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871-899
Alfred the Great (r. 871-899) of Wessex: Restricts Vikings to Danelaw, strengthens Wessex defenses
912-961
Reign of Abd al-Rahman III in Spain
919-936
Henry the Fowler in Germany: Re-annexes Lorriane
925-939
Aethelstan (r. 925-939): Conquers the Danelaw
936-973
Otto I (r. 936-973): Defeats rebellious counts, defeats Magyars (955), establishes Saxon control in Italy, is crowned Roman Emperor and appoints popes.
955
Battle of the Lech
960
Hugh Capet as Duke of Franks: Chosen by French counts specifically because he will be a weak ruler.
976-1025
Basil II, Byzantine Emperor: Fends off attacks to throne, sees to Conversion of Russians, helps peasant status, defeats Bulgar army and destroys Bulgar state.
1054
Schism between Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches
1066
Norman Conquest of England: William the Bastard (alternatively known as William the Conqueror) of Normandy invades and conquers England, ending the Anglosaxon period. Defeats Harold Godwinson at Hastings.
1071
Manzikert: Seljuk Turkish forces under Alp Arslan defeat Byzantine forces under Romanus IV Diogenes. Beginning of Turkification of Asia Minor.
1074
Gregory VII as Pope: Beginning of Investiture Controversy between Papacy and German Emperor Henry IV. Gregory’s Dictatus Papae. Controversy continues ten years, to 1084.
1086
Battle of Sagrajas
Almoravids, coming from North Africa to Spain, defeat Alfonso VI of Leon and Castile.
1095
Pope Urban II preaches First Crusade at Clermont: Crusade goes from 1096-1099, capturing Jerusalem and setting up states of Edessa, Antioch, and Jerusalem.
1100-1135
King Henry I of England: Increases central government's efficiency, puts down baronial revolts, and begins the Norman-Plantagenet alliance.
1122
Concordat of Worms: Concordat between Pope Calixtus and German monarchy officially ends Investiture Controversy with the decision that only popes may invest bishops, but monarchs are allowed to be present.
1144
Muslim capture of Edessa: County of Edessa captured by Zengi of Mosul, beginning of Muslim counter-offensive in East.
1152-1180
Frederick I Barbarossa in Germany: Is crowned Emperor by Pope during one of six expeditions into Italy to tame Italian towns. Bases rule on feudal relations in Germany. Not able to assert claims totally on Italians.
1180-1223
Philip II Augustus of France: Increases royal power and makes monarch supreme in France. Works to end Angevin Empire, and defeats John of England at Bouvines.
1176
Myriocephalum: Manuel Comnenus (1143-1180) defeated by Seljuks of Rum under Kilij Arslan. Full scale Byzantine military decline sets in; reliance on the West increases.
1187
Hattin: Salah al-Din al-Ayyubi defeats Guy de Lusignon and then takes Jerusalem for Muslims.
1181-1226
St. Francis of Assisi and Franciscan orders emergence.
1190
Third Crusade: Barbarossa of Germany dies, Richard the Lionheart gets restricted access to Holy Sites.
1198-1216
Pontificate of Innocent III: Launches and excommunicates Fourth Crusade. Insists on temporal powers of a centrally-controlled Church. Protects and crowns Frederick II. Recognizes Francis of Assisi. Holds Lateran councils.
1202-1204
Fourth Crusade: Diverted by Venice to sack Constantinople. Latin states in Byzantium emerge.
1212
Las Navas de Tolosa: Almohads defeated by Alfonso VII of Castile and Pedro II of Aragon. Most of Spain taken shortly thereafter.
1214
Battle of Bouvines: Philip Augustus defeats John of England, the Flanders Count, and Otto IV of Germany. Plantagenet possessions in France reduced to Anjou only. Great victory for the French crown.
1215-1250
Frederick II of Germany and Sicily: Protected at first by Innocent III. Becomes king of Sicily based on mother's inheritance. Rules Germany feudally, Italy centrally, though towns and later Pope oppose him. Goes on Crusade in 1229, but excommunicated for negotiating access to Jerusalem and not conquering it.
1226-1270
St. Louis IX of France: Makes administration of France much more sophisticated. Dies on his second Crusading venture.
1261
Mamluk defeat of Mongols: Byzantine return to Constantinople.
