1245 CE

Thomas, bishop of Turku (modern Finland), is granted resignation by Pope Innocent IV. He admits to committing several felonies, such as torturing and forging a papal letter. Innocent IV sends Giovanni da Pian del Carpine (accompanied by Stephen of Bohemia) to the Mongol court at Karakorum, suggesting that the Mongols convert to Christianity. Egyptian forces under As-Salih Ayyub besiege the city of Damascus. After six months, As-Salih Ismail, ruler of Damascus, surrenders to Ayyub in return for a vassal-principality, consisting of Baalbek and the Hauran. Ayyub is awarded the title of sultan by Caliph Al-Musta'sim in Baghdad.

In the 1240s, the 13th century.

Geopolitics & Diplomacy

Conflict & Security

  • April – Egyptian forces under As-Salih Ayyub besiege the city of Damascus. After six months, As-Salih Ismail, ruler of Damascus, surrenders to Ayyub in return for a vassal-principality, consisting of Baalbek and the Hauran. Ayyub is awarded the title of sultan by Caliph Al-Musta'sim in Baghdad.source
  • Winter – Siege of Jaén: Castilian forces under King Ferdinand III ("the Saint") besiege the Moorish-held city of Jaén. During the siege Moorish knights sally out and manage to capture a Castilian supply caravan. Meanwhile, Ferdinand tries to launch attacks on the various city gates, but all are ineffective.source
  • In witness of the toll taken by war and fiscal pressure in the Kingdom of Castile, the region of Segovia is described this year as depopulated and sterile.source

Religion & Belief

  • February 21 – Thomas, bishop of Turku (modern Finland), is granted resignation by Pope Innocent IV. He admits to committing several felonies, such as torturing and forging a papal letter.source
  • April 16 – Innocent IV sends Giovanni da Pian del Carpine (accompanied by Stephen of Bohemia) to the Mongol court at Karakorum, suggesting that the Mongols convert to Christianity.source
  • June 28 – First Council of Lyon: In a general church council held at Lyon, Innocent IV declares Emperor Frederick II excommunicated and deposed. He proclaims the Seventh Crusade.source
  • King Henry III starts the work of rebuilding Westminster Abbey, as a tribute to Edward the Confessor.source
  • An earthquake destroys the Cathedral of Down which was established by John de Courcy with generous endowments to the Benedictines from Chester in England in 1183.Irelandsource
  • Maurice Fitzgerald, the Lord Chief Justice of Ireland, is generally credited with the establishment of the medieval European-style town and port of Sligo, building Sligo Castle in 1245.Irelandsource

Births

  • January 16 – Edmund Crouchback, son of Henry III (died 1296)source
  • May 1 – Philip III (the Bold), king of France (died 1285)source
  • November 14 – Sang Sapurba, Indonesian ruler (died 1316)source
  • Giovanna da Signa, Italian miracle worker and saint (died 1307)source
  • Ziemomysł of Kuyavia, Polish ruler of Bydgoszcz (died 1287)source
  • Kikuchi Takefusa, Japanese nobleman and samurai (died 1285)source
  • Araniko (or Anige), Nepalese architect and painter (died 1306)source
  • Rinaldo da Concorezzo, Italian priest and archbishop (died 1321)source
  • Kunigunda of Halych, queen consort of Bohemia (died 1285)source
  • Thomas de Berkeley (the Wise), English nobleman (died 1321)source
  • Eric of Brandenburg, archbishop of Magdeburg (died 1295)source
  • Antony Bek (or Beck), English bishop and patriarch (died 1311)source
  • Roger Bigod, English nobleman and Lord Marshal (died 1306)source
  • Yahballaha III, patriarch of the Church of the East (died 1317)source

Deaths

  • January 27 – Ralph of Maidstone, bishop of Herefordsource
  • January 28 – Giovanni Colonna, Italian cardinal (born 1170)source
  • February 8 – John of la Rochelle, French theologian (born 1200)source
  • February 15 – Baldwin de Redvers, English nobleman (born 1217)source
  • March 22 – Roger I of Fézensaguet, French nobleman (born 1190)source
  • July 22 – Kolbeinn ungi Arnórsson, Icelandic chieftain (born 1208)source
  • August 19 – Ramon Berenguer IV, Spanish nobleman (born 1198)source
  • August 21 – Alexander of Hales, English theologian (born 1185)source
  • November 27 – Walter Marshal, English nobleman (born 1209)source
  • December 4 – Christian of Oliva, bishop of Prussia (born 1180)source
  • Cletus Bél, Hungarian prelate, bishop and chancellorsource
  • Rusudan of Georgia, queen consort of Georgia (born 1194)source
  • Ibn al-Salah, Syrian scholar, imam and writer (born 1181)source
  • Guillaume le Vinier, French composer and poet (born 1190)source