1157 CE

March 16 – Caliph Al-Muqtafi successfully defends Baghdad against the coalition forces of Sultan Muhammad of Hamadan, and Atabeg Qutb-adin of Mosul. Albert the Bear (Ger: Albrecht der Bär), becomes the founder of the Margraviate of Brandenburg, Germany and the first Margrave. Henry II launches a campaign against Owain Gwynedd in north Wales. Although Owain defeats him at the Battle of Ewloe he eventually submits to Henry and pays homage.

In the 1150s, the 12th century.

Geopolitics & Diplomacy

  • Albert I of Brandenburg begins his ruthless program to pacify the Slavic region.source

Conflict & Security

  • July – Henry II launches a campaign against Owain Gwynedd in north Wales. Although Owain defeats him at the Battle of Ewloe he eventually submits to Henry and pays homage.source
  • August 21 – Sancho III and Ferdinand II, the sons of King Alfonso VII of Castile, divide his kingdom between them upon his death.source
  • October 23 – Battle of Grathe Heath: A civil war in Denmark ends with the death of King Sweyn III. Valdemar I of Denmark becomes king of all Denmark, and restores and rebuilds the country.source
  • Nur al-Din Zengi besieges the Knights Hospitaller in the crusader fortress of Banyas, routs a relief army led by King Baldwin III of Jerusalem, and takes Grand Master Bertrand de Blanquefort prisoner.source

Exploration & Expansion

  • Henry II of England grants special trading privileges to the Hansa merchants of Cologne in London who lend him money at interest.source
  • Henry II of England grants a charter to the merchants of Lincoln (approximate date).source
  • The earliest Irish land charter to survive is that of the grant in 1157 of land to the Cistercians in Newry, which lay in Uí Echach, by the High King Muirchertach Mac LochlainnIrelandsource

Religion & Belief

  • January 12–March 16 – Caliph Al-Muqtafi successfully defends Baghdad against the coalition forces of Sultan Muhammad of Hamadan, and Atabeg Qutb-adin of Mosul.source
  • Completion and consecration of Mellifont Abbey, the first Cistercian foundation in Ireland.Irelandsource

Climate & Environment

  • August 12 – The 1157 Hama earthquake takes place after a year of foreshocks. Its name is taken from the city of Hama, in west-central Syria (then under Seljuk rule), where the most casualties are sustained.source

Culture & Society

  • June 11 – Albert the Bear (Ger: Albrecht der Bär), becomes the founder of the Margraviate of Brandenburg, Germany and the first Margrave.source

Births

  • September 8 – King Richard I of England (died 1199)source
  • Leopold V of Austria, Duke of Austria from 1177 and Duke of Styria from 1192 until his death (died 1194)source
  • Margaret of France, Queen of England and Hungary, Queen of England by marriage to Henry the Young King and queen of Hungary and Croatia by marriage to Béla III of Hungary (died 1197)source
  • Tomoe Gozen, female Samurai warrior and military leader (died 1247)source
  • Alexander Neckham, English scholar, teacher, theologian and abbot of Cirencester Abbey (died 1217)source

Deaths

  • January 24 or January 25 – Agnes of Babenberg, Politically active High Duchess consort of Poland (born 1111)source
  • May 8 – Ahmed Sanjar, Great Seljuk Sultan (born 1084 or 1086)source
  • May 15 – Yury Dolgoruky, Russian prince (born c. 1099)source
  • August 21 – King Alfonso VII of Castile (born 1105)source
  • October 23 – King Sweyn III of Denmark (b.c. 1125) (in battle)source
  • date unknown – King Eystein II of Norway (b.c. 1125)source