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Millennium: 2nd millennium
Centuries: 11th century12th century13th century
Decades: 1130s  1140s  1150s  – 1160s –  1170s  1180s  1190s
Years: 1161 1162 116311641165 1166 1167

The year 1164 was a time of important events across Europe, especially in politics and religion. Kings, counts, and church leaders made decisions that shaped history. Let's explore some of the key things that happened in this year.

Important Events of 1164

Royal Weddings and New Beginnings

In 1164, a significant marriage took place. Count Henry I of Champagne, a powerful noble in France, married Marie de Champagne. Marie was the daughter of King Louis VII of France, making this a very important alliance between two strong families.

Church Power and New Saints

The year also saw big changes in the church.

Uppsala Becomes a Key Church Center

In Sweden, the city of Uppsala was officially recognized as the main center for the Swedish church. This meant it became the seat of the "metropolitan," which is like the head bishop for a whole region. This made Uppsala a very important religious city.

A New Pope and a Challenge

In the Catholic Church, there was a disagreement about who should be the true Pope. In 1164, a group of cardinals who supported Frederick Barbarossa, the Holy Roman Emperor, elected Antipope Paschal III. He was called an "antipope" because another Pope, Alexander III, was already recognized by many. This showed the ongoing power struggles between emperors and the church.

Saint Olaf is Honored

A special event for Norway happened when Olaf II of Norway was officially made a saint. This process is called "canonization." From then on, he was known as Saint Olaf, and he became a very important figure in Norwegian history and faith.

Relics Travel to Cologne

Archbishop Rainald of Dassel brought important religious items, called "relics," from Milan to Cologne. These were believed to be the relics of the Magi, the wise men who visited Jesus. Bringing them to Cologne made the city an even more important place for pilgrims and religious visitors.

Conflicts Between Kings and Church Leaders

One of the biggest conflicts of 1164 involved Thomas Becket, the Archbishop of Canterbury, and King Henry II of England.

Thomas Becket vs. King Henry II

Thomas Becket and King Henry II had a major disagreement about who had more power: the church or the king. Becket believed the church should be independent, while Henry wanted more control over church matters in England. Their arguments became so intense that Thomas Becket left England. He traveled to France to ask for help and support from the Pope and the King of France, hoping they would side with him against Henry II.

The First Mention of Tver

In Russia, the city of Tver was first mentioned in written records in 1164. This marks the earliest known historical reference to this city, which would later become an important center.

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