1228

By area

Africa

• Abu Zakariya founds the Hafsid dynasty in Ifriqiyah.

  Asia

• Sukaphaa, the first Ahom king, establishes his rule in Assam. The Ahom kings reign for close to 600 years.

  Europe

• April 25 - Conrad IV of Germany becomes titular King of Jerusalem, with Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor as regent.
• June 28 - The Sixth Crusade is launched from Brindisi by Emperor Frederick II, after delays due to sickness and an excommunication from Pope Gregory IX.
• Baldwin II becomes emperor of the Latin Empire in Constantinople, with John of Brienne as regent.
• The Transylvanian town of Reghin is first mentioned, in a charter of Andrew II of Hungary.
• Spain: King James I of Aragon launches a major offensive against the Muslims in Majorca. The same year, in Murcia, confronted by increasing Christian pressure, the cadi, Ibn Hud al-Yamadi, denounces the Almohads and acknowledges the Abbasids as legitimate caliphs, in effect declaring independence. Other notable Christian success: Alfonso IX of León conquers Mérida.

  By topic

Markets

• The city of Tournai emits its first recorded life annuity, thus confirming a trend of consolidation of public debts started ten years earlier, in Reims.
• The first evidence is uncovered of the use of the Knights Templar as cashiers by the king of England, to transfer safely important sums to the continent, using letters of exchange. This shows that large transfers could take place across Europe, even before the emergence of important networks of Italian merchant-bankers.

  Religion

• July 16 - Saint Francis of Assisi is canonized by Pope Gregory IX.