2459

Apr. or May. [372] Offensive alliance against Egypt made by the Christian leaders with the sultan of Damascus and the Muslim ruler of Kerak. Frater Hermannus Petragoricensis pauperis militia Templi minister humilis writes to Brother Robert de Sanford, Templar praeceptor in England. He describes how the sultan of Egypt and Nasserus offered them all the land to the west of the River Jordan. But the sultan of Egypt retained the Christian emissaries, including Knights Templar, for more than 6 months, went back on his words and held on to Gaza, Hebron, Nablus and Darannum. The Christians then turned to the sultan of Damascus and made a truce with him and with Nasserus the lord of Kerak. The sultan of Damascus and lord of Kerak would return all the land west of the River Jordan, except for Hebron, Nablus and Bossanum and agreed to the expulsion of all Sarraceni from Jerusalem, so that after 56 years the Christian liturgy could be celebrated throughout the city. This agreement was controversial, so that on the Knights Templar, the prelates and a few barons rest the defence of the Holy Land. The Knights Templar guard the entry to the land at Gaza, with the assistance of the sultan of Damascus and Nasserus lord of Kerak. They also propose to build a powerful castle near Jerusalem above Toronum.