1118 facts for kids

The year 1118 was a time of many changes and important events across Europe and Asia. New leaders came to power, battles were fought, and new groups were formed.

Important Events of 1118

New Leaders and Religious Changes

• On January 24, Pope Gelasius II became the new Pope, the leader of the Catholic Church. He took over after Pope Paschal II passed away.
• Not long after, on March 10, another person named Gregory VIII was chosen as an "antipope." An antipope is someone who claims to be the Pope but is not recognized by the main Church.
• A very important group of knights, the Knights Templar, was founded this year. Their first leader was Hughes de Payens. This group would become very famous and powerful in the future.
• In Asia, John II Komnenos became the new Byzantine emperor, taking over from his father, Alexios I Komnenos. The Byzantine Empire was a powerful empire in the eastern part of Europe and Asia.
• In the Middle East, Baldwin II of Jerusalem became the new King of Jerusalem, a kingdom set up by European crusaders.

Battles and Land Changes

• On June 11, Roger of Salerno, who was the Prince of Antioch (a city in what is now Turkey), captured a place called Azaz from the Seljuk Turks. This was an important victory for the crusaders.
• On December 18, Alfonso the Battler, a king in Spain, successfully drove the Moors out of Zaragoza. This was part of a long effort to reclaim lands in Spain.
• In Spain, Ramon Berenguer III, Count of Barcelona also captured Tarragona from the Moors.
• The Byzantine general Philocales captured Sardis from the Seljuk Sultanate of Rum.
• In Asia, David IV of Georgia captured Lorri from the Seljuk Turks. He also settled many Kipchaks in Georgia, who were a group of nomadic people.
• In India, the Hoysala Empire won a big battle against the Chalukya at a place called Kennagal.

Other Notable Happenings

• A rebellion started in Normandy against Henry I of England. Normandy was a region in France ruled by the English king.
• In England, work began again on Peterborough Cathedral, a large church that had been damaged by fire two years earlier.
• The city of Magdeburg in Germany was almost completely destroyed by a large fire.
• Several towns were mentioned for the first time in history this year, including Zwickau, Eisenstadt, Kirchgandern, and Wolfenbüttel.
• The cathedral of Ferentino in Italy was finished.
• The castle of Montlhéry in France was taken apart by Louis VI of France.

People Born in 1118

• On November 28, Manuel I Komnenos was born. He would later become a very important Byzantine Emperor.
• On December 21, Thomas Becket was born. He would become the Archbishop of Canterbury in England and play a big role in history.
• Gualdim Pais was born. He later became a Grand-Master of the Knights Templar in Portugal.
• Andronicus I Comnenus, another future Byzantine Emperor, was also born this year.
• Nur ad-Din, who would become a powerful ruler in Syria, was born.
• Taira no Kiyomori, a famous Japanese general, was born.

People Who Passed Away in 1118

• On January 21, Pope Paschal II died. He was the Pope before Gelasius II.
• On April 2, Baldwin I of Jerusalem, the King of Jerusalem, passed away.
• On May 1, Matilda of Scotland, the queen of Henry I of England, died.
• On August 15, Alexios I Komnenos, the Byzantine Emperor, died. His son, John II, took his place.
• Mehmed I of Great Seljuk, a powerful Seljuk sultan, also died this year.

Images for kids

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  Pope Paschal II died on January 21, 1118.

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  Baldwin I of Jerusalem died on April 2, 1118.

See also

In Spanish: 1118 para niños