Saladin takes Damascus, Aleppo, and Mosul, and sets aside the Turkish Sultan.

1184.  Diet of Mainz; the functions and dignities of the electors of Germany settled.

Council of Verona; excommunication of the Roman people and the Waldenses.

1185.  Tumults at Constantinople; Andronicus murdered, which ends the Comneni dynasty; Isaac Angelus made emperor.

Prince Arthur, grandson of Henry II, born after the death of his father, Geoffrey, Duke of Brittany.

1186.  Marriage of the Emperor’s son, Henry, to Constance, heiress of the throne of the Two Sicilies; they are crowned king and queen of Italy at Milan.

Revolt of Bulgaria and Wallachia (Roumania); they throw off the Byzantine yoke.

1187.  Battle of Tiberias.  See “SALADIN TAKES JERUSALEM FROM THE CHRISTIANS,” vi, 41.

Pope Gregory VIII urges a new crusade.  York Minster, England, founded.

1188.  Imposition of the “tithe of Saladin,” on behalf of the crusaders in England.  King Richard says he “would sell London itself” to aid the cause.  See “THE THIRD CRUSADE,” vi, 54.

Pope Clement III again makes Rome the papal residence.

1189.  Massacre of Jews in England.

Sancho, King of Portugal, takes Silvas and Beja.

Tancred, natural son of Roger, is invited by the Sicilians to occupy the throne; he is supported by the Pope against Constance and her husband.

Frederick Barbarossa sets out on the Third Crusade.  See “THE THIRD
CRUSADE,” vi, 54.

1190.  King Richard of England claims the dowry of his sister, Joan, widow of the late King of Sicily.

Emperor Frederick is drowned.  See “THE THIRD CRUSADE,” vi, 54.  A wealthy German, to aid his poor countrymen at Acre, founds the order of Teutonic Knights.  See “THE TEUTONIC KNIGHTS,” vi, 68.

1191.  Pope Celestin III allows the Romans to destroy Tusculum; the expelled inhabitants build Frascati.

The city of Bern, Switzerland, built.

1192.  The Order of the Garter said to have been originated by Richard I of England at Acre.

After leaving Palestine, Richard is shipwrecked near Aquileia; he is imprisoned and held for ransom by Emperor Henry VI.

1193.  Pope Celestin III threatens to excommunicate the princes who hold King Richard in captivity.

John Lackland, brother of Richard, King of England, attempts to usurp the throne; he is resisted by the barons.

Discord and wars among the municipal republics of Italy.

1194.  Richard, after having been a captive for more than a year, is released for a ransom of 150,000 marks, raised by his subjects.  He returns to England, declares war against Philip Augustus, and invades Normandy.  He pardons his brother John.

Emperor Henry VI puts an end to the Norman line in Sicily; he founds the Hohenstaufen dynasty there.

1195.  Battle of Alarcos; Alfonso the Noble, King of Castile, defeated by the Moors.