1153
Death of Bernard of Clairvaux
The ascetic preacher who had shaped Cistercian monasticism, launched two crusades, mentored a pope, and argued with Abelard died in his abbey at sixty-three.
Baldwin III takes Ascalon
After besieging the Fatimid fortress port for seven months, the young king of Jerusalem finally broke through the walls.
Treaty of Wallingford
King Stephen and Henry of Anjou, both exhausted by eighteen years of the Anarchy, met near the Thames and agreed Henry would succeed Stephen on his death.
Eugenius III dies weeks after Bernard
The first Cistercian pope, a former pupil of Bernard of Clairvaux, died within two months of his old teacher.
Malcolm IV becomes King of Scots
A boy of twelve, grandson of David I, inherited the Scottish crown.
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Frequently asked
What happened in the year 1153?
Saeculum lists 5 events from 1153. The most significant is Death of Bernard of Clairvaux: The ascetic preacher who had shaped Cistercian monasticism, launched two crusades, mentored a pope, and argued with Abelard died in his abbey at sixty-three.
What era was 1153 part of?
1153 falls within the High Middle Ages (1000-1300). Crusades, cathedrals, and the slow waking of Europe.
Which regions saw notable events in 1153?
The events from 1153 span Europe and Middle East.