Editing 1218

{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2024}}
{{About year|1218}}
{{Year nav|1218}}
{{C13 year in topic}} 
[[File:Capturing Damiate.jpg|upright=1.35|thumb|Crusaders attack the tower of [[Damietta]], by [[Cornelis Claesz van Wieringen]] (1627)]]
Year '''1218''' ('''[[Roman numerals|MCCXVIII]]''') was a [[common year starting on Monday]] of the [[Julian calendar]].

== Events ==
<onlyinclude>

=== By place ===

==== Fifth Crusade ====
* [[May 24]] &ndash; A Crusader expeditionary force, (some 30,000 men) under King [[John of Brienne|John I of Jerusalem]], embarks at [[Acre, Israel|Acre]] (supported by Frisian ships), and sails for [[Egypt in the Middle Ages|Egypt]]. They arrive at the harbour of [[Damietta]], on the right bank of the [[Nile]], on [[May 27]]. Sultan [[Al-Adil]], surprised by the invasion, recruits an army in [[Syria]], while his son [[Al-Kamil]] marches an Egyptian force northwards from [[Cairo]], and encamps at Al-Adiliya, a few miles south of Damietta.<ref>[[Steven Runciman]] (1952). ''A History of The Crusades. Vol III: The Kingdom of Acre'', pp. 127–128. {{ISBN|978-0-241-29877-0}}.</ref> 
* [[June 24]] &ndash; [[Siege of Damietta (1218–1219)|Siege of Damietta]]: The Crusader army assaults the fortified city of Damietta, but they repeatedly fail. As a result, the Crusaders create a new type of naval siege weaponry, attributed by the German chronicler [[Oliver of Paderborn]]: two ships are bound together, with a siege tower and ladder constructed on top. 
* [[August 24]] &ndash; After a fierce fight, the Crusaders manage to establish themselves on the ramparts of Damietta, and capture the fort.<ref>Steven Runciman (1952). ''A History of The Crusades. Vol III: The Kingdom of Acre'', pp. 128–129. {{ISBN|978-0-241-29877-0}}.</ref>
* [[September]] &ndash; Cardinal [[Pelagio Galvani|Pelagius]] arrives with reinforcements at the Crusader camp, and proceeds to challenge the command of John I, claiming that the Church holds greater authority than a secular leader. Meanwhile, the Crusaders spend time clearing out an old canal, so that their ships can surround Damietta. Pelagius also brings news that King [[Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor|Frederick II]] has promised to follow soon, with a German expeditionary force.<ref>Steven Runciman (1952). ''A History of The Crusades. Vol III: The Kingdom of Acre'', p. 131. {{ISBN|978-0-241-29877-0}}.</ref>
* Al-Kamil decides to offer the Crusaders a deal, [[Kingdom of Jerusalem|Jerusalem]] in exchange for their departure from Egypt. John I favored accepting this offer but Pelagius refuses, unless it also includes [[Kerak Castle]] and other former castles of Jerusalem, to the east of the [[Jordan River]]. Al-Kamil refuses these strategically important sites, and Pelagius rejects the offer. This angers the Crusaders – who consider Jerusalem their important goal.<ref>Oliver of Paderborn, ''The Capture of Damietta'', Translated by John J. Gavigan. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 1948.</ref>
* [[October 9]] &ndash; Al-Kamil conducts a surprise attack on the Crusader camp. Discovering their movements, John I and his retinue counter-attack and annihilates the Egyptian advance guard. On [[October 26]], Al-Kamil attacks by using a bridge across the Nile, after a fierce onslaught the Egyptians are driven back into the river. The Crusaders strengthen their siege lines and receive French and English reinforcements at Damietta.<ref>Steven Runciman (1952). ''A History of The Crusades. Vol III: The Kingdom of Acre'', pp. 131–132. {{ISBN|978-0-241-29877-0}}.</ref>
* [[November 29]] &ndash; A storm, lasting for 3 days, floods the Crusader camp – devastating the Crusaders' supplies and transportation. To prevent a recurrence Pelagius orders a dyke to be constructed. After the camp is repaired, a serious epidemic strikes the Crusader forces. The victims suffer from a high fever, and at least a sixth of the soldiers die. During the severe winter, the survivors are left enfeebled and depressed.<ref>Steven Runciman (1952). ''A History of The Crusades. Vol III: The Kingdom of Acre'', p. 132. {{ISBN|978-0-241-29877-0}}.</ref>

==== Mongol Empire ====
* Spring &ndash; [[Genghis Khan]] dispatches a Mongolian army (some 20,000 cavalry) under [[Jebe]], to deal with the [[Qara Khitai]] (or Western Liao) threat. Meanwhile, he sends [[Subutai]] with another army on a simultaneous campaign against the [[Merkit]]s. Jebe defeats a force of 30,000 men led by Prince [[Kuchlug]] at the Khitan capital [[Balasagun]]. Kuchlug flees south to modern [[Afghanistan]], but is captured by hunters – who hands him over to the Mongols. After Kuchlug is beheaded and paraded through the cities of his new domains, Genghis annexes the entire Khitai empire under Mongol rule.<ref>John Man (2011). ''Genghis Khan: Life, Death and Resurrection'', pp. 179–180. {{ISBN|978-0-553-81498-9}}.</ref>
* [[Jochi]], eldest son of Genghis Khan, leads a successful campaign against the [[Kyrgyz people|Kyrgyz]]. Meanwhile, Genghis sends a caravan with precious gifts to [[Muhammad II of Khwarazm|Muhammad II]], ruler (''[[shah]]'') of the [[Khwarazmian Empire]], hoping to establish trade relations. However, [[Inalchuq]], Khwarazmian governor of [[Otrar]], attacks the caravan, claiming that the caravan contains spies. Genghis then sends a second group of three ambassadors to Muhammad to demand the merchants be set free. Muhammad refuses, and the merchants along with one of the ambassadors are executed.<ref>John Man (2011). ''Genghis Khan: Life, Death and Resurrection'', p. 184. {{ISBN|978-0-553-81498-9}}.</ref>

==== Britain ====
* [[March 11]] &ndash; [[Llywelyn the Great#Treaty of Worcester and border campaigns 1218–1229|Treaty of Worcester]]: King [[Henry III of England|Henry III]] writes to the Welsh ruler [[Llywelyn the Great]] and promises safe-conduct if they meet at [[Worcester, England|Worcester]]. A peace treaty is signed, which confirms Llywelyn's ownership of [[Wales]]. In return, Llywelyn agrees to pay homage to Henry and to return those castles that he has captured during his recent conquests.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/history/sites/nation/pages/principality01.shtml |title=BBC Wales History |access-date=2007-12-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071125170839/http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/history/sites/nation/pages/principality01.shtml |archive-date=November 25, 2007 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==== Europe ====
* [[June 25]] &ndash; [[Siege of Toulouse (1217–1218)|Siege of Toulouse]]: During a counter-assault, [[Simon de Montfort, 5th Earl of Leicester|Simon de Montfort]] is killed by a stone from one of the defender's siege engines. The leadership of the [[Albigensian Crusade]] falls to Simon's son [[Amaury de Montfort (died 1241)|Amaury de Montfort]], who lifts the siege a month later. [[Raymond VI, Count of Toulouse|Raymond VI]] is restored as count of [[County of Toulouse|Toulouse]] after a popular rebellion.<ref name="auto">Hywel Williams (2011). ''Cassell's Chronology of World History'', p. 135. {{ISBN|0-304-35730-8}}.</ref>
* July &ndash; In order to facilitate the movement of [[Reconquista]], Pope [[Pope Honorius III|Honorius III]] reverses [[Pope Innocent III|Innocent III]]'s earlier judgement, and declares King [[Ferdinand III of Castile|Ferdinand III]] ('''the Saint''') legitimate heir to the [[Kingdom of León]].<ref name=linehan1999>{{cite book|author1-link=Peter Linehan|editor1-link=David Abulafia|title=The New Cambridge Medieval History c.1198-c.1300|year=1999|publisher=Cambridge University Press|location=Cambridge|isbn=0-521-36289-X|pages=668–671|first=Peter|last=Linehan|editor=David Abulafia|chapter=Chapter 21: Castile, Portugal and Navarre}}</ref>
* [[Ivan Asen II]] becomes ruler (''[[tsar]]'') of the [[Second Bulgarian Empire|Bulgarian Empire]], during his reign he will add [[Despotate of Epirus|Epirus]], as well as parts of [[Albania]] and [[Macedonia (region)|Macedonia]] to his realm.<ref name="auto"/>

==== Levant ====
* [[August 31]] &ndash; Al-Adil I falls ill and dies at [[Damascus]] after an 18-year reign. He is succeeded in [[Syria]] by his eldest son [[Al-Mu'azzam Isa|Al-Mu'azzam]] and in Egypt by his younger son, Al-Kamil.<ref>Steven Runciman (1952). ''A History of The Crusades. Vol III: The Kingdom of Acre'', p. 129. {{ISBN|978-0-241-29877-0}}.</ref>

==== Asia ====
* [[Minamoto no Sanetomo]] becomes ''[[Minister of the Right|Udaijin]]'' ("Minister of the Right"), the third-highest post of the Japanese imperial court.<ref>Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric (2005). "Minamoto no Sanetomo" in [[Japan Encyclopedia]], p. 633. {{ISBN|0-674-00770-0}}.</ref>
* King [[Jayavarman VII]] of the [[Khmer Empire]] rebuilds the city of [[Angkor Thom]], including the Temple of [[Bayon]].<ref name="auto"/>

=== By topic ===

==== Education ====
* August &ndash; King [[Alfonso IX of León]] grants a royal charter to the [[University of Salamanca]].

==== Markets ====
* The city of [[Rheims]] emits the first recorded public [[life annuity]] in [[Middle Ages|Medieval Europe]]. This type of instrument had been mostly issued by religious institutions. The emission by Rheims is the first evidence of a consolidation of public debt that is to become common in the [[Langue d'Oïl]], the [[Low Countries]] and [[Germany]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Zuijderduijn|first=Jaco|title=Medieval Capital Markets. Markets for rent, state formation and private investment in Holland (1300-1550)|year=2009|publisher=Brill|location=Leiden; Boston|isbn=978-9-00417565-5}}</ref>

==== Religion ====
* [[Peter Nolasco|Pedro Nolasco]] founds the [[Order of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mercy]] in [[Barcelona]], Spain.

</onlyinclude>

== Births ==
* [[February 12]] &ndash; [[Kujō Yoritsune]], Japanese [[List of shōguns|shōgun]] (d. [[1256]])
* [[May 1]]
** [[John I, Count of Hainaut|John I]], count of [[County of Hainaut|Hainaut]] (d. [[1257]])
** [[Rudolf I of Germany|Rudolf I]], king of [[Kingdom of Germany|Germany]] (d. [[1291]])
* [[October 30]] &ndash; [[Emperor Chūkyō|Chūkyō]], emperor of Japan (d. [[1234]])
* [[Abel, King of Denmark|Abel]] ('''Valdemarsen'''), king of [[Denmark]] (d. [[1252]])
* [[Bernhard I, Prince of Anhalt-Bernburg|Bernhard I]], prince of [[Anhalt-Bernburg]] (d. [[1287]])
* [[Fujiwara no Chōshi]], Japanese empress (d. [[1275]])
* [[Irene Komnene Palaiologina|Irene Komnene]], Byzantine [[Nobility|noblewoman]] (d. [[1284]])
* [[Jaromar II, Prince of Rügen|Jaromar II]], German prince and co-ruler (d. [[1260]])
* [[Lý Chiêu Hoàng]], empress of [[Vietnam]] (d. [[1278]])
* [[Marie de Coucy]], queen consort of [[Kingdom of Scotland|Scotland]] (d. [[1285]])
* [[Maurice de Berkeley]], English nobleman (d. [[1281]])
* [[Peter of Courtenay, Lord of Conches|Peter of Courtenay]], French nobleman (d. [[1249]])
* [[Thomas de Cantilupe]], English bishop (d. [[1282]])
* [[Yolande of Brittany]], French noblewoman (d. [[1272]])

== Deaths ==
* [[January 10]] &ndash; [[Hugh I of Cyprus|Hugh I]] (or '''Hugo'''), king of [[Kingdom of Cyprus|Cyprus]] (b. [[1195]])
* [[January 23]] &ndash; [[Wolfger von Erla]], German bishop (b. [[1140]])
* [[February 2]] &ndash; [[Konstantin of Rostov]], Kievan Grand Prince
* [[February 12]] &ndash; [[Alice of Courtenay]], French noblewoman
* [[February 18]] &ndash; [[Berthold V, Duke of Zähringen|Berthold V]], German nobleman (b. [[1160]])
* [[May 6]] &ndash; [[Theresa of Portugal, Countess of Flanders|Theresa of Portugal]], countess of [[County of Flanders|Flanders]]
* [[May 19]] &ndash; [[Otto IV, Holy Roman Emperor|Otto IV]], Holy Roman Emperor (b. [[1175]])
* [[June 25]] &ndash; [[Simon de Montfort, 5th Earl of Leicester|Simon de Montfort]], French nobleman
* [[July 6]] &ndash; [[Odo III, Duke of Burgundy|Odo III]] (or '''Eudes'''), duke of [[Duchy of Burgundy|Burgundy]] (b. [[1166]])
* [[August 7]] &ndash; [[Adolf VI, Count of Berg|Adolf VI]] (or '''III'''), German nobleman (b. 1175)
* [[August 26]] &ndash; [[William of Chartres (Templar)]], French Grand Master
* [[August 31]] &ndash; [[Al-Adil I]], Ayyubid general and sultan (b. [[1145]])
* [[September 24]] &ndash; [[Robert of Knaresborough]], English [[hermit]] 
* [[November 12]] &ndash; [[Henry de Abergavenny]], English bishop 
* [[December 28]] &ndash; [[Robert II, Count of Dreux|Robert II]], French nobleman (b. [[1154]])
* [[Adelaide of Guelders]], countess of [[County of Holland|Holland]] (b. [[1182]])
* [[Álvaro Núñez de Lara (died 1218)|Álvara Núñez de Lara]], Castilian nobleman (b. [[1170]])
* [[Comita III of Torres]], Sardinian ruler (''[[Sardinian medieval kingdoms#Judges|judge]]'') (b. 1160)
* [[Federico Wanga]] (or '''Vanga'''), prince-bishop of [[Trentino|Trent]]
* [[Franca Visalta|Franca Piacenza]], Italian nun and abbess (b. 1170)
* [[Geoffrey de Luterel]], English landowner and knight
* [[Giolla Ernain Ó Martain]], Irish poet and [[Ollamh Érenn|Chief Ollam]]
* [[Henry de Abergavenny]], English [[abbot]] and bishop
* [[Jayavarman VII]], ruler of the [[Khmer Empire]] (b. [[1122]])
* [[Peter II, Bishop of Győr|Peter II]], Hungarian [[prelate]], chancellor and bishop
* [[Theobald VI, Count of Blois|Theobald VI of Blois]], French nobleman and knight
* [[Umadevi]], Indian queen and general (b. [[1150]])
* [[William I of Baux]], French nobleman (b. [[1155]])

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

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