1257

Year 1257 (MCCLVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar.

1257 imperial election
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Year 1257: A Year of Notable Events

Year 1257 (MCCLVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar. This year witnessed significant developments across various regions, from Europe to Asia.

Europe

  • January 13 – The first recorded meeting of the college of the seven Electors of the Holy Roman Empire takes place, where Richard of Cornwall, brother of King Henry III of England, is elected King of the Romans. He is crowned at Aachen on May 17, despite opposition from King Alfonso X of Castile, Pope Alexander IV, and King Louis IX of France.
  • Spring – The Epirote–Nicaean conflict begins, with the Despotate of Epirus under Michael II Komnenos Doukas clashing against the Empire of Nicaea.
  • The pagan Karelians launch a destructive expedition to Sweden, prompting King Valdemar to request a crusade against them.

British Isles

  • Battle of Cadfan: An English army led by Stephen Bauzan is ambushed and defeated by Welsh forces, resulting in significant casualties.
  • Henry III agrees to support his son The Lord Edward in a campaign against the Welsh.
  • Henry III orders the production of a pure gold penny coin, which leads to poor circulation due to its higher bullion value.
  • Battle of Creadran Cille: Maurice FitzGerald is killed by Gofraid O’Donnell in Ireland.

Levant

  • Venetian–Genoese Wars: The Venetian fleet, under Admiral Lorenzo Tiepolo, breaks through the harbour chain at Acre but cannot expel the Genoese garrison.
  • April 10 – Izz al-Din Aybak, the Mamluk sultan of Egypt, is assassinated, and his 14-year-old son Nur al-Din Ali ascends the throne.

Mongol Empire

  • Spring – Mongol forces under Uriyangkhadai conduct campaigns in Vietnam, securing Mongolian control over the region.
  • Winter – Mongol forces begin their advance into Iraq.

Asia

  • March – The Japanese Kōgen era ends, giving way to the Shōka era, during the reign of Emperor Go-Fukakusa.

City and Towns

  • June 5 – The city of Kraków is granted Magdeburg rights, having been rebuilt after the First Mongol invasion of Poland.

Education

  • Louis IX of France confirms the foundation of the College of Sorbonne in Paris.

Literature

  • Matthew Paris, an English monk, interviews Henry III while compiling his major work, Chronica Majora.

Natural Disaster

  • Samalas eruption: The eruption of Mount Samalas in Indonesia leads to significant climatic changes, causing famine and geopolitical shifts.

Notable Births

  • March 24 – Yolanda of Lusignan, French noblewoman (d. 1314)
  • August 15 – Muhammad III, ruler of Granada (d. 1314)
  • October 14 – Przemysł II, king of Poland (d. 1296)

Notable Deaths

  • April 10 – Aybak, ruler of the Mamluk Sultanate
  • May 20 – Maurice FitzGerald, killed in combat
  • June 4 – Przemysł I, Polish nobleman