at the pass of Yehuling where the bulk of the Jin army awaits him. Between March and October, the battle is fought in three stages, after Genghis has defeated the Jin forces, he begins raiding the countryside before he withdraws for the winter. Europe Spring – Albigensian Crusade: Crusader forces led by Simon de Montfort conquer Toulouse and besiege Lavaur in southern France. On May 3, the city is retaken; on orders of Montfort the senior knights are hanged and some 400 Cathars are burned alive. March 26 – King Sancho I (the Populator) dies after a 25-year reign at Coimbra. He is succeeded by his son Afonso II (the Fat) as ruler of Portugal. During his reign, he designs the first set of Portuguese written laws. Livonian Crusade: Battles of Viljandi and Turaida – The Crusaders fail to conquer the Viljandi stronghold, but manage to baptize Sakala and Ugandi counties (Southern Estonia). September – The 16-year-old Frederick II is elected in absentia as German king by rebellious nobleman (supported by Pope Innocent III) at the Diet of Nuremberg (Germany). England Summer – King John (Lackland) campaigns in Wales against Llywelyn the Great, prince of Gwynedd. In July, after the Welsh uprising, John and Llywelyn reach an agreement and a peace treaty is signed. June – Papal legate Pandulf Verraccio arrives in Northampton to serve John (Lackland) with his excommunication ordered by Innocent III. For John this is a serious blow to his ability to rule the country. John (Lackland) sends a gift of herrings to nunneries in almost every shire, despite his status as an excommunicant. The Papal Interdict (see 1208) laid by Innocent III remains in force after John (Lackland) refuses to accept the pope's appointee. Asia June – Shams ud-Din Iltutmish, son-in-law of the former Sultan Qutb al-Din Aibak, becomes ruler of the Delhi Sultanate and quells the Hindu rebellions in India. By topic Religion April 21 – Santiago de Compostela Cathedral (begun in the 11th century) is consecrated, in the presence of King Alfonso IX of León. Archbishop Aubrey (or Alberic of Humbert) lays the first stone of the chevet of Reims Cathedral. Births January 20 – Agnes of Prague, Bohemian abbess (d. 1282) April 25 – Frederick II, duke of Austria and Styria (d. 1246) September 22 – Ibn Khallikan, Barmakid historian (d. 1282) December 3 – Francesco Lippi, Italian nobleman (d. 1291) Ajall Shams