1248 CE
A year marked by the launch of the Seventh Crusade under King Louis IX of France, the Castilian conquest of Seville, and the construction of monumental Gothic architecture across Europe.
Conflict & Security
- King Louis IX of France departed on the Seventh Crusade in August, sailing from Aigues-Mortes with a large army aimed at conquering Egypt as a means to recover Jerusalem.
- King Ferdinand III of Castile captured Seville on November 23 after a prolonged siege, completing the reconquest of the Guadalquivir valley and reducing Muslim territory in Iberia to the small Emirate of Granada.
Technology & Infrastructure
- The foundation stone of Cologne Cathedral was laid on August 15, beginning the construction of what would become one of the largest and most ambitious Gothic cathedrals in Europe.
- The Sainte-Chapelle in Paris was consecrated on April 26, a masterpiece of Rayonnant Gothic architecture built by Louis IX to house the Crown of Thorns and other Passion relics.
Climate & Environment
- Atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration was approximately 275 parts per million, as later confirmed by ice core analysis.
Culture & Society
- The estimated world population was approximately 380 million.