1138 CE

Siege of Shaizar begins. The Byzantines under John II besiege the capital of the Munqidhite Emirate. They capture the lower city on May 20, but fail to take the citadel. John negotiates with Emir Abu'l Asakir Sultan who sends him an offer to pay a large indemnity and become a vassal of the Byzantine Empire. John, disgusted by his Crusader allies, accepts the terms and raises the siege on May 21. Al-Rashid Billah (deposed caliph of Baghdad), having fled to Isfahan, is killed there by a team of four Nizari Ismailis (Assassins). This is celebrated in Alamut for a week by Shias. Battle of the Standard: King David I of Scotland gives his full support to Matilda (daughter of the late King Henry I), and invades the north of England – travelling as far south as Lincolnshire. The Scottish army (some 15,000 men) is defeated by English forces under Earl William le Gros in Yorkshire. David retreats to Carlisle and reassembles an army.

In the 1130s, the 12th century.

Geopolitics & Diplomacy

  • The Earldom of Pembroke, created for Gilbert de Clare, becomes the first earldom created by Stephen within the borders of Wales. Gilbert receives the rape and Pevensey Castle.source

Conflict & Security

  • April 20 – Byzantine Emperor John II Komnenos, having led an expeditionary force into Syria, arrives before the walls of Aleppo. The city proves too strong to attack, but the fortresses of Biza'a, Athareb, Ma'arrat Nu'man and Kafartab are taken by assault. While the Byzantines besiege the city of Shaizar, the Crusader allies Prince Raymond of Poitiers of Antioch and Count Joscelin II of Edessa remain in their camp playing dice.source
  • April 28 – Siege of Shaizar begins. The Byzantines under John II besiege the capital of the Munqidhite Emirate. They capture the lower city on May 20, but fail to take the citadel. John negotiates with Emir Abu'l Asakir Sultan who sends him an offer to pay a large indemnity and become a vassal of the Byzantine Empire. John, disgusted by his Crusader allies, accepts the terms and raises the siege on May 21.source
  • May – Earl Robert FitzRoy rebels against King Stephen, supporting Matilda (his step-sister) in her claim for the English throne. Matilda is given refuge by Earl William de Albini at Arundel Castle. Stephen builds siege works around the castle, but is unable to break the castle's defences. In France, Matilda's husband Duke Geoffrey V (the Fair) takes advantage of the situation by re-invading Normandy.source
  • August 22 – Battle of the Standard: King David I of Scotland gives his full support to Matilda (daughter of the late King Henry I), and invades the north of England – travelling as far south as Lincolnshire. The Scottish army (some 15,000 men) is defeated by English forces under Earl William le Gros in Yorkshire. David retreats to Carlisle and reassembles an army.source
  • Summer – A civil war breaks out in the Holy Roman Empire, a struggle begins between the Guelphs and Ghibellines, while the family name Welf of Henry X will be corrupted into Guelph.source

Religion & Belief

  • March 7 – Conrad III is elected as King of Germany, in the presence of the papal legate Theodwin at Koblenz. He is crowned at Aachen six days later (on March 13), and acknowledged in Bamberg by several German princes of southern Germany. Henry X (the Proud), son-in-law and heir of the late King Lothair III, refuses his allegiance to Conrad. He is deprived of all his Saxon territories, which are given to Leopold IV (the Generous).source
  • April 10 – Robert Warelwast is nominated as bishop of Exeter at a royal council in Northampton, England.source

Climate & Environment

  • October 11 – An earthquake in Aleppo, Syria, kills about 230,000 people.source

Culture & Society

  • November 5 – Lý Anh Tông is enthroned as emperor of Đại Việt at the age of two, starting a 37-year reign.source

Births

  • Casimir II the Just, duke of Poland (died 1194)source
  • Conan IV (the Young), duke of Brittany (died 1171)source
  • Hōjō Tokimasa, Japanese nobleman and regent (died 1215)source
  • Tancred ("the Monkey King"), king of Sicily (died 1194)source
  • Fujiwara no Narichika, Japanese nobleman (died 1178)source
  • Saladin (the Lion), sultan of Egypt and Syria (died 1193)source
  • Taira no Shigemori, Japanese nobleman (died 1179)source

Deaths

  • January 13 or January 14 – Simon I, duke of Lorraine (born 1076)source
  • February 19 – Irene Doukaina, Byzantine empresssource
  • May 11 – William de Warenne, 2nd Earl of Surrey, Anglo-Norman noblemansource
  • May 27 – Hadmar I of Kuenring, German noblemansource
  • June 6 – Al-Rashid Billah, deposed ruler of the Abbasid Caliphate, assassinated (born 1109)source
  • June 6 – Al-Rashid Billah (deposed caliph of Baghdad), having fled to Isfahan, is killed there by a team of four Nizari Ismailis (Assassins). This is celebrated in Alamut for a week by Shias.source
  • August 12 – Suero Vermúdez, Asturian noblemansource
  • October 20 – Bolesław III Wrymouth dies after a 31-year reign. He divides Poland among his sons: Władysław II the Exile receives Silesia and the Senioral territories – which include the Kraków and Łęczyca regions, as well as parts of Kujawy and Greater Poland (Wielkopolska). Bolesław IV the Curly receives Masovia and Mieszko III the Old receives the newly established Duchy of Greater Poland. The 7-year-old Henry becomes duke of Sandomierz. Bolesław's last son, Casimir II the Just], receives nothing, as he is born 8 days after his father's death.source
  • October 28 – Bolesław III (Wrymouth), duke of Poland (born 1086)source
  • Rodrigo Martínez, Leonese nobleman and diplomatsource
  • David the Scot, bishop of Bangor (approximate date)source
  • Avempace, Andalusian polymath and philosopher (born 1085)source
  • Arwa al-Sulayhi, queen and co-ruler of Yemen (born 1048)source
  • Someshvara III, ruler of the Western Chalukya Empiresource
  • Cormac Mac Cárthaigh, King of Munster.Irelandsource