Editing 1240 (section)

==== Europe ====
* [[May 24]] &ndash; Duke [[Skule Bårdsson]], claimant to the Norwegian throne, is defeated by King [[Haakon IV of Norway|Haakon IV]] ('''the Old''') and his supporters. He seeks refuge in [[Helgeseter Priory|Elgeseter Priory]] in [[Trondheim]], and Haakon burns down the monastery, in which Skule is burned alive. Haakon becomes the undisputed ruler; this ends the [[civil war era in Norway]], after 110 years.
* [[July 15]] &ndash; [[Battle of the Neva]]:  A Swedish army under Bishop [[Thomas (bishop of Finland)|Thomas]] sails up the [[Gulf of Finland]] in their longboats. They proceed into the [[Neva|Neva River]] with the aim of seizing control over [[Lake Ladoga]] and from there, striking at the city of [[Veliky Novgorod|Novgorod]]. Prince [[Alexander Nevsky|Alexander]] rallies his ''[[druzhina]]'' comparable to the 'household' of western European countries, and decisively routs the Swedish forces, saving the [[Novgorod Republic]] from a full-scale enemy invasion from the North. As a result, Alexander wins his first military victory at the age of 19 and receives the title of '''Nevsky'''.<ref>[[David Nicolle]] (2005). Osprey: ''Lake Peipus 1242 – Battle on the Ice'', pp. 51–53. {{ISBN|1-85532-553-5}}.</ref>
* [[August]] &ndash; [[Siege of Faenza]]: Frederick II lays siege to the town of [[Faenza]] during the war of the [[Guelphs and Ghibellines]]. Meanwhile, Frederick makes an alliance with [[Republic of Pisa|Pisa]] to support his campaign against the [[Papal States]].
* Winter &ndash; Alexander Nevsky quarrels with the Kievan nobles (''[[boyar]]s'') and merchants of Novgorod, probably about peaceful trade with the westerners. He is banished, along with his mother, wife, and his ''druzhina'' to take up residence in the region around [[Moscow]], a minor town on the western border of the [[Vladimir-Suzdal|Principality of Vladimir-Suzdal]].<ref>David Nicolle (2005). Osprey: ''Lake Peipus 1242 – Battle on the Ice'', p. 53. {{ISBN|1-85532-553-5}}.</ref>
* [[Reconquista]]: King [[Sancho II of Portugal|Sancho II]] ('''the Pious''') conquers the city of [[Ayamonte]] from the [[Almoravid dynasty|Almoravids]], securing the Portuguese position in [[Al-Andalus]].<ref name=picard2000>{{cite book|last=Picard|first=Christophe|title=Le Portugal musulman (VIIIe-XIIIe siècle. L'Occident d'al-Andalus sous domination islamique|year=2000|publisher=Maisonneuve & Larose|location=Paris|isbn=2-7068-1398-9|page=110}}</ref>