- May 2 King Richard I of England gives Portsmouth its first Royal Charter
- Jun 10 Major fire at Chartres Cathedral, France, leads to it rebuilt as the high point of French Gothic style
- Jun 29 Sverre [Sigurdsson] is crowned King of Norway after years of dispute
- Nov 20 Palermo, Sicily, is conquered by Holy Roman Emperor Henry VI
- Dec 25 Holy Roman Emperor Henry VI crowned King of Sicily in Palermo Cathedral