July – The Crusaders, led by the
Knights Hospitaller, raid
Burlus, located in the
Nile Delta in
Egypt. The town is pillaged, but the knights are ambushed on their return, and several Hospitallers, including Grand Master
Guérin de Montaigu, are captured. Meanwhile, Sultan
Al-Kamil sends an Egyptian squadron down the
Rosetta branch of the
Nile. It sails to
Cyprus, where it finds a Crusader fleet lying off
Limassol. During the attack, they sink and capture all the ships, taking many thousands of prisoners.[1]
Summer – The Crusader army is trapped by a Nile flood at
Damietta. Cardinal
Pelagius sends a Venetian squadron to intercept the Egyptian fleet, and attacks the harbours of Rosetta and
Alexandria, but to no effect. Lack of money prevents Pelagius from building a sufficient number of ships, and the papal treasury can not spare him anymore. In September more of the Crusaders return home.[2]
Mongol Empire
Spring – The Mongol army (some 100,000 men) led by
Genghis Khan crosses the
Kyzylkum Desert – a freezing sand-and-tussock wilderness of some 450 kilometers – towards
Bukhara. Meanwhile,
Muhammad II, ruler of the
Khwarazmian Empire, prepares a strong defense around his capital
Samarkand. In February, Genghis approaches Bukhara, which is defended by a garrison of some 20,000 men, and begins the
Siege of Bukhara. The city leaders open the gates to the Mongols, but Turkish forces who defend the city's citadel hold out for another twelve days.[3] In a speech at the city's Friday Mosque, Genghis declares "I am the punishment of God."[4]
March – Mongol forces led by Genghis Khan besiege Samarkand, the city is defended by some 40,000 men, including a brigade of 20 war elephants. On the third day, the garrison launches a counter-attack, the defenders sent out their elephants, which panic, turn and trample their own men before escaping onto the open plain. Muhammad II attempts to relieve Samarkand twice but is driven back. After a week, the remainder of the garrison surrenders. The city's inhabitants, numbering some 100,000 are enslaved or slaughtered.[5]
Summer – Muhammad II flees westwards across northern
Iran, hoping to find safety in the rugged and isolated region of
Mazandaran on the southern coast of the
Caspian Sea. He is pursued by 20,000 Mongol forces led by
Subutai and
Jebe (the Arrow). Abandoned by the remnants of his panic-stricken troops, Muhammad seeks shelter on a small island near
Astara. There he dies of
pleurisy some weeks later. He is succeeded by his son
Jalal al-Din Mangburni, who is forced to flee to
India after the
Mongol invasion (see
1219).[6]
Autumn – Genghis Khan moves against the wealthy city of
Urgench. He is joined by his eldest son
Jochi, now conqueror of half a dozen lesser towns who attacks it from the north. Despite a stout defense, the city is taken after a 5-months siege. The Mongols have to fight for Urgench street by street, razing many houses. Jochi is given the right to loot the city for himself, but prefers to negotiate with the locals to avoid property damage. This is refused by Genghis, who removes Jochi from command and appoints
Ögedei instead.[7]
November – Genghis Khan dispatches his youngest son
Tolui, at the head of an army (around 50,000 men), into the Khwarazmian province of
Khorasan. His forces also include 300 catapults, 700
mangonels to discharge pots filled with
naphtha, 4,000 storming-ladders, and 2,500 sacks of earth for filling up moats. Among the first cities to fall is
Termez (captured after a two-day siege) and later
Balkh.[8]
United Kingdom
Spring – King
Henry III makes large alterations to the
Tower of London including new curtain walls, an improved water-filled ditch, and a water gate, so that he can enter the castle directly from the
Thames.
May 17 – The 12-year-old Henry III is crowned at
Westminster Abbey. He is reminded of his duties as king to maintain peace, defend the rights of the English crown, and the barons swear an oath of fealty.
August 8 –
Battle of Lihula: Estonian forces encircle the
Lihula stronghold, occupied by an invading Swedish Crusader army. The Swedish troops along with
Charles the Deaf try to make their way out, but they are killed.