1206

Temüjin becomes Genghis Khan of the Mongol Empire

EventsEdit

January 31 – Battle of Rusion: The Bulgarian forces (some 7,000 men), under Tsar Kaloyan, defeat the remnants of the Latin army, near the fortress of Rusion in Thrace. Around 120 knights, supported by soldiers and cavalry, are killed in battle or captured.
February – The Bulgarians attack and loot the fortified town of Rodosto (see Battle of Rodosto), defended by a Venetian garrison. Later, Kaloyan captures many more towns and fortresses.<ref>Setton, Kenneth M. (1989). A History of the Crusades, Volume VI: The Impact of the Crusades on Europe, p. 436. Madison and London: University of Wisconsin Press. Template:ISBN.</ref>
August 20 – Henry of Flanders is crowned as the second emperor of the Latin Empire, in the Hagia Sophia at Constantinople, after hearing of the death of his brother, Emperor Baldwin I, who has died in prison at Baldwin's Tower in Tsarevets Castle, in Veliko Tarnovo (after being captured by the Bulgarians in 1205). Upon Henry's ascension as Latin emperor, the Lombard nobles of the Kingdom of Thessalonica refuse to give him allegiance.<ref>Nicol, Donald M. (2002). The Last Centuries of Byzantium (1261–1453), p. 12. Cambridge University Press.</ref>

Temüjin assembles at a Kurultai, a council of chiefs of the Mongol tribes under his rule, and is elected as their leader. He is given the title of Genghis Khan of the Mongol people – founding the Mongol Empire. Genghis takes immediate steps to underpin his military command, starting with a fundamental reordering of tribal loyalties. United under one nomadic nation, under one banner and one authority.<ref>Andrew Roberts (2011). Great Commanders of the Medieval World (454–1582): Genghis Khan, p. 146–147. Template:ISBN.</ref>
Muqali (or Mukhali), a Mongol general in service of Genghis Khan, is rewarded with the command of the left-wing of the newly reorganized Mongol army and takes control over the eastern Mingghans.<ref>Hope, Michael (2016). Power, Politics, and Tradition in the Mongol Empire and the Īlkhānate of Iran, p. 36. Oxford University Press. Template:ISBN.</ref>
March 15 – Sultan Muhammad of Ghor is murdered and succeeded by Qutb al-Din Aibak, his deputy in India, who founds the Mamluk Dynasty, the first dynasty of the Delhi Sultanate.<ref>Hywel Williams (2005). Cassell's Chronology of World History, p. 133. Template:ISBN.</ref>

King Valdemar II ("the Conqueror") and Archbishop Andreas Sunonis raid Saaremaa Island (modern Estonia), forcing the islanders to submit. The Danes build a fortress, but finding no volunteers to man it, they burn it down themselves and leave the island.
The Livonian Brothers of the Sword, in alliance with the Semigallians, conquer the Livonians (or Livs).

June – John, King of England ("Lackland") lands an expeditionary army at La Rochelle to defend his interests in Aquitaine, which is his from the inheritance from his mother, Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine. Meanwhile, French forces led by King Philip II ("Augustus") move south to meet John. The year's campaign ends in a stalemate and a two-year truce is made between the two rulers.<ref>Turner, Ralph V. (2009). King John: England's Evil King?, pp. 107–108. Stroud, UK: History Press. Template:ISBN.</ref>

Sugar, an import from the Muslim world, is mentioned for the first time in a royal English account. Almonds, cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg are also imported for royal banquets.<ref name="King John">Template:Cite book</ref>

A peasant named Thurkhill in England claims that Saint Julian took him on a tour of Purgatory. Thurkhill includes realistic touches of descriptions of Purgatory's torture chambers. This is also believed by Roger of Wendover, one of his society's leading historians.<ref name="King John" />
December – The monks of Canterbury want their own sub-prior Reginald for the post of archbishop, while King John chooses John de Gray. Pope Innocent III appoints Stephen Langton. Finally, the monks accept the Pope's decision and vote for Langton.

The Arab engineer Ismail al-Jazari describes many mechanical inventions in his book (title translated to English) The Book of Knowledge of Ingenious Mechanical Devices.

c.March 19 – Güyük Khan (or Kuyuk), Mongol emperor (d. 1248)
April 7 – Otto II, German nobleman (d. 1253)
unknown dates
- Béla IV, king of Hungary and Croatia (d. 1270)<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
- Hong Pok-wŏn, Korean general and official (d. 1258)<ref>Oleg Pirozhenko, 'Political Trends of Hong Bog Won Clan in the Period of Mongol Domination', International Journal of Korean History, Vol. 9 (2005); available at http://ijkh.khistory.org/journal/view.php?number=469; English translation here: http://ijkh.khistory.org/upload/pdf/9-08_oleg%20pirozhenko.pdf</ref>
- Yaghmurasen ibn Zyan, Zayyanid ruler (d. 1283)<ref>a et b Ibn Khaldoun, Histoire des Berbères et des dynasties musulmanes de l'Afrique septentrionale, traduction du baron de Slane (tome III), Ed. Imprimerie du Gouvernement (Alger), 1856 (read online)</ref>
approximate dates
- Margaret de Quincy, English noblewoman (d. 1266)<ref>Wilkinson, Louise J. (2000) "Pawn and Political Player: Observations on the Life of a Thirteenth-Century Countess" Historical Research Vol. 73 No. 181, pp. 105-123.</ref>
- Sheikh Edebali, Ottoman religious leader (d. 1326)<ref>Template:TDV Encyclopedia of Islam</ref>

February 4 – Theobald Walter, Norman High Sheriff (b. 1165)
March 5 – Thietmar of Minden (or Dietmar), German bishop
April 5 – Ottaviano di Paoli, Italian cardinal-bishop and diplomat<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
April 7 – Frederick I, German nobleman (House of Lorraine)
April 16 – Kujō Yoshitsune, Japanese nobleman (b. 1169)
April 23 – Suero Rodríguez, Spanish knight and Grand Master
June 4 – Adela of Champagne, queen of France (b. 1140)
unknown dates
- Artaldus (or Arthaud), French priest and bishop (b. 1101)<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
- Harald Maddadsson, Norwegian nobleman (b. 1134)<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> 9
- Huan Zong, Chinese emperor of Western Xia (b. 1177)<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
- Ismail al-Jazari, Artuqid polymath and inventor (b. 1136)<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>
- Muhammad of Ghor, ruler of the Ghurid Empire (b. 1149)<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
- William de Burgh, English nobleman (House of Burke)<ref>B. Smith, "Burgh, Richard de (died 1243)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. online edition, Oxford University Press, (2004), [author states, "Burgh, Richard de (d. 1243), justiciar of Ireland, was the son of William de Burgh (d. 1206)".].</ref>
- Yang Wanli, Chinese politician and poet (b. 1127)<ref>Template:Cite thesis</ref>