1273
Rumi dies in Konya
The Sufi poet whose grief for his friend Shams of Tabriz had torn open a new chamber of Persian verse died in the Anatolian city of Konya. At his funeral, contemporaries wrote, men of every faith walked in procession, weeping in Turkish, Greek, Persian, and Arabic. His tomb beneath the green dome of the Mevlana Museum remains one of the most visited pilgrimage sites in Turkey.
Rudolf of Habsburg elected King of the Romans
A Swabian count widely regarded as too weak to be a threat was chosen by the German electors to end the Great Interregnum. He turned out tougher than expected. His descendants would hold the imperial dignity, with one break, until 1806. Rudolf's seizure of Austria from Ottokar of Bohemia at the Marchfeld gave the Habsburgs their territorial base for six centuries of European dominance.
Jalal al-Din Rumi's Masnavi completed by disciples
After the poet's death, his son Sultan Walad and disciples at the Mevlevi lodge in Konya preserved and organized the six books of the Masnavi-i Ma'navi, a vast ocean of allegorical verse, Sufi teaching stories, and ecstatic love poetry. The work would become the Quran of Persian literature, as Jami later declared.
Rudolf I crowned at Aachen
The new Habsburg king of the Romans received the traditional coronation in Aachen, imitating Charlemagne. He had to substitute a crucifix for the imperial scepter, which was lost, a detail contemporaries read as prophecy of his modest resources and greater ambitions. The improvised ceremony belied Rudolf's genuine administrative talent, and he quickly proved himself the most effective German ruler since Frederick II.
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Frequently asked
What happened in the year 1273?
Saeculum lists 4 curated events from 1273. The most significant is Rumi dies in Konya: The Sufi poet whose grief for his friend Shams of Tabriz had torn open a new chamber of Persian verse died in the Anatolian city of Konya.
What era was 1273 part of?
1273 falls within the High Middle Ages (1000-1300). Crusades, cathedrals, and the slow waking of Europe.
Which regions saw notable events in 1273?
The curated events from 1273 span Middle East and Europe.