1142

1141 1142 1143 1144 1145 1146 1147 1148 1149 1150

political events

The German king Conrad III makes peace in May at Frankfurt with Saxony's young duke Heinrich III der Löwe (the Lion), who is confirmed in his duchy (see 1139; Bavaria, 1143).

The Norwegian pretender Sigurd II Siembi is joined in his efforts to overthrow the infant king Inge I Haraldsson by Inge's and Sigurd's half brother, Eystein, who received one third of the late Harald's kingdom (see 1139; 1150).

France's Louis VII seizes lands belonging to Thibaut, count of Champagne, who has been his most powerful vassal. The action precipitates a civil war, but the 61-year-old abbé Suger of Saint-Dénis negotiates a peace between the two. Abbé Suger served as adviser to the king's late father, and although the new king has heretofore rejected the abbé's advice he will now tend to follow it.

Stephen of Blois lays siege to Oxford Castle, where England's Matilda and her supporters are brought to the edge of starvation (see 1141). When the Thames River freezes over in late December and snow covers the region they steal out of the castle dressed in white, get past Stephen's pickets, and travel six miles on foot to Abingdon, whence they are able to ride to Wallingford and take refuge in the western part of the country. A 5-year period of anarchy begins.

religion

Pierre Abelard dies at the priory of St. Marcel, near Chalon, at age 63 while en route to Rome. His body will be given to his widow, Héloïse, who will be buried beside him in 1164 (both will be reinterred at Paris in 1817).

1141 1142 1143 1144 1145 1146 1147 1148 1149 1150