1257 CE

Izz al-Din Aybak, Mamluk sultan of Egypt, is murdered on orders of his wife, Shajar al-Durr. He is succeeded by his 14-year-old son, Nur al-Din Ali, as ruler of the Mamluk Sultanate (until 1259). The city of Kraków is granted Magdeburg rights by High Duke Bolesław V the Chaste, having been rebuilt after being nearly destroyed during the First Mongol invasion of Poland (but Second invasion comes in 1259). Samalas eruption: Mount Samalas volcano erupts on Lombok Island, Indonesia. One of the largest volcanic eruptions in the past 10,000 years, it creates severe climatic changes across the globe, leading to severe famine and death, and to one of the biggest geopolitical changes across the globe over the next few centuries.

In the 1250s, the 13th century.

Conflict & Security

  • March – The Japanese Kōgen era ends and the Shōka begins during the reign of the 14-year-old Emperor Go-Fukakusa (until 1259).source
  • June 5 – The city of Kraków is granted Magdeburg rights by High Duke Bolesław V the Chaste, having been rebuilt after being nearly destroyed during the First Mongol invasion of Poland (but Second invasion comes in 1259).source
  • Spring – Mongol forces under Uriyangkhadai conduct a campaign against local Yi and Lolo tribes in Vietnam. He returns to Gansu and sends messengers to the court of Möngke Khan informing him that Yunnan is firmly under Mongolian control. Möngke Khan honors and rewards Uriyangkhadai for his military achievements.source
  • Battle of Cadfan: An English expeditionary army under Stephen Bauzan is ambushed and defeated by Welsh forces. The English are decimated by devastating guerilla attacks and the Welsh capture the English supply train. Stephen Bauzan is killed along with some 1,000–3,000 of his men. The remaining English flee the battle, Prince Llywelyn ap Gruffudd is said to have been present at the battle, collecting spoils from the fallen English army. According to sources, it is one of the greatest victories of a Welsh army in the field against a much more powerful English force.source
  • Venetian–Genoese Wars: The Venetian fleet under Admiral Lorenzo Tiepolo breaks through the harbour chain at Acre and destroys several Genoese ships. He also attacks the fortifications but Tiepolo is unable to expel the Genoese garrison (some 800 men strong and armed with 50–60 ballistae), from their quarter of the city throwing up a blockade.source
  • Battle of Creadran Cille: Norman invading forces under Maurice FitzGerald are driven out by Gofraid O'Donnell in northern Connacht (Ireland). On May 20, FitzGerald is killed in personal combat by O'Donnell.source
  • Winter – Mongol forces move down from their base at Hamadan, while Baiju Noyan crosses the river Tigris at Mosul with his army. On the left-wing Kitbuqa enters the plain of Iraq, while Mongol forces under Hulagu Khan advance through Kermanshah.source
  • Spring – The Epirote–Nicaean conflict (1257–59) begins between the Despotate of Epirus and the Empire of Nicaea. Despot Michael II Komnenos Doukas revolts and defeats the Nicaean army under George Akropolites. The Epirote and Serbian forces join their attacks against Michael, who sends his forces into Macedonia and marches on to Thessalonica. In response, Michael is attacked – on the west coast of Epirus – by Manfred of Sicily. Manfred first occupies the major Ionian Islands, including Corfu. Then he lands on the Albanian coast and takes Durazzo, Berat, Valona and their environs.source
  • Normans in Thomond were defeated by Conor O’Brien and his son, Tadhg.Irelandsource

Exploration & Expansion

  • The pagan Karelians start a destructive expedition to Sweden in which King Valdemar requests Alexander IV to declare a crusade against them. This leads to the Third Swedish Crusade to Finland (1293–95).source

Religion & Belief

  • January 13 – At the first recorded meeting of the college of the seven Electors of the Holy Roman Empire, the 48-year-old Richard of Cornwall (the brother of King Henry III of England) is elected King of the Romans. He is crowned at Aachen, on May 17. His candidacy is opposed by King Alfonso X of Castile ("the Wise"), Pope Alexander IV and King Louis IX of France ("the Saint") who favour Alfonso, but both are ultimately convinced by Richard's sister-in-law, Queen Eleanor of Provence, to support Richard.source

Economy & Finance

  • Henry III of England orders the production of a pure gold penny coin with a value of twenty pence. Unfortunately, the bullion value of the coins is about 20% higher than the nominal face value, leading to poor circulation, as coins are melted down by individuals for their gold content.source

Crime & Justice

  • Egyptian judge Ibn bint al-A'azz appointed Vizier of Egypt for a second term.source

Climate & Environment

  • Samalas eruption: Mount Samalas volcano erupts on Lombok Island, Indonesia. One of the largest volcanic eruptions in the past 10,000 years, it creates severe climatic changes across the globe, leading to severe famine and death, and to one of the biggest geopolitical changes across the globe over the next few centuries.source

Culture & Society

  • Matthew Paris, English monk and chronicler, personally interviews Henry III for an entire week while compiling his major work of English history, Chronica Majora.source
  • Louis IX of France ("the Saint") confirms the foundation by his chaplain Robert de Sorbon of the College of Sorbonne in Paris, giving a formal college (and still-common name) to the already existing University of Paris.source

Births

  • March 24 – Yolanda of Lusignan, French noblewoman (died 1314)source
  • August 15 – Muhammad III, ruler of Granada (died 1314)source
  • October 14 – Przemysł II, king of Poland (died 1296)source
  • Parsoma ("the Naked"), Egyptian Coptic hermit (died 1317)source
  • Beatrice of Burgundy, Lady of Bourbon, French noblewoman (died 1310)source
  • Philip III of Falkenstein, count of Münzenberg (died 1322)source
  • c. June 24 – Robert de Vere, 6th Earl of Oxford, English nobleman and knight (died 1331)source
  • Malise III, Earl of Strathearn, Scottish nobleman (died 1312)source
  • William Russell, English nobleman and knight (died 1311)source
  • Agnes of Brandenburg, queen consort of Denmark (died 1304)source
  • Frederick I, Margrave of Meissen ("the Brave"), German nobleman (died 1323)source

Deaths

  • April 10 – Izz al-Din Aybak, Mamluk sultan of Egypt, is murdered on orders of his wife, Shajar al-Durr. He is succeeded by his 14-year-old son, Nur al-Din Ali, as ruler of the Mamluk Sultanate (until 1259).source
  • April 10 – Aybak, ruler of the Mamluk Sultanatesource
  • April 26 – Euphemia de Walliers, English nun and abbesssource
  • May 3 – Katherine of England, English princess (born 1253)source
  • May 5 – Haakon the Young, junior king of Norway (born 1232)source
  • May 17 – Ch'oe Hang, Korean general and dictator (born 1209)source
  • May 20 – Maurice FitzGerald, 2nd Lord of Offaly, Norman Irish nobleman and knight, killed in combatsource
  • June 4 – Przemysł I, Polish nobleman and co-ruler (born 1221)source
  • June 8 – Simon of Elmham, English prior and bishop-electsource
  • July 29 – Matilda I (or Mathilde de Courtenay), countess in her own right of Nevers, Auxerre and Tonnerre (born 1188)source
  • August 15 – Hyacinth of Poland, Polish missionary (born 1185)source
  • December 24 – John of Avesnes, count of Hainaut (born 1218)source
  • December 26 – Richard Blund (or Blundy), English bishopsource
  • Lanfranc Cigala (or Cicala), Genoese nobleman and knightsource
  • Death of Maurice Fitzgerald; his lordship of Sligo ravaged by Godfrey O’Donnell, king of Tir Conaill.Irelandsource
  • Maurice FitzGerald, 2nd Lord of Offaly and founder of the Franciscan Friary of South Abbey, Youghal was founded in 1224Irelandsource