1141

Year 1141 (MCXLI) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar.

Year 1141: A Year of Turmoil and Change

The year 1141 (MCXLI) marked a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar, a period rich in significant historical events that shaped the landscape of Europe and beyond.

Key Events

  • February 2 – The Anarchy in the Kingdom of England escalates with the Battle of Lincoln, where Robert, 1st Earl of Gloucester and Empress Matilda successfully wrest control of the throne from King Stephen, resulting in his capture and imprisonment.
  • February 13 – The young Géza II is crowned as King of Hungary and Croatia at the tender age of 11, following the death of his father.
  • May 14 – The celebrated Sephardi Jewish philosopher Judah Halevi embarks on a pilgrimage to Palestine from Alexandria.
  • September 9 – The Battle of Qatwan sees Yelü Dashi, founder of the Qara Khitai, defeat the forces of the Seljuk Empire and the Kara-Khanids.
  • September 14 – In a dramatic turn of events in the Anarchy in the Kingdom of England, Matilda regains the throne after Robert is captured by loyalist forces during the Rout of Winchester.
  • November 1 – A significant exchange occurs when Robert, 1st Earl of Gloucester is traded by Empress Matilda for King Stephen, who once again takes the throne of England.
  • November – The Jin dynasty and Southern Song dynasty sign the Treaty of Shaoxing, ensuring peace in the Jin–Song Wars for the next twenty years and establishing the Huai River as their boundary.
  • The first German colonists, destined to become the future Transylvanian Saxon community, arrive in Transylvania following grants by Géza II. This colonization process is expected to be completed by 1162.
  • The renowned Italian winemaking company Ricasoli is founded during this year.

Religious Developments

  • April 1 – Alberic of Ostia, papal legate to Outremer, solemnly dedicates the Templum Domini in Jerusalem.
  • April 2 – A legatine council convened by Alberic of Ostia at the Templum Domini rejects the claim of the Latin Patriarch of Antioch over the diocese of Tyre. Notably, a step towards unity between the Armenian and Latin Churches is achieved when Armenian Catholicos Gregory III professes faith and commits to restoring union with Rome, a goal realized by the end of the century.

Notable Births and Deaths

  • Births:
    • Malcolm IV, King of Scotland (d. 1165)
    • Nizami Ganjavi, Persian poet (d. 1209) (Possibly born in 1140 or 1142)
  • Deaths:
    • February 11 – Hugh of Saint Victor, Saxon philosopher, theologian, and mystic (b. c. 1078)
    • February 13 – Béla II, King of Hungary and Croatia (b. c. 1109)
    • April 12 or April 13 – Engelbert, Duke of Carinthia
    • May – Aubrey de Vere II, Lord Great Chamberlain of England (b. 1062)
    • June 10 – Richenza of Northeim, German empress (b. c. 1087/89)
    • October 18 – Leopold, Duke of Bavaria (b. c. 1108)
    • Judah Halevi, Sephardi Jewish philosopher and poet (b. c. 1075)
    • Alberich of Reims, Archbishop of Bourges (b. 1085)

Year 1141 stands out in history as a year marked by intense political strife, significant religious developments, and notable cultural contributions, leaving a lasting impact on the regions involved.