Henry II of England is crowned as king on December 19, 1154 at Westminster Abbey, following the death of Stephen. His coronation marked the beginning the Angevin Empire.
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What Happened in December?
Victories, births, and treaties. Explore the significant historical events and milestones that occurred in December. Dates for earlier events may be approximate.
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Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury, returns to England from exile on December 1, 1170, after an agreement with King Henry II. His return was met with a mixed reception and Becket was murdered in the cathedral on December 29, 1170.
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Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury is assassinated in Canterbury Cathedral, leading to a conflict between church and state in England.
It is believed the Henry II's expressed frustrations with Becket were interpreted by some of the Kings supporters as a mandate to eliminate him, prompting four knights to travel to Canterbury where they murdered Becket in the cathedral on December 29, 1170.
King Richard the Lionheart is captured in Austria on December 20, 1192 while returning from the Third Crusade, by Duke Leopold V. Richard was then sold to Holy Roman Emperor Henry VI and held for a massive ransom.
The ransom demanded was about 100,000 pounds of silver) equivalent to a king's fortune and twice England's annual income and it took over a year and heavy English taxation to pay before his release in 1194. Richard was finally freed after about 15 months of captivity in February 1194. He dad been captured near Vienna, Austria, after his ship was wrecked and he was forced to travel overland, highlighting the dangerous journey home for crusaders and the political rivalries of the time.
Pope Honorius III officially recognizes the Order of Preachers (now known as the Dominican Order) on December 22, 1216. The order was founded by Saint Dominic de Guzman with a focus on preaching the Gospel, combating heresy, and combining rigorous scholarship with active ministry.
The city of Ryazan in Russia is captured and burned on December 21, 1237 by Mongol forces under Batu Khan a grandson of Genghis Khan The city was left in ruins and most inhabitants slaughtered.
After an eight-day siege, a Mongol army led by Batu Khan occupies and destroys Kyiv on December 6, 1240. Out of 50,000 people in the city, only 2,000 survived. The victory allowed Batu Khan to proceed westward into Central Europe.
Pope Innocent IV canonizes Saint Edmund of Abingdon, the Archbishop of Canterbury on December 16, 1246, six years after his death.
The Treaty of Paris is signed, ending a conflict between King Louis IX of France and King Henry III of England. The treaty established a complex feudal relationship that ultimately sowed seeds for future conflicts like the Hundred Years' War.
Kublai Khan issues a decree that allows Marco Polo to become an emissary of the Mongol Empire.
The Battle of Orewin Bridge takes place near Builth Wells in mid-Wales on December 11, 1282 between the English and Welsh armies. It resulted in a decisive Welsh defeat and the death of their leader, Llywelyn ap Gruffudd; effectively ended Welsh autonomy.
c. 1287, December 14
A massive flood known as the "Saint Lucia's flood" strikes the Netherlands, causing widespread destruction. along the North Sea coast devastating the province of Friesland and killing an estimated 50,000 to 80,000 people. In response, a dike was built between the villages of Beetgum and Britsum, which was a major step in reclaiming a large inland sea area called Bordine.
A heavy storm over the North Sea generated surging waves that collapsed a thin land barrier, flooding the Zuiderzee inlet and causing more than 50,000 casualties. The flood, called the St. Lucia flood, has been rated as one of the most destructive floods in recorded history. The event also created direct sea access for the village of Amsterdam, allowing its development into a major port city.
Pope Celestine V abdicates the papacy after only five month son December 13, 1294, becoming one of the few popes to voluntarily resign. He was driven by a desire to return to his monastic life, acknowledging his unsuitability for the Papal role.
Pope Benedict XII, born Jacques Fournier, was elected Pope on December 20, 1334. He was the third Avignon Pope and was consecrated on January 8, 1335,
Pope Gregory XI, the last French Pope and final Avignon Pope, is elected on December 30, 1370, by the cardinals in Avignon, France, succeeding Pope Urban V.
Avignon had been the seat of the papacy since 1309, Gregory XI returned the papacy to Rome in 1377. His Papacy reign was from December 30, 1370 to March 27, 1378.
King Charles III of Naples (also known as Charles of Durazzo) was crowned King of Hungary in Székesfehérvár, Hungary on December 31, 1385, He had previously been crowned King of Naples in 1381. His rule in Hungary was short-lived as he was assassinated there in February 1386.
Tamerlane (Timur) captures and sacks Delhi on December 17, 1398, leading to three days of widespread destruction and the massacre of tens of thousands, possibly, over 100,000, inhabitants, plundering treasures and crippling the Delhi Sultanate.
The Battle of Castillon marks the end of the Hundred Years' War between England and France.
The Battle of Wakefield, takes place on December 30, 1460 during the Wars of the Roses in England, with a Lancastrian victory (loyal to Henry VI) and a major setback for the Yorkists.
The battle, claimed the lives of Richard, Duke of York, his son Edmund, Earl of Rutland, and Richard Neville, Earl of Salisbury, ending York's direct claim to the throne, though the conflict continued.