Medieval Sourcebook:
Pope Innocent III:
License to Venice to Trade With The Saracens, 1198
Besides the indulgence we have promised to those going at their own expense to the
east, and besides the favor of apostolic protection granted to those helping that country,
we have renewed the decree of the Lateran council which excommunicated those who presume
to give arms, iron, or wood to the Saracens for their galleys, and which excommunicated
those who act as helmsmen on their galleys and dhows, and which at the same time decreed
that they should be deprived of their property for their transgressions by the secular arm
and by the consuls of the cities, and that, if caught, they become the slaves of their
captors. Following the example of Pope Gregory, our predecessor of pious memory, we have
placed under sentence of excommunication all those who in future consort with the
Saracens, directly or indirectly, or who attempt to give or send aid to them by sea, as
long as the war be tween them and us shall last.
But our beloved sons Andreas Donatus and Benedict Grilion, your messengers, recently
came to the apostolic see and were at pains to explain to us that by this decree your city
was suffering no small loss, for she is not devoted to agriculture but rather to shipping
and to commerce. We, therefore, induced by the paternal affection we have for you, and
commanding you under pain of anathema not to aid the Saracens by selling or giving to them
or exchanging with them iron, flax, pitch, pointed stakes, ropes, arms, helmets, ships,
and boards, or unfinished wood, do permit for the present, until we issue further orders,
the taking of goods, other than those mentioned, to Egypt and Babylon, whenever necessary.
We hope that in consideration of this kindness you will bear in mind the aiding of
Jerusalem, taking care not to abuse the apostolic decree, for there is no doubt that
whosoever violates his conscience in evading this order will incur the anger of God.
Source:
From: J. P. Migne, ed., Patrologiae Cursus Completus, (Paris, 1855), Vol. CCXIV,
p. 493, reprinted in Roy C. Cave & Herbert H. Coulson, A Source Book for Medieval
Economic History, (Milwaukee: The Bruce Publishing Co., 1936; reprint ed., New York:
Biblo & Tannen, 1965), pp. 104-105.
Scanned by Jerome S. Arkenberg, Cal. State Fullerton. The text has been modernized by
Prof. Arkenberg.
This text is part of the Internet
Medieval Source Book. The Sourcebook is a collection of public domain and
copy-permitted texts related to medieval and Byzantine history.
Unless otherwise indicated the specific electronic form of the document is
copyright.Permission is granted for electronic copying, distribution in print form for
educational purposes and personal use. If you do reduplicate the document, indicate the
source. No permission is granted for commercial use.
© Paul Halsall, September 1998
[email protected]
The Internet History Sourcebooks Project is located at the History Department of Fordham University, New York. The Internet
Medieval Sourcebook, and other medieval components of the project, are located at
the Fordham University Center
for Medieval Studies.The IHSP recognizes the contribution of Fordham University, the
Fordham University History Department, and the Fordham Center for Medieval Studies in
providing web space and server support for the project. The IHSP is a project independent of Fordham University. Although the IHSP seeks to follow all applicable copyright law, Fordham University is not
the institutional owner, and is not liable as the result of any legal action.
© Site Concept and Design: Paul Halsall created 26 Jan 1996: latest revision 12 April 2024 [CV]
|
