13th century

Global map (except America) around 1200.

The 13th century AD. C. (thirteenth century AD) or 13th century e. c. (thirteenth century of the common era). It is called the "Century of Castles". It began on January 1, 1201, and ended on December 31, 1300.

Following its conquests in Asia, the Mongol Empire spread from East Asia to Eastern Europe, while the Delhi Sultanate conquered much of the Indian subcontinent. In the history of European culture, this period is considered part of the Late Middle Ages or, according to some historiographical currents, of the High Middle Ages.

Relevant events

Wars and Politics

• 1202-1204: The Fourth Crusade is produced, Constantinople is looted and the ephemeral Latin Empire begins.
• 1204: Normandy falls into the hands of King Philip Augustus.
• 1205: There is the second battle of Adrianopolis, between the Bulgarians and the newly created Latin Empire, where King Balduino I is captured.
• 1206: Gengis Kan founded the Mongol Empire after unifying the Nomadic Mongol tribes. His empire will be the most extensive in the history of humanity (on land), only being comparable to the British Empire at the beginning of the 20th century.
• 1212: The Almohads are defeated in the battle of the Navas of Tolosa, where the Iberian kingdoms take a giant step in the Reconquista.
• 1213: The French and their crusader allies defeat the Crown of Aragon in the battle of Muret.
• 1214: French king Philip Augustus defeats an Anglo-German army in the battle of Bouvines.
• 1215: The English King John without Earth signs the Magna Carta.
• 1217-1221: The Fifth Crusade occurs, in an attempt to capture the city of Damieta, by the hands of the Ayubí, the invasion turned out to be a failure.
• 1221: The Serenest Republic of Venice signs a trade agreement with the Mongolian Empire.
• 1228-1229: The Sixth Crusade occurs where Emperor Frederick II manages to take the cities of Jerusalem and Sidon, among others, from the hands of the Ayubites.
• 1228-1250: There are clashes between the papacy and the Holy Roman German Empire.
• 1234: Mongol conquest of northern China.
• 1235: Foundation of the Malian Empire in West Africa, which will become one of the most prosperous and richest States in the region.
• 1237-1240: The Mongols conquer the entire Rus of Kiev (now Russia).
• 1238: Foundation of the Kingdom of Sukhothai in Thailand.
• 1241: The Mongols consequentally defeat Hungarians and Poles.
• 1242: The Republic of Novgorod overcomes the Teutonic knights in the battle of Lake Peipus.
• 1244: The Ayubis defeat a crusader army consisting of temporary, hospitable and teutonic.
• 1248-1254: The Seventh Crusade, a crusade led by King Louis IX of France captures Damieta but fails to take Egypt.
• 1249: End of the Reconquista Portuguese, when King Alfonso III of Portugal liberates the Algarve.
• 1261: Byzantines, led by Emperor Michael VIII Paleologist, drive out the crusaders of Constantinople, ending the Latin Empire. The Eastern Roman Empire is restored, but it remains in a deplorable state.
• 1265-1268: The Eighth Crusade is produced.
• 1268: The cross states of the east fall when Antioch is conquered by the Mamluks.
• 1271-1272: The Ninth Crusader is produced, and it is again conceited.
• 1279: The Mongols end up conquering all China after defeating the Song Dynasty.
• 1282: The Crown of Aragon is annexed Sicily.
• 1291: The Mamluks take Acre, ending the Kingdom of Jerusalem.
• 1299: Osman I founded the Ottoman Empire in Anatolia (now Turkey). The power vacuum left by the Mongols allows Ottoman Turks to expand throughout the region.
• Expansion of Islam in Indonesia.

Science and technology

• 1202: Leonardo de Pisa (known as Fibonacci) publishes the Liber abaci (Book of the Abbey or Book of Calculations) spreading Arabic numeration in Europe.
• 1280: The glasses are invented in Italy.

Culture

• 1209: The University of Cambridge is founded.
• 1218: The University of Salamanca is founded.
• 1300: The city of Bilbao is founded.
• Unknown date: Roman senate (Byzantine senate) disappears
• Splendour of scholastic and his great masters.
• Nominalism and fideism appear strong.
• It is written the Song of the Nibelungs.

Relevant characters

Marco Polo, Venetian explorer.

William Wallace, leader of Scotland.

• Alberto Magno (1193 or 1206-1280): German theologian and philosopher.
• Alejandro de Hales (1185-1245): English theologian.
• Alexander Nevski (1220-1263): saint of the Orthodox Church and prince of Novgorod.
• Alfonso X el Sabio (1221-1284): King of Castile, known poet.
• Batu Kan (1205-1255): Mongolian ruler, grandson of Gengis Kan, founder of the Blue Horde.
• Bela IV of Hungary (1206-1270): King of Hungary reconstructed Hungary after the Mongolian rule.
• Birger Jarl (1210-1266): regent from Sweden and founder of Stockholm.
• Buenaventura de Fidanza (1218-1274): mystical, bishop of Albano and cardinal, Franciscan friar.
• Celestino V (1209/1215-1296): Holy and Pope of Rome.
• Cimabue (1240-1302): painter and creator of Florentine mosaics.
• Dante Alighieri (1265-1321): Italian poet. Author of The Divine Comedy.
• Edward I of England (1239-1307): King of England, known to the nickname of The Zanquilargo.
• Frederick II (1194-1250): emperor of the Holy Roman Empire Germanic and king of Cyprus, Sicily and Jerusalem.
• Fernando III de Castilla (1199-1252): King of Castile, unifier of Castile and Leon.
• Francis of Assisi (1182-1226): holy, founder of the order of the Franciscans.
• Gengis Kan (1162-1227): founder of the Mongol Empire.
• Haakon IV of Norway (1204-1263): King of Norway.
• Ibn Nafis (1210/1213-1288): Arabic physician.
• Isabel of Hungary (1207-1231): holy of Hungarian origin.
• James I the Conqueror (1208-1276): King of the Crown of Aragon.
• Juan Duns Scoto (1266-1308): Beato and Scottish theologian.
• Kublai Kan (1215-1294): the last king of the Mongolian Empire and Chinese emperor of the Yuan dynasty.
• Louis IX of France (1214-1270): King of France, nicknamed San Luis.
• Manco Cápac (?-1230): first inca governor of Cuzco.
• Marco Polo (1254-1324): Venetian merchant and explorer, was one of the first to perform the Silk Road.
• Michael VIII Paleologist (1225 - 1285): Byzantine emperor, restored the Byzantine Empire.
• Nichiren (1222-1282): Buddhist monk, founder of Nichiren Buddhism.
• Otakar II of Bohemia (1230-1278): King of Bohemia.
• Ramon Llull (1232-1315): philosopher, theologian, poet and mystical Spanish.
• Roberto Grosseteste (1175-1253): English scholar, Bishop of Lincoln.
• Roger Bacon (1214 - 1294): English scientist, philosopher and theologian.
• Tamar of Georgia (1160-1213): Queen of Georgia.
• Thomas Aquinas (1224/1225 - 1274): holy, theologian and philosopher.
• William Wallace (1272/1273 - 1305): Scottish knight and leader of the revolt against Edward I of England.
• Yalalal ad-Din Muhammad Rumi (1207-1273): Persian poet residing in Konya, Turkey. Founder of the Sufi order mevleví.