A letter from Peter of Aragon (1204)

Translated letter:

When in the beginning of the world God, creating everything, finally formed man, he took one of his ribs, saying: “It is not good for man to be alone; let us make him a helper similar to him.” When he had made woman from this, he blessed them and said “Increase and multiply and fill the earth, and rule over all the flying creatures of the sky and fish of the sea."1. Wherefore, in the name of God, I Marie, daughter of the late William, lord of Montpellier, giving myself in marriage to you lord Peter, king of Aragon, count of Barcelona, give to you with me as dowry the town of Montpellier with all its appurtenances and with all its dominion, the castrum of Lattes, New Castle, the castrumof Montferrat, the castrum of Castro, the castrum of Homelatio with all its dominion, the castrum of Pogeto, the castrum of Montebazeno, the castrum of Cornonescito, the castrum of Montearnaldo, the castrum of Frontiniano, 2. the castrum of Piniano, the castrum of Popiano, the castrum of Paolano, the town of St. Paragonius, the town of Vendemiano, the castrum of Arluz, the town of Treszano, the town of St. George, the town of Miravalle, the castrum of Lopiano with all their adjacent lands and appurtenances, and all towns and dwellings, fiefs and vassals, and generally all other rights that my father held and possessed at the time of his death, and generally all my other rights. I give all and each of these things to you, lord king, my husband, under this agreement and condition, that if we will have surviving children born of me and begotten by you, to the firstborn male or, if he dies, to the next-born male, one only and not to many, and if males are lacking, to the first-born daughter or, if she dies, to the next-born daughter, this dowry should be completely returned, not, however, to my relatives.
And I, Peter, king of Aragon, count of Barcelona, in God's name, receiving you, Marie, as lawful wife with the aforesaid dowry, and giving myself as lawful husband to you, give and concede to you as gift for the marriage and for your betrothal gift the whole county of Rossillon, with all towns and castris, dominions, men, women, and with all its appurtenances, and generally everything that I have and should have from the spring of Salsas up to Clusa, with such agreement and stipulation that if you will survive me, you should have all these things and lands 3. for your whole life, and after your death, they will return freely with those same agreements to the common surviving children, or if they are deceased, to my relatives. Moreover, I promise and agree to you stipulating that I will never forsake you living, nor will I take another in addition, nor will I diminish fraudulently in whole or in part to your loss, alter or in any other way of alienation transfer to another person the property and rights that I receive as dowry with you, and I will not allow it to be done by you, but I will always preserve and retain all things faithfully for you, and I will not receive any gift, or agreement or legacy from all the abovesaid or from anyone of those nor will I allow it to be received by anyone. If I have done or will do this, let it be and remain useless and void. And I swear on these four holy Gospels of God that I will observe all and each of these things firmly and that in no way will I deceive you. And if by chance at any time I go against the said oath, or violate it in any way, or either by judgment or ecclesiastical censure or in any way the said marriage were to be dissolved, I absolve and free forever from any bond of fidelity of both oath and man all the men of Montpellier and of all castrorum and towns named above, and everything established above and given to me as dowry by you, so that they would not be bound to me thenceforth, but however 4. to you; notwithstanding after the said absolving and handing over, with the aforesaid oath made by me to you above maintaining its validity forever, in no way could we be absolved by you or by another from said oaths and agreements and contracts.
And I, count Santius, 5. paternal uncle of lord Peter, king of Aragon, by my faith will seek and fulfill, and I Ildefonsus, count and marquis of Provence, brother of said lord Peter, king of Aragon, and I William of Balcio, and I Hugh of Balcio, his brother, and I Roncelin viscount and lord Massiliensis, and I Guido of Cavallon, and I Peter Amicus, and I Peter of Albanes, we all, the abovesaid, and individually, by oath to be sworn corporeally by us and by each of us on these four holy Gospels of God, by covenant we promise and agree to you, aforesaid lady Marie that lord Peter, king of Aragon, count of Barcelona, will keep and observe faithfully and fully each and all aforesaid things that were sworn, promised, and approved above by him to you and at no time will he recall or violate any of the abovesaid through himself or another. And we all the abovesaid, each one for all, oblige ourselves under said oath and faith given, to you and yours concerning each and all of these things to be firmly fulfilled and observed. All these things were done and approved in the house of the Militia of the Temple located near Montpellier, behind the church, in the year of the Lord’s incarnation 1204, seventeenth kalends of July, in the presence and testimony of lord Guido, provost of Maguelone, Bertrand Radulph, William Rabasten, Peter Lucian, Stephan John, John of Lattes, advocates, Peter Lombard, deacon, Peter of Bisanchis, bailiff, Raymond of Castromaior, Bertrand of Valhanches, Peter of Stagno, soldier, Peter of Conques, William of Conques, his son, Raymond Atbrand, Berengar of Conques, Peter Lobet, Berengar Amicus, Luche Pulverelli, Peter Tropassen, John of Montebeliardo, John Lucian, William Lucian, his brother, Raymond Helye, Stephan of Limotges, Pontius Vital, Bertrand Egidius, Firmin Borzes, Peter Vital, Bertrand of Adillano, William of Adillano, Peter of Adillano his brother, Stephan of Adillano, Simeon of Camponovo, William Berengar, Peter of Tripoli, Bartholomew Bigorre, William Borrell, Peter of Saint Desiderio, Peter of Salviano, Hugh of Monterotundo, Bernard Rascazol, Pontius Aldeguer, William Aldeguer his son, William of Conques, Gerer Austorgnus of Orlaco, John Fulcrand, Bernard of Redorta, Peter Adzemar, Bernard of Ortols, Peter Carbonel, William Raymond, notary, Jacob Laurent, notary, Bernard of Porta, notary, and Hugh Laurent, notary who wrote all of this. 6.

Original letter:

Cum in mundi principio Deus omnia creandoad ultimum hominem condidisset, tulit unam de costis ejus dicens : « Non est bonum hominem esse solum; faciamus ei adjutorium simile sibi. » Ex qua feminam cum fecisset, benedixit illis et ait : « Cressite et multiplicamini, et replete terram, et dominamini volatilibus celi et pissibus maris. » — Ideoque, in Dei nomine, ego Maria filia condam Willelmi domini Montispessuli, collocans me in matrimonii tibi domino Petro regi Aragonum , comiti Barchinonie, do tibi mecum in dotem villam Montispessuli cum suis omnibus pertinentiis et cum tota dominatione sua, et castrum de Latis, et Castrum-novum, et castrum de Monteferrario, et castrum de Castriis castrum de Homelatio, cum omni dominatione sua, et castrum de Pogeto, et castrum de Montebazeno, castrum de Cornonescito, et castrum de Montearnaldo, et castrum de Frontiniano, et castrum de Piiniano, et castrum de Popiano, et castrum de Paolano, et villam Sancti Paragonii, et villam de Vendemiano, et castrum de Arluz, et villam de Treszano, et villam Sancti Georgii, et villam de Miravalle, et castrum de Lopiano , cum omnibus eorum adjacen tiis et pertinentiis, et omnes villas et mansos, feuda et feudatarios, et generaliter omnia alia jura que pater meus tempore mortis sue habebat et possidebat et generaliter omnia alia jura mea. — Hec omnia et singula tali pacto et conditione do tibi, domino regi marito meo, quod, si habuerimus infantes su perstites de me natos et de te generatos, ad primogenitum masculum vel, eo decedente, ad subsequentem masculum, unum tantum et non ad plurcs et, masculis defficientibus, ad filiam primogenitam, vel, ea decedente, ad filiam subsequentem, hec dos integre revertatur, sin autem ad propinquos meos. Et ego Petrus rex Aragonum, comes Barchinonie, in Dei nomine, recipiens te Mariam in legitimam conjugem cum predicta dote, et me tibi tradens in virum legitimum, dono et concedo tibi in donationem propter nuptias et in sponsalitio tuo totum comitatum de Rossillon, cum omnibus villis et castris, dominationibus, hominibus, feminis, et cum omnibus suis pertinenciis, et generaliter totum hoc quod habeo et habere debeo a fonte de Salsas usque ad Clusam; tali pacto et tenore quod, si michi supervixeris, habeas hec omnia et terras in omni vita tua, et post mortem tuam, eisdem pactis ad liberos comunes superstites, vel, ipsis defficientibus, ad propinquos meos libere rcvertantur. — Item promitto et convenio tibi stipulanti quod nunquam te viventem diinittam, nec aliam quamlibet superinducam, neque bona et jura, que tecum in dotem accipio, in solidum vel pro parte in dampnum tuum fraudulenter diminuam, permutabo vel quolibet alio genere alienationis in aliquam personam transferam, nec a te fieri paciar; set ea omnia semper tibi fideliter salvabo et retinebo, ncc aliquod donum, vel pactum, vel relictum de omnibus supradictis vel de aliquo ipsorum recipiam vel ab aliquo recipi paciar. Quod si feci vel fecero, illud cassum et inutile sit et remaneat. —Et hec omnia et singula firmiter me observaturum et quod te nullo modo decipiam, juro super hec sancta quatuor Dei Evangelia. Et si forte contra dictum sacramentum ullo tempore venirem, vel in aliquo infringerem , aut sententia vel censura ecclesiastica aut alio modo dictum matrimonium dissolveretur, absolvo et libera in perpetuum ab omni vinculo fidelitatis et sacramenti et hominii omnes homines Montispessuli et omnium castrorum et villarum superius nominatarum, et omnia superius a te mihi in dotem data et constituta; ita quod mihi deinde non tenerentur, set tamen tibi nichilominus, post dictam absolutionem et dimissionem, predicto Sacramento a me superius tibi facto suas vires in perpetuum obtinente, ita quod per te vel per alium a dictis sacramentis et pactis ct conventionibus nullatenus absolvi possimus. Et ego comes Sancius, domini Petri regis Aragonum patruus, per fidem meam plevitam et requisitarn; et ego Ildefonsus comes et marchio Provincie, frater domini Petri regis Aragonum predicti; et ego Guillelmus dc Balcio; et ego Hugo de Balcio, frater ejus; et ego Roncelinus vicecomes et dominus Massiliensis; et ego Guido de Cavallon; et ego Petrus Amicus; et ego Petrus de Albanes, nos omnes supradicti et singuli, prestito a nobis et ab unoquoque nostrum corporaliter jurejurando super hec sancta Dei quatuor Evangelia, per stipulationem promittimus et convenimus tibi domine Marie prescripte quod dominus Petrus rex Aragonum, comes Barchinonie , omnia predicta et singula ab ipso tibi superius laudata, promissa et jurata, fideliter et plenarie tenebit et observabit et in nullo ea aliquo tempore per se vel per alium revocabit vel infringet nec aliquid supradictorum. Et nos omnes supradicti, de hiis omnibus et singulis firmiter complendis et observandis, sub dicto juramento et fide plevita, quisque pro toto, tibi et tuis nos obligamus. — Acta sunt hec omnia et laudata in domo Militie Templi site juxta Montempessulum, post ecclesiam, anno Dominice incarnationis millesimo ducentesimo quarto, septimo decimo kalendas Julii, in presentia et testirnonio domini Guidonis Magalonensis prepositi, Bertrandi Radulphi, Guillelmi Rabastenc, Petri Luciani, Stephani Johannis, Johannis de Latis, causidicorum; Petri Lombardi dyaconi; Petri de Bisanchis bajuli; Ramundi de Castris majoris, Bertrandi de Valhauches, Petri de Stagno, militum; Petri de Conchis, Guillelmi de Conchis filii ejus, Ramundi Atbrandi, Berengarii de Conchis, Petri Lobeti, Berengarii Amici, Luche Pulverelli, Petri Tropassen , Johannis de Montebeliardo, Johannis Luciani, Guillelmi Luciani fratris ejus, Raymundi Helye, Stephani de Limotges, Poncii Vitalis, Bertrandi Egidii, Firmini Borzes, Petri Vitalis, Bernardi de Adillano, Guillelmi de Adillano, Petri de Adillano fratris ejus, Stephani de Adillano, Symeonis de Camponovo, Guillelmi Berengarii, Petri de Tripoli, Bartholomei Bigorre, Guillelmi Borrelli, Petri de Sancto Desiderio, Petri de Salviano, Hugonis de Monterotundo, Bernardi Rascazol, Pontii Aldeguerii, Guillelmi Aldeguerii ejus filii, Guillelmi de Conchis, Cererii Austorgui de Orlaco, Johannis Fulcrandi, Bernardi de Redorta, Petri Adzemari, Bernardi de Ortols, Petri Carbonelli, Guillelmi Raymundi notarii, Jacobi Laurentii notarii, Bernardi de Portu notarii, et Hugonis Laurentii notarii qui hec omnia scripsit.

Historical context:

Marriage agreements undertaken between Marie lady of Montpellier and Peter, king of Aragon. Peter did his best to renege on the sworn statements he made in this document. A castrum is an administrative unit with a fortification/castle at the center.

Scholarly notes:

1. There is a slightly different version of Peter and Marie’s marriage contract entitled “Donationes ob nuptias factae inter Petrum Aragonia Regem et Mariam Montispessulani dominam” in Spicilegium sive Collectio Vetereum aliquot Scriptorum qui in Galliae Bibliothecis Delituerant, ed. Luc D'Achery (Paris: 1723). It begins not with the creation story but with the same formula that opens Marie’s marriage contract with Bernard, i.e. “Because the marriage of man and woman proceeds from natural law and divine command, and for this event gifts are accustomed to come from the woman or on behalf of the woman to carry out the marriage and to lighten the burdens of marriage…”
2. The Spicilegium does not include “the castle of Pogeto, the castle of Montebazeno, the castle of Cornonescito, the castle of Montearnaldo, the castle of Frontiniano.”
3. The Spicilegium has "teneas", "hold" rather than "terras" "lands."
4. The Spicilegium has "tantum" rather than "tamen," that is "only to you."
5. The Spicilegium names Sancius and the other witnesses in the third person.
6. The text and translation were provided by Ashleigh Imus.

Printed source:

Layettes du Trésor des Chartres, ed. A. Teulet (Paris: 1863), 252-54, doc.717. Also in Spicilegium sive Collectio Veterum aliquot Scriptorum qui in Galliae Bibliothecis Delituerant, ed. D. Luc D’Achery (Paris: 1723), 3.565-66.

Date:

1204