1179

Events

* June 19 — Battle of Kalvskinnet (outside Nidaros, Norway): Earl Erling Skakke is killed, and the battle changes the tide of the civil wars.
* The Third Council of the Lateran condemns Waldensians and Cathars as heretics, institutes a reformation of clerical life, and creates the first "ghettos" for Jews. It also rules that the Pope must receive 2/3 of the cardinals' votes to be elected.
* Afonso I is recognized as the true King of Portugal by Pope Alexander III, bringing Portugal the protection of the Catholic Church against the Castilian monarchy.
* Philip II is crowned King of France.
* The city of Aberdeen is chartered by William the Lion.
* Westminster School is founded by the monks of Westminster Abbey (by papal command).
* The Drigung Kagyu school of Kagyu Buddhism is founded.
* The Maya city of Chichen Itza is sacked and burned by Hunac Ceel, the Mayapan king.

Births

* John of Ibelin, the Old Lord of Beirut (approximate date; d. 1236)
* Mikhail of Kiev (approximate date; d. 1246)
* Hermann von Salza, Grand Master of the Teutonic Knights (approximate date; d. 1239)
* Shimazu Tadahisa, warlord of the Shimazu clan of Japan (d. 1227)
* William IV Talvas, Count of Ponthieu (d. 1221)
* Yaqut al-Hamawi, Arab geographer (d. 1229)

Deaths

* September 17 — Hildegard of Bingen, German abbess, mystic writer, and composer (b. 1098)
* Taira no Shigemori, Japanese rebel (b. 1138)