The Crusades, the Genoese and the Latin East - DSpace at ...

In the context of the discussion of the preparations for the Fifth Crusade the evidence of strong
commercial relations suggests that Innocent had good reasons to be concerned with the
cooperation of the Italians in the war against Egypt. However, just as much as Innocent looked
askance at commercial relations with the Muslim world, there was little he could do about it. The
existence of Christian communities in the Egypt, including Venetians, Genoese and Pisans, is
another reason that the relationship with Egypt had to be handled carefully, because
the safety of
these people had to be taken into account too. Careful coordination of the crusade was, therefore,
vital, which highlights the importance of the Lateran Council.
Lateran IV as a turning point
The resolutions of Lateran IV led Genoa as well as the other maritime cities to make significant
changes in their foreign and economic policies. A peace truce was concluded in 1217 between
Genoa and Pisa, followed by a truce between Genoa and Venice in 1218. The reasons for the
truce were given plainly:
Item convenimus vobis quod per litteras nostras summo pontifici notificabimus quodpax
composita est inter civitatem Venet(iarum) et civitatem Ianue et preces quas nobisfecerat
pro pace pro mandatis reputatas pro succursu Terre Sancte effectui mancipavimus (my
emphasis). 349
Fast changes occurred in Genoa's foreign policy after 1215. Genoa suspended its wars
with Venice and Pisa and also curtailed its commercial relationships with Alexandria. Schaube
demonstrated that this attitude was reciprocated when western ships were seized in Egypt during
the same period 350
In 1216, the Genoese merchants did not register any contracts for Alexandria.
This is highlighted also by the fact that when commerce with Alexandria was stopped, an
extended fleet of six big ships went to Ultramare instead. Alexandria is mentioned only once, in a
receipt for the export of a fabric from Liege which had already been sold in Alexandria . 35
1
Another interesting change may be attributed to the impact of Lateran IV and the
preparations for the crusade. This change concerns the mood in Genoa on the eve of the Fifth
Crusade and is related also to the Genoese ships. In the previous pages the names of some
Genoese ships were mentioned. This list of ships was gathered from the cartulary of Bonvillano
from 1198, and was used as evidence of the importance of Alexandria as a market which the
Genoese merchants often visited during that period.
The naming of ships was a relatively new feature that the notaries employed from the end
of the twelfth century. Previously, the custom was to mention the names of ships' owners when
3491 Libri lurium, Vol. I/2, number 357, p. 215.
350 Schaube, Handelsgeschichte, p. 182.
351 Lanfranco 1216, no. 1237, from 7 October 1216.
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