1204

8 February

Alexius IV murdered; succeeded by anti-Latin Alexius V Ducas;

12 April

Latins capture Constantinople and establish a Latin Empire in Greece;

Exact date unknown

Al-Adil and Aimery agree on the restoration of Jaffa to Frankish control by diplomatic means.

1205

1 April

King Aimery of Cyprus and Jerusalem dies; Walter de Montbelliard named regent of Cyprus for underaged heir Hugh;

May

Queen Isabella of Jerusalem dies; John d’Ibelin named regent for underaged heir Marie de Montferrat.

1208

December

Frederick II Hohenstaufen comes of age (14) and takes control of his Kingdom of Sicily.

1210

September

Hugh de Lusignan comes of age; accuses Montbelliard of malfeasance; Maria de Montferrat marries John de Brienne;

October

Maria and John crowned queen and king-consort of Jerusalem.

1212

November

Queen Maria dies giving birth to a daughter, ‘Yolanda’; Brienne rules alone.

1213

April

Pope Innocent III calls for a new crusade (‘Fifth Crusade’).

1215

15 June

Magna Carta signed by King John in England;

25 July

Frederick II crowned king of the Germans in Aachen.

1217

July

King Andrew II of Hungary is first to embark on the new crusade;

9 October

In Cyprus, King Andrew joins forces with King Hugh of Cyprus, King John of Jerusalem and Prince Bohemond of Antioch;

10 November

Crusaders defeat army of al-Adil decisively at Bethsaida.

1218

10 January

Hugh I of Cyprus dies while on crusade; Philip d’Ibelin elected baillie by the High Court of Cyprus;

February