Events

• May 1—Battle of Cresson: Saladin defeats the crusaders.

• July 4—Battle of Hattin: Saladin defeats Guy of Lusignan, King of Jerusalem.

• September 20—October 2—Siege of Jerusalem: Saladin captures Jerusalem.

• October 21—Pope Gregory VIII succeeds Pope Urban III as the 173rd pope.

• October 29—Pope Gregory VIII issues the bull Audita tremendi, proposing the Third Crusade.

• December 19—Pope Clement III succeeds Pope Gregory VIII as the 174th pope.

• Alexius Branas attempts to seize Constantinople in defiance of his master Isaac II Angelus.

• The Cathedral of St. Jacob is consecrated in Szczecin, Pomerania.

• Estonians, Curonians and Karelians destroy Sigtuna and kill the archbishop.

• Knut Eriksson builds a castle in the island of Stockholm.

• The Toltecs are deposed at Chichen Itza.

• Zen Buddhism comes to Japan.

• King Jayavarman VII of Ankor Vat defeats the Cham conquerors.

• Ghorin Muhammed conquers Punjab.

• Genoa takes Bonifacio (in Corsica) from Pisa.

• Glanvill, an official of King Henry II, describes how villeins can be free (approximate date).

Births

• September 5—King Louis VIII of France (d. 1226)

• Arthur I, Duke of Brittany (d. 1203)

• Vladimir III Rurikovich, Grand Prince of Kiev (d. 1239)

Deaths

• July 4—Raynald of Chatillon, Prince of Antioch (executed) (b. c. 1125)

• October 19—Pope Urban III

• November 9—Emperor Gaozong of China (b. 1107)

• December 17—Pope Gregory VIII (b. c. 1100)

• Gerard of Cremona, Italian translator of scientific works (b. c. 1114)

• Roger de Moulins, Grand Master of the Knights Hospitaller

• Count Raymond III of Tripoli (b. 1140)