The Second millenium

[Vince]

1231

Korea becomes a vassal state to the Mongolian Empire, with their ruling family forced to intermarry with Mongolian nobility. Why? Mongolia simply didn't have enough people who were competent to govern their conquered territories. By intermarrying with the rulers of those territories, they hoped to produce Mongolian leaders in the future.

Hangzhou, the capital of China, has a massive dust storm, followed by a massive fire that destroys about 10,000 homes.

Llywelyn the Great had started out as a Welsh prince. But he now rules most of Wales and begins attacking Norman holdings. When he dies nine years later, he will have gained control (and freedom for) most of Wales.

 

[Vince]

It is time for 1232.

This is complicated. There is a city called Ceuta on the African side of the Strait of Gibraltar. Despite being in Africa, it is part of Spain. The city revolts this year from the African Moslems, and the rebels are losing. But Genoa, an Italian city-state, rents their navy to the rebels. The rebels win, and Ceuta becomes independent, but it is now dependent on European Catholics to stay that way.

The island of Cyprus had been annexed by the Kingdom of Jerusalem, making them part of the Holy Roman Empire. The local nobles revolt and defeat a large army sent by the Holy Roman Empire. They haven't won the war, but they start besieging HRE castles and strongholds on the island.

In Moslem Spain, the Nasrid Dynasty is formed by Moslems who rebel against their Moslem rulers. Surviving until January 1492, they will be the last Moslem kingdom in Spain.

 

[Vince]

1233 is here!

The city of San Severo, on Italy's southeastern coast, had become so successful that it had declared itself independent of the Holy Roman Empire. It became a center for Catholic, Moslem, and Jewish merchants, and the HRE ceded it to the Knights Templar, hoping they cold control it. But the Knights kept it independent, so this year, the HRE destroys the city and starts rebuilding its ruins.

Spanish Moslems are having a really bad year, losing two cities to the Catholics with a third one under siege.

The Pope forbids Jews to have Christian servants.

 

[Vince]

Never before was it 1234.

What is left of the Jin Dynasty collapses, as the Mongolian Empire captures their capital. The Jins were one of three nations that claimed to be the "true" China. China itself, however, remains independent.

The Bogomils had been spreading rapidly through southeastern Europe. They were a Gnostic group that believed that the Devil had created the universe, and that God and the Devil were essentially equal in power. They rejected the corruption of the Catholic Church, and Pope Gregory declares a crusade against them.

Portugal continues to expand southward, capturing two more Moslem cities.

 

[Vince]

It's 1235!

The Iranian astronomer Abi Bakr invents a brass astrolabe with a geared calendar movement. This complicated device could determine latitude, tell time, and predict the locations of celestial objects. It is the oldest surviving complete mechanical geared machine in existence.

Connaught was a large kingdom on Ireland's west central coast. This year, the Normans invade and conquer it. The kingdom never regains its independence and today is an Irish province.

Back in Constantinople, the Catholic Church is having a hard time holding onto Constantinople. The Byzantines and Bulgarians unite to besiege the city, but the Catholics manage to get a two-year truce.

After winning the Battle of Kirina, the Mali Empire begins in western Africa.

David kimhi dies. This rabbi is most famous for his commentaries on the prophets. An expert grammarian, he relies heavily on the specific meanings of individual words in his commentaries. He also wrote on science and philosophy.

 

[Vince]

Welcome to 1236!

Ogedei Khan, the son of Genghis Khan, had been busily invading China, capturing some cities but unable to defeat the entire nation. When part of conquered China revolts, the Chinese kill an ambassador sent by the Mongolians. Ogediei quickly recaptures the rebellious areas. And he conquers Volga Bulgaria (which is not part of Bulgaria) in the extreme eastern part of Europe.

A summer drought causes a harvest failure in Europe, introducing one of the worst famines in history.

 

[Vince]

1237 is a really bad year for the Rus.

Mongolia launches its second invasion of the Rus. They reach Moscow, burn it, and enslave its citizens.

The Lombard Leagu was a loose alliance of northern Italian cities that resisted the Holy Roman Empire (which included northern Italy. This year, the HRE defeats the Lombard League so badly that it permanently collapses.

There is disagreement among historians about the Treaty of York. It settles border disputes between England and Scotland, including entire former kingdoms. Scotland becomes subservient to England and gives up attempts to expand southward. Yet most historians regard it as a minor treaty.

 

[Vince]

1238 is not so great.

Surrounding a Rus army at the Battle of Sit River, the Mongols massacre the Rus. For the next two centuries, Mongolia will dominate Russia, Ukrania, and Belarius.

The greatest battle in the history of Iceland results in fifty killed and five executed. The victorious clans then settle down peacefully.

In Spain, James the Conqueror seizes a Moslem city and continues his expansion along Spain´s Mediterranean coast.

In north central Thailand, Sukhothai revolts against the Kmer Empire, remaining independent for two hundred years.

 

[Vince]

1239 has arrived!

Ignoring his recent excommunication, HRE Frederick II declares the Catholic expansión into southern Spain to be a Crusade, while he personally leads a siege against a rebellious Italian city.

As if the Rusdon´t have enough trouble with the Mongolian invaders, Rinderpest breaks out. A devastating cattle plague, rinderpest was declared extinct in 2011; it is the second disease (along with smallpox) to be eradicated.

 

[jasoncran]

1239 has arrived!

Ignoring his recent excommunication, HRE Frederick II declares the Catholic expansión into southern Spain to be a Crusade, while he personally leads a siege against a rebellious Italian city.

As if the Rusdon´t have enough trouble with the Mongolian invaders, Rinderpest breaks out. A devastating cattle plague, rinderpest was declared extinct in 2011; it is the second disease (along with smallpox) to be eradicated.

small pox isn't dead. otherwise the army wouldn't be giving soldiers them shot once again.

 

[Vince]

Smallpox isn´t dead, but it is eradicated. It survives in some laboratories. In 1979, the World Health Organization declared that smallpox had been eradicated.

And now, on to 1240!

Islam is introduced to the island of Sulu, the fifteenth-largest island in the Philippines. The Moslems establish a sultanate that still rules the island, and the Spanish regarded it as one of the most difficult parts of the Philippines to conquer.

It´s a mixed year for the Rus. Mongolians sack the city of Kiev, but in the west, they defeat an invading Swedish army.

In Portugal, King Sancho II seizes two more Moslem cities.

A member of the German nobility named Henry the Illustrious has a son named Albert the Degenerate. Albert will later produce a minor civil war with his own sons, which he will settle by giving them land in exchange for a lifetime annuity.

 

[Vince]

1241 is a very bad year for Europe.

Mongolia invades Poland. Their real goal was to cover their flank while they invaded Hungary, making it impossible for the Poles to send help to the Hungarians. With Poland fragmented by divisions among royal sons, they and the knights who assist them are defeated. The Mongols devastate southern and central Poland before heading for Hungary. Quickly winning some major battles in Hungary, the Mongols kill about 1/5 of the population,and destroy half of the inhabited areas. But suddenly, Mongolia is beset by political crises. They quickly withdraw from Poland and Hungary, and the Rus and Bulgarians are left under the rule of Mongol-appointed governments.

Having won his nation´s civil wars, the King of Norway sends agents to assassinate a prominent Icelandic leader who had been trying to seize the local government.



Celestine IV dies sixteen days after becoming Pope. With the HRE holding some cardinals as prisoners while demanding that the Emperor's choice be appointed Pope, seven cardinals elected Celestine. It is agreed that the stress of war with the HRE and Sicily, the arrests of various cardinals, and an unclear election contributed to his death from natural causes. It will take a year and a half to elect another Pope.

 

[Vince]

1242 has got to be an improvement over last year.

Ireland suffers a massive heat wave and drought.

Japan´s ten year old Emperor dies suddenly, and there is a succession crisis. After eleven days of fierce debate (but no bloodshed) Go-Saga begins his four year reign. Chosen for his neutrality, he reigns quietly before abdicating to his son. He then becomes the real Emperor, incompetently placing various sons on the throne and producing two rival lines of Emperors.

Portugal seizes three more Moslem towns.

The great Arab physician Abn al-Nafis describes the circulation of the blood.

 

[Vince]

1243

Innocent IV begins his eleven year reign as Pope. Despite being a friend of HRE Frederick, the new Pope refuses to back down on any Papal demands, including the return of Papal territories. Forced to flee to France, he convened a council that excommunicated the Emperor. Peace came with the Emperor's death in 1250, and the Pope returned safely to Italy and then Rome.

Innocent devoted most of his life to political affairs, insisting that he was ruler over all the earth, including non-Christians nations. He negotiated unsuccessfully with the Mongols to stop killing Christians, but he did lessen the problem.

A large but incompetent Turkish army is defeated by the Mongolians, and the Seljuk Turks are forced to become a vassal state.

Murcia, a small Moslem kingdom in southern Spain, is forced to become a vassal state of Castille. Castille immediately begins importing Catholics and sending missionaries to the Moslems.

French forces burn over 200 Catharii at the stake.

 

[Vince]

1244 is now on deck.

The Catholic Church executes hundreds of Catharii in France.

In Spain, King James I of Aragon captures three more Moslem cities. But in the Holy Land, victorious Moslems capture Jerusalem and tear down its walls. Plans are begun for a Seventh Crusade.

 

[Vince]

It is now 1245!

Civil war breaks out in the Holy Roman Empire after the Catholic Church declares Emperor Frederick II deposed. For the next five years, the HRE will have two rival Emperors. Civil war is avoided in Portugal when the Pope deposes the king in favor of the king´s brother. Next year, the king abdicates peacefully to his brother and lives out his life quietly.

65 year old John of Plano is sent by the Pope to the Great Khan. After a very arduous journey, they meet the Khan in person. He rejects their request that he turn Catholic, insists that he (not the Pope) is authorized by God to rule all the earth, and sends a letter commanding the Pope and all European kings to submit to him. After another difficult trip home, the messengers are helped by Slavonic Christians, who help them recover before sending them on to the Pope.

 

[Vince]

Welcome to 1256!

To the west of the center of Mexico, American Indians settle in Chapultepec. Six centuries later, it will be the site of a major US victory over Mexico. However, the settlement never becomes larger than a small city.

It takes them five years to do it, but Spanish Catholics capture Jaen from the Moslems. It will later become a major city in the defense of Spain against Moslems. Today it is known as "The Olive Oil Capital of the World."

 

[Vince]

Oh thank Heaven, it's 1257!

The University of Paris, known as “The Sorbonne,” is founded. Actually, the University of Paris already existed. But starting out as a college, the Sorbonne quickly took the name, and later the buildings, of the first University of Paris. One of the world's greatest educational institutions, it was divided into 13 independent universities in 1970.

The Mongolian Empire captures northern Vietnam.

Over in the Holy Land, war breaks out between Genoa and Venice over possession of conquered lands. The war also involves trading rights. Both sides hired Moslem soldiers as allies, with the war ending in a tie in 1270.

 

[Vince]

And now it is 1258!

Mongol invaders sack Baghdad, and The Golden Age of Islam comes to an end. The goal of the Mongols had merely been to force Baghdad into submission, without destroying the caliphate. But when they saw their opportunity, they took it, massacring most of the population when the city fell.

Baghdad was the capital of the second Moslem Empire, but over the centuries, the Empire had fragmented into various kingdoms, some of which actually ruled Baghdad itself. When various Moslem kingdoms allied themselves with the Mongolians, the end of the second Empire was assured.

Lasting about five centuries, The Golden Age of Islam had produced a large amount of scientific, medical, and literary advancements.

And Korea also surrenders to the Mongols. Not having enough people capable of ruling their vast empire, the Mongols force the Korean royal family to marry Mongolians, hoping to create a family of competent Mongol rulers whom the Koreans will regard as their own.

We don´t now where it happened, but a gigantic volcano in January alters world weather patterns for the first half of the year. Either North or South America are the most likely guesses.

After defeating his uncle, Llywelyn Our Last Leader becomes the last Prince of an independent Wales. The English later conquer Wales and have never given it up.

 

[Vince]

And now it is 1258!

Mongol invaders sack Baghdad, and The Golden Age of Islam comes to an end. The goal of the Mongols had merely been to force Baghdad into submission, without destroying the caliphate. But when they saw their opportunity, they took it, massacring most of the population when the city fell.

Baghdad was the capital of the second Moslem Empire, but over the centuries, the Empire had fragmented into various kingdoms, some of which actually ruled Baghdad itself. When various Moslem kingdoms allied themselves with the Mongolians, the end of the second Empire was assured.

Lasting about five centuries, The Golden Age of Islam had produced a large amount of scientific, medical, and literary advancements.

And Korea also surrenders to the Mongols. Not having enough people capable of ruling their vast empire, the Mongols force the Korean royal family to marry Mongolians, hoping to create a family of competent Mongol rulers whom the Koreans will regard as their own.

We don´t now where it happened, but a gigantic volcano in January alters world weather patterns for the first half of the year. Either North or South America are the most likely guesses.

After defeating his uncle, Llywelyn Our Last Leader becomes the last Prince of an independent Wales. The English later conquer Wales and have never given it up.