1119 CE
A year marked by the founding of the Knights Templar in Jerusalem, the Battle of Ager Sanguinis in which a Crusader army was annihilated, and the continuing investiture struggle between pope and emperor.
Geopolitics & Diplomacy
- Pope Calixtus II was elected and immediately sought to resolve the investiture controversy with Holy Roman Emperor Henry V, which had divided Europe for decades.
- King Baldwin II of Jerusalem, who had succeeded Baldwin I in 1118, worked to strengthen the Crusader states and secure alliances with neighboring Christian rulers.
Conflict & Security
- The Battle of Ager Sanguinis, known as the Field of Blood, was fought on June 28 near Aleppo, resulting in the devastating defeat and near-total destruction of the Crusader army of Antioch by the forces of Ilghazi of Mardin.
- Roger of Salerno, the regent of Antioch, was killed at the Battle of Ager Sanguinis, leaving the principality in crisis until King Baldwin II of Jerusalem assumed its regency.
Culture & Society
- The Knights Templar were founded in Jerusalem by Hugues de Payens and a small group of knights, dedicated to protecting Christian pilgrims traveling to the Holy Land.
- The estimated world population was approximately 328 million.
Climate & Environment
- Atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration was approximately 275 parts per million, as later confirmed by ice core analysis.