1187

By area

America

• The Toltecs are deposed at Chichen Itza.

  Africa

• The Almohad caliph, Yaqub al-Mansur, reconquers the city of Gabes, Ifriqiya from the Almoravid pretender, Ali b. Ghaniya.

  Asia

• May 1 - Battle of Cresson: Saladin defeats the Crusaders.
• July 4 - Battle of Hattin: Saladin defeats Guy of Lusignan, King of Jerusalem.
• September 20-October 2 - Siege of Jerusalem: Saladin captures Jerusalem.
• King Jayavarman VII of Ankor Vat defeats the Cham conquerors.
• Ghorin Muhammed conquers Punjab.

  Europe

• October 29 - Pope Gregory VIII issues the bull Audita tremendi, proposing the Third Crusade.
• Alexius Branas attempts to seize Constantinople, in defiance of his master Isaac II Angelus.
• Pillage of Sigtuna: Estonians, Curonians and/or Karelians raid Sigtuna town in Sweden, and kill the archbishop Johannes.
• Knut Eriksson builds a castle on the island of Stockholm, in Sweden.
• Genoa takes Bonifacio from Pisa.
• Glanvill, an official of King Henry II, describes how villeins can be free.
• Florence takes control of the neighboring city of Empoli.

  By topic

Markets

• To finance the siege of Zara, the Doge of Venice grants the benefits of the revenue from the salt tax to a consortium of creditors. Pledging the income from the Salt Office becomes a staple of the city's finance.

  Religion

• October 21 - Pope Gregory VIII succeeds Pope Urban III, as the 173rd pope.
• The Cathedral of St. Jacob is consecrated in Szczecin, Pomerania.