1159
Al-Idrisi's Tabula Rogeriana completed
The Moroccan geographer Muhammad al-Idrisi presented his finished world atlas to King William I of Sicily - seventy meticulously drawn maps…
John of Salisbury publishes Policraticus
The English humanist and Becket ally finished his Latin treatise on statecraft, the Policraticus.
Kilij Arslan II reunifies the Sultanate of Rum
The young Seljuk sultan of Rum defeated his brother and various Danishmendid rivals to reconsolidate Turkish power across the Anatolian plateau…
Double papal election
Cardinals in Rome split bitterly between Alexander III and the imperial-backed Victor IV.
Adrian IV's letter to Barbarossa
Pope Adrian IV wrote a letter to Frederick Barbarossa using the Latin word beneficium, which could mean either favor or fief.
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Frequently asked
What happened in the year 1159?
Saeculum lists 5 events from 1159. The most significant is Al-Idrisi's Tabula Rogeriana completed.
What era was 1159 part of?
1159 falls within the High Middle Ages (1000-1300). Crusades, cathedrals, and the slow waking of Europe.
Which regions saw notable events in 1159?
The events from 1159 span Africa, Europe and Middle East.