1190 CE

A massacre and mass-suicide of the Jews in York, results in the deaths of 150–500 Jews in Clifford's Tower. Frederick I drowns while crossing (or bathing in) the Göksu River near Selucia (modern-day Silifke) in Armenian Cilicia. The German Crusaders are demoralized and exhausted by the summer heat, Frederick VI takes over the command of his father, carrying with him the emperor's body preserved in a barrel of vinegar. Some of the German nobles decide to return home with their followers; Frederick continues with his army (some 5,000 men) and eventually reaches Antioch, on June 21. King Richard I (the Lion Heart) and Philip II (Augustus), meet at Vézelay and agree to divide the spoils of the Crusade equally between themselves. They march to the coast and then make their way across the Mediterranean, taking different routes. Richard travels with an expeditionary force (some 17,000 men) via Marseille and Philip travels with a smaller contingent (some 15,000 men) via Genoa. Richard has some 100 ships at his disposal, several of which are from Norman ports, others from Shoreham and Southampton.

In the 1190s, the 12th century.

Geopolitics & Diplomacy

  • Hugh de Lacy, 1st Earl of Ulster (~1176 – after 26 December 1242) was replaced as Viceroy of Ireland by Guillaume le Petil. He was later reappointed to serve as viceroy from 1205 to 1210.Irelandsource

Conflict & Security

  • March 16 – A massacre and mass-suicide of the Jews in York, results in the deaths of 150–500 Jews in Clifford's Tower.source
  • March 25 – Conrad of Montferrat sails south with a Crusader fleet (some 50 ships) from Tyre. As Conrad's fleet approaches the harbour of Acre, an equally sized Muslim fleet sorties out to meet the Crusaders in open battle. Eventually, the Ayyubid fleet is blockaded (supported by Danish and Pisan ships) in the port. Acre is again cut off from reinforcements; the city's supplies are exhausted, and the Muslim garrison has to resort to eating their own beasts. In the event, troops are driven to cannibalism.source
  • March – Frederick I leaves Adrianople to Gallipoli at the Dardanelles to embark, with the help of Byzantine transports, to cross into Asia Minor. On April 25, he enters territory of the Seljuk Sultanate of Rum under the rule of Sultan Kilij Arslan II. Although promised to let the German Crusaders pass peaceably through his domains, Kilij Arslan harasses Frederick's forces with hit-and-run attacks. On May 7, a Turkish army (some 10,000 men) is defeated at the Battle of Philomelion, by 2,000 Crusaders.source
  • April – After a long siege Muslim forces under Saladin capture Beaufort Castle from Reginald of Sidon who has offered to hand over the castle to Saladin on the condition that he has three months to remove his family to a place of safety. At the end of the three months, Saladin expects the castle to be handed over but finds that Reginald has used the time to strengthen the castle against a siege. He is imprisoned at Damascus – the castle's garrison finally surrenders in return for Reginald's release.source
  • May 5 – Siege of Acre: A Crusader force under King Guy of Lusignan attacks the city with three siege engines, but all are destroyed by the Muslim defenders with Greek fire, a highly flammable liquid. An Egyptian flotilla is able to avoid the Pisan fleet (some 50 ships) and resupply the city with new provisions. Saladin launches a massive eight-day attack on the Crusaders two weeks later. Meanwhile, in the Crusader camp the conditions are deteriorating by disease and famine, among the soldiers.source
  • May 18 – Battle of Iconium: German forces under Frederick I defeat the Seljuk army (40,000 men) in a pitched battle. They are routed, leaving the city at the mercy of the German Crusaders. Frederick does not pursue the Seljuks, because his forces have been weakened by food shortage for the previous weeks. His 23-year-old son, Frederick VI, takes Iconium (modern-day Konya) and proceeds to massacre the citizens. The Germans take booty amounting to 100,000 marks in the Turkish capital.source
  • September – Richard I arrives in Sicily at the head of a Crusader army and demands the release of his sister Joan of England, queen of Sicily, who is held hostage by the usurper Tancred of Lecce. He also demands that Tancred fulfill the financial commitments made by the late King William II (the Good) to the Crusade. Tancred refuses the financial demand but he agrees to release Joan, on September 28.source
  • October 4 – Richard I captures Messina, after looting and burning the city he establishes his base there. Richard insists that his own banner be erected over the city, but this creates tension between Richard and Philip II, who has joined him with his forces. Tancred accepts a peace agreement, and pays Richard 20,000 ounces of gold. Friendly relations are restored, Richard agrees to split the gold with Philip.source
  • Isaac II starts a campaign against the Bulgarians, who claim their independence. After passing the Balkan Mountains, Isaac marches westward to besiege Tarnovo, the new Bulgarian capital. Meanwhile, the Byzantine fleet reaches the Danube River in order to block the way of Cuman reinforcements from the North. The defense of Tarnovo is led by Ivan Asen I, emperor (Tsar) of Bulgaria. After spreading rumors of the arrival of a Cuman army to relieve the city, Isaac orders to retreat to Stara Zagora.source
  • Siege of Silves – the Almohad caliph, Abu Yusuf Yaqub al-Mansur, fails to reconquer Silves, Portugal.source
  • King Henry VI, eldest son of Frederick I, grants Henry I (the Brave) the title of Duke of Brabant. Henry tries to expand his power and soon quarrels with Count Baldwin V, duke of Hainaut.source
  • Battle of Tryavna: Byzantine forces under Isaac II are ambushed and defeated by the Bulgarians in a mountain pass, near Tryavna. In panic, the Byzantines break up and begin a disorganized retreat. Isaac barely escapes, his Varangian Guard has to cut a path through their own soldiers, enabling their emperor's flight from the rout. The Bulgarians capture the imperial treasure, including the golden helmet of Isaac, his crown, and the Imperial Cross which contains a wooden piece of the Holy Cross.source
  • Spring – A German expeditionary force (some 15,000 men) led by Emperor Frederick I (Barbarossa) marches towards Constantinople, on the way to the Holy Land. Emperor Isaac II (Angelos), suspicious that Frederick is planning to conquer Constantinople, attempts to stop him by attacking the Crusaders. The German forces are too strong and they capture Adrianople. A peace treaty is signed by both Isaac and Frederick, that ensures the Germans are given supplies, and free passage through to Palestina.source

Exploration & Expansion

  • July 4 – King Richard I (the Lion Heart) and Philip II (Augustus), meet at Vézelay and agree to divide the spoils of the Crusade equally between themselves. They march to the coast and then make their way across the Mediterranean, taking different routes. Richard travels with an expeditionary force (some 17,000 men) via Marseille and Philip travels with a smaller contingent (some 15,000 men) via Genoa. Richard has some 100 ships at his disposal, several of which are from Norman ports, others from Shoreham and Southampton.source
  • London adopts the Cross of St. George, the red cross on a white background. The flag is also used by the fleet of Genoa, and allows the ships from London to use the flag for protection when they enter the Mediterranean on trading missions.source

Religion & Belief

  • Cartmel Priory is founded by William Marshal, 1st Earl of Pembroke, in England.source
  • King Stefan Nemanja founds the Studenica Monastery in Serbia.source
  • Killone Abbey was founded by Donal Mor O'Brien, King of Thomond and Munster.Irelandsource
  • Knockmoy Abbey was founded as a Cistercian abbey by the King of Connacht, Cathal Crobhdearg Ua Conchobair, in what is now AbbeyknockmoyIrelandsource

Health & Medicine

  • The Teutonic Order is founded at Acre by German knights of Lübeck and Bremen. The Order is formed to aid Christians on their pilgrimages to the Holy Land and to establish hospitals (approximate date).source

Disasters & Accidents

  • June 10 – Frederick I drowns while crossing (or bathing in) the Göksu River near Selucia (modern-day Silifke) in Armenian Cilicia. The German Crusaders are demoralized and exhausted by the summer heat, Frederick VI takes over the command of his father, carrying with him the emperor's body preserved in a barrel of vinegar. Some of the German nobles decide to return home with their followers; Frederick continues with his army (some 5,000 men) and eventually reaches Antioch, on June 21.source
  • September 24 – A Crusader fleet attempts to destroy the Tower of Flies at Acre, which guards the city's harbour, by ramming vessels loaded with combustibles into it. At a critical moment, the ships collide with one another and are badly damaged. A specially built Pisan vessel resembling a floating castle and outfitted with mangonels, is set afire during a sortie from the harbour by a Muslim flotilla.source

Climate & Environment

  • December – Richard I and Philip II stay in Sicily over the winter months waiting for the weather to improve before continuing their journey to the Holy Land.source

Culture & Society

  • November 24 – The 18-year-old Isabella I, half-sister of Sibylla, Queen of Jerusalem, marries Conrad of Montferrat at Acre making him de facto king of Jerusalem (as Conrad I). He has the support of her mother Maria Comnena and stepfather Balian of Ibelin, as well as Reginald of Sidon and other major nobles in the Crusader States.source
  • Emo of Friesland, a Frisian scholar and abbot, commences his study at what will become the University of Oxford.source
  • On the Harmony of Religions and Philosophy (ar. Kitab fasl al-maqal), by Averroes, is first published.source
  • Speculum Virginum, a German manuscript, is published (approximate date).source

Births

  • July 24 – Yelü Chucai, Chinese statesman (died 1244)source
  • December 30 – Ibn Abi'l-Hadid, Arab scholar (died 1258)source
  • Tbeli Abuserisdze, Georgian scholar and writer (died 1240)source
  • Ida of Nivelles, Belgian Cistercian nun and mystic (died 1231)source
  • Theodora Angelina, Byzantine noblewoman (died 1246)source
  • Peter González (or Pedro), Castilian priest (died 1246)source
  • John (the Old), French nobleman and knight (died 1267)source
  • Maria of Brabant, Holy Roman Empress (died 1260)source
  • Vincent of Beauvais, French encyclopedist (died 1264)source
  • Pietro della Vigna, Italian jurist and diplomat (died 1249)source
  • Sorghaghtani Beki, mother of Kublai Khan (died 1252)source
  • William Marshal, English nobleman and knight (died 1231)source
  • Władysław Odonic, duke of Greater Poland (died 1239)source
  • Klement of Ruszcza, Polish nobleman and knight (died 1256)source

Deaths

  • February 18 – Otto II (the Rich), margrave of Meissen (born 1125)source
  • March 15 – Isabella of Hainault, wife of Philip II (Augustus) (born 1170)source
  • March 23 – Saigyō Hōshi, Japanese monk, poet and writer (born 1118)source
  • June 10 – Frederick I (Barbarossa), Holy Roman Emperor (born 1122)source
  • July 25 – Sibylla (or Sibylle), queen of Jerusalem (born 1160)source
  • July 29 – Maud of Gloucester (or Matilda), English countesssource
  • July - Ngô Lý Tín, Vietnamese general and politician of the Lý dynasty (born 1126)source
  • August 1 – Floris III, Dutch nobleman and knight (born 1141)source
  • August 16 – Dedi III (the Fat), German nobleman (born 1130)source
  • August 21 – Godfrey III, count of Louvain (House of Reginar)source
  • September 13 – Herman IV, German nobleman (born 1135)source
  • October 16 – Louis III (the Mild), German noblemansource
  • November 19 – Baldwin of Forde, English archbishopsource
  • November 21 – Děpolt II (or Diepold), German noblemansource
  • Roger of Andria, a supporter of Henry VI, Holy Roman Emperor and himself a former contender for the Sicilian throne against Tancred, King of Sicily.Italysource