1438

Apr. 23. Acre. Frater Gaufridus, Christi pauperum servus et domus Hospitalis Ierusalem humilis magister, writes to King Sancho VII of Navarre, explaining the politics of Ayyubid family relationships following Saladin’s death. He describes the attempts made by Saladin’s son, the domnus Babilonie [al-‘Aziz ‘Uthman of Egypt]], to displace his elder brother the domnus Damasci [al-Afdal ‘Ali of Damascus], the efforts of Cephedinus frater Saladini [al-‘Adil] to reconcile his nephews and his support for al-‘Aziz, who has replaced al-Afdal as the senior Ayyubid prince [honore Laoce quod interpretatur corone decoravit]. Gaufridus reminds Sancho that the truces negotiated between Saladin and King Richard I of England have ended. al-‘Adil and al-‘Aziz have reached Jerusalem and their intentions with respect to a renewal of the truce are not known in Acre. The county of Tripoli is not covered by any truce. He adds that the Holy Land, which is short of manpower, can be reconquered if the Christians will increase the forces at their disposal.