Page:A History of the Knights of Malta, or the Order of St. John of Jerusalem.djvu/101

Rh fortifications of Jerusalem, which had been levelled by the Saracens during the siege of Damietta, should not be restored, thus rendering the possession of the city by the Christians an absolute nullity. This stipulation is alluded to by the Arabic writer, Abulfeda; and the fact that no attempt was ever made to restore the walls of the place during its brief re-occupation by the Latins seems to bear out the statement.

As has been said, Frederic had no sooner formally established his claim to the throne by his coronation in the mosque of Omar, than he at once returned to Europe, where his presence was without doubt urgently required in his own dominions. He, however, pledged himself to maintain a considerable force in Palestine for the protection of his kingdom there. Whilst these events were occurring, several changes bad taken place in the governance of the Order of St. John. At the resignation of Alfonso of Portugal in the year 1195, Geoffrey le Rat, a French knight, was elected in his place. This chief, by the mildness of his rule and the general urbanity of his conduct, soon restored that peace and unanimity in the councils of the Order which had been so rudely disturbed by the violent reforms of Alfonso. Geoffrey died in the year 1207, and was in his turn succeeded by Gurin de Montaigu, a native of the province of Auvergue. It was during his Mastership that both the Crusades lately recorded took place, and he bore a very prominent and glorious part throughout them. He lived till the year 1230, thus enjoying his dignities for a period of twenty-three years, a longer rule than that of any Master since the death of the venerable Raymond du Puy.

Bertrand de Tens succeeded Guérin at a time when the affairs of the unfortunate kingdom were in a state of confusion, even more lamentable than usual. The emperor Frederic had found, upon his return to Europe, that the constant warfare in which he was engaged against the Pope prevented him from sending those succours which on leaving Palestine he had fathfully promised to the council of the realm. His wife, Violante, had lately died in giving birth to a son, who was named Conrad, and who was, through her, heir to the crown of Jerusalem. In the absence of the infant prince and his father, rival claimants appeared to dispute the title. The scandalous injustice with which the emperor was at this time treating the military Orders,