March 6 – German forces, led by Emperor
Frederick I (Barbarossa), capture
Milan; much of the city is destroyed three weeks later, on the emperor's orders. The fortifications are demolished, and the churches are destroyed. The population is dispersed, and the commune abolished.[1] The fate of Milan leads to the submission of
Brescia,
Piacenza, and many other northern Italian cities.[2]
July 7 – Norwegian forces under the pretender
Magnus V (Erlingsson) defeat the 15-year-old King
Haakon II (Sigurdsson), who is killed in battle in
Romsdal after a 5-year reign.
The
Almohad emir,
Abd al-Mu'min, prepares a gigantic fleet of some four hundred ships to invade
Al-Andalus (modern
Spain). He dies the following year, before the fleet is completed.[3]
China
July 24 – Emperor
Gao Zong becomes embroiled in war again as hostilities resume with the
Jurchen-led
Jin Dynasty (or Great Jin) after 21 years of peace. Another peace treaty is signed, Gao abdicates the throne in favor of his adopted son
Xiao Zong. The smaller
Southern Song empire becomes richer than the
Song Dynasty.
By topic
Religion
The
Beisi Pagoda (or North Temple Pagoda) is completed during the Song Dynasty.