Directory

1197 CE

Rhys ap Gruffydd, a Welsh prince, dies and is succeeded by his eldest son Gruffydd ap Rhys II. With the help of Gwenwynwyn, his brother Maelgwn ap Rhys invades southern Wales. Henry II, Count of Champagne, king of Jerusalem, dies from falling out a first-floor window at his palace in Acre. His widow, Isabella I, becomes regent while the kingdom is thrown into consternation. Arbroath Abbey located in the Scottish town of Arbroath, is consecrated and dedicated to St. Thomas Becket.

Conflict & Security

  • June/July – German crusaders launch a raid on Silves.source
  • Autumn – A brothers' quarrel breaks out between Emeric, King of Hungary and his younger brother Duke Andrew. After a brief skirmish, Emeric is forced to cede Croatia and Dalmatia to Andrew, who begins to administer the provinces as a de facto sovereign monarch.source
  • Genghis Khan (or Temüjin), with help from the Keraites, defeats the Jurchens of the Jin dynasty. The Jin bestow Genghis' blood brother Toghrul with the honorable title of Ong Khan, and Genghis receives the lesser title of j'aut quri. During the winter, Toghrul returns and re-establishes himself as leader of the Keraites.source
  • Summer – Gruffydd ap Rhys II is captured and handed over to Gwenwynwyn, who transfers him to the English. Gruffydd is imprisoned at Corfe Castle and Maelgwn ap Rhys claims the throne.source
  • Civil war era in Norway: conflict between king Sverre of Norway and the party of Bagler.source
  • Northern Crusades: Danish forces led by King Canute VI raid the area of present-day Estonia.source
  • Summer – Henry VI takes cruel measures to put down Jordan Lupin's insurrection in Sicily and southern Italy, which has been provoked by the oppression of his German officials.source
  • Winter – Duke Ottokar I forces his brother, Vladislaus III, to abandon Bohemia. Ottokar restores power and Vladislaus accepts the margravial title of Moravia.source

Religion & Belief

  • Arbroath Abbey located in the Scottish town of Arbroath, is consecrated and dedicated to St. Thomas Becket.source
  • Saracen pirates, from the Balearic Islands, raid the city of Toulon in Provence, and the Benedictine monastery of Saint Honorat, on the Lérins Islands.source
  • Spring – Emperor Henry VI travels to Italy to persuade Pope Celestine III to crown his infant son Frederick II, who has been elected "King of the Romans" at Frankfurt.source

Technology & Infrastructure

  • King Richard I of England (the Lionheart) has Château Gaillard (Normandy) built on the Seine River as he fights to restore Angevin power in northern France (approximate date).source

Births

  • October 22 – Juntoku, emperor of Japan (d. 1242)source
  • William de Braose, English nobleman (d. 1230)source
  • Ibn al-Baitar, Moorish botanist and pharmacist (d. 1248)source
  • Oberto Pallavicino, Italian nobleman (signore) (d. 1269)source
  • Nikephoros Blemmydes, Byzantine theologian (d. 1272)source
  • John de Braose (Tadody), English nobleman (or 1198)source
  • Amadeus IV, count of Savoy (House of Savoy) (d. 1253)source
  • Richard of Chichester, English bishop of Chichester (d. 1253)source
  • Naratheinga Uzana, Burmese prince and regent (d. 1235)source
  • Raymond VII, French nobleman and knight (d. 1249)source
  • Dharmasvamin, Tibetan monk and pilgrim (d. 1264)source
  • Nicola Paglia, Italian priest and preacher (d. 1256)source

Deaths

  • April 28 – Rhys ap Gruffydd, a Welsh prince, dies and is succeeded by his eldest son Gruffydd ap Rhys II. With the help of Gwenwynwyn, his brother Maelgwn ap Rhys invades southern Wales.source
  • April 28 – Rhys ap Gruffydd, Welsh prince of Deheubarthsource
  • June 1 – Gertrude of Bavaria, queen consort of Denmarksource
  • July 9 – Rudolf of Wied, archbishop of Triersource
  • September 10 – Henry II, Count of Champagne, king of Jerusalem, dies from falling out a first-floor window at his palace in Acre. His widow, Isabella I, becomes regent while the kingdom is thrown into consternation.source
  • September 10 – Henry II, Count of Champagne (or Henry II), king of Jerusalem (b. 1166)source
  • September 18 – Margaret of France, Queen of England and Hungary, consort, daughter of Louis VIIsource
  • September 22 – About 16,000 German crusaders reach Acre, starting the crusade of 1197. Emperor Henry VI, who planned to join the forces later on, was forced to stay behind in Sicily due to illness. On September 28 he dies at Messina. Meanwhile, the crusaders manage to reconquer Sidon and Beirut but return to Germany after receiving the news of the emperor's death.source
  • September 28 – Henry VI dies of malaria at Messina (also possibly poisoned), while preparing an expedition against the Byzantine usurper Alexios III Angelos.source
  • November 13 – Homobonus of Cremona, Italian merchant and saintsource
  • December 12 – Wu (or Xiansheng), Chinese empress (b. 1115)source
  • Peter II (or Theodor-Peter), ruler (tsar) of the Bulgariasource
  • Tughtakin ibn Ayyub, Ayyubid emir (prince) of Arabiasource
  • Autumn – A German throne dispute begins upon the sudden death of Henry VI. Henry's brother, Philip of Swabia, takes over the family lands and claims his inheritance.source