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.

In the 1150s, the 12th century.

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
  • Pope Adrian IV issues the papal bull Laudabiliter, granting Henry II of England the right to rule Ireland, after Henry convinced the Pope that he was needed "to proclaim the truths of the Christian religion" to the Irish people.Irelandsource

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

Deaths

  • June 4 – Baldwin de Redvers, English noblemansource
  • June 10 – Sigurd II, king of Norway (born 1133)source
  • June 11 – Kenkai, Japanese Buddhist monk (born 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 (born 1139)source
  • November 18 – Qin Hui, Chinese politician (born 1090)source
  • Minamoto no Yoshikuni, Japanese samurai (born 1082)source
  • William de Mohun, English nobleman (born 1090)source
  • Arnold of Brescia, Italian priest and rebel (born 1090)source
  • Li Qingzhao, Chinese poet and writer (born 1084)source
  • Fujiwara no Akisuke, Japanese nobleman (born 1090)source
  • Geoffrey of Monmouth, English historian (born 1095)source