1212 e.v.

## Africa

Abu al-Abbas al-Jarawi, Moroccan poet and writer, dies.

## Asia

Kamo no Chōmei, a Japanese poet and essayist, writes the *Hōjōki*, one of the great works of classical Japanese prose.

Isabella II, queen and regent of Jerusalem, is born (will die in 1228). Maria of Montferrat, queen of Jerusalem, dies (will be born in 1192). Walter of Montbéliard, constable of Jerusalem, dies.

Anna Komnene Angelina, Nicene empress, dies (was born in 1176). David Komnenos, emperor of Trebizond, dies (was born in 1184)

Ghiyath al-Din Mahmud, ruler of the Ghurid Empire

### February 29

Hōnen, Japanese Buddhist reformer, dies (was born in 1133)

### March 22

Go-Horikawa, emperor of Japan, is born (will die in 1234)

### July 9

Muiz ud-Din Bahram, Indian ruler, is born (will die in 1242)

### August 26

Michael IV, patriarch of Constantinople, dies.

### Autumn

Genghis Khan invades Jin territory and besieges Datong. During the assault, he is wounded by an arrow in his knee and orders a withdrawal for rest and relaxation.

## Europe

King John (Lackland) impounds the revenue of all prelates appointed by bishops, who have deserted him at his excommunication. He remains on good terms, however, with churchmen who stood by him, including Abbot Sampson, who this year bequeaths John his jewels. Henry de Longchamp, English High Sheriff, dies (was born in 1150). Robert of Shrewsbury, English cleric and bishop, dies.

The Children's Crusade is organized. There are probably two separate movements of young people, both led by shepherd boys, neither of which embark for the Holy Land ~ but both of which suffer considerable hardship. This prompts Christopher being named angel of Children, if only to shut up the demons of Kobal.

The Teutonic Order builds Bran Castle (or Dietrichstein) in the Burzenland (modern Romania) as a fortified position at the entrance of a mountain pass through which traders can travel. The Teutonic Knights built another five castles, some of them made of stone. Their rapid expansion in Hungary makes the nobility and clergy, who are previously uninterested in those regions, jealous and suspicious.

Abu al-Hasan al-Shushtari, Andalusian poet, is born (will die in 1269). Ibn Sahl of Seville, Almohad poet and writer, is born (will die in 1251). Guillem de Cabestany, Spanish troubadour, dies (was born in 1162)

The contemplative Order of Poor Clares is founded by Clare of Assisi. Farinata degli Uberti, Italian military leader, is born (will die in 1264). Malatesta da Verucchio, Italian nobleman, is born (will die in 1312). Zita (or Sitha), Italian maid and saint, is born (will die in 1272). Azzo VI of Este (or Azzolino), Italian nobleman, dies (will be born in 1170)

Maria of Chernigov, Kievan Rus' princess, is born (will die in 1271)

Yolande of Dreux, French noblewoman, is born (will die in 1248). Baldwin of Béthune, French nobleman and knight, dies. Peter de Preaux, Norman nobleman and knight, dies. Robert of Auxerre, French chronicler and writer, dies.

### February 2

Bernhard III, German nobleman, dies (was born in 1140)

### Spring

After the fall of Argos the Crusaders complete their conquest of the Morea in southern Greece. The city, along with Nauplia, is given to Otho de la Roche, a Burgundian nobleman, as a fief, along with an income of 400 hyperpyron from Corinth. Meanwhile, the Venetians conquer Crete and evict Enrico Pescatore, a Genoese adventurer and pirate, active in the Mediterranean.

#### Early

Nicholas leads a group from the Rhineland and crosses the Alps into Italy.

### April

#### 6th

Bertram of Metz (or Berthold), German bishop, dies.

#### 15th

Vsevolod III, Grand Prince of Kiev, dies (was born in 1154)

### May

#### 6th

Constance, margravine of Meissen, is born (will die in 1243)

#### 24th

Dagmar of Bohemia, queen of Denmark, dies.

### June

The 12-year-old Stephen of Cloyes leads a group across France to Vendôme, attracting a following of over 30,000 adults and children. After arriving in Marseilles the vast majority returns home to their families.

### July

#### 10th

**The Great Fire:** The most severe of several early fires of London burns most of the city to the ground; over 3,000 people die, many of them by drowning in the River Thames. According to a contemporary account: "An awful fire broke out on the Southwark side of London Bridge; while it was raging, a fire broke out at the other end also and so hemmed in the numerous crowds who had assembled to help the distressed. The sufferers, to avoid the flames, threw themselves over the bridge into boats and barges; but many of these sunk, the people crowding into them.".

#### 15th

John I (or Johann), German archbishop, dies.

#### 16th

William de Brus, Scottish lord of Annandale, dies.

**Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa:** The Christian forces of King Alfonso VIII (the Noble) decisively defeat the Almohad army (some 30,000 men) led by Caliph Muhammad al-Nasir. The victory gives a further impulse to the Reconquista but this leaves the Kingdom of Castile in a difficult financial position, as numerous soldiers have to be paid by the treasury.

### August

Nicholas arrives with some 7,000 children in Genoa. Nicholas travels to the Papal States where he meets Pope Innocent III.

#### 11th

Beatrice, Holy Roman Empress, dies (was born in 1198)

### September 19

Henry fitz Ailwin, Lord Mayor of London, dies.

### October

#### 9th

Philip I (the Noble), Flemish nobleman, dies.

#### 25th

John Comyn, English archbishop, dies (was born in 1150)

### November 4

Felix of Valois, French hermit, dies (was born in 1127)

### December

#### 5th

Dirk van Are, bishop and lord of Utrecht, dies.

### December

#### 9th

The 18-year-old Frederick II is crowned King of the Germans at Mainz. Frederick's authority in Germany remains tenuous, and he is recognized only in southern Germany. In the region of northern Germany, the center of Guelph power, his rival Otto IV continues to hold the imperial power despite his excommunication.

#### 12th

Geoffrey, archbishop of York, dies (will be born in 1152)

#### 14th

Matilda de Bailleul, Flemish abbess, dies.