1200 CE

Al-Adil I, Ayyubid ruler of Damascus, Jerusalem, and parts of the Jazira takes control of Egypt, and is recognized as sultan of the Ayyubid Empire. During his reign, he promotes trade and good relations with the Crusader States. His son Al-Kamil becomes the effective ruler (viceroy) of Egypt. The Kings John of England and Philip II of France, sign a peace treaty at Le Goulet, an island in the middle of the Seine River, near Vernon in Normandy. The agreement recognizes John as overlord of most of the English owned lands in France, but John has to give Philip the lands of Norman Vexin and Évreux and a large sum of money (some 20,000 marks) – a "relief" payment for recognition of John's sovereignty of Brittany. Eager to make peace with Aymer Taillefer, count of Angoulême, John marries 15-year-old Isabella of Angoulême at Bordeaux. In order to remarry, John needs to abandon his first wife, Isabella of Gloucester. John accomplishes this by arguing that he has failed to get the necessary papal dispensation to marry Isabella of Gloucester.

In the 1200s, the 13th century.

Geopolitics & Diplomacy

  • May 22 – The Kings John of England and Philip II of France, sign a peace treaty at Le Goulet, an island in the middle of the Seine River, near Vernon in Normandy. The agreement recognizes John as overlord of most of the English owned lands in France, but John has to give Philip the lands of Norman Vexin and Évreux and a large sum of money (some 20,000 marks) – a "relief" payment for recognition of John's sovereignty of Brittany.source

Conflict & Security

  • Temüjin (or Genghis Khan) manages to unite about half the feuding Mongol clans under his leadership. He delegates authority based on skill and loyalty, rather than tribal affiliation or family. The main rivals of the Mongol confederation are the Naimans to the west, the Merkits to the north, the Tanguts to the south and the Jin Dynasty (or Great Jin) to the east.source

Exploration & Expansion

  • February 17 – Al-Adil I, Ayyubid ruler of Damascus, Jerusalem, and parts of the Jazira takes control of Egypt, and is recognized as sultan of the Ayyubid Empire. During his reign, he promotes trade and good relations with the Crusader States. His son Al-Kamil becomes the effective ruler (viceroy) of Egypt.source

Religion & Belief

  • August 25 – Eager to make peace with Aymer Taillefer, count of Angoulême, John marries 15-year-old Isabella of Angoulême at Bordeaux. In order to remarry, John needs to abandon his first wife, Isabella of Gloucester. John accomplishes this by arguing that he has failed to get the necessary papal dispensation to marry Isabella of Gloucester.source
  • Spring – Boniface I, Marquis of Montferrat, sends envoys to Venice, Genoa and other city-states to negotiate a contract for transport to the Levant. Meanwhile, Boniface and various nobles are mustering an expeditionary army (mainly forces from France and the Holy Roman Empire) at Paris. On February 23, Baldwin IX, count of Flanders and his brother Henry of Flanders take the cross at Bruges (modern Belgium), and agree to take part in the Fourth Crusade called by Pope Innocent III (see 1199).source
  • Theobald Walter, 1st Baron Butler is thought to have founded the Abbey of Woney or Wotheny in County Limerick Ireland around this time.Irelandsource
  • John Comyn, Archbishop of Dublin, granted the church at Garristown to Llanthony PrioryIrelandsource

Crime & Justice

  • The rebel leader Ivanko is captured and executed by the Byzantine general Alexios Palaiologos (son-in-law of Emperor Alexios III Angelos).source

Culture & Society

  • November 22 – During a tour of the Midlands, John receives homage from William the Lion, king of Scotland, at Lincoln. William is looking to move into the areas of Northumberland, Cumberland, and Westmoreland. John on the other hand ensures that these areas are controlled by English nobles he can trust.source
  • The University of Paris receives its charter, from Philip II. He issues a diploma "for the security of the scholars of Paris", which affirms that students are subject only to ecclesiastical jurisdiction.source

Births

  • January 19 – Dōgen Zenji, founder of the Sōtō Zen school (died 1253)source
  • January – Theobald le Botiller, Norman nobleman and knight (died 1230)source
  • September – Philip I, French prince and nobleman (House of Capet) (died 1235)source
  • October 9 – Isabel Marshal, English countess and regent (died 1240)source
  • October 22 – Louis IV (the Saint), landgrave of Thuringia (died 1227)source
  • Alix (or Alis), Breton noblewoman (House of Thouars) (died 1221)source
  • Adam Marsh, English Franciscan scholar and theologian (died 1259)source
  • Rolandino of Padua, Italian professor, jurist and writer (died 1276)source
  • Jutta of Kulmsee, German noblewoman, hermit and saint (died 1260)source
  • Matthew Paris, English Benedictine monk and chronicler (died 1259)source
  • Ulrich von Liechtenstein, German minnesinger and poet (died 1275)source
  • Rudolf von Ems, German nobleman, knight and poet (died 1254)source
  • Ingerd Jakobsdatter, Danish noblewoman and landowner (died 1258)source
  • Chen Rong (Ch'en Jung), Chinese painter and politician (died 1266)source

Deaths