1248

Events

### January and February

On January 4, Portugal's former King Sancho II died in exile. In February, the Guelphs defeated the troops of Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II at Parma, forcing the Ghibellines to banish leading Guelph families from Florence on February 2.

### March and April

Between March 27 and April 24, Güyük, the Mongol's supreme khan, died while walking west with his army. His widow Ogul Qaimich assumed the regency, but faced opposition from Batu and Soyurghachtani, wife of Toloui, who sought to raise their own candidates for the throne.

### May

On May 15, the Talmud was condemned and burned.

### August

August 20: Abu Yahia, chief of the Beni Mérin (Marinides), took Fes and settled his capital there. He rejected the authority of the Almohad Caliph of Marrakech and proclaimed himself vassal of Abu Zakariya, a Hafside caliph of Tunis.

August 25: King Louis IX sailed to Aigues-Mortes for a seventh crusade with his wife Marguerite de Provence. He arrived in Cyprus on September 7, where he would winter until the following year.

### Politics and World Affairs

Holy Roman Empire
February: During the siege of Parma, Emperor Frederick II suffered a heavy defeat on his expedition to Italy.
June 19: Duke Otto VIII of Merania died childless, leading to his Tyrolean possessions being inherited by his father-in-law.

Calendar

The year 1248 was a leap year that began on a Wednesday.