Directory

1252 CE

Pope Innocent IV issues the papal bull Ad exstirpanda, which authorizes the torture of heretics in the Medieval Inquisition. Torture quickly gains widespread usage across Catholic Europe. The settlement of Stockholm in Sweden is founded, by Birger Jarl. Christopher I of Denmark is crowned King of Denmark, in the Lund Cathedral.

Geopolitics & Diplomacy

  • June 1 – Alfonso X is proclaimed king of Castile and León.source
  • The Polish land of Lebus is incorporated into the German state of Brandenburg, marking the start of Brandenburg's expansion into previously Polish areas (Neumark).source

Conflict & Security

  • April 6 – Saint Peter of Verona is assassinated by Carino of Balsamo.source
  • Mongol conquest of the Song dynasty: the Mongols take the westernmost province of the Song dynasty empire.source
  • The Chinese era Chunyou ends (→ Emperor Lizong).source

Exploration & Expansion

  • July – The settlement of Stockholm in Sweden is founded, by Birger Jarl.source
  • The Lithuanian city of Klaipėda (Memel) is founded by the Teutonic Knights.source
  • Thomas Aquinas travels to the University of Paris, to begin his studies there for a master's degree.source

Religion & Belief

  • May 15 – Pope Innocent IV issues the papal bull Ad exstirpanda, which authorizes the torture of heretics in the Medieval Inquisition. Torture quickly gains widespread usage across Catholic Europe.source
  • December 25 – Christopher I of Denmark is crowned King of Denmark, in the Lund Cathedral.source
  • The town and monastery of Orval Abbey in Belgium burn to the ground; rebuilding takes 100 years.source

Science & Discovery

  • In astronomy, work begins on the recording of the Alfonsine tables.source

Culture & Society

  • The classic Japanese text Jikkunsho is completed.source

Births

  • March 25 – Conradin, Duke of Swabia (d. 1268)source
  • Eleanor de Montfort, Princess of Wales, English-born consort (d. 1282)source
  • Safi-ad-din Ardabili, Persian Sufi leadersource

Deaths

  • January 1 – Saint Zdislava Berka, Bohemian lay Dominican benefactresssource
  • January 23 – Isabella, Queen of Armeniasource
  • January – Bohemond V of Antiochsource
  • February 3 – Sviatoslav III of Vladimir, Prince of Novgorod (b. 1196)source
  • April 1 – Kujō Michiie, Japanese regentsource
  • April 6 – Saint Peter of Veronasource
  • May 3 or May 4 – Günther von Wüllersleben, Grand Master of the Teutonic Knightssource
  • June 6 – Robert Passelewe, Bishop of Chichestersource
  • June 9 – Otto I, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburgsource
  • June 29 – Abel, King of Denmark (b. 1218)source
  • August 1 – Giovanni da Pian del Carpine, Italian chronicler of the Mongol Empiresource
  • November 27 – Blanche of Castile, queen of Louis VIII of France and regent of France (b. 1188)source
  • Sorghaghtani Beki, Mongolian empress and regentsource
  • Catherine Sunesdotter, Swedish queen consortsource