1181
Jayavarman VII proclaimed Khmer emperor
After a decade of Cham invasions that had reached Angkor and desecrated its temples, a Khmer prince in late middle age took the throne.
Kiyomori dies; Taira weaken
The Taira clan-head and de facto dictator of Japan, Taira no Kiyomori, died of a sudden fever that contemporaries called so hot it could boil water.
Death of Pope Alexander III
After two decades of schism, a two-year exile from Rome, and one fleeting personal victory over Barbarossa, the pope who had canonized Becket and launched…
Famine in Kyoto
A catastrophic famine, made worse by the Taira's prohibition on sending grain to the capital to starve out the Minamoto, devastated Kyoto.
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Frequently asked
What happened in the year 1181?
Saeculum lists 4 events from 1181. The most significant is Jayavarman VII proclaimed Khmer emperor: After a decade of Cham invasions that had reached Angkor and desecrated its temples, a Khmer prince in late middle age took the throne.
What era was 1181 part of?
1181 falls within the High Middle Ages (1000-1300). Crusades, cathedrals, and the slow waking of Europe.
Which regions saw notable events in 1181?
The events from 1181 span Southeast Asia, East Asia and Europe.