Figure 1.--This appears to depict a German knight, Wolfram von Eschenbach, and his page about 1170. It is not, hpwever, a contemprary depiction, but rather done about 1305-40. The caption reads in German, "Wolfram von Eschenbach wurde wohl um 1170 in Franken geboren, nannte sich selbst jedoch einen Bayern. Unter anderem weilte er am Hof des kunstliebenden Landgrafen Hermann V. von Thüringen, wo er vermutlich Walther von der Vogelweide getroffen haben dürfte. Zwischen 1200 und 1210 schrieb er dann den Versroman "Parzival". Which means, "Wolfram von Eschenbach. was born about 1170 in Frankia, although he called himself a Bavarian. He stayed among other courts at the Court of Landgrafen Hermann V of Thuringia who loved art, where he met Walther von der Vogelweide. Between 1200 and 1210 he wrote the Versenovel Parzival” (dealing with King Arthur and one of his knights Parcival who fights against the Green Knight)." Perhaps the depiction here is not Wolfram, but rather Sir Parcival that he wrote about. Source: University of Heildelberg.

The pace of change in Europe begins to quicken in the 12th century. King Henry I (1100-35) is crowned king of England and control Normandy. He uses the length of his own arm [fingertip to nose] and decrees it to be the true measure of a yard in England. Frederick I (Barbarossa) comes to dominate much of Germany and invades Italy and Poland. Controling much of Italy, he forces the Pope to crown him Holy Roman Emperor (1155). (The NAZIs named their 1941 invasion of the Soviet Union, Operation Barbarossa, in his honor.) Northern Italy's Lombard League defeats defeats Barbarossa ar Leganno. He later drowns in Asia Minor, in the Third Crusade (1190). Louis VII of France annuls his marriage to Eleanor of Acquitaine (who marries England's Henry Plantagent). Henry II (Henry Plantagenet) is crowned King of England (1154). He centralizes royal authority and marries Eleanor of Acquitaine with her Continentaldomains. He appoints a friend Thomas a Becket as Arch Bishop to help gain control of the English Church, but later the kings' men murder him. Mongol tribes of central Asia are consolidated by Temujin (about 1190). Temujin takes the title Genghis Khan (1206), and directs his hordes west to conquer and much of eastern Europe. The Germanic Teutonic Knights are founded in the 1190s. France banishes the Jews several centuries before the Spanish (1182), but are allowed to return after only a few years. The Abbe Suger begins building the church of St. Denis which will be the first important Gothic church complete with flying butresses. The Cathedral of Notre Dame was constructede in Paris (1163-1235). A university, the University of Bologna is founded in Italy (1158). The University of Paris is founded in France (before 1170). Carvings show that Europeans have begun to use ship rudders in the 12th century. A paper mill is known to have operated in Herault, France (1189), perhaps the first in Europe. Reference appear to a magnetic compass at the end of the century. St. Francis breathed new life into the Church. The 12th century is the era in which Ivanhoe is set, making it the era in which most people like as the medieval era. It was in fact the beginning of the closing era before gun powder and the Renaissance were to remake Europe. One HBC reader reports that ordinary men and boys would have typically worn "breeches" made out of wool and maybe a "jerkin" made out of wool as well. Craft guilds acieved considerable importance in the 12th century. The apprentice system became generally accepted throughout Europe. Belts and girdles become popular in the 12th century. Women and girls adopt a new style of slinky tunics which were called kirtles. Hangimg sleeves on supertunics become fashionable. Those of nobel ladies might even touch the ground. Women's hair was often done in plaits. Girls from affluent families might cover their plaits with silk sheaths that were called fouriaux. Men increasingly wore hats or hoods men under which they wore small close fitting caps called coifs--the origin of the modern word meaning strangely a woman's fancy hair style. [Crush]

Economics

The pace of change in Europe begins to quicken in the 12th century.

National Developments

England

King Henry I (1100-35) is crowned king of England and controls Normandy. He uses the length of his own arm [fingertip to nose] and decrees it to be the true measure of a yard in England.

Germany

Frederick I (Barbarossa) comes to dominate much of Germany and invades Italy and Poland. Controling much of Italy, he forces the Pope to crown him Holy Roman Emperor (1155). (The NAZIs named their 1941 invasion of the Soviet Union, Operation Barbarossa, in his honor.) Northern Italy's Lombard League defeats defeats Barbarossa ar Leganno. Frederick later drowns in Asia Minor, in the Third Crusade (1190).

France

Louis VII of France annuls his marriage to Eleanor of Acquitaine (who marries England's Henry Plantagent). Henry II (Henry Plantagenet) is crowned King of England (1154). He centralizes royal authority and marries Eleanor of Acquitaine with her Continental domains.

Italy

German Emperor Frederick II is crowned king of Sicily (1198).

Portugal

Portugal becomes a kingdomn (1143).

Spain

Spain in the 11th century is dominated by the Reconquista. Christians take Zaragoza (1118). The kingdoms of Aragon and Catalonia are united (1137). 1140 Almohades rise against the Almoravides dynasty and rule over the Maghreb and what is left of Islamic Spain. Alfonso VII of Castile takes Cordoba (1146). Alfonso VII of Castille proclaims himself 'king of the three religions' (1150). Castile separates from León (1157). An-Nasir, Islamic prince of Grenada, moves on Madrid and defeats the army of Navarra at Alarcos (1194).

The Church

Serious disputes develop between monarachies and the Chutch. Henry II of England appoints a friend Thomas a Becket as Archbishop to help gain control of the English Church. Later King's men in Canterbury Cathedral (1170). St. Francis breathed new life into the Church. Pope Alexander III prohibits monks from studying medicine and law (1163). The Church holds the Third Latran Council. Pope Alexander III prohibits trade between Christians and Arabs, obliges cathedrals to support public education by employing a master (teacher) to teach children, and confirms that the licencia docendi is to be given to any clerk able to teach (1179). The Cathar heresy grows. The Cathars translate part of the Bible into French (1185). Pope Innocent II affirms the priority of papapl power over imperial power (1199).

The Crusades

The Crusades are the series of religious wars launched by the Medieval kingdoms of Europe during the 11th-13th centuries to retake the Holly land from Islamic rulers. The Crusades in the 12th century continued in full force. The Second (1147) and Third Crusades (1189-92) were the major campaigns during the century.

Byzantium

The diplomacy of the Crusades is complicated. One would expect that Christian Byzantium would welcome the Crusaders and alies in support of their conflict with the Turks. Alexius' grandson Manuel I Comnenus favored the Crusaders, yet there were serious tensions. The breakup of the Eastern and Western Churches had created great illwill as did the acts of excommunication. The Byzantines were as a result suspicious Roman Catholic Crusaders who continually passed through their territory. There were actual attacks from the Holy Roman Empire as well as the Normans in Sicily and Italy continued to attack the empire in the 11th and 12th centuries. There were also tensions with the Italian city states which were establishing their independence. They were granted favorable trading rights in Constantinople. Some were the targets of growing anti-Western attitudes, primarily because they were the Westerners that were present. The Venetians as the most poweful maitime power were especially disliked. The Venetians provided the bulk of the Byzantine navy, the key to Byzatium's survival. The Seljuk Turks defeated Emperor Manuel at Myriokephalon (1176). Holy Roman Emperor Frederick Barbarossa attempted to conquer the Byzantine Empire during the Third Crusade (1189-1192). Debates between the Western and Easyern Churches continue. Archbishop of Milan Petrus Chrysolanus travels to Constantinople to disputes before Emperor Alexis (1112). Disputatio in Constantinople between Anselm (archbishop of Ravenna) and Nicetas (archbishop of Nicomedia) before Johannes Comnenus. Present are James a Venetian ('Jacobus Veneticus'), Burgundio Pisanus (of Pisa), and Moses, an Italian from Bergamo, 'and he was agrred to by the participants to be a fair interpreter for both sides' (1136). Archbishop of Ravenna Anselm debates with Basil of Achrida at Thessalonica (1155).

The Mongols

Mongol tribes of central Asia are consolidated by Temujin (about 1190). Temujin takes the title Genghis Khan (1206), and directs his hordes west to conquer much of the Near East. While Genghis was still allive, his grandson Batu conquers Russia and Poland. Genghis' death causes the Mongol armies to retreat back to Asia rather than pressing on into Western Europe (1227). The Mongols eventually conquer the largest empire in human history and found a dynasty of Chinese emperors--the Yuan dynasty.

The Teutonic Knights

The Germanic Teutonic Knights which played an important role in medieval Europe were founded in the 1190s.

The Jews

The 12th century is a difficult time for European Jewry. The Almphad caliphate in Andalusia expelled the Jews (1148). They moved to the Catholic kingdoms of Castile, Aragon and Catalonia. France banished the Jews several centuries before the Spanish (1182), but they were allowed to return after only a few years. The English massacre the Jews in London (1189). The Jews in York commited collective suicide (1190).

Gothic Cathedrals

The Abbe Suger begins building the church of St. Denis which will be the first important Gothic church complete with flying butresses. The Cathedral of Notre Dame was constructed in Paris (1163-1235).

Universities

The University of Bologna is founded in Italy (1119/58). The University of Paris is founded in France (before 1170).

Scholarship

Scholars throughout Europe begin to increasingly look at non-religious classical texts. Some even look at Arabic works acqquired in the Reconquista and the Crusades. shop Michael (probably a Frenchman) of Tarazona, which has just been retaken from the Arabs in the Reconquista. He acquires seeks Arabic texts in the coinquired city on astrology and divination and sponsors their translation into Latin by Hugo Sanctillanus (1119-51). Adelardus de Bada translates Euclid, Abu Ma'shar and al-Khwarezmi (1115-30). Italian Stephanus Antiochensus working in Antioch, translates Ali ibn Abbus's Liber regalis, earlier translated by Constantinus Africanus (1127). Stephanus claims that the earlier version had been "corrupted by the shrewd fraud of the translator". Jacobus Clericus de Venetia translates Aristotle's Physica, De anima, Metaphysica, and the Logica Nova into Latin. Johannes Hispanensis of Seville translates pseudo-Aristotle (Secreta secretorum), Avicenna, al-Battani, Qusta ibn Luqa, al-Farabi, al-Fargani, Avicebron, al-Khwarezmi, al-Kindi, Messahala, Aben Ragel, Thabit ben Kurraq (1133-42). Hundreds of other works are translated. Translators become increasingly sophisticated. Scholars debate word-for-word translation and adding commentds from other works. Scloarshiop outside of religious works in the 12th century while advancing is much more concerned with translation than original works. There are, however, some original works. The Spaniard Abraham ibn Ezra (1092-1162?) writes on astrology and travels widely in Europe (about 1140). Robertus Ketenensis writes a set of astronomical tables for the meridian of London (1149).

Technology

Carvings show that Europeans have begun to use ship rudders in the 12th century. Italians learn Arab methods of manufacturing paper (about (1145). A paper mill is known to have operated in Herault, France (1189), perhaps the first in Europe. Reference appear to a magnetic compass at the end of the century.

Law

The Constitutum usus is adopted in Pisa (1161). It becomes the foundation of European commercial and maritime law.

Mythology

The 12th century is the era in which Ivanhoe is set, making it the era in which most people like as the medieval era. It was in fact the beginning of the closing era before gun powder and the Renaissance were to remake Europe.

Craft Guilds

Craft guilds acieved considerable importance in the 12th century. The apprentice system became generally accepted throughout Europe.

Literature

Abélard seduces Héloise (1118)

Clothing

There were no destinctive boys' garments in the 12th century. Boys wore dresses like their sisters until they were breeched and then were dressed like their fathers. Both men and women wore long flowing garments, sometimes making it difficult to identify genders in period art work. One HBC reader reports that ordinary men and boys would have typically worn "breeches" made out of wool and maybe a "jerkin" made out of wool as well. Belts and girdles become popular in the 12th century. Women and girls adopt a new style of slinky tunics which were called kirtles. Hangimg sleeves on supertunics become fashionable. Those of nobel ladies might even touch the ground. Hosiery was mirmally made with wool fabrics. Bright colors were worn. Red seems particularly popular. The long flowing garments limits depictions of hosiery in period art wirk. We have some details about stocking suporters during the century.

Hair Styles

Women's hair was often done in plaits. Girls from affluent families might cover their plaits with silk sheaths that were called fouriaux. Men increasingly wore hats or hoods men under which they wore small close fitting caps called coifs--the origin of the modern word meaning strangely a woman's fancy hair style. [Crush]

Sources

Crush, Margaret. Piccolo Book of Costume (Pan Books: London, 1973). The book has very nicely done illustrations by Faith Jaques.

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Created: September 5, 2003
Last updated: 6:25 PM 3/21/2007