Editing 1244 (section)

== Events ==
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=== By place ===

==== Europe ====
* [[March 16]] &ndash; [[Siege of Montségur]]: French forces capture and destroy [[Château de Montségur]] in [[Languedoc]], after a 9-month siege. Some 200 'heretics' (''[[Cathar Perfect|perfecti]]'' and ''[[credentes]]'') are burnt in a [[bonfire]], near the foot of the castle. This marks the final defeat of the [[Catharism|Cathars]] (or Albigensians); the followers become scattered fugitives, meeting in forests and mountain wilds.<ref>Hywel Williams (2005). ''Cassell's Chronology of World History'', p. 140. {{ISBN|0-304-35730-8}}.</ref>
* [[March 26]] &ndash; [[Treaty of Almizra]]: King [[James I of Aragon|James I]] ('''the Conqueror''') and King [[Ferdinand III of Castile|Ferdinand III]] ('''the Saint''') agree on the distribution of Muslim lands yet to be [[Reconquista|conquered]]. All lands south of a line, from the cities of [[Biar]] to [[Villajoyosa]] through [[Busot]], are reserved for the [[Crown of Castile]]. This ends further Aragonese expansion on the [[Iberian Peninsula]].<ref name=negotiating96>{{cite book|last=de Epalza|first=Miguel|title=Negotiating cultures: bilingual surrender treaties in Muslim-Crusader Spain under James the Conqueror|year=1999|publisher=Brill|isbn=90-04-11244-8|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IjFacnscoBIC&q=Treaty+of+Alcaraz+1243|page=96}}</ref>
* [[December]] &ndash; King [[Louis IX of France|Louis IX]] ('''the Saint''') falls desperately ill of a severe [[malaria]]n infection. Near-death, he vows that if he recovers he will set out for a crusade. Louis' life is spared and as soon as his health permits him, he takes the cross and immediately begins preparations for the [[Seventh Crusade]].<ref>[[Steven Runciman]] (1952). ''A History of The Crusades. Vol III: The Kingdom of Acre'', p. 214. {{ISBN|978-0-241-29877-0}}.</ref>

==== Levant ====
* [[June]] &ndash; [[Khwarazmian army between 1231 and 1246|Khwarazmian forces]] (some 10,000 men) invade Syrian territory, ravaging the land and burning the villages. As [[Damascus]] is too strong for a siege, they attack [[Galilee]], past the town of [[Tiberias]] – which they capture. The Khwarazmians attack further southward through [[Nablus]] towards [[Jerusalem]].<ref>Steven Runciman (1952). ''A History of The Crusades. Vol III: The Kingdom of Acre'', p. 187. {{ISBN|978-0-241-29877-0}}.</ref>
* [[July 15]] &ndash; [[Siege of Jerusalem (1244)|Siege of Jerusalem]]: Khwarazmian horsemen attack and sack the 'holy city' of Jerusalem. There is bloody fighting in the streets, the Khwarazmian force their way into the [[Armenian Quarter]], where they decimate the Christian population, and drive out the Jews. The city is left in a state of ruin.<ref>Gilbert, Martin (1978). ''Jerusalem: Illustrated History Atlas'', p. 25. New York: Macmillan Publishing.</ref> 
* [[August 23]] &ndash; The [[Tower of David]] surrenders to the Khwarazmian forces, some 6,000 Christian men, women and children march out of Jerusalem. As they move along the road toward [[Jaffa]], they see crusader flags waving on the [[Walls of Jerusalem]]. Returning, some 2,000 of them are massacred.<ref>Steven Runciman (1952). ''A History of The Crusades. Vol III: The Kingdom of Acre'', p. 188. {{ISBN|978-0-241-29877-0}}.</ref>
* [[October 4]] &ndash; The Crusaders assemble a force of some 1,000 cavalry and 6,000 men outside [[Acre, Israel|Acre]], after hearing that Jerusalem is sacked by the Khwarazmians. They are joined by the Ayyubid forces (some 4,000 men) of [[Damascus]] and [[Homs]] – while Emir [[An-Nasir Dawud]] brings his army from [[Al-Karak|Kerak]].<ref>Dougherty, Martin J. (2007). ''Battles of the Crusades'', pp. 176–77. {{ISBN|978-1-905704-58-3}}.</ref>
* [[October 17]] &ndash; [[Battle of La Forbie]]: A Crusader army (some 10,000 men) under [[Walter IV, Count of Brienne|Walter IV of Brienne]] and Ayyubid allies are defeated near [[Hiribya]] (or '''La Forbie''') by Egyptian and Khwarazmian forces. The army is destroyed, with about 7,500 men killed. Walter and [[Guillaume de Chateauneuf|William of Chastelneuf]] are captured.<ref>Steven Runciman (1952). ''A History of The Crusades. Vol III: The Kingdom of Acre'', p. 189. {{ISBN|978-0-241-29877-0}}.</ref>

=== By topic ===

==== Religion ====
* [[June 7]] &ndash; Pope [[Pope Innocent IV|Innocent IV]] is driven from [[Rome]] by imperial forces of Emperor [[Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor|Frederick II]], and travels secretly in disguise to [[Sutri]]. Genoese galleys prepared by his relatives are waiting for him at the port of [[Civitavecchia]] to take him to [[Genoa]].
* [[October 5]] &ndash; Innocent IV flees to [[France in the Middle Ages|France]] and travels to [[Lyon]], where he arrives on [[November 29]]. Although the city is nominally subject to the [[Holy Roman Empire]], Innocent falls under the protection of Louis IX. 
* [[December 27]] &ndash; Innocent IV summons a general council to meet in Lyon (some 140 bishops eventually come) to attend what becomes later the [[First Council of Lyon]].
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