1281
From Freepedia
For broader historical context, see 1280s and 13th century.
| Years: 1278 1279 1280 - 1281 - 1282 1283 1284 | |
| Decades: 1250s 1260s 1270s - 1280s - 1290s 1300s 1310s | |
| Centuries: 12th century - 13th century - 14th century 1281 state leaders | |
Contents |
Events
Europe
- Pope Martin IV authorizes the Ninth Crusade against the newly re-established Byzantine Empire in Constantinople; French and Venetian expeditions set out toward Constantinople but are forced to turn back in the following year.
Middle East
- October 29 - Mamluk sultan Qalawun defeats an invasion of Syria by Mongol Ilkhan Abaqa Khan at the Battle of Homs.
- Osman I, founder of the Ottoman Empire, becomes bey of the Sögüt tribe in central Anatolia; in 1299 he will declare independence from the Seljuk Turks, marking the birth of the Ottoman Empire.
- An offensive by the Byzantine Empire significantly reduces the size of the Kingdom of Albania, as it recaptures land seized from the Despotate of Epirus by Charles I of Sicily ten years earlier.
Asia
- August 15 - The second Mongol invasion of Japan is foiled at the Battle of Kouan (or Battle of Kyushu) as a large typhoon — famously called a kamikaze, or divine wind — destroys much of the combined Chinese and Korean fleet and forces, numbering over 140,000 men and 4,000 ships.
- Kublai Khan orders the burning of sacred Taoist texts, resulting in the reduction in number of volumes of the Dao Zheng (Taoist Canon) from 4,565 to 1,120.
- The Mon kingdom of Haripunchai falls as its capital Lamphun (in present-day Thailand) is captured by King Mengrai's Lannathai kingdom.
Births
- Richard De Bury, English statesman (died 1345)
- Castruccio Castracani, duke of Lucca (died 1328)
- Yuri III Danilovich, Grand Prince of Russia (died 1325)
- Henry, 3rd Earl of Lancaster (died 1345)
- Hamdollah Mostowfi, Ilkhanid Iranian historian (died 1349)
- Rudolph I of Bohemia (died 1307)
