1222 CE

Stephen Langton, Archbishop of Canterbury in England, opens a council at Osney Abbey, Oxford. After the death of John I of Sweden on March 10, 6-year-old Erik Eriksson is elected new King of Sweden (sometime between this time and July 1223). The Golden Bull of 1222 is issued in Hungary, limiting the power of the monarchy over the nobility.

In the 1220s, the 13th century.

Geopolitics & Diplomacy

  • Chiconquiauhtzin becomes Ruler of the City-state Azcapotzalco at the Valley of Mexicosource
  • Ottokar I of Bohemia reunites Bohemia and Moravia.source

Conflict & Security

  • After the invasion and destruction of the Khwarezmian Empire in 1221, Genghis Khan returns to Mongolia, and a rebellion sparks in Helmand, to which the response is a large army led by Ögedei Khan sent into the region to put an end to the rebellion of Muhammad the Marghani, resulting in the killing of every man in Ghazni and Helmand, and the enslavement and selling of most of the women of the region.source
  • The Ghurid dynasty capital of Firozkoh (in modern-day Afghanistan) is destroyed, by Mongol Emperor Ögedei Khan.source

Exploration & Expansion

  • Livonian Crusade – The Danish fail in their attempt to conquer Saaremaa Island from the Estonians.source

Religion & Belief

  • April 17 – Stephen Langton, Archbishop of Canterbury in England, opens a council at Osney Abbey, Oxford.source
  • May 9 – Synod of Oxford – The 1222 Christian Synod of Oxford passes antisemitic laws that forbid social interactions between Jews and Christians, places a specific tithe on Jews and requires them to wear an identifying badge.source
  • The Cistercian convent in Alcobaça, Portugal, is completed.source

Crime & Justice

  • Genghis Khan’s armies were said to have killed approximately 1.6 million people in the city of Herat, in Northwestern Afghanistan.source

Climate & Environment

  • May 11 – 1222 Cyprus earthquake.source
  • December 25 – The 1222 Brescia earthquake is so powerful that the inhabitants of Brescia leave their city en masse and camp outside so that falling buildings would not crush them, according to chronicler Salimbene de Adam.source

Culture & Society

  • August – After the death of John I of Sweden on March 10, 6-year-old Erik Eriksson is elected new King of Sweden (sometime between this time and July 1223).source
  • December 15 – The Golden Bull of 1222 is issued in Hungary, limiting the power of the monarchy over the nobility.source
  • Approximate date – The Royal Standard of Scotland is adopted.source
  • Traditional date – The University of Padua is founded in Italy, by Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor.source

Births

  • February 16 – Nichiren, founder of Nichiren Buddhism (died 1282)source
  • August 4 – Richard de Clare, 6th Earl of Gloucester, English soldier (died 1262)source
  • Queen Jeongsun (Wonjong) of Korea (died 1237)source

Deaths

  • February 1 – Alexios Megas Komnenos, first Emperor of Trebizondsource
  • March 10 – Johan Sverkersson, king of Sweden since 1216 (born 1201)source
  • June 23 – Constance of Aragon, Holy Roman Empress, queen consort of Hungary (born 1179)source
  • August 2 – Raymond VI, Count of Toulouse (born 1156)source
  • August 12 – Duke Vladislaus III of Bohemiasource
  • Theodore I Lascaris, founder of the Byzantine Empire of Nicaeasource