Editing 1223 (section)

== Events ==
===January&ndash;March===
* [[January 4]] &ndash; [[Germanus II of Constantinople|Germanus II]] takes office as [[Patriarch of Constantinople]], leader of the Eastern Orthodox Church, after moving the patriarchate's capital {{convert|56|mi}} from [[Constantinople]] (now [[Istanbul]]) to [[Nicaea]] (now [[Iznik]] in Turkey), as the guest of [[John III Doukas Vatatzes]], [[Empire of Nicaea|Emperor of Nicaea]].<ref>''The Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium'', ed. by Alexander Kazhdan (Oxford University Press, 1991) p.847</ref>
* [[January 18]]
**[[Rusudan of Georgia|Rusudan]] becomes the new [[List of monarchs of Georgia|Queen of Georgia]] after her brother, [[George IV of Georgia|King George IV]], dies of injuries received four months earlier in the [[Battle of Khunan]] against the Mongols.<ref>Alexander Mikaberidze, ''Historical Dictionary of Georgia''(Rowman & Littlefield, 2015) p.576</ref>
**After a failed attempt on December 28, the Mongol General Muqali leads a second attack on the Chinese fortress of Fengxiang and fails.<ref name=HopeMay/>
* [[January 29]] &ndash; [[Battle of Viljandi (1223)|Battle of Viljandi]]: During a church service, the [[Sakala County|Sakalians]] attack the Germans inside the stronghold of [[Viljandi Castle]]. The Estonian forces kill members of the [[Livonian Brothers of the Sword]] and many merchants. 
* [[February 2]] &ndash; Ireland enjoys its first dry day in almost five months, as rains that had started on September 14 halt by the celebration of the Purification of St. Mary, as noted by ''The Annals of Loch Se''.<ref>"Extreme Flooding in the United Kingdom and Ireland: The Early Years, AD 1 to AD 1300", by Robert K. Doe, in ''Extreme Weather: Forty Years of the Tornado and Storm Research Organisation (TORRO)'', ed. by Robert Doe (Wiley, 2016) p.252</ref>
* [[February 6]] &ndash; Dispatched by [[Genghis Khan]], the Mongol General Muqali makes a third and final attempt to capture Fengxiang, but fails again, ending the Mongol attempts.<ref name=HopeMay>Michael Hope and Timothy May, ''The Mongol World'' (Taylor & Francis, 2022)</ref>
* [[March 23]] &ndash; At a meeting in [[Ferentino]] at the imperial villa of the Papal States, [[Pope Honorius III]] hosts a meeting with the newly-widowed [[Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor]]; [[John of Brienne|John I, King of Jerusalem]]; Patriarch [[Raoul of Mérencourt]]; and papal legate [[Pelagius Galvani]] to prepare for the [[Sixth Crusade]] by European Christians against the Muslims of the Middle East.<ref>Joseph P. Donovan, ''Pelagius and the Fifth Crusade'' (University of Pennsylvania Press, 2016) p.107 ("All of them agreed to join him at Ferentino on March 23 for a meeting with Honorius.")</ref> Frederick agrees to lead the crusade in return for being able to marry John's daughter, [[Isabella II of Jerusalem|Yolande of Brienne]]. 
* [[March 25]] &ndash; [[Sancho II of Portugal|Sancho II]] "the Pious" becomes the new [[List of Portuguese monarchs|King of Portugal]] upon the death of his father, King Afonso II "the Fat".<ref>Antonio Caetano de Souza, ''Historia Genealógica de la Real Casa Portuguesa'' (Lisboa Occidental, 1735)</ref>

===April&ndash;June===
* [[April 13]] &ndash; [[Pope Honorius III]] issues a papal bull relaxing the strict rules that had applied to monks of the [[Valliscaulian Order]].<ref>Simeon Ross Macphail, ''History of the Religious House of Pluscardyn'' (Convent of the Vale of Saint Andrew, 1881) p.14</ref>
* [[April 14]] &ndash; On the island of [[Sri Lanka]], King Chodaganga Deva lands at [[Trincomalee]] on the Tamil New Year's Day (the 1st of [[Chaitra|Chittirai]] of [[Shaka era]] year 1145) and makes a large donation to fund the Hindu [[Koneswaram Temple]].<ref>K. M. de Silva and C.M. Ray, ''History of Ceylon'' (Ceylon University Press, 1959) p.112</ref> The event is commemorated in an inscription in the [[Sanskrit language]] in the temple.
* [[May 7]] &ndash; [[Henry I, Count of Schwerin]], kidnaps the [[King of Denmark]], [[Valdemar II of Denmark|Valdemar II]] and the king's 14-year-old son, [[Valdemar the Young]], after landing with a group of soldiers on the island of [[Lyø]], where King Valdemar had been hunting. King Valdemar will be held captive for three years until Easter Sunday of 1226, and released after payment of 44,000 silver marks and the surrendering of lands taken 20 years earlier in Holstein.<ref>Stuart Ellis-Gorman, ''The Medieval Crossbow: A Weapon Fit to Kill a King'' ( Pen and Sword, 2022) p.137</ref>
* [[May 15]] &ndash; The Russian army gathers on the island of [[Khortytsia]], later to become a famous [[Cossacks|Cossack]] base, at the mouth of the Dnieper River, next to modern-day [[Zaporizhzhia]] (Ukraine). The main Polovtsian forces led by Köten Khan, join the Russians here, which consist entirely of mounted archers. Compared to this, some 20,000–25,000 Mongols assemble and build a defensive encampment on the high ground, probably on the northern slopes of the Mohila Bel'mak hills, located near the [[Konka (river, Zaporizhzhia Oblast)|Konka River]].<ref>David Nicolle & Viacheslav Shpakovsky (2001). Osprey: ''Kalka River 1223 - Genghiz Khan's Mongols invade Russia'', p. 61. {{ISBN|1-84176-233-4}}.</ref>
* [[May 16]] &ndash; Mstislav Mstislavich leads a small detachment of his own men, and some Polovtsians to the far bank of the Dnieper River – where they attack a part of the Mongol advance guard. The Mongols promptly fleeing into the steppes. Mstislavich pursues them and captures their commander named Gemyabek or Hamabek who seeks refuge behind a wooden fence surrounding a Polovtsian burial site. The captive's fate is sealed when the Polovtsians ask Mstislavich to hand him over – to execute.<ref>David Nicolle & Viacheslav Shpakovsky (2001). Osprey: ''Kalka River 1223 - Genghiz Khan's Mongols invade Russia'', pp. 61–62. {{ISBN|1-84176-233-4}}.</ref>   
* [[May 17]] &ndash; Daniel of Galicia leads a reconnaissance in force east of the Dnieper River, using a bridge of boats. He defeats a Mongol detachment, who abandons their herds and local prisoners. Following these successful sorties, the entire Russian and Polovtsian armies start a 9 day march towards the main Mongol army. Numerous carts move across the steppes, loaded with mail, heavy armour, as well as shields, protected by Russian cavalry. The Mongol forces retreat towards the [[Kalchik|Kalka River]].<ref>John Man (2011). ''Genghis Khan: Life, Death and Resurrection'', p. 220. {{ISBN|978-0-553-81498-9}}.</ref>
* [[May 31]] &ndash; [[Battle of the Kalka River]]: The Russian cavalry successfully attacks the Mongol vanguard and crosses the [[Kalka River]] in what is now Ukraine. The Polovtsian and Volhynian cavalry led by Daniel of Galicia form the Russian vanguard. Meanwhile, the army of Kiev waits on the western side of the Kalka River. The Russians fail to co-ordinate their attacks, they advance in separate formations and become divided by the Kalka River. In the afternoon, the Russian army collapses under continuous Mongol attacks.<ref>David Nicolle and Viacheslav Shpakovsky (2001). Osprey: ''Kalka River 1223 - Genghiz Khan's Mongols invade Russia'', pp. 76-77. {{ISBN|1-84176-233-4}}.</ref>
* [[June 16]] &ndash; The Mongol General [[Subutai]] withdraws eastward after the victory at the Battle of the Kalka River, after General [[Jebe]] has died.<ref>Tony Jaques, ''Dictionary of Battles and Sieges: A Guide to 8,500 Battles from Antiquity Through the Twenty-first Century'' (Bloomsbury Publishing, 2006) p.504</ref>

===July&ndash;September===
* [[July 14]] &ndash; [[Philip II of France|Philip Augustus, King of France]] dies of a fever while traveling to [[Paris]]. He is succeeded by his son, who takes the name of [[Louis VIII of France|Louis "the Lion"]], who takes the name King Louis VIII.
* [[August 6]] &ndash; The coronation of King Louis VIII of France takes place at the [[Reims Cathedral]].
* [[August 10]] &ndash; The [[Order of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mercy]], whose followers are called the Mercedarians, is legally constituted in [[Barcelona]] by [[James I of Aragon|King Jaime I]] of [[Kingdom of Aragon|Aragon]]. It will receive papal approval 12 years later.
* [[Pope Honorius III]] gives his legate to France, Conrad d'Urach, free authority to negotiate a peace with [[Raymond VII, Count of Toulouse]], in France.<ref>Richard Kay, ''The Council of Bourges, 1225: A Documentary History'' (Taylor & Francis, 2019)</ref> 
* [[September 29]] &ndash; King Jaime I of Aragon halts the minting of new coins for the next seven years in order to prevent the devaluation of the kingdom's medium of exchange.<ref>Joseph F. O'Callaghan, ''Reconquest and Crusade in Medieval Spain'' (University of Pennsylvania Press, 2013) p.164</ref>

===October&ndash;December===
* [[October 8]] &ndash;  At [[Montgomery, Powys|Montgomery]] in [[Wales]], [[Henry III of England|King Henry III]] of England reaches a peaceful settlement with [[Llywelyn ab Iorwerth]], the powerful ruler of the semi-independent [[Kingdom of Gwynedd|Principality of Gwynedd]], following a mediation by [[Ranulf de Blondeville, 6th Earl of Chester|Ranulf de Blondeville]], the [[Earl of Chester]].<ref>John Paul Davis, ''The Gothic King: A Biography of Henry III'' (Peter Owen Publishers, 2013)</ref>
* [[October 20]] &ndash; [[Otto I, Duke of Merania]], issues five charters for lavish donations to religious communities.<ref>Jonathan R. Lyon, ''Princely Brothers and Sisters: The Sibling Bond in German Politics, 1100-1250'' (Cornell University Press, 2013) p.171</ref>
* [[November 1]] &ndash; King Louis VIII of France issues an ordinance prohibiting the kingdom's officials from registering debts owed to Jewish moneylenders, and limiting the lenders to a recovery of the principal amount owed, without interest.<ref>Rebecca Rist, ''Popes and Jews, 1095–1291'' (Oxford University Press, 2016) p.154</ref>
* [[November 29]] &ndash; Pope [[Pope Honorius III|Honorius III]] approves the [[Rule of Saint Francis#The Rule of 1223|Franciscan Rule]] (also called "Regula Bullata"). The rule sets regulations for discipline, preaching, and entering the order for Franciscan friars. 
* [[December 24]] &ndash; Father [[Francis of Assisi]] (Giovanni di Pietro di Bernardone), founder of the [[Franciscans|Order of the Franciscans]] with in the Roman Catholic Church, begins the tradition of celebrating [[Christmas]] with a [[nativity scene]]. Having received permission from Pope Honorius III, Francis arranges for a display in a cave near the Italian city of [[Greccio]], with the representation of the events associated with the birth of Jesus Christ as described in the [[Gospel of Matthew]] and in the [[Gospel of Luke]], using real people and animals.<ref>"A Contrastive Analysis of Neapolitan ''Presepio'' Figurines and Their Construction Phases: From Culture to Language", by Victor Massaro, in ''The Wor(l)ds of Neapolitan Arts and Crafts: Cultural and Linguistic Perspectives'', ed. by Carolina Diglio (Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2019)</ref><ref>Paul Kerensa, ''Hark: The Biography of Christmas''  (Lion Hudson, 2017) p.119</ref>
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=== Other events, by place ===

==== Mongol Empire ====
* Spring &ndash; The Polovtsian army assembles on the [[Terek (river)|Terek River]] lowlands and are joined by [[Alans|Alan]], [[Circassians|Circassian]], and Don Kipchak/[[Cumans|Cuman]] forces. The Mongol army crosses the [[Caucasus Mountains]], but is trapped in the narrow mountain passes. The Mongol generals [[Subutai]] and [[Jebe]] ('''the Arrow''') send an embassy to the Polovtsians and convince them to break their alliance with the Caucasian peoples. The Mongol cavalry invades the [[Caucasus]] region and devastates the local villages, seizing slaves, cattle and horses.<ref>[[David Nicolle]] & Viacheslav Shpakovsky (2001). Osprey: ''Kalka River 1223 - Genghiz Khan's Mongols invade Russia'', p. 52. {{ISBN|1-84176-233-4}}.</ref>
* The Mongol army invades Polovtsian territory and defeats the Polovtsians in a great battle near the [[Don (river)|Don River]]. Several Polovtsian leaders are killed – while the remainder flees westwards, across the [[Dnieper|Dnieper River]], to seek support by various Russian princes. Steppe lands east of the Dnieper fall under Mongol control, Subutai and Jebe raise the wealthy city of [[Astrakhan]] on the [[Volga|Volga River]]. Subutai now parts his forces, he moves south to the [[Crimea]] (or '''Tauric Peninsula'''), while Jebe travels towards the Dnieper.<ref>John Man (2011). ''Genghis Khan: Life, Death and Resurrection'', p. 217. {{ISBN|978-0-553-81498-9}}.</ref>
* Mongol forces capture the nominally Genoese trading outpost of [[Sudak]], probably with the tacit approval of neighbouring rival Venetian outposts in the Crimea. Subutai promises to destroy any non-Venetian colonies in the area. In return, the Venetians provide Subutai with information about the kingdoms in [[Eastern Europe]]. Meanwhile, [[Köten|Köten Khan]], Cuman/Kipchak chieftain of the Polovtsians, convinces Prince [[Mstislav Mstislavich]] of [[Kingdom of Galicia–Volhynia|Galicia]] to form an alliance, and informs him of his plight against the Mongols.<ref name="David Nicolle 2001 p. 57">David Nicolle & Viacheslav Shpakovsky (2001). Osprey: ''Kalka River 1223 - Genghiz Khan's Mongols invade Russia'', p. 57. {{ISBN|1-84176-233-4}}.</ref>
* [[February]] &ndash; A council of Russian princes summons at [[Kyiv|Kiev]]; several princes are convinced by Köten Khan to assemble an allied army to drive the Mongols back. During the first half of March, Russian princes return to their principalities and begin to raise forces for the forthcoming campaign. The alliance has a combined force of some 60,000 men, mainly cavalry. Subutai unites his army with Jebe, and sends ambassadors to the [[Kievan Rus']] princes, to tell them to stay out of the conflict as it didn't involve them.<ref name="David Nicolle 2001 p. 57"/>
* [[April]] &ndash; The Russian princes lead their separate armies from different parts of [[Russia]], to assemble 60 kilometres downriver from Kiev. There are three main groups of princes taking part in the campaign; the Kievan army is represented by Grand Prince [[Mstislav III of Kiev|Mstislav Romanovich]] ('''the Old'''). The second group are the [[Chernihiv|Chernigov]] and [[Smolensk]] armies under Prince [[Mstislav II Svyatoslavich|Mstislav II]]. The third group is the Galician-Volhynian army under Mstislav Mstislavich with his son-in-law [[Daniel of Galicia]], leaving from northern [[Ukraine]].<ref name="John Man 2011 p. 218">John Man (2011). ''Genghis Khan: Life, Death and Resurrection'', p. 218. {{ISBN|978-0-553-81498-9}}.</ref>
* The Mongol leaders Subutai and Jebe receive news that [[Jochi]], who camps north of the [[Caspian Sea]], will not be able to provide the expected reinforcements due to Jochi's reported illness or suspected refusal to obey his father [[Genghis Khan]]'s orders. Subutai sends an embassy to the Russian princes, to offer peace and perhaps attempt to break the Russian alliance with the Polovtsians. But the Mongol ambassadors are executed – a task eagerly carried out by Köten Khan's followers, by the end of April.<ref name="John Man 2011 p. 218"/>
* Late [[April]] &ndash; The Russian and Polovtsian armies march down the west bank of the Dnieper River. Within a few days of the march beginning, a second group of Mongol ambassadors appear in the Russian camp and again offer peace. When their offers are rebuffed, the ambassadors are allowed to leave unharmed. Meanwhile, Russian forces from Galicia arrive by boat or cart-loads of equipment and food, along the [[Black Sea]] coast and up the Dnieper River, screened by Mongol forces on the east bank.<ref name="David Nicolle 2001 p. 57"/>
* Late [[May]] &ndash; The Mongol army under Subutai and Jebe establishes a defensive position on the Kalka River. Increasing disagreements amongst the Russian princes, about the wisdom of continuing to pursue the Mongols deeper into the steppes. By the end of May, the allied forces reach the banks of the Kalka River. The Polovtsian vanguard is way ahead of the rest of the Russian army, which gives them a triumphant feeling. Meanwhile, Subutai and Jebe set up a trap against the Russian forces.<ref>David Nicolle & Viacheslav Shpakovsky (2001). Osprey: ''Kalka River 1223 - Genghiz Khan's Mongols invade Russia'', p. 64. {{ISBN|1-84176-233-4}}.</ref> 
* [[June]] &ndash; Mstislav Mstislavich escapes back to the Dnieper River with the remnants of his Galician army. Mstislav Romanovich ('''the Old''') surrenders and is executed. According to sources, he and other Russian nobles are slowly suffocated to death during a Mongol 'drunken feast', they are tied up and laid flat on the ground beneath what is described as a wooden 'bridge' (or platform), on which Subutai, Jebe and their officers feast. This is revenge for killing the Mongol ambassadors.<ref>John Man (2011). ''Genghis Khan: Life, Death and Resurrection'', pp. 220–221. {{ISBN|978-0-553-81498-9}}.</ref>
* [[Battle of Samara Bend]]: A Volga-Bulgarian army under [[Ghabdula Chelbir]] defeats the Mongols, probably led by Subutai, Jebe and Jochi. The Bulgars retreat during the battle but the Mongols pursue them. Then the main Bulgar forces ambush the Mongols. Subutai and Jebe retreat their forces near the city of [[Sarai (city)|Sarai]] (future capital of the [[Golden Horde]]), not far from where the Volga River empties into the Caspian Sea.<ref>David Nicolle & Viacheslav Shpakovsky (2001). Osprey: ''Kalka River 1223 - Genghiz Khan's Mongols invade Russia'', p. 83. {{ISBN|1-84176-233-4}}.</ref>
* Autumn &ndash; Mongol forces under Jochi, Subutai and Jebe attack and defeat the Qangl Turks (eastern Kipchaks or '''Wild Polovtsians'''), killing their ruler. During the winter, they continue eastwards across the [[Eurasian Steppe|Great Steppe]]. Jebe (possibly poisoned) suddenly dies of a fever near the [[Emil (river)|Imil River]].<ref>David Nicolle & Viacheslav Shpakovsky (2001). Osprey: ''Kalka River 1223 - Genghiz Khan's Mongols invade Russia'', p. 84. {{ISBN|1-84176-233-4}}.</ref>

==== Europe ====
* [[Livonian Crusade]]: The Estonians revolt against the [[Livonian Brothers of the Sword]] and [[Denmark]], and for a brief period reconquer all of their strongholds except for [[Tallinn]].

==== Asia ====
* Spring &ndash; The Mongol army led by [[Muqali]] (or '''Mukhali''') strikes into [[Shaanxi|Shaanxi Province]], attacking [[Chang'an]] while Genghis khan is invading the [[Khwarazmian Empire]]. The garrison (some 200,000 men) in Chang'an is too strong and Muqali is forced to pillage [[Feng County, Shaanxi|Feng County]]. During the campaign, Muqali becomes seriously ill and dies, while his forces are consolidating their position on both sides of the [[Yellow River]].<ref>Igor de Rachewiltz (1993). ''In the Service of the Khan: Eminent Personalities of the Early Mongol-Yüan Period (1200–1300)'', p. 7. Harrassowitz Verlag.</ref>



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