Summer – Emperor
Frederick II assembles an expeditionary force (some 15,000 men) to crush the rebellious
Lombard League. He crosses the
Alps to
Verona – where he is joined by Lord
Ezzelino III da Romano, including troops from
Brescia,
Vicenza,
Padua and
Treviso. Frederick relies on his allies for support and in doing so, he provokes the opposition of earlier supporters, such as the
House of Este, which now sides with the Lombards.
November 27 –
Battle of Cortenuova: Frederick II defeats the forces of the Lombard League; about 5,000 Lombards are captured. Frederick makes a triumphal entry into the allied city of
Cremona in the manner of an ancient
Roman emperor, with the captured carroccio (later sent to the commune of
Rome), and an elephant. During the winter campaign, Frederick captures the
Piedmontese cities of
Lodi,
Novara,
Vercelli,
Chieri, and
Savona.[1]
December 16–
21 –
Siege of Ryazan: The Mongols under Batu Khan lay siege to Ryazan. The townspeople repel the first Mongol attacks but after 5 days the city walls are breached by Chinese catapults. On
December 21, the Mongols storm the walls and plunder the capital, killing Yuri Igorevich and all inhabitants. Yuri II of Vladimir stands by and does nothing to intervene while Ryazan burns.
December –
Siege of Kolomna: Rus' forces under Yuri II of Vladimir are besieged and annihilated at Kolomna by the Mongols. Yuri barely escapes to
Yaroslavl. The defenceless capital of Vladimir is taken after just 2 days. Yuri's wife Agatha (sister of
Michael of Chernigov) and all his family die in Vladimir when a church where they have sought refuge from the fire collapses.
Levant
Spring –
Al-Ashraf Musa, Ayyubid ruler of
Damascus, assembles his allies and secures his active support of
Kayqubad I, Sejuk ruler of the
Sultanate of Rum. A civil war seems inevitable when Kayqubad is poisoned during a feast at
Kayseri, on
May 31.[4] Meanwhile, the Seljuks strengthen the fortresses in the eastern provinces against the Mongols.
August 27 – Al-Ashraf becomes dangerously ill and dies after an 8-year reign. He is succeeded by his brother
As-Salih Ismail – who defends Damascus against his elder brother
Al-Kamil, Ayyubid ruler of
Egypt. In October, Ismail has the suburbs burnt to prevent the Egyptian forces from shelter.[5]
Elbląg is founded by the Teutonic Order under Grand Master
Hermann von Balk. He constructs a fortified stronghold on the banks of the
Elbląg River (modern
Poland).