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.

In the 1240s, the 13th century.

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 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
  • 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
  • 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 (died 1308)source
  • June 25 – Ibn al-Fuwati, Arab historian and writer (died 1323)source
  • Folquet de Lunel, French troubadour and writer (died 1300)source
  • Heinrich II of Virneburg, archbishop of Cologne (died 1332)source
  • Louis of France, French nobleman and regent (died 1260)source
  • Margaret of Antioch, Outremer noblewoman (died 1308)source
  • John III of Prague, margrave of Brandenburg (died 1268)source
  • Otto III (or IV), German nobleman and knight (died 1285)source
  • Hong Dagu (or Charghu), Korean military leader (died 1291)source
  • Elizabeth the Cuman, queen consort of Hungary (died 1290)source
  • Ingeborg Eriksdotter, queen consort of Norway (died 1287)source
  • Henry I (the Fat), king of Navarre (House of Blois) (died 1274)source
  • Agnes Blannbekin, Austrian Beguine and mystic (died 1315)source
  • Guy de Montfort, English nobleman and knight (died 1291)source

Deaths

  • March 1 – Gruffud ap Llywelyn, Welsh nobleman (born 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 (born 1180)source
  • October 24 – William Briwere, English bishop and diplomatsource
  • November 18 – Ibn Abi'l-Dam, Syrian historian (born 1187)source
  • December 5 – Joan, countess of Flanders and Hainautsource
  • Baldwin III, Flemish nobleman and knight (born 1198)source
  • Ralph de Neville, English archbishop and politiciansource
  • Eleanor of Castile, queen consort of Aragon (born 1200)source
  • Bouchard IV of Avesnes, French nobleman and knightsource
  • Meir Abulafia (or Ramah), Castilian rabbi and writersource
  • Yelü Chucai, Chinese advisor and statesman (born 1190)source
  • James of Pecorara, Italian monk, cardinal and diplomatsource