Events

• The Albigensian Crusade is launched against the Cathars.

• July 22 – Simon de Monfort, leader of the Albigensian Crusade, sacks Beziers, killing many Cathars and Catholics alike.

• August – Simon de Monfort takes over Carcassonne.

• November – John of England is excommunicated by Pope Innocent III.

• The Franciscan Order is founded.

• Cambridge University is founded.

• London Bridge is completed.

• Genghis Khan conquers Western Xia.

• The army of the Kingdom of Georgia raids the Muslim principalities in north Iran.

Births

• January 5 – Richard, Earl of Cornwall, Holy Roman Emperor (d. 1272)

• Hajji Bektash Wali, Turkish mystic (d. 1271)

Deaths

• November 12 – Phillipe de Plessis, Grand Master of the Knights Templar (b. 1165)

• Walter Map, Welsh writer (b. 1137)

• Fakhr al-Din al-Razi, Persian theologian and philosopher (b. 1149)

• Nezami Ganjavi, Persian mystic poet.