Editing 1221 (section)

== Events ==
<onlyinclude>

=== By place ===

==== Byzantine Empire ====
* [[November]] &ndash; Emperor [[Theodore I Laskaris]] dies after a 16-year reign and is succeeded by his son-in-law [[John III Doukas Vatatzes]]. John fends off Theodore's brothers, who believe that they have the better claim for the throne of the [[Empire of Nicaea]]. In December, he becomes the sole ruler, and during his reign, the Empire becomes the most powerful of the Byzantine successor states and the frontrunner in the race to recover [[Constantinople]] from the [[Latin Empire]].<ref>George Akropolites (2007). ''The History'', p. 160. Trans. [[Ruth Macrides]]. New York: Oxford University Press.</ref> John also cultivates a close relationship with [[Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor]], and negotiates with [[Pope Honorius III]] about the possibility of reuniting the Church.

==== Fifth Crusade ====
* [[June]] &ndash; Sultan [[Al-Kamil]] again offers peace terms to Cardinal [[Pelagio Galvani|Pelagius]] with the cession of [[Jerusalem]] and all [[Palestine (region)|Palestine]] apart from [[Oultrejordain]], together with a 30 years' truce and money compensation for the dismantling of Jerusalem. Meanwhile, a German contingent under [[Louis I, Duke of Bavaria|Louis I of Bavaria]] arrives at [[Damietta]], with orders from Frederick II not to launch an attack on [[Cairo]] until the emperor's arrival. Louis and Pelagius decide to advance into [[Egypt in the Middle Ages|Egypt]] towards [[Mansoura, Egypt|Mansoura]], where Al-Kamil has built a fortress to protect Cairo. The Crusaders assemble their armies and tents are set up just up the [[Nile]], on [[June 29]].<ref>[[Steven Runciman]] (1952). ''A History of The Crusades. Vol III: The Kingdom of Acre'', p. 140. {{ISBN|978-0-241-29877-0}}.</ref>
* [[July 4]] &ndash; Pelagius orders a three-days fast in preparation for the advance. King [[John of Brienne|John I of Jerusalem]] arrives at Damietta to rejoin the Crusade at the command of Honorius III. The Crusader force moves towards [[Sheremsah]], halfway between [[Faraskur]] and Mansoura on the east bank of the Nile, occupying the city on [[July 12]]. Sources tell of 630 ships of various sizes, 5,000 knights, 4,000 archers, and 40,000 men. A horde of pilgrims march with the army. They are ordered to keep close to the river, to supply the Crusaders with water. Pelagius plans a new offensive and leaves a large garrison at Damietta.<ref>Steven Runciman (1952). ''A History of The Crusades. Vol III: The Kingdom of Acre'', pp. 140–141. {{ISBN|978-0-241-29877-0}}.</ref>
* [[July 24]] &ndash; Pelagius moves the Crusader forces near [[Ashmun al-Rumman]], on the opposite bank from Mansoura. Queen-Regent [[Alice of Champagne|Alice of Cyprus]] and leaders of the military orders warn Pelagius of a large Muslim army being formed in [[Syria]]. Meanwhile, the Egyptian army under Al-Kamil crosses the Nile near [[Lake Manzaleh]] and establishes themselves between the Crusader camp and Damietta. In the Ushmum canal at Sheremsah, Al-Kamil's ships sail down the Nile and block the Crusaders' line of communications to Damietta. In August, Pelagius orders a retreat, but the route is cut off by Egyptians.<ref>Steven Runciman (1952). ''A History of The Crusades. Vol III: The Kingdom of Acre'', p. 141. {{ISBN|978-0-241-29877-0}}.</ref>
* [[August 26]]–[[August 28|28]] &ndash; [[Battle of Mansurah (1221)|Battle of Mansoura]]: The Crusader army led by Pelagius and John I of Jerusalem is defeated by the Egyptian forces at Mansoura. John and the military orders fight a last stand on the river banks of the Nile. He beats off a Nubian assault (supported by elite Turkish cavalry) and drives them back, but only after thousands of soldiers have perished. The remaining Crusaders are surrounded by Al-Kamil's forces and begin a desperate retreat to Damietta. The city is well-garrisoned and supplied with arms; a naval squadron under [[Henry, Count of Malta]] ("Enrico Pescatore") defends the harbour against the Egyptians.<ref>Maalouf, Amin (2006). ''The Crusades through Arab Eyes'', pp. 225–226. Saqi Books. {{ISBN|978-0-863-56023-1}}.</ref> The Crusaders retreat under cover of darkness. Many of the soldiers cannot bear to abandon their stores of wine, and drink them all rather than leave them. The [[Teutonic Order|Teutonic Knights]] set fire to the stores that they cannot carry, thus informing the Egyptians that they are abandoning their positions. In the meantime, Al-Kamil orders opening of the sluices along the right bank of the Nile, flooding the area. Pelagius on his ship is carried by the floodwaters past the blockading Egyptian fleet. Other ships, carrying the medical supplies of the army and much of its food, escape, but many are captured.<ref>Steven Runciman (1952). ''A History of The Crusades. Vol III: The Kingdom of Acre'', pp. 141–142. {{ISBN|978-0-241-29877-0}}.</ref>
* [[August 28]] &ndash; Pelagius sues for peace and sends an envoy to Al-Kamil. The terms of surrender are accepted, which includes the retreat from Damietta – leaving Egypt with the remnants of the Crusader army and an 8-year truce. After prisoners are exchanged, Al-Kamil enters Damietta on [[September 8]]. The [[Fifth Crusade]] ends with nothing gained for the West, with much lost, men, resources and reputations. The Crusaders blame Frederick II for not being there. Pelagius is accused of ineffectual leadership and a misguided view, which has led to rejecting the sultan's peace offerings.<ref>Steven Runciman (1952). ''A History of The Crusades. Vol III: The Kingdom of Acre'', pp. 142–143. {{ISBN|978-0-241-29877-0}}.</ref>

==== Mongol Empire ====
* Spring &ndash; [[Genghis Khan]] orders an armed reconnaissance expedition into the [[Caucasus]] (consisting of [[Kingdom of Georgia|Georgia]] and [[Armenia]]) under the command of [[Subutai]] and [[Jebe]] ("the Arrow"). The Mongols defeat two Georgian armies around [[Tbilisi]], but lack the will or equipment to besiege the capital city. During the fighting, King [[George IV of Georgia]] himself is severely wounded and his elite knights are massacred. Meanwhile in [[Siege of Bamyan|Bamyan]], the ruler [[Genghis Khan]] leads a Mongol force that besieges and captures the fortified city after fierce resistance; during the fighting, his grandson [[Mutukan]] is killed, prompting a brutal massacre of the city’s defenders. The Mongols then return to [[Azerbaijan]] and [[Iran|Persia]], and burn and pillage a few more cities.<ref name=RuncimanIII207/>
* February &ndash; The cities of [[Merv]] (perhaps the world's largest up to this date), [[Herat]] and [[Nishapur]] which have peacefully surrendered rise up in arms. Genghis Khan sends his son [[Tolui]] to spend an extra month to subdue the revolts. Contemporary scholars report over a million people are systematically killed in a [[genocide]].<ref name=RuncimanIII205/>
* September &ndash; [[Battle of Parwan]]: Sultan [[Jalal al-Din Mangburni]] recruits an army of Turkic and Afghan warriors numbering some 60,000 men. As soon as news of this reaches Genghis Khan he sends a Mongol army of 30,000 men, led by his stepbrother [[Shikhikhutug]]. Meanwhile, Jalal al-Din moves to [[Parwan Province|Parwan]] (modern [[Afghanistan]]), where the two armies meet in a narrow valley. Jalal al-Din takes the initiative, ordering his right-wing of Turks to dismount and engage in a skirmish. On the third day, the Mongols are finally defeated by the Khwarezmian forces and are forced to retreat. Shikhikhutug is driven off in defeat, losing over half his army.<ref>Tanner, Stephen (2009). ''Afghanistan - A Military History from Alexander the Great to the War against the Taliban'', p. 94. Da Capo Press.</ref>
* October &ndash; The Mongol army raids Georgia for the second time, and Subutai and Jebe allow their forces to pass through the [[Caucasus Mountains]].<ref name=RuncimanIII207>Steven Runciman (1952). ''A History of The Crusades. Vol III: The Kingdom of Acre'', p. 207. {{ISBN|978-0-241-29877-0}}.</ref>
* [[November 24]]  &ndash; [[Battle of the Indus]]: Left with some 20,000 men, Jalal al-Din Mangburni has headed for the [[Indus River]] where Genghis catches up with him. In a desperate battle the Khwarezmain forces are destroyed, completing the [[Mongol conquest of the Khwarazmian Empire]], while Jalal al-Din flees across the river and escapes into [[India]].<ref name=RuncimanIII205>Steven Runciman (1952). ''A History of The Crusades. Vol III: The Kingdom of Acre'', pp. 205–206. {{ISBN|978-0-241-29877-0}}.</ref>

==== Europe ====
* [[June 16]] &ndash; The Jewish population of [[Erfurt]] ([[Duchy of Thuringia]]) is massacred after a [[Blood libel|ritual murder libel]]. A crowd storms the synagogue where the Jews have gathered with the threat of [[baptism]] or death. The Jewish quarter, including the synagogue, is razed: many Jews are tortured and killed. 
* [[Siege of Tallinn]]: An Estonian Crusader army tries to conquer the Danish stronghold of [[Tallinn]] with the help of [[Revala|Revalians]], [[Harjumaa (ancient county)|Harrians]] and [[Virumaa|Vironians]]. They besiege the stronghold for 14 days but finally retreat their forces.

==== Britain ====
* [[June 21]] &ndash; 10-year-old [[Joan of England, Queen of Scotland|Joan of England]], eldest daughter of the late [[John, King of England|King John]], marries the 21-year-old King [[Alexander II of Scotland]] at [[York Minster]].<ref>Agnes Mure MacKenzie (1957). ''The Foundations of Scotland'', p. 251.</ref>

==== Asia ====
* [[May 13]] &ndash; [[Emperor Juntoku]] is forced to abdicate, and is briefly succeeded by his 2-year-old son [[Emperor Chūkyō|Chūkyō]] on the throne of [[Japan]]. Ex-Emperor [[Emperor Go-Toba|Go-Toba]] leads the unsuccessful [[Jōkyū War]] against the [[Kamakura shogunate]].
* [[July 29]] &ndash; The 9-year-old [[Emperor Go-Horikawa|Go-Horikawa]] ascends to the [[Chrysanthemum Throne]] at the [[Kyoto Imperial Palace]] in Japan. He is a grandson of the late Emperor [[Emperor Takakura|Takakura]] and a nephew of the exiled Go-Toba.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Perkins|first1=George W.|title=The Clear Mirror: A Chronicle of the Japanese Court During the Kamakura Period (1185-1333)|publisher=Stanford University Press|isbn=0804763887|page=59|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=c8rKCOSmKEMC&q=Emperor+Go-Horikawa+1221&pg=PA59|chapter=Mourning Attire|date=August 1998}}</ref>

==== Mesoamerica ====
* The [[Maya peoples|Maya]] of the [[Yucatán region|Yucatán]] revolt against the rulers of [[Chichen Itza]].<ref>{{cite book|author1=Richard Bodley Scott|author2=Graham Briggs|author3=Rudy Scott Nelson|title=Blood and Gold: The Americas at War|date=2009|publisher=Osprey Publishing|isbn=978-1846036910|page=35|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WsY3rtoy8KoC&q=Chichen+Itza+revolt+1221&pg=PA35|access-date=December 27, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141227215302/https://books.google.ca/books?id=WsY3rtoy8KoC&pg=PA35&lpg=PA35&dq=Chichen+Itza+revolt+1221&source=bl&ots=4z9kwdYItx&sig=oWKAhMg8_8XLT2GEmYO0Cj7g5mw&hl=en&sa=X&ei=5QufVPu-O46fyASB1oGYAw&ved=0CEkQ6AEwCQ#v=onepage&q=Chichen%20Itza%20revolt%201221&f=false#v=onepage&q=Chichen%20Itza%20revolt%201221&f=false|archive-date=December 27, 2014|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last1=Bancroft|first1=Hubert Howe|title=The native races. 1882-86|date=1883|publisher=History Company|location=British Columbia|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=23V0AAAAMAAJ&q=Chichen+Itza+revolt+1221&pg=PA631}}</ref></onlyinclude>