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. By charter of Henry III of England, Maud de Lacy, Baroness Geneville and her husband Geoffrey de Geneville, 1st Baron Geneville, are granted rights in the lands in the eastern part of the Lordship of Meath surrounding Trim Castle which previously belonged to her grandfather, Walter de Lacy. Christopher I of Denmark is crowned King of Denmark, in the Lund Cathedral.

In the 1250s, the 13th century.

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

  • 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

  • 8 August – by charter of Henry III of England, Maud de Lacy, Baroness Geneville and her husband Geoffrey de Geneville, 1st Baron Geneville, are granted rights in the lands in the eastern part of the Lordship of Meath surrounding Trim Castle which previously belonged to her grandfather, Walter de Lacy.Irelandsource
  • The classic Japanese text Jikkunsho is completed.source

Births

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

Deaths