1198 CE

Pope Celestine III dies at Rome, after a pontificate of nearly 7 years. He is succeeded by Innocent III, as the 176th pope of the Catholic Church. Shortly after he lays an interdict on Laon, in an attempt to create independent beliefs there. This will be followed by interdicts against France in 1199, and Normandy in 1203. Philip of Swabia, son of the late Emperor Frederick I, is elected "King of Germany" by his supporters at Mühlhausen in Thuringia. Archbishop Adolf of Cologne elects Otto of Brunswick, son of Henry the Lion, as Philip's rival. Otto IV is crowned as King of the Romans in Aachen by supporters of the House of Welf. Philip's coronation does not take place until September 8, at Mainz. Averroes (or Ibn Rushd), Arab polymath and physician, dies. He is the author of more than 100 books, for which he is known in the western world as The Commentator and Father of Rationalism.

In the 1190s, the 12th century.

Geopolitics & Diplomacy

  • February 18 – Emperor Go-Toba (or Toba the Second) abdicates the throne in favor of his two-year-old son Tsuchimikado, after a 14-year reign.source

Conflict & Security

  • September 27 – Battle of Gisors: Richard I defeats the French forces led by Philip II (Augustus) at Courcelles-lès-Gisors, in Picardy. Richard captures three castles on the border of the Vexin. The French troops, many of them mounted, crowd the bridge leading into Gisors Castle but it collapses beneath them. The French king is among those who plunge into the water in his armor. Many French knights drown, but Philip is pulled to safety.source

Religion & Belief

  • March 8 – Philip of Swabia, son of the late Emperor Frederick I, is elected "King of Germany" by his supporters at Mühlhausen in Thuringia. Archbishop Adolf of Cologne elects Otto of Brunswick, son of Henry the Lion, as Philip's rival. Otto IV is crowned as King of the Romans in Aachen by supporters of the House of Welf. Philip's coronation does not take place until September 8, at Mainz.source
  • May 17 – Frederick II, infant son of the late Emperor Henry VI, is crowned King of Sicily. His mother, Queen Constance I becomes regent, while she surrounds herself with local advisors. On November 27, Constance dies in the royal palace at Palermo. She is succeeded by the new pope, Innocent III, who becomes Frederick's guardian and mentor.source
  • Innocent III excommunicates Philip II for repudiating his marriage to Ingeborg of Denmark (see 1193), to whom he took an almost instant dislike, but public opinion forces Philip to effect a reconciliation with the pope.source

Health & Medicine

  • Emperor Ningzong of Song bans the practice of Neo-Confucianism.source

Culture & Society

  • John of England captures a party of 18 French knights and many men-at-arms, in the ongoing conflict against France. His brother, King Richard I (the Lionheart) introduces a new Great Seal – in an attempt to keep the war against France funded. The government proclaims that charters previously struck with the old seal are no longer valid and must be renewed with a fresh payment. The office of Lord Warden of the Stannaries is also introduced, to tax the produce of tin mines in Cornwall and Devon.source
  • Spring – Amalric I, ruler of Cyprus, marries Princess Isabella I, daughter of the late King Amalric I. A few days later they are crowned as King and Queen of Jerusalem at Acre. On July 1, Amalric signs a truce with Al-Adil I, sultan of Egypt and Syria, securing the Crusader possessions from Acre to as far as Antioch.source

Births

  • May 4 – Kyaswa, ruler of the Pagan Empire (died 1251)source
  • July 11 – Hōjō Shigetoki, Japanese samurai (died 1261)source
  • August 24 – Alexander II, king of Scotland (died 1249)source
  • September 25 – Ai Zong, Chinese emperor (died 1234)source
  • Ordoño Álvarez, Spanish abbot and cardinal (died 1285)source
  • Baldwin III, Flemish nobleman and knight (died 1244)source
  • Siraj al-Din Urmavi, Ayyubid philosopher (died 1283)source
  • Beatrice of Swabia, Holy Roman Empress (died 1212)source
  • Koun Ejō, Japanese Sōtō Zen monk and priest (died 1280)source
  • Sybilla of Lusignan, queen of Lesser Armenia (died 1230)source
  • Fujiwara no Tameie, Japanese waka poet (died 1275)source
  • Beatrice of Savoy, countess of Provence (died 1266)source
  • Ramon Berenguer IV, Spanish nobleman (died 1245)source
  • Jalaluddin Surkh-Posh Bukhari, Arab missionary (died 1292)source

Deaths

  • January 8 – Celestine III, pope of the Catholic Church (born 1106)source
  • January 8 – Pope Celestine III dies at Rome, after a pontificate of nearly 7 years. He is succeeded by Innocent III, as the 176th pope of the Catholic Church. Shortly after he lays an interdict on Laon, in an attempt to create independent beliefs there. This will be followed by interdicts against France in 1199, and Normandy in 1203.source
  • February 1 – Walram I (of Laurenburg), German noblemansource
  • March 11 – Marie of France, French princess and countess (born 1145)source
  • April 16 – Frederick I (the Catholic), duke of Austria (born 1175)source
  • July 7 – George II (Xiphilinos), patriarch of Constantinoplesource
  • July 24 – Berthold of Hanover, German apostle and bishopsource
  • September 10 – Richard FitzNeal, bishop of London (born 1130)source
  • November 27 – Abraham ben David, French rabbi (born 1125)source
  • November 27 – Constance I, queen regent of Sicily (born 1154)source
  • November 29 – Al-Aziz Uthman, sultan of Egypt (born 1171)source
  • December 2 – Ruaidrí Ua Conchobair, High King of Irelandsource
  • December 11 – Averroes (or Ibn Rushd), Arab polymath and physician, dies. He is the author of more than 100 books, for which he is known in the western world as The Commentator and Father of Rationalism.source
  • December 11 – Averroes, Arab judge and physician (born 1126)source
  • Ruaidrí Ua Conchobair (Rory O'Connor), the last High King of Ireland, as a pilgrim in Cong (according to the Book of Leinster). He was buried in Clonmacnoise.Irelandsource