Cardiff University School of History and Archaeology HS1805 The Military Orders, 1100-1320 Translated by Helen Nicholson This edition 2008-2009 Document 4: Spain: the Reconquest (A) Charters of the kings of Aragon. 1. Alfonso I, king of Aragon, founds the order of Monréal del Campo (1126-30). Summary: He has thought it suitable and pleasing to the Lord in every way that he should organize and set up the Knighthood of Christ of Jerusalem. Through this order, with the king as its commander, the Saracens on this side of the sea may all be defeated and overcome and the way cleared to cross to Jerusalem, with Christ leading the way. Also, a city will be built between Darocha and Valencia, in the uncultivated trackless uninhabitable land, which will be called Montreal, in which the Knighthood of God will have their headquarters. Coming and going from there, they will find all they need and a secure resting place. Alfonso lists the lands which he is giving his new order. The clergy who witness the charter all become brothers of the new order and will share in the brothers’ reward in Heaven. They promise to celebrate mass once a year for all the deceased ‘confrères’ [associates] and all the order’s benefactors. Source: Cartulaire général de l'ordre du Temple, ed. the marquis d'Albon (Paris, 1913), no. 6. 2. Ramón-Berenguer IV, count of Barcelona and ‘dominator’ of the kingdom of Aragon, reaches an agreement with the order of the Temple. 27 Nov. 1143. I, Ramón-Berenguer IV, count of Barcelona and ‘dominator’ of the kingdom of Aragon, moved by the virtue of the Holy Spirit in the power of the heavenly knighthood to defend the western Church in Spain, in order to crush and defeat and expel the Moorish race and exalt the faith and religion of holy Christianity, following the example of the Knighthood of the Temple of Solomon in Jerusalem which defends the eastern Church, have decided to set up a Knighthood which will follow the rule and establishments of blessed obedience of the same Knighthood [of the Temple] in subjection and obedience to it. I have desired this with the greatest desire and an honest will for a long time and sent letters and messengers diligently inviting the venerable Robert of great excellence, the master of the Knighthood of Jerusalem, and the convent of the rest of the brothers to do this. By God's grace the aforesaid Robert, the master, and the convent of all the brothers in the chapter of the brothers of the Knighthood in Jerusalem acquiesed and unanimously consented to this desire and petition of mine, and by their letters and brothers of the same Temple they mercifully reported their decree and approval for setting up the Knighthood of Christ in Spain against the Moors. Therefore, to exalt Christ’s Church, to exercise the office of knighthood in the Spanish region against the Saracens, in remission of my sins, to the honour of God who honours those who honour Him, for the salvation of the soul of my father who was a knight and brother of the said holy Knighthood and ended his life subject to its rule and wearing its glorious habit, I give and conceed to you, Robert... [there follows a list of the donations: The castle of Monzon; the castle of Mountjoy; all the lands and everything which belongs to 1 these castles, as can be most useful to the Knighthood and God's honour; the castles of Xalamera and Barberanum, with their lands etc.; the honour of Lup Sancius of Belchite; all the castle called Remulin, when Ramón-Berenguer captures it; all Ramón-Berenguer ought to have in the castle of Curlin, when God deigns to return it to him; a tenth of all his rents and taxes, etc.; a 100 shillings in Saragossa each year; a fifth of the booty in every expedition or raid the Templars carry out; if Ramón-Berenguer gives, sells or pledges any of his honour, they will retain their tenth; a tenth of everything he can justly acquire with God’s help; a fifth of the land recaptured from the Saracens; a tenth of everything which pertains to the Ramón- Berenguer; if they wish to build a castle or fortress against the Moors, Ramón-Berenguer will help and advise them; he will only make a truce with the Moors after consulting them. He concludes by confirming this ‘giving thanks to God, who has chosen you to defend the Church, and made you approve our requests.’ They will pay no ‘ledda’, custom duties or tolls. He gave this to Ebrard, master of the order in Gaul, and Peter de Roverie, master of Provence and the parts of Spain, and brother Otto of St Omer, and Brother Hugh de Bezaniz and Brother Petre de Arzach and Brother Berenguer de Ceguinole and Brother Arnal de Forcia.] [Source: Cartulaire général de l'ordre du Temple, no. 314] 3. Ramón-Berenguer IV, count of Barcelona and regent of Aragon, marquis of Tortosa and Lerida, gives to the Hospitallers the castle of Amposta and its territory and numerous towns, possessions and immunities in his estates. 8 Jan. 1149 at Lerida. [Extract]... for the honour of God who honours those honouring him, for the salvation of the souls of my father and mother, to exalt the Church of Christ, to propagate the faith and religion of holy Christianity, to crush and confound the Moorish people, for the redemption of my soul and the remission of my sins, I grant and approve and firmly concede... Source: Cartulaire général de l'ordre des Hospitaliers de Saint-Jean de Jérusalem, 1100-1310, ed. J. Delaville le Roulx, 4 vols (Paris, 1894-1905), no. 181. 4. Peter [Pedro, or Pere] II of Aragon confirms the Templars’ privileges: 17 Nov. 1208 May it be known to all that we, Peter, by the grace of God King of Aragon and count of Barcelona, noticing how faithfully, with how much care and devotion the brothers of the knights of the Temple work everywhere for the propagation of the Christian faith and press on with its defence, also considering how useful, how faithful and how necessary they were to our predecessors in everything which seems to hasten the spread of Christianity and how much they have tried to help us in our necessities, we approve, concede and confirm with this present privilege of perpetual validity to the brothers present and future all the franchises, liberties and immunities and all the other things which our predecessors gave and conceded to them and their houses just as they have best held them all, had them freely and possessed them fully until now. Therefore we wish and firmly instruct and establish that neither the brothers nor their people should give or be held to give any lezda, pedage, usage, portage, or any customs due which is levied or shall be levied in any place in our land just as they have not done until now. So we instrust and enjoin on all majordomos, repositaries, merinos, justiciars, zahalmedes, bailiffs and reeves and all the others, i.e. Christians, Jews and Saracens, present and future in the whole of Aragon that they should not 2 dare to act contrary to this charter on pain of confiscation. Instead they should observe it fully and not presume to exact anything from the aforesaid brothers of the Knighthood or their people or force them to give anything from these tolls. Also we establish that no man or woman who is known to belong to the house of the Knighthood of the Temple or to be under its jurisdiction should dare to gain a liberty or franchise for any reason with a charter or in any other way, or make themselves free or exempt [from the order's jurisdiction], unless they can prove their right to this clearly through a suitable charter of liberty and with suitable witnesses. Besides, we establish that no ecclesiastic or secular person, high or low, should be able or dare to take guarantees from the aforesaid brothers of the Knighthood or their people or their property unless they first discover clearly that the brothers may not meet their obligations or sufficient witnesses show that there has been an infringement of the law. And we order and establish that no council of any city, town or castle nor any algemma [council?] of Jews or Saracens should dare to take guarantees from or excommunicate any Christians, Jews or Saracens of the house of the knighthood of the Temple on any grounds of royal or local exactions, or eject them from the neighbourhood or place them under interdict or violate their liberties in any way. What is more, we establish that the aforesaid brothers of the knighthood and their people may possess and should be able to possess everything against any person for a year and a day according to the form and custom of Saragossa and should be able to protect themselves freely. The aforesaid brothers should have the right of calonias, judging homicides and justicia [receiving other legal fines] from their own people throughout the whole of Aragon just as they are accustomed to do. If anyone of whatever rank, profession or condition presumes to go against this confirmation of privilege, concession and constitution of ours they should know that they are incurring our anger and indignation and must bear a fine of one thousand aureos [gold coins] for their contempt., and this privilege will nevertheless retain its force. Given at Barbastro, 17 November 1208, by the hand of Ferrars our notary.