The world in 1221 AD — what happened that year

7 events the sources record for this year, grouped by region.

What happened

Mongol troops took Tongguan and Jingzhao; by imperial edict the Secretariat and Chancery were ordered to deliberate on countermeasures. (History of Jin (Jinshi), Annals 金史卷016 宣宗興定五年12月)
The Jin built boats at Tuanfeng but could not cross; they besieged Huangzhou and also attacked the Hanyang Army. (History of Song (Songshi), Annals 宋史卷040 嘉定十四年)
Prince Tului captured the cities of Marucha-yak, Marv (Merv), and Siras. (History of Yuan (Yuanshi), Annals 元史卷1 太祖 1221年 10月)
In the second month they built boats at Tuanfeng but could not cross; they besieged Huangzhou, split their forces, broke several counties and attacked Hanyang Jun. (Xu Zizhi Tongjian (Continuation of the Comprehensive Mirror) 권161 二月 단락161.6.6)

Chinggis Khan sent Jochi, with his brothers Chagatai and Ögedei, to conquer Khwarazm. They besieged it, but because of an incident between Jochi and Chagatai (illegible) it was not taken; the next line reads «خوارزم … بستدند» (finally taken). (Rashid al-Din, Jami' al-tawarikh (Compendium of Chronicles) 87460_djvu.txt 줄 9504–9508)
Chinggis Khan's beloved grandson (Mütügen, son of Chagatai) was struck by an arrow shot from the fortress of Bamiyan; Chinggis Khan, deeply grieved, took the fortress. (Rashid al-Din, Jami' al-tawarikh (Compendium of Chronicles) 87460_djvu.txt 줄 10758–10762)
At Taloqan, on reaching Chinggis Khan, the fortress («قلعه») was being turned over or besieged (the verb «گردانیدند» is uncertain). (Rashid al-Din, Jami' al-tawarikh (Compendium of Chronicles) 87460_djvu.txt 줄 13222–13224)