1181

Asia

Japan

• The Yowa era, marked by famine, begins in Japan.

  Southeast Asia

• Jayavarman VII defeats the Cham and assumes control of the Khmer Kingdom.

  Europe

• After a series of defeats, the Almohad navy, under the admiral Ahmad al-Siqilli, crushes the Portuguese fleet and reasserts its control over the Atlantic Ocean.
• The word Albigensians is first used by chronicler Geoffroy du Breuil of Vigeois, to describe the inhabitants of Albi, France.
• Philip Augustus annuls all loans made by Jews to Christians, and takes a percentage for himself. A year later, he confiscates all Jewish property and expels the Jews from Paris.

  By topic

Science

• Chinese and Japanese astronomers observe what has since come to be understood as supernova SN 1181. One of only eight supernovae in the Milky Way observed in recorded history, it appears in the constellation Cassiopeia, and is visible in the night sky for about 185 days. The radio source 3C58 is thought to be the remnant from this event.
• Guilhem VIII, lord of Montpellier in France, frees the teaching of medicine from any monopoly..

  Religion

• September 1 - Pope Lucius III succeeds Pope Alexander III, as the 171st pope.