Year 1254 (MCCLIV) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar.
Northern Europe
June 12 – The city of Alkmaar obtains city rights from the count of Holland, William II.
November 1 – Edward Plantagenet (the future Edward I of England, aged 15) marries Eleanor of Castile (aged c. 13) at the Abbey of Santa María la Real de Las Huelgas, Burgos. His father Henry III has demanded the marriage in exchange for ending the war with her brother Alfonso X of Castile.
In England, an important step in the evolution of the Parliament and Peerage occurs, as lesser barons are replaced on the King's Council by elected representatives from shires and cities.
Pope Innocent IV excommunicates Conrad IV of Germany and Rudolph I of Germany (later elected Holy Roman Emperor).
The Danish city of Copenhagen receives its city charter.
The Swedish city of Malmö is founded.
Danylo of Halych, prince of Halych-Wolyn Rus, is crowned a king. The kingdom of Rus (Ruthenia Minor, Halych-Wolyn) is founded
Southern Europe
December 2 – Manfred of Sicily defeats the army of Pope Innocent IV at Foggia.
King Louis IX of France expels all Jews from France.
King Afonso III of Portugal holds the first session of the Cortes (Portugal's general assembly composed of nobles, members of the middle class, and representatives from all municipalities) in Leiria.
The Ghibelline town of Pistoia is taken over by Guelph Florence.
The Horses of Saint Mark, once supposed to have adorned the Arch of Trajan in ancient Rome, are installed at Saint Mark's Basilica in Venice.
Battle of Adrianople: The Byzantines defeat Bulgaria.
By topic
As part of an offensive against usury in north-western Europe, the pope Innocent IV relieves the city of Beauvais from its obligations to its creditors.
December 12 – Pope Alexander IV succeeds Pope Innocent IV as the 181st pope.
Construction is begun on the Cathedral of Saint Martin in Utrecht.
The Catholic dogma of purgatory is clarified and so named by the Catholic Church.
September 15 – Marco Polo, Italian explorer (d. 1324)
Floris V, Count of Holland (d. 1296)
Zhao Mengfu, Chinese scholar, painter and calligrapher (d. 1322)
Ren Renfa, Chinese painter
March 28 – William de Ferrers, 5th Earl of Derby (b. 1193)
May 21 – Conrad IV of Germany (b. 1228)
November 3 – John III Doukas Vatatzes, Byzantine Emperor (b. 1193)
December 7 – Pope Innocent IV
date unknown – Silvester de Everdon, English bishop
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