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A writer of the 13th century credits the Order with 19,000 manors
in Europe...
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Kingdom of Jerusalem |
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When the kingdom was at the height of its glory, the
Hospitallers possessed no fewer than seven strongholds in the
area of Lebanon and Israel now, some situated on the coast, others in the
mountains; of these Margat and Krals, in the territory of Tripoli, are the most
famous. They enjoyed the revenues of more than one hundred and forty estates (casalia)
in the Holy Land. |
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As to their European possessions, a writer of the
thirteenth century credits them with about nineteen thousand manors including
Rindoon. |
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It was necessary to organize a financial administration
in order to assure the regular payment of revenues of these widely scattered
possessions. This was the task of Hugh of Ravel, seventeenth Grand Master of the
Holy Land (c. 1270). |
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The lands attached to a single house were placed under
the command of a knight of the order, who formerly was called a preceptor, but
afterwards took the title of commander. This official was charged with
collecting the revenues, one portion of which was devoted to the support of his
community, formed of a chaplain and some brothers the other portion being
destined for the houses of the Holy Land. This latter portion consisted of an
annual and invariable impost called "Responsions". |
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Thanks to these resources, drawn from all over Europe,
the order was able to survive the fall of the Kingdom of Jerusalem, which
involved the loss of all its possessions in Asia. After the capture of Jerusalem
by Saladin (1187), the Hospitallers retained only their possessions in the
Principality of Tripoli, and these they lost a century later by the fall of Acre
(1291). |
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Krak des Chevaliers - Hospitaller Fortress |
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