1259 facts for kids

The year 1259 was a time of important changes around the world. Kings made peace treaties, empires fought battles, and new kingdoms were formed. It was also a year when a powerful Mongol leader died, causing big changes in Asia.

Key Events in Europe

English Politics and Peace Treaties

• The Oxford Parliament was a meeting in England where powerful nobles, led by Simon de Montfort, made King Henry III of England agree to new rules called the Provisions of Oxford. These rules limited the king's power.
• December 4 – King Louis IX of France and King Henry III of England signed the Treaty of Paris. In this agreement, King Henry gave up his claims to lands in French-controlled Europe, like Normandy. In return, King Louis stopped supporting English rebels. This helped bring peace between the two countries.

Battles and Art

• In September, the Empire of Nicaea won a major victory against the Principality of Achaea at the Battle of Pelagonia. This win was very important because it helped the Empire of Nicaea take back Constantinople in 1261.
• The beautiful frescoes (wall paintings) inside the Boyana Church in Bulgaria were finished. This church and its amazing art are now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Trade and Protection

• The German cities of Lübeck, Wismar, and Rostock made a special agreement. They decided to work together to protect their ships from pirates in the Baltic Sea. This agreement helped set up the Hanseatic League, a powerful group of trading cities.
• Nogai Khan led the second attack by the Mongol Golden Horde against the lands of Lithuania and Poland.

Key Events in Asia

The Mongol Empire and Its Leaders

• August 11 – While attacking the Song Dynasty city of Fishing Town in Chongqing, China, the Mongol leader, or Khagan, Mongke Khan, died. No one is completely sure how he died. Some say he was hit by an arrow, others say he got sick from dysentery or cholera.
• Mongke Khan's death caused a big problem for the Mongol Empire. His brothers, Ariq Böke and Kublai, both wanted to be the next Khagan. They each held their own special meetings called a kuriltai to elect themselves. This led to a four-year civil war from 1260 to 1264. In the end, Ariq Böke gave up, and Kublai became the new leader.

Chinese Innovations and New Kingdoms

• During the war with the Mongols, a Chinese official named Li Zengbo wrote about something amazing. He said that the city of Qingzhou was making one to two thousand strong iron-cased gunpowder bomb shells every month. They were sending many thousands of these bombs to other cities like Xiangyang and Yingzhou.
• The kingdom of Lannathai was founded in the north of Thailand by King Mengrai.
• The Goryeo kingdom in Korea gave up to the invading Mongol forces.

Notable Births

• Pietro Cavallini, a famous Italian painter (died 1330)
• Demetre II of Georgia (died 1289)
• John II of Jerusalem (died 1285)
• Richard Og de Burgh, 2nd Earl of Ulster (died 1326)
• Infanta Branca of Portugal, daughter of King Afonso III of Portugal

Notable Deaths

• May 29 – King Christopher I of Denmark (born 1219)
• October 7 – Ezzelino da Romano III, an Italian ruler
• November 18 – Adam Marsh, an English scholar
• Gojong of Goryeo, a Korean king
• Möngke Khan, the leader of the Mongol Empire
• Matthew Paris, an English writer and historian
• Thomas II of Savoy

See also

In Spanish: 1259 para niños