Editing 1254

{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2011}}
{{About year|1254}}
{{Year nav|1254}}
{{C13 year in topic}}
[[File:150 - Theodore II Laskaris (Mutinensis - color).png|upright=1.35|thumb|[[Theodore II Laskaris]], Emperor of Nicaea, 1254–1258]]
Year '''1254''' ('''[[Roman numerals|MCCLIV]]''') was a [[common year starting on Thursday]] of the [[Julian calendar]].

== Events ==
<onlyinclude>

=== 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>

== Births ==
* [[March 27]] &ndash; [[Hkun Law]], Burmese ruler of [[Hanthawaddy Kingdom|Martaban]] (d. [[1311]])
* [[May 4]] &ndash; [[Benvenuta Bojani]], Italian nun and mystic (d. [[1292]])
* [[May 13]] &ndash; [[Marie of Brabant, Queen of France|Marie of Brabant]], queen consort of [[France in the Middle Ages|France]] (d. [[1322]])
* [[June 24]] &ndash; [[Floris V, Count of Holland|Floris V]], count of [[County of Holland|Holland]] and [[County of Zeeland|Zeeland]] (d. [[1296]])
* [[September 15]] &ndash; [[Marco Polo]], Venetian explorer (d. [[1324]])
* 5 November or 6 December &ndash; [[Beatrice of Castile, Marchioness of Montferrat|Beatrice of Castile]], marchioness of [[Montferrat]] (d. [[1286]])
* [[Bengt Birgersson]], Swedish duke and bishop (d. [[1291]])
* [[Bonacossa Borri]] (or Bonaca), Italian noblewoman (d. [[1321]])
* [[Charles II of Naples]] ("the Lame"), son of Charles I of Anjou (d. [[1309]])
* [[Fujiwara no Tamekane]], Japanese official and poet (d. [[1332]])
* [[Gerhard II, Count of Holstein-Plön]] ("the Blind"), German nobleman and knight (d. [[1312]])
* [[Nijō Morotada]], Japanese nobleman and official (d. [[1341]])
* [[Osman I]], founding ruler of the [[Ottoman Empire]] (d. [[1324]])
* [[Ren Renfa]] (or Ziming), Chinese artist and politician (d. [[1327]])
* [[Roger de Mowbray, 1st Baron Mowbray|Roger de Mowbray]], English nobleman and knight (d. [[1297]])
* [[Tetsugyū Enshin]], Japanese monk and scholar (d. [[1326]])  
* [[Zhao Mengfu]], Chinese scholar and calligrapher (d. [[1322]])

== Deaths ==
* [[March 28]] &ndash; [[William de Ferrers, 5th Earl of Derby]], English nobleman (b. [[1193]])
* [[May 21]] &ndash; [[Conrad IV of Germany|Conrad IV]], king of [[Kingdom of Germany|Germany]] en [[Kingdom of Sicily|Sicily]] (b. [[1228]])<ref>{{cite web |title=Conrad IV, king of Germany |url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Conrad-IV |website=Encyclopedia Britannica |access-date=14 February 2020 |language=en}}</ref>
* [[June 3]] &ndash; [[Andrea Caccioli]], Italian friar and priest (b. [[1194]])
* [[June 8]] &ndash; [[Robert of Nantes]], Latin patriarch of [[Jerusalem]]
* [[June 17]] &ndash; [[Ingeborg Eriksdotter of Sweden|Ingeborg Eriksdotter]], Swedish princess (b. [[1212]])
* [[August 6]] &ndash; [[Hugh of Northwold]], English [[abbot]] and bishop
* [[September 25]] &ndash; [[William III de Cantilupe]], English nobleman 
* [[November 3]] 
** [[John III Doukas Vatatzes]], Byzantine emperor
** [[Manuel II of Constantinople|Manuel II]], Byzantine patriarch of [[Constantinople]]
* [[November 11]] &ndash; [[Gil Torres (cardinal)|Gil Torres]], Spanish [[archdeacon]] and cardinal
* [[December 1]] &ndash; [[Abel de Gullane]] (or Golynn), Scottish bishop
* [[December 7]] &ndash; [[Pope Innocent IV|Innocent IV]], pope of the [[Catholic Church]]
* December &ndash; [[Peter Chaceporc]], English archdeacon and ambassador
* [[Berthold of Pietengau]], German prince-bishop of [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Passau|Passau]]
* [[Faris al-Din Aktay]], Egyptian nobleman and [[emir]] (prince)
* [[Rudolf von Ems]], German knight, poet and writer (b. [[1200]])
* [[Silvester de Everdon]], English bishop and [[Lord Chancellor]]
* [[Bab Bachir]], spouse of last Abbasid caliph al-Musta'sim.

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

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