1123
First Lateran Council
Callixtus II convened the first general council of the Latin Church in the West since antiquity, confirmed the Concordat of Worms, and reaffirmed the ban on clerical marriage and simony. Over three hundred bishops attended the twelve-day meeting in the rebuilt Lateran basilica. The council also addressed the problem of false monks, counterfeit relics, and the increasing tendency of lay lords to treat tithes as personal income.
Jurchen capture the last Liao emperor
After years of desperate flight across the Mongolian steppe with a dwindling band of followers, the last Khitan emperor Tianzuo was finally cornered and taken prisoner by Jurchen horsemen on the grasslands. The Liao dynasty, which had dominated the northern Chinese frontier for over two centuries, was formally and irrevocably extinguished. Its refugees scattered westward to found the Kara-Khitai in Central Asia.
Baldwin II captured by Belek Ghazi
Hunting in northern Syria, the King of Jerusalem and a small escort were ambushed by Turkish horsemen under Belek Ghazi and dragged to captivity at Kharput castle. Baldwin would not be ransomed for over a year, during which his constable Eustace Grenier ran the kingdom in his absence. The capture was the second time a king of Jerusalem had been held prisoner, underscoring the chronic vulnerability of the Latin East.
Battle of Yibneh
The Crusaders ambushed and destroyed a Fatimid army near the coast south of Jaffa, effectively ending serious Egyptian attempts to reconquer the kingdom by land for a generation. Baldwin II was at that moment sitting in a Turkish prison; his constable had done the job for him. The victory freed the kingdom from the threat of simultaneous assault from Egypt and Damascus that had haunted its early decades.
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Frequently asked
What happened in the year 1123?
Saeculum lists 4 curated events from 1123. The most significant is First Lateran Council: Callixtus II convened the first general council of the Latin Church in the West since antiquity, confirmed the Concordat of Worms, and reaffirmed the ban…
What era was 1123 part of?
1123 falls within the High Middle Ages (1000-1300). Crusades, cathedrals, and the slow waking of Europe.
Which regions saw notable events in 1123?
The curated events from 1123 span Europe, East Asia and Middle East.