1180

By area

America

• The last major volcanic eruption occurs of Sunset Crater, in Arizona.

  Asia

Japan

• During the third year of the Jishō era of Japan, a devastating whirlwind damages Kyoto.
• Emperor Antoku succeeds Emperor Takakura, as emperor of Japan.
• Prince Mochihito amasses a large army, and instigates the Genpei War between the Taira and Minamoto clans.

  Near East

• Kilij Arslan II allies with Saladin, after the death of Byzantine Emperor Manuel I Komnenos.

  Europe

• April 13 - Frederick Barbarossa issues the Gelnhausen Charter.
• September 24 - Alexios II Komnenos succeeds as Byzantine Emperor, on the death of his father Manuel I Komnenos.
• September 18 - Philip II becomes King of France.
• Afonso I of Portugal is taken prisoner by Ferdinand II of León.
• The Portuguese admiral D. Fuas Roupinho wins a second victory in two years, against the Almohad fleet.
• Artois is annexed by France.
• Frederick Barbarossa removes Henry the Lion from the Duchy of Saxony, and creates the Duchies of Westphalia and Styria.
• The Wittelsbach Family takes control of Bavaria.
• The assembly traditionally regarded as the first Sejm of the Kingdom of Poland convenes at Łęczyca.

  By topic

Culture

• Alexander Neckam becomes a lecturer in Paris, and writes De Natura Rerum, an early mention of chess.

  Demography

• Estimation: Hangzhou, capital of Southern Song China, becomes the largest city of the world, taking the lead from Fez in the Almohad Empire.