1218

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**1218**
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1218 was a common year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar.

### Events

#### Fifth Crusade

The Fifth Crusade, led by King John I of Jerusalem, began in 1217. In May 1218, a Crusader expeditionary force, consisting of about 30,000 men, under King John I, embarked at Acre (supported by Frisian ships), and sailed for Egypt.

On June 24, the Crusaders assaulted the fortified city of Damietta, but they repeatedly failed. After a fierce battle, the Crusaders established themselves on the walls of Damietta and captured the fort. However, this was short-lived as Sultan al-Kamil decided to offer the Crusaders an agreement: Jerusalem in exchange for their departure from Egypt.

King John I favored accepting this offer, but Cardinal Pelagius refused, unless it also included Kerak Castle and other former castles of Jerusalem, to the east of the Jordan River. Al-Kamil menolak lokasi strategis ini, dan Pelagius menolak tawaran itu.

On October 26, Al-Kamil ataca using a puente sobre el Nilo, after a feroz embestida, the Egyptians were conducted towards atrás in the river. The following day, a tormenta, which lasted for three days, inundated the camp of the Crusaders, devastating their supplies and transportation.

To prevent a recurrence, Pelagius ordered a dike to be constructed.

#### Mongol Empire

Genghis Khan dispatched a Mongol army (about 20,000 cavalry) under Jebe, to deal with the Qara Khitai (or Western Liao) threat. In August, Subutai defeated a force of 30,000 men led by Prince Kuchlug at the Khitan capital Balasagun.

Kuchlug fled south to modern Afghanistan but was captured by hunters who handed him over to the Mongols. Kuchlug was decapitated and paraded through the cities of his new domains. Genghis annexed the entire Khitai empire under Mongol rule.

#### European Politics

In March 1218, King Henry III wrote to the Welsh ruler Llywelyn the Great and promised safe-conduct if they met at Worcesters.

On June 25, Simon de Montfort was killed by a boulder from a catapult during an assault on Toulouse. Pope Honorius III reversed Innocent III's earlier judgment, and declared King Ferdinand III (the Saint) legitimate heir to the Kingdom of León.

Ivan Asen II became ruler (tsar) of the Bulgarian Empire during his reign.

#### Markets

The city of Rheims issued the first recorded public life annuity in Medieval Europe.

### Deaths

* 10 January: Hugh I (or Hugo), king of Cyprus
* Wolfger von Erla, German bishop
* 2 February: Constantin de Rostov, Grand Prince of Kiev
* 12 February: Alice de Courtenay, noblewoman