1208
Innocent III launches the Albigensian Crusade
After a papal legate was murdered in Languedoc, Innocent III called down crusade on the Cathar heretics of southern France.
Iltutmish consolidates power in Delhi
The Turkish slave-general Iltutmish seized the nascent sultanate from Qutb-ud-din Aibak's incompetent heir and began transforming a military occupation…
Saxo Grammaticus completes Gesta Danorum
The Danish cleric finished his sixteen-book history of the Danes, written in ornate Latin prose that would have flattered Cicero.
Philip of Swabia murdered at Bamberg
The Hohenstaufen claimant to the German throne was stabbed by the Count Palatine of Bavaria in a quarrel over a broken marriage promise.
Want 1208 in context? Print the whole 13th century as a one-sheet timeline chart.
Frequently asked
What happened in the year 1208?
Saeculum lists 4 events from 1208. The most significant is Innocent III launches the Albigensian Crusade: After a papal legate was murdered in Languedoc, Innocent III called down crusade on the Cathar heretics of southern France.
What era was 1208 part of?
1208 falls within the High Middle Ages (1000-1300). Crusades, cathedrals, and the slow waking of Europe.
Which regions saw notable events in 1208?
The events from 1208 span Europe and South Asia.