1134 CE

The Saint-Denis basilica, near Paris, is damaged by a fire. This will give the opportunity to the French abbot Suger to rebuild it in a new style, which will open the Gothic period of architecture. Abdul Qadir Jilani becomes principal of the Hanbali school in Baghdad. Robert of Ketton and Herman of Carinthia travel throughout France, the Byzantine Empire, and the Crusader States.

In the 1130s, the 12th century.

Geopolitics & Diplomacy

  • The House of Brandenburg is founded, when Albrecht the Bear is made head of the Nordmark.source
  • Mas'ud becomes sultan of the Seljuk dynasty in Hamadan.source
  • Ermengarde becomes Viscountess of Narbonne.source

Conflict & Security

  • Battle of Färlev: Magnus IV of Norway defeats Harald IV Gille of Norway.source
  • Viacheslav of Kiev becomes Prince of Turov.source
  • Aed mac Domnaill becomes King of Ui Failghe.source
  • Battle of Fraga: Castillan forces are defeated by Muslim troops. King Alfonso I (the Battler) is killed and succeeded by his brother Ramiro II as ruler of Aragon. In Navarre the nobility elects Garcia VI as Alfonso's successor.source
  • Eric II becomes King of Denmark.source
  • Battle of Fotevik: Harald Kesja and Magnus the Strong are defeated by the forces of Erik Emune.source
  • Roger II of Sicily defeats a revolt in Naples.source
  • Iziaslav II of Kiev becomes Prince of Vladimir and Volyn.source
  • Yelü Dashi captures Balasagun from the Kara-Khanid Khanate, marking the start of the Qara Khitai empire (and its Kangguo era) in Central Asia.source
  • Narbonne is seized by Alphonse I of Toulouse.source
  • Vsevolod Mstislavich of Novgorod defeats the Chuds and captures Tartu.source

Exploration & Expansion

  • Yuri Dolgoruki founds the town of Skniatino.source
  • The Zeeland archipelago is created by a massive storm in the North Sea.source
  • Wu Ge, Chinese Song Dynasty Deputy Transport Commissioner of Zhejiang, has paddle wheel warships constructed with a total of nine wheels, and others with thirteen wheels.source

Religion & Belief

  • The Augustinian Runcorn Priory is transferred to Norton Priory.source
  • Evermode of Ratzeburg becomes abbot of Gottesgnaden.source
  • The Humiliati retreat to a monastery in Milan.source
  • Called by Olegarius, the bishop of Tarragona, the Knights Templar establish their first stronghold in Catalonia.source
  • The Cathedral of St. Petri in Schleswig is completed.source
  • Cormac's Chapel is consecrated.source
  • Hugh of Grenoble is canonized by Innocent II.source
  • Malachy becomes archbishop of Armagh.source
  • Aelred of Hexham enters the monastery at Rievaulx Abbey.source
  • Stephen Harding becomes abbot of Cîteaux Abbey.source
  • The Church of St. James is dedicated in Glasgow.source
  • Buckfastleigh Abbey is refounded.source
  • Leo Styppes becomes Patriarch of Constantinople.source
  • The Abbey of St. Jacob is founded in Würzburg.source
  • Consecration of Cormac’s Chapel at Cashel Building had started in 1127. It had been built by Cormac mac Carthaig, King of Munster and consecrated in the presence of a great assembly of church and royal dignitaries.Irelandsource

Crime & Justice

  • Henry of Lausanne is sentenced to imprisonment by Pope Innocent II.source
  • Count Hugh II (du Puiset), in alliance with the Egyptian city of Ascalon, revolts against King Fulk V of Jerusalem, attempting to take Jaffa. Hugh submits to Fulk and is exiled for three years. While awaiting for a boat to Italy he is attacked by a Breton knight, but survives the attempted murder. Hugh retires to the Sicilian court of his cousin, King Roger II, who appoints him to the lordship of Gargano, where he dies soon afterwards.source

Disasters & Accidents

  • Much of Chartres, France, is destroyed by fire.source

Culture & Society

  • May 13 – The Saint-Denis basilica, near Paris, is damaged by a fire. This will give the opportunity to the French abbot Suger to rebuild it in a new style, which will open the Gothic period of architecture.source
  • Abdul Qadir Jilani becomes principal of the Hanbali school in Baghdad.source
  • Herman III (the Great), margrave of Baden, marries Bertha of Lorraine.source
  • The University of Salamanca is established, in the Kingdom of León.source
  • The Japanese classic text Uchigikishu is written.source
  • Robert of Ketton and Herman of Carinthia travel throughout France, the Byzantine Empire, and the Crusader States.source

Births

  • June 1 – Geoffrey VI, count of Nantes (died 1158)source
  • September 9 – Abdul Razzaq Gilani, Persian jurist (died 1207)source
  • Neophytos of Cyprus, Cypriot Orthodox priest (died 1214)source
  • Ralph I, French nobleman (approximate date)source
  • Oldřich (or Oldericus), duke of Olomouc (died 1177)source
  • Raymond V, count of Toulouse (approximate date)source
  • Sancho III (the Desired), king of Castile (died 1158)source
  • Fujiwara no Kinshi, Japanese empress (died 1209)source
  • Bernhard III, German nobleman (approximate date)source
  • Yesugei (Baghatur), Mongol chieftain (died 1171)source
  • Gerardo dei Tintori, Italian mystic and founder (died 1207)source
  • Oda of Brabant (or Anderlues), Belgian prioress (died 1158)source
  • Sverker I (the Elder), king of Sweden (died 1156)source

Deaths