians, especially those accustomed to fight Saraceni, taking up arms against one another. The Hospitaller brothers Disigius prior Baroli and Og[erius], preceptor Italie and the knights Templar [fratres militiae Templi] Petrus de Villaplana and Terricus have appeared before the pope, with testimony from peregrini and bishops from overseas. With the consent of the miles Seguinus, the pope judges that the possesssion should be returned to the Templars. But after holding it for a month they should then respond to the plea of Seguinus in the Hospitallers’ curia [at Margatum], to which should be assembled suitable men from the principality of Antioch and the county of Tripoli, who are acceptable to the Templars. The decision will be enforced by the patriarch of Antioch, the archbishop of Nazareth and the bishop of Valenia. Warning the Orders, Innocent draws attention to the procedures for the reconciliation of disputes agreed during the pontificate of Pope Alexander III.