1220 facts for kids

The year 1220 was a time of big changes and important events around the world. From powerful empires expanding to new buildings being built, let's explore what happened!

Big Events of 1220

• The Middle Ages were in full swing across Europe. This was a long period of history after the fall of the Roman Empire.
• The Fifth Crusade was happening. This was a series of religious wars where European Christians tried to take back control of holy lands from Muslim rule. This particular crusade lasted from 1217 to 1221.
• A battle took place in Estonia called the Battle of Lihula. It was fought between the local Estonians and the Swedes.
• The powerful Mongols started to invade the lands of the Abbasid Caliphate, which was a large Islamic empire. They captured important cities like Bukhara and Samarkand.
• The Kara-Khitan Khanate, another large empire, was completely destroyed by the Mongolian army led by the famous Genghis Khan.
• The Dominican Order, a group of Catholic priests and brothers, was officially approved by Pope Honorius III.
• Frederick II was crowned the Holy Roman Emperor by Pope Honorius III. This was a very important title in Europe at the time.
• Conrad of Masovia drove out the non-Christian Prussians from a part of his land called Chelmno Land.
• In England, a practice called Trial by ordeal was stopped. This was a way of deciding if someone was guilty by making them go through a dangerous test, like holding a hot iron.
• The German Hohenstaufen family, who had ruled Sicily since 1194, made Palermo their main city.
• The city of Dordrecht in the Netherlands was given special city rights. This makes it the oldest city in that country today.
• The city of Ljubljana also received its own town rights.
• The armies of the Mongol leader Genghis Khan (who lived from about 1155 to 1227) took over many Islamic lands in Central Asia. He destroyed many civilizations and created a huge empire that stretched from China all the way to the Caspian Sea. However, he did not manage to completely destroy the strength of Islam in Central Asia.

Amazing Architecture of 1220

• This was a time when Gothic architecture was popular in Europe. This style is known for its tall buildings, pointed arches, and large stained-glass windows.
• The rebuilding of the Chartres Cathedral was finished. This beautiful church had been damaged by a fire in 1194.
• Work began on rebuilding the famous York Minster in England.
• The construction of the impressive Salisbury Cathedral also started around this time.

Famous Births in 1220

• April 1 – Emperor Go-Saga was born in Japan. He later became an important emperor (died 1272).
• November 11 – Alphonse of Toulouse, the son of the French king Louis VIII of France, was born (died 1271).
• Thomas Ercildoun, a famous Scottish poet and singer, was born (died 1297).
• Alexander Nevsky, who would become a great prince and military leader in Russia, was born.
• Przemysł I of Poland, a future duke of Poland, was born (died 1257).
• Yaroslav of Russia, who would become a Grand Duke of Vladimir, was born.
• Walter de Burgh, 1st Earl of Ulster, an important Irish noble, was born (died 1271).

Notable Deaths in 1220

• February 17 – Theobald I, Duke of Lorraine, a powerful duke, passed away.
• April 15 – Adolf of Altena, an Archbishop of Cologne, died.
• Michael Choniates, a Byzantine writer and church leader, passed away.
• Farid od-Din Mohammad ebn Ebrahim 'Attar, a famous Persian poet, died.
• Saxo Grammaticus, a Danish historian known for writing about early Danish history, passed away (born 1150).
• Henry de Bohun, 1st Earl of Hereford, an English nobleman, died (born 1176).
• Mestwin I of Pomerania, a duke from Pomerania, passed away.
• Queen Urraca of Portugal, who was married to King Afonso II of Portugal, died (born 1186).

See also

In Spanish: 1220 para niños