User:Adam Bishop/sandbox

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sup[er] o[mne]s [Christi]anos. Duret ei[us] pietas et clemen[tia]. | Dat[um] in finib[us] mu-
harram et er[i]t bo[nu]m [con]cedente deo excelso. | Nov[er]it et[iam] s[an]c[t]itas v[est]ra q[uod] a t[em]p[or]e
q[u]o ego et rex p[ri]mo i[n]t[ra]vim[us] cipru[m] ; Rex cip[ri] et comes joppen[sis] regi prese[n]-
tav[er]u[n]t l[itte]ras talia [con]tine[n]tes. | Excellenti et pote[n]ti viro d[omi]no H[enrico] d[e]i
gr[ati]a regi cip[r]i . et nobilissime et pote[n]tissime d[omi]ne sorori sue S[tephanie] <ed>
ead[em] d[e]i gr[ati]a regine cip[r]i . et nobili viro d[omi]no J[ohanni] de ibelin. k[arissim]o
fr[atr]i meo . et nobili d[omi]ne k[arissi]me sorori mee marie sembach . consta-
bulari[us] armen[ie] . sal[ute]m . et ma[n]datis n[ost]ris parata[m] dil[e]c[ti]one[m] . Notum
facio q[uod] ego su[m] san[us] et i[n]columis . Ill[u]d ide[m] desid[er]ans audire et sci-
re de vobis . | Sciat[is] do[mini] mei q[uod] sicut ad it[er] agendu[m] q[uod] deo et u[tili]tate
[christi]anitatis me (specialiter?) exposui . s[ic] [con]dux[it] me i[esus] x[hristus] usq[ue] ad q[uan]d[am] villa[m]
q[uae] notat[ur] saureq[uan]t . v[erum] q[uas]i d[ice]rem ni sc[ri]b[er]em vo[bis] tot t[er]ras q[ua]s vidi-
m[us] q[ua]m dimisim[us] indiam ret[ro] nos ad ponte[m] . et t[ra]nsivim[us] bandach .
et totam t[er]ram ei[us] duob[us] mensib[us] arrepti itineris. | Et q[uas]i d[ice]rem
tot c[iv]itates q[ua]s vidi des[er]tas q[ua]s Tartari vastavera[n]t q[uarum] n[u]ll[u]s
ho[m]i[num] poss[et] op<o>ulencia[m] et amplitudi[n]em estimare . vidim[us] e[nim] t[a]l[e]s
villas q[uarum] q[uae]lib[et] erat itineris t[ri]u[m] d[i]e[rum] magna . | Et vidim[us]
pl[us] q[ua]m centu[m] mille agg[er]es magnos et mirabiles ossiu[m] int[er]fectorum
q[uo]s Tartari i[n]t[er]feceru[n]t . | Et bene videt[ur] nob[is] q[uod] si deus propere Tarta-
ros no[n] adduxisset q[ui] paganos s[ic] dest[ru]xeru[n]t suffic[er]ent ad imple[n]-
du[m] . et adq[ui]rendu[m] totam t[er]ram . cismarina[m] . Et t[ra]nsivim[us] unu[m]
de fluminib[us] p[ar]adysi q[uod] sc[ri]pt[ur]a Gion ap[pe]llat mai[us] q[uam] unq[ua]m
vidim[us] . q[uia] arena ei[us] durat u[n]diq[ua]q[ue] p[er] una[m] magna[m] dietam .
de tartaris v[ero] . Sciat[is] q[uod] sunt i[ta] i[nnu]m[er]abiles ; q[uod] null[u]s poss[et] eos esti-
mare . | Et iustissimi et bo[ni] archerii . t[er]ribiles forma et pl[ur]iu[m]
facier[um] et p[er] l[itte]ras no[s] poss<u>em[us] <..> desc[ri]bere rit[us] eor[um]
s[ed] si de[us] p[re]stit[er]it m[ihi] vita[m] u[t] possim vos videre .
cu[m] adiutorio d[o]m[in]o sanos et i[n]columes ; o[mn]i[a] vob[is]
ore ad os enarrabo. N[u]nc v[ero] sunt octo m[en]ses q[uod] de die
et de nocte ambulauim[us] . et modo d[icitu]r nob[is] q[uod] sum[us] <ad> mediu[m] arrepti
itin[er]is t[er]re n[ost]re et t[er]re chan h[oc] <est> maioris d[omi]ni tartaror[um] . Sup[er]

...super omnes Christianos . Duret eius pietas et clementia . | Datum in finibus muharram et erit bonum concedente deo excelso . | Noverit etiam sanctitas vestra quod a tempore quo ego et rex primo intravimus ciprum ; Rex cipri et comes joppensis regi presentaverunt litteras talia continentes . | Excellenti et potenti viro domino Henrico dei gratia regi cipri . et nobilissime et potentissime domine sorori sue Stephanie eadem dei gratia regine cipri . et nobili viro domino Johanni de ibelin . karissimo fratri meo . et nobili domine karissime sorori mee marie sembach . constabularius armenie . salutem . et mandatis nostris paratam dilectionem . Notum facio quod ego sum sanus et incolumis . Illud idem desiderans audire et scire de vobis . | Sciatis domini mei quod sicut ad iter agendum quod deo et utilitate christianitatis me (specialiter?) exposui . sic conduxit me Jesus Christus usque ad quandam villam quae notatur saurequant . verum quasi dicerem ni scriberem vobis tot terras quas vidimus quam dimisimus indiam retro nos ad pontem . et transivimus bandach . et totam terram eius duobus mensibus arrepti itineris . | Et quasi dicerem tot civitates quas vidi desertas quas Tartari vastaverant quarum nullus hominum posset opulenciam et amplitudinem estimare . vidimus enim tales villas quarum quaelibet erat itineris trium dierum magna . | Et vidimus plus quam centum mille aggeres magnos et mirabiles ossium interfectorum quos Tartari interfecerunt . | Et bene videtur nobis quod si deus propere Tartaros non adduxisset qui paganos sic destruxerunt sufficerent ad implendum . et adquirendum totam terram . cismarinam . Et transivimus unum de fluminibus paradysi quod scriptura Gion appellat maius quam unquam vidimus . quia arena eius durat undiquaque per unam magnam dietam . de tartaris vero . Sciatis quod sunt ita innumerabiles ; quod nullus posset eos estimare . | Et iustissimi et boni archerii . terribiles forma et plurium facierum et per litteras non possemus describere ritus eorum sed si deus prestiterit mihi vitam ut possim vos videre . cum adiutorio domino sanos et incolumes ; omnia vobis ore ad os enarrabo. Nunc vero sunt octo menses quod de die et de nocte ambulauimus . et modo dicitur nobis quod sumus ad medium arrepti itineris terre nostre et terre chan hoc est maioris domini tartarorum . Super...

...over all Christians. May his piety and clemency endure.

Given at the end of Muharram and it will be good, with God granting on high.

Your Holiness should also know that at the time when I and the king [Louis IX] first entered Cyprus, the king of Cyprus and the Count of Jaffa presented letters to the king containing the following:

"To the excellent and powerful lord Henry, by the grace of God king of Cyprus, and to the most noble and most powerful lady his sister Stephanie, by the same grace of God queen of Cyprus, and to the noble man lord John of Ibelin, my dearest brother, and to the noble lady my dearest sister Maria, Sempad, constable of Armenia, sends greetings and love prepared by our command. I am making it known that I am safe and sound, and I wish to hear and know the same about you.

"You should know, my lords, that just as I planned to undertake a journey which (?) me for God and the promotion of Christianity, so Jesus Christ led me to a certain city which is called Saurequant. But I could neither tell nor write to you about the number of lands which we saw when we left India behind us at the bridge, and crossed Bandach, and all of its land for two months of the journey which we undertook.

"And I could hardly tell you about the number of deserted cities I saw which the Tartars had devastated, the richness and size of which no man could count. We saw cities of such size that it would take a three-day journey to pass through them.

"We also saw more than a hundred thousand great and astonishing mounds of bones of the dead whom the Tartars had killed.

"And it seemed better for us that if God had not swiftly brought the Tartars who thus destroyed the pagans they would have been able to fill up and gain control of all the land on this side of the sea. We also crossed one of the rivers of Paradise which Scripture calles Gihon, which was bigger than any we had ever seen, because its sand stretched everywhere for the length of a one-day journey. About the Tartars you should know that they are innumerable, that no one can count them.

"They are most excellent and good archers, terrifying in appearance, and there many kinds of them, and we would not be able to describe their religion in our letter, but if God grants me life so that with the Lord's help I may see you safe and sound, I will tell you everything face to face. Now we have walked day and night for eight months, and we are told that we are only in the middle of the journey to the land of our Khan, that is, the greater lord of the Tartars. About..."

(see also http://theses.univ-lyon2.fr/documents/getpart.php?id=lyon2.2001.charansonnet_a&part=40626 for a differing transcription; original in BNF latin 16558, f. 232v°-233v°?)

Assizes of Jerusalem

Letres dou Sepulcre debate
early laws; "year and a day", Council of Nablus, assise du cop apparent, assise sur la ligece, customs of Bethgibelin
evidence of charters for property and feudal law
Livre au Roi (c. 1200)
Livre des Assises de la Cour des Bourgeois
Geoffrey le Tor
Philip of Novara
John of Ibelin
James of Ibelin
Cyprus
see also Assizes of Antioch, Assizes of Romania

RHC etc

RHC Occ I (1844) William of Tyre, Historia rerum in partibus transmarinis gestarum L’Estoire de Eracles

RHC Occ II (1859) L’Estoire de Eracles (continued) Continuation of William of Tyre (Rothelin manuscript)

RHC Occ III (1866) Peter Tudebode, Historia de Hierosolymitano itinere Gesta Francorum et aliorium Hierosolymitanorum (a shorter version of Tudebode) Historia peregrinatorum euntium Jerusolymam (a continuation of Tudebode) Raymond of Aguilers, Historia Francorum qui cepereunt Iherusalem Fulcher of Chartres, Historia Iherosolymitana Gesta Francorum expugnantium Iherusalem Liziard of Tours, Secunda pars historiae Iherosolimitanae Ralph of Caen, Gesta Tancredi Robert the Monk, Historia iherosolimitana Letters of Stephen of Blois and Anselme of Ribemont

RHC Arm I (1869) Matthew of Edessa Gregory the Priest Basil the Doctor, funeral oration for Baldwin of Marash Nerses Schnorhali Gregory Dgh’a Michael the Syrian Guirados de Kantzah Vartan the Great Samuel of Ani Hethoum of Gorigos Bahram of Edessa Popular song about the captivity of Leo, son of Hethoum I Poem by Hethoum II Nerses of Lampron Sempad the Constable Mardiros of the Crimea Meeting of Mekhithar of Dashir and the papal legate Continuation of the history of Lesser Armenia Charters

RHC Grec I (1875) Michael Attaliata Michael Psellus Anna Comnena Nicetas Choniates John Cinnamus John Zonaras Michael Glycas Nicephorus Gregoras Ephremius the chronographer Johannes Phocas Neophytus the presbyter George Acropolites Liber de Syria expugnata Constantinopolis expugnata

RHC Or I (1872) Abu’l-Feda Ibn al-Athir

RHC Lois I (1841) John of Ibelin Geoffrey le Tort James of Ibelin Philip of Novara Clef des assises de la Haute Cour Livre au roi

RHC Lois II (1843) Livre des assises de la cour des Bourgeois Abrégé du livre des assises de la cour des Bourgeois Bans et ordonnances des rois de Chypre Documents relatifs à la successibilité au trône et à la régence Document relatif au service militaire Lignages d’outremer Charters

Bongars, Dei Gesta (1611) Gesta Francorum et aliorum hierosolymitanorum Robert the Monk, Historia hierosolymitana Baldric of Dol, Historia iherosolimitana Raymond of Aguilers, Historia Francorum qui ceperunt Iherusalem Albert of Aix, Historia hierosolimitanae expeditionis Fulcher of Chartres, Gesta peregrinantium Francorum Walter the Chancellor, Bella antiochena Guibert of Nogent, Gesta Dei per Francos Gesta Francorum expugnantium Hierusalem Secunda pars historiae hierosolimitane William of Tyre, Historia rerum in partibus transmarinis gestarum James of Vitry, HIstoria hierosolimitana James of Vitry, letter on the capture of Damietta Unknown, Historia hierosolimitana 1177-1190 Letters Bulls of Innocent IV Oliver of Cologne, De captione Damiatae Letter of Louis IX on his capture Canonization of Louis IX

Vol. II Marino Sanudo, Liber secretorum fidelium crucis Letters of Marino Sanudo De recuperatione terrae sanctae

Battle of Ascalon order of battle

Crusaders - 1200 knights, 9000 infantry (according to Raymond of Aguilers)

Left wing - Jaffa Gate - Godfrey - two divisions, plus foot soldiers
Centre - Between Jerusalem and Jaffa Gates - Tancred, Eustace, Robert of Normandy, Gaston IV - two divisions, plus foot soldiers
Right wing - Mediterranean coast - Raymond IV - two divisions, plus foot soldiers

Also included oxen, sheep, camels, and goats, which made the army look bigger.

Fatimids - 20-30 000, perhaps 50 000

Commander - al-Afdal Shahanshah

Fatimid Egyptians
Seljuk Turks
Arabs
Persians
Armenians
Kurds
Ethiopians - attacked the centre of the crusader line
Fleet in the port of Ascalon

Melisende of Tripoli

Melisende of Tripoli was the daughter of Hodierna of Tripoli and Raymond II, count of Tripoli. She was a potential wife for Byzantine Emperor Manuel I Comnenus in 1160.

Biography

Melisende was named for her aunt, Melisende, Queen of Jerusalem. She was a cousin of Kings Baldwin III and Amalric I. Melisende's parents bickered constantly, and there were rumors that Raymond was not her father. During a particularly intense dispute in 1152 the family called Queen Melisende and her son Baldwin III from Jerusalem to intervene, and the conflict was resolved, though Raymond was killed by the Hashshashin directly afterwards. His territory was left to his wife until their son Raymond III (Melisende's brother) reached majority. Melisende and Raymond were close, and in 1160, when Byzantine Emperor Manuel I Comnenus asked for a new wife from the Crusader states, Raymond and his cousin Baldwin III tried to arrange a marriage between Melisende and the Emperor. Hodierna, Raymond, Queen Melisende, and Baldwin raised a huge dowry in anticipation of the marriage to Manuel, "prepared at vast expense and with great zeal", which "surpassed the luxury of kings", according to William of Tyre. The gifts were to be sent on 12 galleys equipped by Raymond. However, Manuel's ambassadors thoroughly investigated both his potential brides, causing a delay of a year, to the great annoyance of Melisende's relatives. The negotiations fell through, but William did not know why; he reports simply that Manuel had been secretly negotiating with the Principality of Antioch at the same time and chose to marry Maria of Antioch instead.

It is likely that Constance, Maria's mother and regent of Antioch, had requested assistance from Manuel in the absence of her husband Raynald of Châtillon, who had been taken captive in Aleppo. It is also likely that Manuel's ambassadors heard of the rumors of Melisende's illegitimacy, and John Cinnamus records that although Melisende was beautiful, she was not healthy. Baldwin III did not want the Byzantine Empire to extend its direct control over Antioch, but agreed to the marriage when he learned of the negotiations. Raymond, however, felt both he and his sister had been insulted, and paid pirates to raid the Byzantine island of Cyprus. After being spurned by the Emperor, Melisende could find no other husband and instead entered a convent, where she died fairly young.

The French dramatist Edmond Rostand made Melisende the main character in his verse drama La Princesse lointaine, in which she was played by Sarah Bernhardt. The work tells the story of the troubadour Jaufré Rudel's "love from afar" for the lady of Tripoli, however, most versions of the tale have Melisende's mother Hodierna as Rudel's desired.

Sources

William of Tyre, A History of Deeds Done Beyond the Sea, trans. E.A. Babcock and A.C. Krey. Columbia University Press, 1943.
Steven Runciman, A History of the Crusades, vol. II: The Kingdom of Jerusalem. Cambridge University Press, 1952.

Melisende of Tripoli – Manasses (A Byzantine Traveller to One of the Crusader States, W.J. Aerts, in East and West in the Crusader states: context, contacts, confrontations, vol. III, ed. Krijna Nelly Ciggaar and Herman G. B. Teule) William of Tyre, book 18, 31-33 (English 288-292) – Manuel left the choice of bride up to Baldwin III, who suggested Melisende, but the Greek envoys “inquired into the life and conduct of the damsel even to the most secret physical characteristics”, and this took a whole year; Baldwin sent an envoy to Constantinople, where Manuel rejected the offer, and the Byzantine envoys left Tripoli for Antioch; Baldwin was regent there and although he was offended he arranged the marriage of Manuel and Maria; Raymond gave the galleys he had prepared for the wedding to pirates to attack the Byzantine coast The Leper King and His Heirs: Baldwin IV and the Crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem p. 102 – Melisende as assumed to be betrothed to Manuel and is referred to in a charter of 1161 as “future empress of Constantinople”; the Byzantine ambassadors did not approve of her and Manuel married Maria of Antioch instead; Melisende died soon afterwards, and Raymond III sent pirates to attack the Byzantines John Kinnamos, Deeds of John and Manuel Comnenus, trans. Charles M. Brand, Columbia University Press, 1976, book 5, 158-160 – “ a certain girl in Tripoli in Phoenicia, a Latin by birth but outstanding in beauty”; Manuel sent John Kontostephanos and an Italian, Theophylact, to Tripoli; they approved, but she became sick, and worsened whenever she tried to leave on the boat, and they heard rumours that she was illegitimate Wisconsin history, 1, p. 536, 546 Lille, Byzantium and the Crusader States, pp 185-187 Chalandon, Les Comnene, II, 517-525 Lignages d’Outremer for the convent and death