Middle Ages
Treaty of Zamora (1143): Portugal Becomes a Kingdom
Alfonso VII recognised Afonso Henriques's royal title, making Portugal a kingdom in its own right; full papal recognition followed in 1179.
Era · c. 500 – 1500
Middle Ages
Kingdoms, crusades and plagues: the medieval world from the end of the Western Roman Empire to the fall of Constantinople.
Middle Ages
Fall of Edessa (1144): Zengi Takes the First Crusader State
Zengi captured Edessa after a four-week siege, destroying the core of the County of Edessa and prompting the Second Crusade.
Middle Ages
Nur ad-Din: Zengid Ruler Who Unified Syria (1146-1174)
Nur ad-Din united Muslim Syria under one ruler, brought Egypt into his orbit and laid the foundations for Saladin's later campaigns against the crusaders.
Middle Ages
Second Crusade (1147-1149): The Failure at Damascus
The main armies were badly mauled in Anatolia and abandoned the siege of Damascus after four days; the only lasting gain was the capture of Lisbon.
Middle Ages
Founding of Moscow (1147): From Wooden Fort to Grand Principality
A minor frontier settlement in 1147, Moscow became the seat of a principality in the late 13th century and of the grand princes of Vladimir from 1328.
Middle Ages
Anna Komnene and the Alexiad: A Byzantine Princess Historian
Anna's Alexiad became the main narrative source for the reign of Alexios I and the Byzantine view of the First Crusade.
Middle Ages
Lewis Chessmen: The Medieval Chess Pieces Found in Scotland
The 93 pieces, now divided between the British Museum and National Museums Scotland, are among the best-known objects to survive from medieval northern Europe.
Middle Ages
Polonnaruwa and Parakramabahu I: Sri Lanka's Medieval Capital
Parakramabahu I reunited Sri Lanka under one ruler and made Polonnaruwa a magnificent capital, but the kingdom fragmented within a few decades of his death.
Middle Ages
Al-Idrisi's Tabula Rogeriana (1154): A World Map for Sicily
Al-Idrisi produced one of the most detailed geographies and world maps of the Middle Ages, combining Greek, Arabic and contemporary travellers' knowledge.
Middle Ages
Hogen Rebellion (1156): Samurai Enter Kyoto Court Politics
Victory for Emperor Go-Shirakawa; Sutoku was exiled and warrior clans became decisive in court politics.
Middle Ages
Battle of Caishi (1161): Song Gunpowder Fleet Beats the Jin
Song victory; the Jin failed to cross the Yangtze and Wanyan Liang was murdered by his own officers weeks later.
Middle Ages
Notre-Dame de Paris: Building the Great Gothic Cathedral
Notre-Dame became one of the largest and most influential Gothic cathedrals in Europe and the religious heart of medieval Paris.