Editing 1303

{{About year|1303}}
{{Year nav|1303}}[[File:Entrada de Roger de Flor en Constantinopla (Palacio del Senado de España).jpg|upright=1.35|thumb|[[Roger de Flor]] arrives in [[Constantinople]] by [[José Moreno Carbonero]] (1888).]]
{{C14 year in topic}} 
Year '''1303''' ('''[[Roman numerals|MCCCIII]]''') was a [[common year starting on Tuesday]] of the [[Julian calendar]].

== Events ==
===January&ndash;March===
* [[January 17]] &ndash; A major earthquake strikes [[Byzantium]] and [[Constantinople]] (now [[Istanbul]] in Turkey). Byzantine Emperor [[Michael IX Palaiologos]] spreads the word that the former Patriarch of the Eastern Church, [[Athanasius I of Constantinople|Athanasius I]] had given him a warning about the imminent wrath of God against the city.<ref name=Nicol>Donald M. Nicol, ''The Last Centuries of Byzantium, 1261-1453'' (Cambridge University Press, 1993) p.103</ref>
* [[January 21]] &ndash; [[John XII of Constantinople|John XII]] is forced to resign as Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople and leader of the Eastern Orthodox Church after the January 17 earthquake.<ref name=Nicol/> 
* [[January 28]] &ndash; In India, the [[Siege of Chittorgarh (1303)|siege of Chittorgarh]], capital of the [[Medapata]] Kingdom (now in the state of Rajasthan), begins as the [[Delhi Sultanate|Sultan of Delhi]], [[Alauddin Khalji]], seeks to acquire the territory of the Medapata Emperor, [[Ratnasimha]].<ref name=Banarsi>"The Khaljis: Alauddin Khalji", by Banarsi Prasad Saksena, in ''A Comprehensive History of India: The Delhi Sultanat (A.D. 1206–1526)'', ed. by Mohammad Habib and Khaliq Ahmad Nizami (People's Publishing House, 1970) p. 367</ref>
* [[February 24]] &ndash; [[Battle of Roslin]]: Scottish forces (some 8,000 men) led by [[John Comyn III of Badenoch|John Comyn III "the Red"]] and [[Simon Fraser (died 1306)|Simon Fraser]] ambush and defeat an English scouting party under [[John Segrave, 2nd Baron Segrave|John Segrave]] at [[Roslin, Midlothian|Roslin]]. During the battle, the Scots attack the English camp, capturing Segrave and several other nobles. But a second English brigade manages to rescue Segrave in a pitched battle. Later, the English army is again defeated, according to sources they lose between 28,000 and 30,000 men.<ref>Sadler, John (2005). ''Border Fury: England and Scotland at War, 1296–1568'', p. 86. Harlow: Pearson Education. {{ISBN|978-0-582-77293-9}}.</ref>
* [[March 17]] &ndash; [[Joan II, Countess of Burgundy|Joan II]] of the [[Anscarids]] becomes the Countess and ruler of [[County of Burgundy|Burgundy]], a free state within the [[Holy Roman Empire]] (now the département of Jura in France), upon the death of her father [[Otto IV, Count of Burgundy|Otto IV]].

===April&ndash;June===
* [[April 4]] &ndash; [[Battle of Arques (1303)|Battle of Arques]]: Flemish forces (some 10,000 men) led by [[William of Jülich]] ("the Younger") defeats a French army at [[Arques, Pas-de-Calais|Arques]] in [[County of Flanders|Flanders]]. During the battle, the French cavalry (1,600 men) tries to break the Flemish infantry militia formations, but to no avail. Finally, the French withdraw to [[Saint-Omer]], leaving 300 dead behind. Later, William receives a warm reception in [[Bruges]] as a liberator in May.<ref>Verbruggen, J. F. (1997). ''The Art of Warfare in Western Europe During the Middle Ages: From the Eighth Century to 1340'', p. 197. Suffolk: Boydell Press. {{ISBN|0-85115-630-4}}.</ref>
* [[April 20]] &ndash; Pope [[Pope Boniface VIII|Boniface VIII]] founds the [[Sapienza University of Rome|University of Rome]] with the papal bull ''In Supremae praeminentia Dignitatis'', as a ''Studium'' for ecclesiastical studies under his control, making it the first pontifical university.
* [[April 22]] &ndash; [[Battle of Marj al-Saffar (1303)|Battle of Marj al-Saffar]]: Mamluk forces (some 20,000 men) under Sultan [[Al-Nasir Muhammad]] defeat a Mongol army and their Armenian allies led by [[Qutlugh-Shah]], on the plain of [[Marj al-Saffar]]. After the battle, Al-Nasir enters [[Damascus]] and chases the Mongols as far as [[Al-Qaryatayn]] in [[Syria]]. He returns to [[Cairo]] in triumph through the [[Bab al-Nasr (Cairo)|Bab al-Nasr]] ("Victory Gate") with chained prisoners of war.<ref>Waterson, James (2007). ''The Knights of Islam: The Wars of the Mamluks'', p. 210. Greenhill Books. {{ISBN|978-1-85367-734-2}}.</ref>
* [[May 16]] &ndash; King Edward I of England assembles 7,500 troops at [[Roxburgh]] to prepare for a resumption of his campaign against the [[Kingdom of Scotland]], to begin after concluding peace between England and France.<ref>Jeffrey Hamilton, ''The Plantagenets: History of a Dynasty'' (Bloomsbury Publishing, 2010) p.79</ref> In advance of the invasion, Edward orders that three pre-fabricated pontoon bridges be built and transported, in a fleet of 27 ships. After crossing into Scotland, Edward and his soldiers burns hamlet and towns, granges and granaries. Meanwhile, [[Richard Óg de Burgh, 2nd Earl of Ulster|Richard Óg de Burgh, "the Red Earl"]] with forces from [[Ireland]] capture the castles of [[Rothesay Castle|Rothesay]] and [[Ardgowan Castle|Inverkip]].<ref>Armstrong, Pete (2003). Osprey: ''Stirling Bridge & Falkirk 1297–1298'', pp. 86–87. {{ISBN|1-84176-510-4}}.</ref>
* [[May 20]] &ndash; [[Treaty of Paris (1303)|Treaty of Paris]]: King [[Philip IV of France|Philip the Fair]] of [[France]] signs a peace treaty with [[Edward I of England|Edward Longshanks, King of England]]. According to the terms of the treaty, [[Gascony]] is restored to [[Kingdom of England|England]] – as well as the cities of [[Bordeaux]] and [[Bayonne]]. In return, Edward swears allegiance to Philip as his vassal and agrees that Philipp's daughter, [[Isabella of France]], be married to his son [[Edward II of England|Edward of Caernarfon]], until she is old enough.
* [[May 26]] &ndash; [[Elizabeth Richeza of Poland|Elizabeth Richeza]], 14-year-old daughter of the late [[Przemysł II|King Przemysl II]] of Poland, marries her father's former rival and the new King of Poland, [[Wenceslaus II of Bohemia|King Wenceslaus II of Bohemia]]. The marriage takes place at the [[Prague Cathedral]] in Bohemia (now in the [[Czech Republic]], and Elizabeth is crowned as Queen Consort of Bohemia.
* [[May 31]] &ndash; [[Pope Boniface VIII]] orders the nullification of the election of Wenceslaus as King of Hungary, and declares that [[Charles I of Hungary|Károly Róbert]], son of the late Hungarian king [[Charles Martel of Anjou]], is the rightful claimant to the throne. The Pope also threatens Wenceslaus with excommunication from the Roman Catholic Church if Wenceslaus continues to style himself "King of Hungary". The decision causes a breakdown of Hungary between supporters of Wenceslaus and supporters of Károly.
* [[June 18]] &ndash; Scottish nobles [[Edmund Comyn]] and [[Simon Fraser (died 1306)|Simon Fraser]] lead an invasion from [[Dumfriesshire]] in Scotland, crossing the border into England at [[Cumberland]] and laying waste to [[Carlisle]] and its surrounding area.<ref>Fiona Watson, ''Under the Hammer: Edward I and Scotland, 1286-1307'' (Birlinn, 2013) p.176</ref>
* [[June 23]] &ndash; [[Athanasius I of Constantinople|Athanasius I]] returns to leadership of the Eastern Orthodox church in [[Byzantium]], receiving recognition as the [[Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople]] almost 10 years of having been driven from that office.<ref name=Nicol/>

===July&ndash;September===
* [[August 8]] &ndash; [[1303 Crete earthquake]]: An earthquake destroys the [[Lighthouse of Alexandria]] in [[Egypt in the Middle Ages|Egypt]], one of the [[Wonders of the World|Seven wonders of the World]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Ambraseys |first1=N. N. |last2=Melville |first2=C. P. |last3=Adams |first3=R. D. |title=The Seismicity of Egypt, Arabia and the Red Sea: A Historical Review |date=2005 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |isbn=9780521020251 |page=42 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fxnnk2inWT0C&pg=PA42|language=en}}</ref>
* [[August 26]] &ndash; [[Siege of Chittorgarh (1303)|Siege of Chittorgarh]]: Delhi forces led by Sultan [[Alauddin Khalji]] capture the massive [[Chittor Fort]] in northern [[India]], after an 8-month-long siege. Alauddin orders a general massacre of Chittor's population.<ref>Kishori Saran Lal (1950). ''History of the Khalijis (1290–1320)'', p. 120. Allahabad: The Indian Press. {{OCLC|685167335}}.</ref>  
* [[August]] &ndash; The 17-year-old King [[Ferdinand IV of Castile|Ferdinand the Summoned]], supervised by his mother, Queen-Regent [[María de Molina]], signs a peace treaty at [[Córdoba, Spain|Córdoba]] with [[Emirate of Granada|Granada]] for three years. In return, [[Muhammad III of Granada|Muhammad III]] renews his vassalage with [[Kingdom of Castile|Castile]] and pays the same tribute given as to his father, the late King [[Sancho IV of Castile|Sancho the Brave]]. The strategic port city of [[Tarifa]] remains in Castilian hands.<ref>Joseph F. O'Callaghan (2011). ''The Gibraltar Crusade: Castile and the Battle for the Strait'', p. 120. University of Pennsylvania Press. {{ISBN|978-0-8122-2302-6}}.</ref> 
* [[September 7]] &ndash; Boniface VIII is imprisoned by [[Guillaume de Nogaret]], French councillor and advisor, on behalf of Philip the Fair at his residence in [[Anagni]]. During the incident, [[Gregory Bicskei]], archbishop of [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Esztergom–Budapest|Esztergom]], is killed. Boniface is for three days held in captivity, where he is beaten, tortured and nearly executed.
* [[September 16]] &ndash;  The Kagen era begins in Japan during the reign of the Emperor Gonijo.
* [[September 25]] &ndash; [[1303 Hongdong earthquake]]: An earthquake destroys the cities of [[Taiyuan]] and [[Linfen|Pingyang]], some 200,000 people are killed.
* [[September]] &ndash; Emperor [[Andronikos II Palaiologos]], facing a possible siege of [[Constantinople]] by Ottoman-Turkish forces, seeks support from the European kingdoms. He makes [[Roger de Flor]], Italian military adventurer and nobleman, an offer of service. Roger with his fleet and army (some 7,000 men), now known as the [[Catalan Company]], departs from [[Messina]] with 36 ships (including 18 galleys), and arrives in Constantinople. He is adopted into the imperial family, Andronikos appoints him as grand duke (''[[megas doux]]'') and commander-in-chief of the Byzantine army and fleet.<ref>Waley, Daniel (1985). ''Later Medieval Europe'', p. 165 (2nd ed.). New York: Longman Inc. {{ISBN|0-582-49262-9}}.</ref>

===October&ndash;December===
* [[October 11]] &ndash; [[Pope Boniface VIII]] dies while imprisoned at [[Anagni]], after a [[pontificate]] of 8 years. 
* [[October 22]] &ndash; At the [[1303 papal conclave|papal conclave in Rome]] to select a new Roman catholic Pontiff, Cardinal Nicolò Boccasini, Bishop of Ostia, is elected unanimously.
* [[October 27]] &ndash; The coronation of Cardinal Boccasini as [[Pope Benedict XI]], 194th pope of the [[Roman Catholic Church]], is performed at St. Peter's Basilica by [[Matteo Rosso Orsini (cardinal)|Cardinal Matteo Rosso Orsini]].
* [[November 9]] &ndash; Edward I Longshanks, King of England spends the winter at [[Dunfermline Abbey]] where he plans the attack on [[Stirling Castle]]. He stations an army in the field and operations continue throughout the winter. An English force (some 1,000 men) raids and plunder into [[The Lennox|Lennox]] as far as [[Drymen]]. Meanwhile, Lord [[John Botetourt, 1st Baron Botetourt|John Botetourt]] raids [[Galloway]] in strength, with four [[Knight banneret|banneret]]s (some 3,000 men).<ref>Armstrong, Pete (2003). Osprey: ''Stirling Bridge & Falkirk 1297–1298'', p. 87. {{ISBN|1-84176-510-4}}.</ref>
* [[December 18]] &ndash; [[Pope Benedict XI]] issues a mandate directing that the rights of Cardinal [[Jean Lemoine]] of [[France]],  to income from the dioceses of Bayeux and Amiens is to be protected while Lemoine is serving as [[papal legate]].

== By place ==

=== Byzantine Empire ===
* Autumn &ndash; [[Battle of Dimbos]]: The Byzantine governors (''[[tekfur]]s'') of [[Prusa (Bithynia)|Prusa]], [[Orhaneli|Adranos]], [[Kestel, Bursa|Kestel]], and [[Ulubat]] begin a military campaign against the Ottoman-Turkish forces of Sultan [[Osman I]]. They attack the Ottoman capital city of [[Yenişehir, Bursa|Yenişehir]] and proceed to relieve [[Nicaea]], which is under an Ottoman blockade. Osman musters a 5,000-strong army and defeats the Byzantine forces at a mountain pass near Yenişehir.<ref>Donald Nicol (1997). ''Theodore Spandounes: On the origin of the Ottoman emperors'', p. 10. Cambridge University Press.</ref>

=== Asia ===
* [[Mongol invasion of India (1303)|Mongol invasion of India]]: Mongol forces appear outside [[Delhi]] and begin the siege of the city. Alauddin Khalji and a Delhi [[vanguard]] army return to the capital, while the Delhi garrison resists assaults of the Mongols.<ref>Peter Jackson (2003). ''The Delhi Sultanate: A Political and Military History'', pp. 222–224. Cambridge University Press. {{ISBN|978-0-521-54329-3}}.</ref>
* Autumn &ndash; Mongol forces lift the siege of Delhi after two months, they retreat with great plunder and war booty. Meanwhile, Alauddin Khaliji orders to strengthen border fortresses along the Mongol routes to India.<ref>René Grousset (1970). ''The Empire of the Steppes: A History of Central Asia'', p. 339. Rutgers University Press. {{ISBN|978-0-8135-1304-1}}.</ref>

== Births ==
* [[May 19]] &ndash; [[Saw Zein]] (or '''Binnya Ran De'''), Burmese ruler (d. [[1330]])
* [[July 12]] &ndash; [[Hugh de Courtenay, 2nd/10th Earl of Devon|Hugh de Courtenay]], English [[Nobility|nobleman]] and knight (d. [[1377]])
* [[Bridget of Sweden]] (or '''Birgitta'''), Swedish nun and mystic (d. [[1373]])
* [[Catherine of Valois–Courtenay|Catherine II]], Latin empress consort, [[regent]] and co-ruler (d. [[1346]])
* [[Henry Ferrers, 2nd Baron Ferrers of Groby|Henry Ferrers]], English nobleman, constable and knight (d. [[1343]])
* [[Hōjō Shigetoki (born 1303)|Hōjō Shigetoki]], Japanese nobleman (''[[rensho]]'') and official (d. [[1333]])
* [[Marie of Évreux]], French noblewoman ([[House of Capet]]) (d. [[1335]])
* [[Willem IV of Horne]], Dutch nobleman, diplomat and knight (d. 1343)

== Deaths ==
* [[March 4]]
** [[Daniel of Moscow]], Russian nobleman and prince (b. [[1261]])
** [[Theodora Palaiologina (Byzantine empress)|Theodora Palaiologina]], Byzantine empress consort (b. [[1240]])
* [[March 17]] &ndash; [[Otto IV, Count of Burgundy|Otto IV]], French nobleman and co-ruler ([[Anscarids|House of Ivrea]])
* [[May 19]] &ndash; [[Ivo of Kermartin]], French priest, judge and saint (b. [[1253]])
* [[July 8]] &ndash; [[Procopius of Ustyug]], German merchant and wonderworker
* [[August 8]] &ndash; [[Henry of Castile the Senator|Henry of Castile]] ('''the Senator'''), Spanish prince (b. [[1230]])
* [[August 9]] &ndash; [[Sir Thomas Maule|Thomas Maule]], Scottish nobleman, captain and knight
* [[August 25]] &ndash; [[Ninshō]], Japanese monk, disciple and priest (b. [[1217]])
* [[September 7]] &ndash; [[Gregory Bicskei]], Hungarian [[prelate]] and archbishop
* [[October 11]] &ndash; [[Pope Boniface VIII|Boniface VIII]], pope of the [[Catholic Church]] (b. 1230)
* [[October 27]] &ndash; [[Beatrice of Castile (1242–1303)|Beatrice of Castile]], queen consort of [[Kingdom of Portugal|Portugal]] (b. [[1242]])
* [[November 1]] &ndash; [[Hugh XIII of Lusignan]], French nobleman (b. [[1259]])
* [[December 9]] &ndash; [[Richard Gravesend]], English archdeacon and bishop
* [[Drakpa Odzer]], Tibetan monk, [[abbot]] and [[Imperial Preceptor]] (b. [[1246]])
* [[Elizabeth of Sicily, Queen of Hungary|Elizabeth of Sicily]], queen consort of [[Kingdom of Hungary (1301–1526)|Hungary]] and [[Croatia in personal union with Hungary|Croatia]] (b. 1261)
* [[Erik Knudsen Skarsholm]], Danish nobleman and knight (b. [[1235]])
* [[Hajib Shakarbar]], Indian scholar, poet, writer and mystic (b. [[1213]])
* [[Ibn Abd al-Malik al-Marrakushi|Ibn Abd al-Malik]], Almohad historian, biographer and writer (b. [[1237]])
* [[John of St Amand|John of St. Amand]], French pharmacist and philosopher (b. 1230)
* [[Otto VI, Margrave of Brandenburg-Salzwedel|Otto VI]] ('''the Short'''), German nobleman and co-ruler (b. [[1255]])

== References ==
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