2497

March 1-31. Hetoum, by the grace of God king of Armenia (Dei gracia Rex Armenie), son of Constantinus, and Queen Helysabeth, his wife and the daughter of the late King Leon of Armenia, of the family of Rupenids, grant under seal to Doge Jacopo Tiepolo and the Commune of Venice, represented by Petrus Dandulo, freedom to enter and leave their land, as already granted by King Leon. All Venetian merchants and men will be secure in their persons and goods, and they may buy and sell without the payment of dues. They are to be free in the ports, cities, bridges and other exits, except that when Venetians living in the East (in cismarinis partibus) enter per Portellam (i.e. by way of the Portella, the pass between the mountain and the sea north of Alexandretta linking Cilicia and the principality of Antioch) they are liable to pay the customary rates and all Venetians who bring in gold or silver and mint besants or other money should pay the same dues as do those who mint besants in the neighbourhood of Acre. Venetian persons and goods will be secure in the case of shipwreck, but passengers who are not Venetian will be subject to the king. The Venetians will not exercise protection over the goods and ships of other people. Venetians may travel to and trade in any Christian or Muslim territory, which has truces with [Cilician] Armenia. The crown will work to restore any losses incurred on such a journey. The goods of Venetians who die will be protected. The goods of Venetians who die intestate will be held by the crown until it receives sealed letters from the doge or his Baiulus in Acre. It will then carry out whatever is ordered. Disputes between Venetians will be settled by a responsible man, appointed by the crown. Any dispute between Armenians and Venetians that ends in death will be judged in the royal court. Disputes that can be settled will be judged by the Sisiensis Archiepiscopus. Other disputes between Venetians and other men will be heard in the royal court. Hetoum and Helysabeth make the eleemosynary grant of a church, house and place for a further house and warehouse, for the use of a priest and cleric, in the city of Mamistra. The charter was drawn up by Gregorius sacerdos cancellarius. Signed in red ink in Armenian script and sealed with a golden bull.