1248
Ferdinand III captures Seville
After a seventeen-month siege that saw Castilian ships break the pontoon bridge across the Guadalquivir, the great Almohad city surrendered.
Louis IX launches the Seventh Crusade
Having vowed to crusade during a near-fatal illness, the French king set sail from Aigues-Mortes at the head of an enormous army bound for Egypt.
Cologne Cathedral begun
The archbishop laid the foundation stone of a new Gothic cathedral intended to shelter the relics of the Magi, recently brought from Milan.
Beginning of Sainte-Chapelle in Paris
Louis IX dedicated his new palace chapel, a jewel box of stained glass built to house the Crown of Thorns he had purchased at great expense.
Volcanic eruption recorded in Iceland
An eruption from one of Iceland's volcanic systems deposited ash across farmland and poisoned grazing pastures.
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Frequently asked
What happened in the year 1248?
Saeculum lists 5 events from 1248. The most significant is Ferdinand III captures Seville: After a seventeen-month siege that saw Castilian ships break the pontoon bridge across the Guadalquivir, the great Almohad city surrendered.
What era was 1248 part of?
1248 falls within the High Middle Ages (1000-1300). Crusades, cathedrals, and the slow waking of Europe.
Which regions saw notable events in 1248?
The events from 1248 span Europe and Middle East.