By place Europe •
April 7 –
Oath of Pontida: Supported by Pope
Alexander III, the
Lombard League is founded, a military alliance between the municipalities of
Milan,
Lodi,
Ferrara,
Piacenza and
Parma, against the German invading forces of Emperor
Frederick I (Barbarossa) in
Northern Italy. The League (with other Italian cities) openly challenges Frederick's claim to power (
Honor Imperii). •
April 12 – King
Charles VII (Sverkersson) is murdered at
Visingsö by supporters of
Canute I (son of
Eric IX), who proclaims himself king of
Sweden. However, Charles's half-brothers
Boleslaw and
Kol Sverkerson proclaim themselves rulers of
Östergötland, in opposition to Canute, which leads to fights for the power in Sweden (until
1173). •
May 29 –
Battle of Monte Porzio: The army of the
Commune of Rome is defeated by German forces under Frederick I and the local princes; Alexander III leaves
Rome. Frederick proceeds to Rome, where he is crowned by Antipope
Paschal III for the second time. A sudden outbreak of pestilence kills many of his advisors and knights. •
July 8 –
Battle of Sirmium: Byzantine forces (15,000 men) under General
Andronikos Kontostephanos defeat the Hungarians at
Sirmium. Emperor
Manuel I (Komnenos) consolidates his control over the western
Balkans. • August – Frederick I claims imperial authority over
Bohemia,
Greater Poland and
Hungary. He installs his 3-year-old son
Frederick V as duke of
Swabia, after Frederick's cousin,
Frederick IV, dies of disease at Rome.
Egypt •
March 18 –
Battle of Al-Babein: A second Zangid army (some 12,000 men) under General
Shirkuh and his nephew
Saladin marches towards
Egypt, but is met by the combined Crusader-Fatimid forces led by King
Amalric of Jerusalem. After skirmishing down the
Nile, the Crusaders are defeated near
Giza and forced to retreat to
Cairo. • May–June – Saladin leads the defence of
Alexandria against the Crusader-Fatimid forces. He takes command over the garrison (plus some 1,000 cavalry), and the army's sick and wounded. •
August 4 – Amalric I accepts a peace treaty and enters Alexandria at the head of the Crusader army. Saladin and his troops are escorted out with full military honours, and retreats to
Syria. • Probable date –
Battle of Pantina: The Byzantines intervene on behalf of Grand Prince
Tihomir of Serbia against his rebellious brother, Prince
Stefan Nemanja, who defeats the Byzantine forces and becomes
Grand Župan of
Serbia.
Ireland •
Diarmaid mac Murchadha (or Dermot), former king of
Leinster, returns to
Ireland with an advance party of Flemings under Richard fitz Godbert de Roche.
England • King
Henry II prohibits English students from attending the
University of Paris; many settle at the
University of Oxford.
Asia •
Taira no Kiyomori becomes the first
samurai to be appointed
Daijo Daijin, chief minister of the government of
Japan.
By topic Religion •
Absalon, Danish archbishop and statesman, leads the first
synod at
Lund. He is granted land around the city of "Havn" (modern-day
Copenhagen) and fortifies the coastal defence against the
Wends. == Births ==