1127 CE

Jin–Song Wars: Jurchen forces sack the Chinese capital of Kaifeng of the Northern Song dynasty during the Jingkang incident. They capture Emperor Qinzong, along with his father, Huizong, and members of the House of Zhao. Charles the Good, count of Flanders, is murdered by a band of knights while praying in church; he leaves no children. King Louis VI of France appoints William Clito (son of Robert Curthose) as new ruler. But the Flemish towns of Bruges, Ghent, Saint-Omer and Ypres recognize (with English financial support) Thierry of Alsace as rival count. Conrad III (with support of the imperial cities, Swabia and Austria) is elected and crowned as anti-king of Germany at Nuremberg.

In the 1120s, the 12th century.

Geopolitics & Diplomacy

  • June 12 – Qinzong's younger brother, the 20-year-old Gaozong, re-establishes the Song dynasty (as the Southern Song dynasty) in Lin'an (modern-day Hangzhou) and is proclaimed emperor.source

Conflict & Security

  • January 9 – Jin–Song Wars: Jurchen forces sack the Chinese capital of Kaifeng of the Northern Song dynasty during the Jingkang incident. They capture Emperor Qinzong, along with his father, Huizong, and members of the House of Zhao.source
  • December 18 – Conrad III (with support of the imperial cities, Swabia and Austria) is elected and crowned as anti-king of Germany at Nuremberg.source
  • Imad ad-Din Zengi, a Turkish military leader, becomes governor (atabeg) of Mosul. He seizes the cities of Nisibin, Sinjar and Harran in the Jazira Region (Northern Mesopotamia).source
  • Spring – The forces of Alfonso VII of León and Castile begin the Siege of Guimarães, which will end in their withdrawal.source
  • Summer – King Roger II of Sicily claims the Hauteville possessions in Italy as well the overlordship of Capua. However, a coalition of Norman noblemen in Apulia and Calabria resist (supported by Pope Honorius II) against Sicilian rule. The same year, Roger regains control over Malta after a rebellion. Roger II also establishes a pact with the maritime Republic of Savona to guarantee the security of the Mediterranean Sea, probably following an Almoravid raid against the Sicilian realm.source

Religion & Belief

  • The Kalyan minaret (as part of the Po-i-Kalyan mosque complex) is completed in Bukhara (modern Uzbekistan).source
  • Building starts on Cormac's Chapel, on the Rock of Cashel, Cashel, County Tipperary (and lasts until 1134).Irelandsource

Culture & Society

  • King Henry I of England arranges the marriage of his daughter Matilda (the widow of Emperor Henry V) to the 14-year-old Geoffrey of Anjou (son of Count Fulk V). This is done to ensure an alliance between England and Anjou, and to prevent Fulk allying with Louis VI. Henry has the English nobles swear allegiance to Matilda as the rightful heir to the throne. Upon his death, her cousin Stephen of Blois crosses the channel and usurps her throne, becoming the King of England. She wages a lengthy civil war known as the Anarchy, which lasts from 1135–1154.source

Births

  • April 16 – Felix of Valois, French nobleman and hermit (died 1212)source
  • May 23 – Uijong, Korean ruler of Goryeo (died 1173)source
  • July 23 – Zhao Fu, emperor of the Song Dynasty (died 1129)source
  • October 18 – Go-Shirakawa, Japanese emperor (died 1192)source
  • October 29 – Yang Wanli, Chinese politician and poet (died 1206)source
  • November 27 – Emperor Xiaozong of Song, Chinese emperor (died 1194)source
  • December – Henry I ("the Liberal"), count of Champagne (died 1181)source
  • Bolesław I the Tall, duke of Wrocław (died 1201)source
  • Approximate date – Julian of Cuenca, Spanish bishopsource

Deaths

  • February 7 – Ava (von Göttweig), German poet (born 1060)source
  • February 10 – William IX ("the Troubador"), duke of Aquitaine (born 1071)source
  • March 2 – Charles the Good, count of Flanders (born 1084)source
  • March 2 – Charles the Good, count of Flanders, is murdered by a band of knights while praying in church; he leaves no children. King Louis VI of France appoints William Clito (son of Robert Curthose) as new ruler. But the Flemish towns of Bruges, Ghent, Saint-Omer and Ypres recognize (with English financial support) Thierry of Alsace as rival count.source
  • March 23 – Ottone Frangipane, Italian Benedictine monk and saint (born 1040)source
  • May 16 – Gens du Beaucet, French hermit and saint (born 1104)source
  • July – William II, Norman duke of Apulia and Calabria (born 1095)source
  • August 12 – Jordan of Ariano, Norman warrior and noblemansource
  • September 1 – Prince Álmos (or Almus), duke of Hungary and Croatiasource
  • October 1 – Morphia of Melitene, queen consort of Jerusalem (or 1126)source
  • November 1 – Zhang Bangchang, ruler of Da Chu (born 1081)source
  • November 12 – Godbald (or Godebald), bishop of Utrechtsource
  • November 25 – Minamoto no Yoshimitsu, Japanese samurai (born 1045)source
  • December 19 – Jordan II (or Giordano), prince of Capuasource