1202

Updated on Oct 11, 2024

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Year 1202 (MCCII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar.

Asia

May 20 – Earthquake strikes in Syria.

Genghis Khan crushes the Tatars.

Europe

May–October – Fourth Crusade gathers in Venice.

July – John, King of England rescues his mother, Eleanor of Aquitaine, from near capture by the rebellious forces of Arthur I, Duke of Brittany.

July 27 – Georgians defeat the Seljuqids of Rüm at the Battle of Basian.

August 1 – Arthur I, Duke of Brittany is captured in Mirebeau, north of Poitiers, during a battle with John, King of England.

November 10–23 – Fourth Crusade – Siege of Zara: In the first major action of the Crusade, the Crusaders besiege and conquer Zadar in Dalmatia. Unable to pay the Republic of Venice in cash for its contributions to the Crusade, the Crusaders agree to sack the city (an economic rival to Venice) despite letters from Pope Innocent III forbidding such an action and threatening excommunication (which is carried out at the urging of Emeric, King of Hungary). This is the first attack against a Catholic city by Catholic Crusaders.

The Almohad fleet expels the Banu Ghaniya from the Balearic Islands.

The Livonian Brothers of the Sword is founded to support a crusade against the inhabitants of Medieval Livonia.

Pope Innocent III reasserts his right to evaluate and crown the Holy Roman Emperor, in a letter to Berthold V, Duke of Zähringen.

Culture

Leonardo Fibonacci of Pisa writes Liber Abaci, about the modus Indorum, the Hindu–Arabic numeral system, including use of zero; it is the first major work in Europe to move away from the use of Roman numerals.

Approximate date – The first jesters are hired in European courts.