Directory

1244 CE

Pope Innocent IV is driven from Rome by imperial forces of Emperor Frederick II, and travels secretly in disguise to Sutri. Genoese galleys prepared by his relatives are waiting for him at the port of Civitavecchia to take him to Genoa. Khwarazmian forces (some 10,000 men) invade Syrian territory, ravaging the land and burning the villages. As Damascus is too strong for a siege, they attack Galilee, past the town of Tiberias – which they capture. The Khwarazmians attack further southward through Nablus towards Jerusalem. Siege of Jerusalem: Khwarazmian horsemen attack and sack the 'holy city' of Jerusalem. There is bloody fighting in the streets. The Khwarazmian force their way into the Armenian Quarter, where they decimate the Christian population, and drive out the Jews. The city is left in a state of ruin.

Geopolitics & Diplomacy

  • March 26 – Treaty of Almizra: King James I (the Conqueror) and King Ferdinand III (the Saint) agree on the distribution of Muslim lands yet to be conquered. All lands south of a line, from the cities of Biar to Villajoyosa through Busot, are reserved for the Crown of Castile. This ends further Aragonese expansion on the Iberian Peninsula.source

Conflict & Security

  • March 16 – Siege of Montségur: French forces capture and destroy Château de Montségur in Languedoc, after a 9-month siege. Some 200 'heretics' (perfecti and credentes) are burnt in a bonfire, near the foot of the castle. This marks the final defeat of the Cathars (or Albigensians); the followers become scattered fugitives, meeting in forests and mountain wilds.source
  • June – Khwarazmian forces (some 10,000 men) invade Syrian territory, ravaging the land and burning the villages. As Damascus is too strong for a siege, they attack Galilee, past the town of Tiberias – which they capture. The Khwarazmians attack further southward through Nablus towards Jerusalem.source
  • July 15 – Siege of Jerusalem: Khwarazmian horsemen attack and sack the 'holy city' of Jerusalem. There is bloody fighting in the streets. The Khwarazmian force their way into the Armenian Quarter, where they decimate the Christian population, and drive out the Jews. The city is left in a state of ruin.source
  • August 23 – The Tower of David surrenders to the Khwarazmian forces. Some 6,000 Christian men, women and children march out of Jerusalem. As they move along the road toward Jaffa, they see crusader flags waving on the Walls of Jerusalem. Returning, some 2,000 of them are massacred.source
  • October 4 – The Crusaders assemble a force of some 1,000 cavalry and 6,000 men outside Acre, after hearing that Jerusalem is sacked by the Khwarazmians. They are joined by the Ayyubid forces (some 4,000 men) of Damascus and Homs – while Emir An-Nasir Dawud brings his army from Kerak.source
  • October 5 – Innocent IV flees to France and travels to Lyon, where he arrives on November 29. Although the city is nominally subject to the Holy Roman Empire, Innocent falls under the protection of Louis IX.source
  • October 17 – Battle of La Forbie: A Crusader army (some 10,000 men) under Walter IV of Brienne and Ayyubid allies are defeated near Hiribya (or La Forbie) by Egyptian and Khwarazmian forces. The army is destroyed, with about 7,500 men killed. Walter and William of Chastelneuf are captured.source

Religion & Belief

  • June 7 – Pope Innocent IV is driven from Rome by imperial forces of Emperor Frederick II, and travels secretly in disguise to Sutri. Genoese galleys prepared by his relatives are waiting for him at the port of Civitavecchia to take him to Genoa.source
  • December 27 – Innocent IV summons a general council to meet in Lyon (some 140 bishops eventually come) to attend what becomes later the First Council of Lyon.source

Health & Medicine

  • December – King Louis IX (the Saint) falls desperately ill of a severe malarian infection. Near-death, he vows that if he recovers he will set out for a crusade. Louis' life is spared and as soon as his health permits him, he takes the cross and immediately begins preparations for the Seventh Crusade.source

Births

  • June 24 – Henry I of Hesse, German nobleman (d. 1308)source
  • June 25 – Ibn al-Fuwati, Arab historian and writer (d. 1323)source
  • Folquet de Lunel, French troubadour and writer (d. 1300)source
  • Dai Biaoyuan, Chinese litterateur, poet and writer (d. 1310)source
  • Heinrich II of Virneburg, archbishop of Cologne (d. 1332)source
  • Louis of France, French nobleman and regent (d. 1260)source
  • Margaret of Antioch, Outremer noblewoman (d. 1308)source
  • John III of Prague, margrave of Brandenburg (d. 1268)source
  • Hong Dagu (or Charghu), Korean military leader (d. 1291)source
  • Elizabeth the Cuman, queen consort of Hungary (d. 1290)source
  • Ingeborg Eriksdotter, queen consort of Norway (d. 1287)source
  • Henry I (the Fat), king of Navarre (House of Blois) (d. 1274)source
  • Agnes Blannbekin, Austrian Beguine and mystic (d. 1315)source
  • Guy de Montfort, English nobleman and knight (d. 1291)source

Deaths

  • March 1 – Gruffud ap Llywelyn, Welsh nobleman (b. 1196)source
  • March 19 – Isnardo da Chiampo, Italian preacher and priestsource
  • April 2 – Henrik Harpestræng, Danish physician and writersource
  • September 3 – Guala de Roniis, bishop of Brescia (b. 1180)source
  • October 24 – William Briwere, English bishop and diplomatsource
  • November 18 – Ibn Abi'l-Dam, Syrian historian (b. 1187)source
  • December 5 – Joan, countess of Flanders and Hainautsource
  • John Komnenos (Doukas), emperor of Thessalonicasource
  • Ralph de Neville, English archbishop and politiciansource
  • Eleanor of Castile, queen consort of Aragon (b. 1200)source
  • Meir Abulafia (or Ramah), Castilian rabbi and writersource
  • Yelü Chucai, Chinese advisor and statesman (b. 1190)source
  • Sophia of Saxony, German noblewoman and abbesssource
  • James of Pecorara, Italian monk, cardinal and diplomatsource