Editing 1254 (section)

== Events ==
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=== By place ===

==== Byzantine Empire ====
* [[Battle of Adrianople (1254)|Battle of Adrianople]]: Byzantine forces under Emperor [[Theodore II Laskaris]] defeat the invading Bulgarians near [[Edirne]] (Adrianople). The young and inexperienced Tsar [[Michael II Asen]] is caught by surprise and the Bulgarians suffer heavy losses. Michael is wounded during his hasty retreat through the forest.<ref>Eggenberger, David (1985). ''An Encyclopedia of Battles: Accounts of Over 1,560 Battles from 1479 BC to the Present'', p. 5. Courier Corporation. {{ISBN|978-0-486-24913-1}}.</ref>

==== Europe ====
* [[May 21]] &ndash; King [[Conrad IV of Germany|Conrad IV]], son of the late Emperor [[Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor|Frederick II]], dies of [[malaria]] at [[Lavello]] (southern [[Kingdom of Italy (Holy Roman Empire)|Italy]]). With Conrad's death a [[interregnum]] begins, during which no ruler manages to gain undisputed control of [[Kingdom of Germany|Germany]]. The 22-year-old [[Manfred, King of Sicily|Manfred]], half-brother of Conrad, refuses to surrender [[Kingdom of Sicily|Sicily]] to [[Pope Innocent IV]] and accepts the regency on behalf of Conrad's 2-year-old son [[Conradin]] ("the Younger"). 
* [[November 2]] &ndash; German forces under Manfred start an anti-papal revolt against Innocent IV and seize [[Lucera]] in the [[Tavoliere delle Puglie|Tavoliere Plains]]. He defeats the papal army at [[Foggia]] and gains the loyalty of [[Apulia]], on [[December 2]].<ref>Hywel Williams (2005). ''Cassell's Chronology of World History'', p. 142. {{ISBN|0-304-35730-8}}.</ref>
* King [[Afonso III of Portugal]] ("the Boulonnais") holds the first session of the [[Portuguese Cortes|''Cortes'']] ([[Kingdom of Portugal|Portugal]]'s general assembly composed of nobles, members of the middle class and representatives from all municipalities), in [[Leiria]].
* [[William II of Holland|William II]], anti-king of Germany, holds a diet (princely convention) at [[Worms, Germany|Worms]], in which the German cities are represented for the first time. He givee orders to build strong castles in [[Heemskerk]] and [[Haarlem]].
* Doge [[Reniero Zeno]] sends the [[Horses of Saint Mark]], looted from [[Constantinople]] during the [[Fourth Crusade]], to [[Venice]], where they are installed on the terrace of the façade of [[St Mark's Basilica|St. Mark's Basilica]].

==== England ====
* King [[Henry III of England]] grants his eldest son [[Edward I of England|the Lord Edward]] areas of land including crown lands in [[Wales]], [[Ireland]], the [[Channel Islands]] and [[Duchy of Gascony|Gascony]]. He is also given the cities of [[Bristol]], [[Stamford, Lincolnshire|Stamford]] and [[Grantham]]. The reason for these concessions is to give Edward experience of governing lands of his own before becoming a king. Edward is granted the [[Three Castles]] in Wales, [[Skenfrith Castle]], [[White Castle, Monmouthshire|White Castle]] and [[Grosmont Castle]].<ref>Prestwich, Michael (1997). ''Edward I'', pp. 11–14. The English Monarchs Series. Yale University Press. {{ISBN|978-0-300-07209-9}}.</ref>
* Summer &ndash; The Lord Edward travels from [[Portsmouth]] with his mother, Queen [[Eleanor of Provence]], and [[Boniface of Savoy (bishop)|Boniface of Savoy]], archbishop of [[Diocese of Canterbury|Canterbury]], to marry the 13-year-old [[Eleanor of Castile]], the half-sister of King [[Alfonso X of Castile]]. Henry III has demanded the marriage in exchange for ending the war with Alfonso. In August, the party arrives in [[Burgos]], capital of [[Kingdom of Castile|Castile]], where the marriage is due to take place.
* [[November 1]] &ndash; Edward marries Eleanor of Castile in the [[Cistercians|Cistercian]] monastery of [[Abbey of Santa María la Real de Las Huelgas|Las Huelgas]] at Burgos.

==== Levant ====
* [[February 21]] &ndash; King [[Louis IX of France]] ("the Saint") signs a multi-year truce with [[An-Nasir Yusuf]], Ayyubid ruler of [[Damascus]], who is well aware of a Mongol threat and has no wish for war with the [[Crusader states|Crusader States]]. 
* [[April 24]] &ndash; Louis IX and his family sail from [[Acre, Israel|Acre]] to [[France in the Middle Ages|France]]. His boat is nearly wrecked off the coast of [[Kingdom of Cyprus|Cyprus]] and later nearly destroyed by fire. In July, the royal party arrives at [[Hyères]] in [[Provence]].<ref>[[Steven Runciman]] (1952). ''A History of The Crusades. Vol III: The Kingdom of Acre'', p. 235. {{ISBN|978-0-241-29877-0}}.</ref>

==== Asia ====
* [[January 4]] &ndash; [[William of Rubruck]], Flemish missionary and explorer, is received courteously with an embassy at [[Karakorum]]. He is given an audience with [[Möngke Khan]], who is loaded with gifts and letters from Louis IX.<ref>Steven Runciman (1952). ''A History of The Crusades. Vol III: The Kingdom of Acre'', p. 248. {{ISBN|978-0-24129877-0}}.</ref>

=== By topic ===

==== Cities and Towns ====
* [[June 12]] &ndash; The Dutch city of [[Alkmaar]] obtains [[City rights in the Low Countries|city rights]] from [[William II of Holland|William II]], anti-king of Germany.<ref>{{cite book|last=Vis|first=G. N. M.|title=Oud en Arm: Hervormde bejaardenzorg in Alkmaar, 1744-1994|year=1994|publisher=Verloren|location=Hilversum|isbn=90-6550-502-4|pages=16}}</ref>
* The Danish city of [[Copenhagen]] receives its city charter from Bishop [[Jacob Erlandsen]].

==== Commerce ====
* The [[League of cities|Rhenish League]], a confederation of trading cities, is established in the [[Rhineland]], Western Germany. The league (or ''Städtebund'') comprises 59 cities.

==== Literature ====
* The Japanese classic text ''[[Kokon Chomonjū]]'' is completed during the [[Kamakura period|Kamakura Period]] under the reign of the 11-year-old [[Emperor Go-Fukakusa]].

==== Markets ====
* As part of an offensive against usury in north-western [[Europe]], Innocent IV relieves the city of [[Beauvais]] from its obligations to its creditors.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Munro|first=John H.|title=The Medieval Origins of the Financial Revolution|journal=The International History Review|year=2003|volume=15|issue=3|pages=506–562}}</ref>

==== Religion ====
* March (possible date) &ndash; The existence and name of [[purgatory]] is acknowledged by the Catholic Church.
* [[December 7]] &ndash; Innocent IV dies after a [[pontificate]] of 11 years. He is succeeded by [[Pope Alexander IV|Alexander IV]] as the 181st pope of the [[Catholic Church]].
* The construction of the [[Cathedral of Saint Martin, Utrecht|Cathedral of Saint Martin]] is initiated by [[Henry I van Vianden]], bishop of [[Prince-Bishopric of Utrecht|Utrecht]].</onlyinclude>