2491

RRR: 
2491
YEAR: 
1245
text: 
February 27. Foggia. Frederick, Dei gratia Romanorum imperator, semper Augustus, Jerusalem et Sicilie rex, transmits to Earl Richard of Cornwall what he has heard from the Hospital of St Mary of the Germans: the distress of the Holy Land; the invasion of the Khwarazmians and the disaster at La Forbie, leading to the loss of all the convent of the Knights Templar – 300 brothers – together with 200 brothers of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem and all the brothers of the Hospital of St Mary of the Germans. The only men to escape from the battle were the patriarch of Jerusalem, the dominus de Monteforti, who was regni vexillifer, and 4 milites and servientes of the Knights Templar, 19 brothers of the Hospital of St John and 3 servientes of the Hospital of St Mary. The bishop (episcopus) de Sancto Georgio (Ramla / Lydda), the lord of Haifa (dominus de Cayfa) and G. count of Jaffa (comes Joppensis) were killed. The archbishop of Tyre was wounded and imprisoned. Frederick blames the pride of the Knights Templar, who allowed the emissaries of the sultan of Damascus to engage in Muslim prayer while staying with them, and the barones of the kingdom. They entered into an alliance with the sultans of Damascus and Crac (Kerak) against the Egyptians, against the advice of Frederick himself, the Hospital of St John and the Hospital of St Mary. Frederick describes the treachery of the Muslim allies. He puts the danger to the Holy Land in the context of threats to Christianity coming from every direction and calls for assistance. Frederick also describes his long-time support for the cause of the Crusader States and the damage caused in this respect by the conflict with the papacy
Sources: 
Matthew Paris, Chronica maiora 4:300-5; RRH 1133

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