Editing 1187 (section)

== Events ==
<onlyinclude>

=== By place ===

==== Byzantine Empire ====
* Spring &ndash; Emperor [[Isaac II Angelos|Isaac II]] ('''Angelos''') sends a Byzantine expeditionary force under [[Alexios Branas]] to suppress the [[Uprising of Asen and Peter|Vlach-Bulgarian Rebellion]] – but Alexios revolts against Isaac and is proclaimed emperor in [[Edirne|Andrianople]]. He musters troops and advances on [[Constantinople]] in an attempt to seize it. However, Alexios is unable to bypass the city defenses and is defeated by the imperial forces led by [[Conrad of Montferrat]], the emperor's brother-in-law. On the battlefield, Alexios is beheaded by Conrad's supporting footsoldiers and the rebel army flees the field.<ref>Choniates, Nicetas (1984). ''O City of Byzantium, Annals of Niketas Choniatēs'', pp. 212–213. Translated by Harry J. Magoulias. Detroit: Wayne State University Press. {{ISBN|0-8143-1764-2}}.</ref>
* [[Siege of Lovech]]: Byzantine forces under Isaac II besiege the fortress city of [[Lovech]] in north-central [[Bulgaria]]. After a three-month siege, Isaac is forced to accept a truce by recognizing the joint-rule of [[Peter II of Bulgaria|Peter II]] and [[Ivan Asen I of Bulgaria|Ivan Asen I]] as emperor's (or ''[[tsar]]'') over the territory, leading to the creation of the [[Second Bulgarian Empire]] (until [[1396]]).

==== Levant ====
* Spring &ndash; The Crusaders under [[Raynald of Châtillon]] attack a large Muslim caravan, including members of [[Saladin]]'s family, journeying from [[Cairo]]. Raynald takes the merchants, and their families with all their possessions to his castle of [[Al-Karak|Kerak]]. Saladin demands the release of the prisoners and compensation for their losses. This is refused by Raynald, who pays no attention to his order.<ref>[[Steven Runciman]] (1952). ''A History of The Crusades. Vol II: The Kingdom of Jerusalem'', p. 367. {{ISBN|978-0-241-29876-3}}.</ref>
* [[March 13]] &ndash; Saladin leaves [[Damascus]] with his Muslim forces, and sends letters to neighboring countries, asking for volunteers for a forthcoming ''[[jihad]]'' ("Holy War"). A week later his younger brother [[Al-Adil I|Al-Adil]], governor of [[Egypt in the Middle Ages|Egypt]], leads his forces out of Cairo towards [[Syria]]. Meanwhile, Saladin leaves an army under his 18-year-old son [[Al-Afdal ibn Salah ad-Din|Al-Afdal]] at [[Bosra|Busra]], to keep watch on the 'Pilgrim road'.<ref>[[David Nicolle]] (1993). Osprey: Campaign series – 19. ''Hattin 1187, Saladin's Greatest Victory'', p. 56. {{ISBN|1-85532-284-6}}.</ref>
* [[April]] &ndash; King [[Guy of Lusignan]] summons his vassals and marches north to [[Nazareth]], to reduce [[Principality of Galilee|Galilee]] to submission. 
* [[April 29]] &ndash; A delegation under [[Balian of Ibelin]] is sent to [[Tiberias]], to reconcile with [[Raymond III, Count of Tripoli|Raymond III]], prince of Galilee. After [[Easter]], a second delegation (supported by the [[Knights Templar]] and [[Knights Hospitaller]]) is sent to [[Tripoli, Lebanon|Tripoli]], but the situation remains unchanged.
* [[May 1]] &ndash; [[Battle of Cresson]]: A Muslim reconnaissance force (some 7,000 men<ref>David Nicolle (1993). Osprey: Campaign series – 19. ''Hattin 1187, Saladin's Greatest Victory'', p. 57. {{ISBN|1-85532-284-6}}. According to David Nicolle, Gökböri's force was said to consist of 7,000 men though this is a huge exaggeration, 700 seeming more likely.</ref>) under [[Gökböri|Muzaffar al-Din Gökböri]], defeats a small Crusader army near Nazareth. Only [[Gerard de Ridefort]], commander of the Crusaders, and a handful of knights escape death or capture. The Muslims scatter and kill the Christian foot-soldiers (some 400 men) before pillaging the countryside.<ref>Steven Runciman (1952). ''A History of The Crusades. Vol II: The Kingdom of Jerusalem'', pp. 369–370. {{ISBN|978-0-241-29876-3}}.</ref>
* [[June 26]] &ndash; Saladin regroups his Muslim forces and marches towards the [[Jordan River]]. His army numbers around 30,000 men and is divided into three columns. The following day Saladin encamps on the [[Golan Heights]], in a marshy area near [[Sea of Galilee|Lake Tiberias]]. Raiding parties are sent across the Jordan to ravage Christian territory between Nazareth, Tiberias, and [[Mount Tabor]].<ref>David Nicolle (1993). Osprey: Campaign series – 19. ''Hattin 1187, Saladin's Greatest Victory'', p. 61. {{ISBN|1-85532-284-6}}.</ref>
* [[June 30]] &ndash; Saladin sends a contingent to block Tiberias and challenges the Crusaders by moving his main camp closer to [[Sepphoris|Saffuriya]] – some 10 km west of Lake Tiberias. On [[July 1]], he sends scouts to monitor an alternative road on his northern flank that connects Saffuriya and Tiberias. The following day he attacks Tiberias with a part of his forces, including siege equipment.<ref>Steven Runciman (1952). ''A History of The Crusades. Vol II: The Kingdom of Jerusalem'', p. 371. {{ISBN|978-0-241-29876-3}}.</ref>
* [[July 2]]&ndash;[[July 3|3]] &ndash; Saladin besieges Tiberias. The defenders, and Countess [[Eschiva of Bures|Eschiva II]] (wife of Raymond III) retreat to the citadel and sends messengers urging Guy of Lusignan to send help. Meanwhile, Guy and Raymond hold a war council to debate what should be done. Persuaded by Gerard de Ridefort and Raynald of Châtillon, Guy orders to march to the rescue of Tiberias.<ref>David Nicolle (1993). Osprey: Campaign series – 19. ''Hattin 1187, Saladin's Greatest Victory'', pp. 61–62. {{ISBN|1-85532-284-6}}.</ref>
* [[July 4]] &ndash; [[Battle of Hattin]]: Saladin defeats the Crusader army (some 20,000 men) under Guy of Lusignan at the [[Horns of Hattin]]. Guy is captured along with many nobles and knights, among them, Raynald of Châtillon. The latter is executed by Saladin himself.<ref>Steven Runciman (1952). ''A History of The Crusades. Vol II: The Kingdom of Jerusalem'', p. 375. {{ISBN|978-0-241-29876-3}}.</ref> The [[Crusader states|Crusader States]] have no reserves to defend the castles and fortified settlements against Saladin's forces.<ref>Smail, R. C. (1995). ''Crusading Warfare, 1097–1193'', p. 33 (2nd ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. {{ISBN|978-0-521-45838-2}}.</ref>
* [[July 14]] &ndash; [[Conrad of Montferrat]], an Italian nobleman, arrives in [[Tyre, Lebanon|Tyre]] which ends the surrender negotiations with Saladin. He finds the remnants of the Crusader army (after the battle of Hattin) and makes the Tyrians swear loyalty to him. [[Reginald of Sidon]] and several other nobles give their support, Reginald goes to refortify his own castle of [[Beaufort Castle, Lebanon|Beaufort]] on the [[Litani River]].<ref>David Nicolle (2005). Osprey: Campaign series – 161. ''The Third Crusade 1191: Richard the Lionheart, Saladin and the struggle for Jerusalem'', p. 16. {{ISBN|978-1-84176-868-7}}.</ref>
* Summer &ndash; Saladin begins a campaign that paves the way for further Muslim inroads into Christian territory. Al-Adil invades [[Palestine (region)|Palestine]] with the Egyptian army, and captures the strategic castle of [[Majdal Yaba#Crusader, Ayyubid and Mamluk rule|Mirabel]] ([[Majdal Yaba]]). By mid-September, Saladin has captured the cities of [[Acre, Israel|Acre]], [[Jaffa]], [[Gaza City|Gaza]] and [[Ascalon]] (blockaded by the Egyptian fleet), along with some 50 Crusader castles.
* [[September 20]]&ndash;[[October 2]] &ndash; [[Siege of Jerusalem (1187)|Siege of Jerusalem]]: Saladin captures [[Jerusalem]], after the Crusaders led by Balian of Ibelin surrender the 'Holy City'. The take-over of the city is relatively peaceful; Saladin agrees to let the Muslims and Christians leave the city, taking with them their goods. Balian joins his wife [[Maria Komnene, Queen of Jerusalem|Maria Komnene]] and family, in the [[County of Tripoli]].

==== Europe ====
* Summer &ndash; [[Pillage of Sigtuna]]: A fleet of [[Karelians]] enters [[Mälaren|Lake Malar]] and ravages the coast. The marauders burn [[Sigtuna]] and kill Archbishop [[Johannes (Archbishop of Uppsala)|Johannes]] at [[Almarestäket]] in [[Sweden]].<ref>[[Enn Tarvel]] (2007). [http://haridus.opleht.ee/Arhiiv/7_82007/38-41.pdf ''Sigtuna hukkumine'']. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171011191449/http://haridus.opleht.ee/Arhiiv/7_82007/38-41.pdf |date=October 11, 2017 }} Haridus, 2007 (7-8), p 38–41</ref>
* [[Republic of Genoa|Genoa]] takes [[Bonifacio, Corse-du-Sud|Bonifacio]] (in [[Corsica]]) from [[Republic of Pisa|Pisa]]. Pope [[Gregory VIII]] reconciles the differences between the states so that both may be used to expedite shipments to the [[Holy Land]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Colombani|first=Philippe|title=Héros corses du Moyen Age|year=2010|publisher=Albiana|location=Ajaccio|isbn=978-2-84698-338-9|page=173}}</ref>

==== Britain ====
* November &ndash; [[Richard I of England|Richard of Poitou]], son of King [[Henry II of England|Henry II]], take the [[Christian cross|Cross]] to help capture Jerusalem from the Muslims. He empties his coffers for the mission and makes a deal with King [[William the Lion]] of [[Kingdom of Scotland|Scotland]], giving him full feudal autonomy in return for cash.

==== Africa ====
* Almohad forces under Caliph [[Abu Yusuf Yaqub al-Mansur]] reconquer the city of [[Gabès]] (modern [[Tunisia]]) from the [[Almoravid dynasty|Almoravid]] pretender, [[Banu Ghaniya|Ali Banu Ghaniya]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Picard|first=Christophe|title=La mer et les musulmans d'Occident VIIIe-XIIIe siècle|year=1997|publisher=Presses Universitaires de France|location=Paris}}</ref>

==== Asia ====
* [[November 9]] &ndash; Retired-Emperor [[Emperor Gaozong of Song|Gao Zong]] dies at the age of 80, having abdicated 58 years ago (see [[1129]]) after a reign in which he reestablished the [[Song dynasty#Southern Song, 1127–1279|Southern Song dynasty]] (until [[1279]]).

=== By topic ===

==== Economy ====
* [[Orio Mastropiero]], doge of [[Republic of Venice|Venice]], secures loans from the Venetian nobility to finance the siege of [[Zadar]]. Pledging the income from the Salt Office becomes a staple of the city's finance.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Munro|first=John H.|title=The Medieval Origins of the Financial Revolution|journal=The International History Review|year=2003|volume=15|issue=3|pages=506–562}}</ref>

==== Religion ====
* [[October 20]] &ndash; Pope [[Pope Urban III|Urban III]] dies after a 2½-year [[pontificate]] at [[Ferrara]]. He is succeeded by Gregory VIII as the 173rd pope of the [[Catholic Church]].
* October &ndash; [[Joscius, Archbishop of Tyre|Josias]], archbishop of [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Tyre|Tyre]], arrives in [[Rome]] and informs the Papal Court of the disaster of the Christian slaughter at Hattin by Saladin. 
* [[October 29]] &ndash; Gregory VIII issues the bull ''[[Audita tremendi]]'', proposing the [[Third Crusade]] and negotiates with Emperor [[Frederick I, Holy Roman Emperor|Frederick I]] ('''Barbarossa''').
* [[December 17]] &ndash; Gregory VIII dies after holding the papacy for only 57 days. He is succeeded by [[Pope Clement III|Clement III]] as the 174th pope of [[Rome]].
</onlyinclude>