Directory

1155 CE

Siege of Tortona: German forces capture the citadel of Tortona (after a two-month siege). The city is razed to the ground, including the graves. King Frederick Barbarossa is crowned as Holy Roman Emperor by Pope Adrian IV at St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. The 16-year-old Emperor Konoe dies after a 14-year reign. He is succeeded by his brother Go-Shirakawa as the 77th emperor of Japan.

Geopolitics & Diplomacy

  • Henry II grants the city of Bristol ('Brycgstow') a Royal charter, and is divided between Gloucestershire and Somerset (until 1373).source

Conflict & Security

  • April 18 – Siege of Tortona: German forces capture the citadel of Tortona (after a two-month siege). The city is razed to the ground, including the graves.source
  • The city of Bari rebels against King William I ("the Bad") of Sicily and recognizes the Byzantine emperor Manuel I Komnenos as its overlord.source
  • Henry II subdues the English nobles who have become too powerful during the civil war. He takes Bridgnorth Castle and Scarborough Castle.source

Religion & Belief

  • June 18 – King Frederick Barbarossa is crowned as Holy Roman Emperor by Pope Adrian IV at St. Peter's Basilica in Rome.source
  • Summer (3/5 June) – Robert of Chichester becomes bishop of Exeter (until 1160).source
  • Spring – King Henry II has the Palace of Westminster (which is badly damaged by Stephen's supporters during The Anarchy) repaired. Thomas Becket, archbishop of Canterbury, is given the task of repairing the buildings.source
  • A plan to conquer Ireland is approved by Adrian IV in a Papal bull (a formal proclamation issued by the pope) called Laudabiliter. It gives Henry II lordship over Ireland, but the Irish kings resist English rule.source
  • The Virgin of Vladimir icon is taken by Grand Prince Andrey Bogolyubsky to Vladimir from Suzdal.source

Technology & Infrastructure

  • Jaisalmer Fort, located in the Indian state Rajasthan, is constructed by the Rajput ruler Rawal Jaisal (approximate date).source

Crime & Justice

  • Arnold of Brescia is exiled by Adrian IV and forced to flee. He is arrested by imperial forces, hanged, and his body burned at the stake in Rome in June.source

Culture & Society

  • New Year's Day is changed from January 1 to March 25.source

Births

  • February 28 – Henry the Young King, son of Henry II (d. 1183)source
  • May 17 – Jien, Japanese poet and historian (d. 1225)source
  • November 11 – Alfonso VIII, king of Castile (d. 1214)source
  • Taira no Tokuko, Japanese empress (d. 1214)source
  • Ottokar I, duke of Bohemia (approximate date)source
  • Bernard d'Armagnac, French nobleman (d. 1202)source
  • Geoffrey de Saye, English nobleman (d. 1230)source
  • Fujiwara no Ariie, Japanese nobleman (d. 1216)source
  • Sicard of Cremona, Italian prelate (d. 1215)source
  • Kamo no Chōmei, Japanese waka poet (d. 1216)source
  • Abu Muhammad Salih, Almohad Sufi leader (d. 1234)source
  • Fujiwara no Yasuhira, Japanese nobleman (d. 1189)source
  • Benkei, Japanese warrior monk (sōhei) (d. 1189)source
  • Maud de Braose, English noblewoman (d. 1210)source

Deaths

  • June 4 – Baldwin de Redvers, English noblemansource
  • June 10 – Sigurd II, king of Norway (b. 1133)source
  • June 11 – Kenkai, Japanese Buddhist monk (b. 1107)source
  • August 22 – The 16-year-old Emperor Konoe dies after a 14-year reign. He is succeeded by his brother Go-Shirakawa as the 77th emperor of Japan.source
  • August 22 – Konoe, emperor of Japan (b. 1139)source
  • November 18 – Qin Hui, Chinese politician (b. 1090)source
  • Minamoto no Yoshikuni, Japanese samurai (b. 1082)source
  • William de Mohun, English nobleman (b. 1090)source
  • Arnold of Brescia, Italian priest and rebel (b. 1090)source
  • Li Qingzhao, Chinese poet and writer (b. 1084)source
  • Fujiwara no Akisuke, Japanese nobleman (b. 1090)source
  • Geoffrey of Monmouth, English historian (b. 1095)source