1255 CE

Battle of Montebruno: Guelph forces under Thomas II of Savoy invade the Ghibelline territory of Asti (located in the Piedmont region), but he is defeated by the Astigiani army, led by William VII, at Garzigliana (Northern Italy). Thomas retreats and takes refuge in Turin; however, he is later captured by the Ghibellines. William of Rubruck from Constantinople returns to Cyprus from his missionary journey to convert the Mongols of central and eastern Asia; his efforts have been unsuccessful. Following the death of Little Saint Hugh, in an instance of blood libel, eighteen Jews of Lincoln, are tortured and executed by royal command on suspicion of being involved in the boy's murder.

In the 1250s, the 13th century.

Geopolitics & Diplomacy

  • The lands of the House of Nassau are divided between the brothers Walram II and Otto I, not to be reunited until 1806.source
  • King Afonso III of Portugal ("the Boulonnais") moves his residence and royal court from Lisbon to Coimbra, which becomes the capital of Portugal.source

Conflict & Security

  • February 25 – Battle of Montebruno: Guelph forces under Thomas II of Savoy invade the Ghibelline territory of Asti (located in the Piedmont region), but he is defeated by the Astigiani army, led by William VII, at Garzigliana (Northern Italy). Thomas retreats and takes refuge in Turin; however, he is later captured by the Ghibellines.source
  • May – William of Rubruck from Constantinople returns to Cyprus from his missionary journey to convert the Mongols of central and eastern Asia; his efforts have been unsuccessful.source
  • June – Battle of Bryn Derwin: Llywelyn ap Gruffudd defeats his two brothers Dafydd ap Gruffydd and Owain Goch ap Gruffydd, to become sole ruler of northern Wales. Dafydd and Owain are both imprisoned.source
  • Emperor Theodore II Laskaris, who is in exile in the Empire of Nicaea, conducts a military campaign to recover Thrace from the Bulgarians.source

Exploration & Expansion

  • The Teutonic Knights in Prussia found Königsberg (modern-day Kaliningrad) and name it in honour of King Ottokar II of Bohemia.source

Religion & Belief

  • The Gothic cathedral at Bourges in central France, is completed (it will become a UNESCO World Heritage Site).source

Economy & Finance

  • Orlando Bonsignori, an Italian minor merchant, forms a consortium called the Gran Tavola ("Great Table"), which becomes the most powerful bank in western Europe. He becomes the exclusive banker for the deposits of the income of the Papal States.source

Crime & Justice

  • August – Following the death of Little Saint Hugh, in an instance of blood libel, eighteen Jews of Lincoln, are tortured and executed by royal command on suspicion of being involved in the boy's murder.source

Culture & Society

  • The town of Banská Bystrica (located in central Slovakia) is granted municipal privileges by King Béla IV of Hungary.source
  • A survey of royal privileges is conducted, which is included in the Hundred Rolls, a census seen as a follow-up to the Domesday Book (completed in 1086). The Hundred Rolls is later completed with two larger surveys, in 1274/75 and 1279/80.source

Births

  • October 23 – Fernando de la Cerda, Spanish prince (died 1275)source
  • Takaoka Muneyasu, Japanese nobleman (died 1326)source
  • Andrey of Gorodets, Kievan Grand Prince (died 1304)source
  • Albert I of Germany, Holy Roman Emperor (died 1308)source
  • Sanjar al-Jawli, Mamluk governor and ruler (died 1345)source
  • John of Paris, French theologian and writer (died 1306)source
  • Sybille of Bâgé, countess consort of Savoy (died 1294)source
  • Nicholas I, Bohemian nobleman and knight (died 1318)source
  • Bogislaw IV, Polish nobleman and knight (died 1309)source
  • Francesca da Rimini, Italian noblewoman (died 1285)source
  • Adolf of Nassau-Weilburg, king of Germany (died 1298)source
  • Margherita Colonna, Italian nun and abbess (died 1280)source
  • William Ros, Scottish nobleman and knight (died 1316)source
  • Dino Compagni, Italian historian and writer (died 1324)source

Deaths

  • May 1 – Walter de Gray, English archbishop and statesmansource
  • August 27 – Little Saint Hugh, English Jewish boy (born 1246)source
  • Eva de Braose, heiresses and wife of William de Cantilupesource
  • Carintana dalle Carceri, ruler of the Principality of Achaeasource
  • Majd al-Din ibn Taymiyyah, Seljuk judge and theologiansource
  • Muhammad III, ruler of the Nizari Ismaili State (born 1211)source
  • Al-Faqih al-Muqaddam, Yemeni religious leader (born 1178)source
  • Helena Pedersdatter Strange, queen of Sweden (born 1200)source
  • Masanari, Japanese nobleman and waka poet (born 1200)source
  • Batu Khan, Mongol ruler and founder of the Golden Hordesource
  • Shams al-Din 'Ali ibn Mas'ud, Mihrabanid ruler of Sistansource
  • Denis Türje, Hungarian nobleman and military commandersource
  • Alice de Montfort, French noblewoman and ruler (suo jure)source