What Happened in August?

The influential Chinese poet Su Shi, dies on August 24, 1101, leaving behind him a prolific collection of poems, lyrics, prose, and essays. His poetry had enduring popularity and influence in China and other areas in the near vicinity such as Japan. He is well known in some English-speaking countries through translations by Arthur Waley and Stephen Owen, among others.  Expand +

Magnus III Barefoot, King of Norway, is killed on August 24, 1103, in an ambush while in an expedition to establish Norwegian influence in the Irish Sea area His death marked the end of a significant period of Norwegian overseas expansion.

Louis VI is crowned as the King of France in the cathedral of Orléans. He succeeded his father, Philip I, who died on July 29, 1108. 

Henry I of England defeats Louis VI of France at the Battle of Bremule. The victory helped solidify Henry's hold on Normandy and his son William Adelin as the heir to the Duchy of Normandy. More 

Pope Innocent III calls for a new crusade to reclaim Jerusalem. The Fourth Crusade plan was to invade the Holy Land through Egypt, as it was the center of Ayyubid power.

King John of England marries Isabella of Angoulême, she was age 12 or 14. The marriage took place in Angoulêmein, France  a year after he annulled his first marriage to Isabel, Countess of Gloucester.  Expand +

The Massacre at Béziers takes place during the Albigensian Crusade, where the Catholic Crusaders sack the city of Béziers in southern France.

The Battle of Bouvines, the concluding battle of the Anglo-French War of 1213–1214 took place on near the town of Bouvines in the County of Flanders. The French army commanded by King Philip Augustus routed a larger allied army led by Holy Roman Emperor Otto IV in one of the rare pitched battles of the High Middle Ages and one of the most decisive medieval engagements.

Louis VIII of France is crowned King of France at the traditional site for French royal coronations, the Reims Cathedral. He had succeeded his father, Philip II, who died on July 14, 1223 but his coronation did not take place until August 6.

Genghis Khan, (actually named Borjigin Temujin), the founder and Great Khan of the Mongol Empire, dies in Mongolia some time in late August. 1227. At the time of his death, the Mongol Empire was 2.5 times larger by territory than the Roman Empire.  Expand +

The foundation stone for the current Cologne Cathedral in Germany was laid on August 15, 1248, by Archbishop Konrad von Hochstaden marking the beginning of its construction. The ambitious Gothic cathedral project, built to house the relics of the Three Wise Men, would take over 600 years to complete with construction finally concluding in 1880. The High Cathedral Church, belonging to the Catholic Church. It is Germany's most visited landmark. Expand +

The Seventh Crusade, led by King Louis IX of France, reaches Egypt and begins the siege of Damietta.

The Seventh Crusade, led by King Louis IX of France, departs from France on August 25, 1248. with the objective to reconquer the Holy Land. The expedition was a failure for the crusaders ending in defeat in 1250 at the Battle of Mansourah, where King Louis IX was captured and later ransomed.

The Byzantine Empire recaptures the city of Constantinople from the Latin Empire, marking the end of the Fourth Crusade.

King Louis IX of France dies from a plague in Tunis while leading the Eight Crusade which had as a goal the conquest of Tunis, then proceed to Egypt and march to the Holy Land. However, upon arrival in Tunisia it became clear that it was not going to be possible to conquer the Bey of Tunis.  Expand +

The Mongol-led Yuan Dynasty of China successfully repels a second invasion attempt by the Japanese forces in the Battle of Kōan.

Swiss National Day - Alliance against the Holy Roman Empire in 1291.

The Siege of Acre ends, resulting in the fall of the Crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem and the complete expulsion of European Christian forces from the Holy Land.

William Wallace, Scottish leader of the resistance against English rule, is captured by English forces near Glasgow. He was betrayed by John Menteith, a Scottish knight loyal to Edward I, and handed over to the English. Wallace was taken to London, where he was condemned as a traitor and executed on August 23, 1305. Menteith received large land grants in Knapdale and Kintyre for his service.

William Wallace, leader of Scottish resistance is executed for treason. Wallace was captured on August 7 near Glasgow after being betrayed by John Menteith, a Scottish knight loyal to Edward I, and handed over to the English. Menteith received large land grants in Knapdale and Kintyre for his service.