1220- 1263 - Russian prince of Novgorod, Alexander Nevsky, defeated a German invading army at Lake Peipus in northwestern Russia, 1242. Nevsky forged a political alliance with the Mongols and denounced his brother. The khan rewarded Nevsky by making him Grand Prince, later his descendants became the princes of Moscow and …

1152- 1190 - Frederick Barbarossa, known as Fredrick I, was a powerful lord who was elected king in Central Europe. Frederick wanted to further incorporate Italy into the German kingdom to form a Holy Empire or Holy Roman Empire. The papal states and northern Italian cities resisted and Fredrick was defeated …

1160

Thomas Becket was archbishop of Canterbury in the twelfth century. Becket was England's highest ranking cleric when he became embroiled in a political controversy. The powerful king, Henry II, 1154- 1189, wanted the right to punish clergy in the royal court. However, Becket resisted claiming that only the church …

1066- 1087 - William of Normandy defeated the English king Harold Godwinson at Hastings, October 14, 1066. William was crowned king of England, and proceeded to take control of the nation. William annexed large tracts of land on behalf of the Normans and became one of the largest holders of English …

1169- Saladin lead Sunni Muslims of Syria in an invasion of Egypt and ended the Fatimid caliphate. Saladin's forces also invaded Jerusalem, Palestine and Tripoli. The fall of Jerusalem led to a 'third crusade.'

1088- 1099 - At the Council of Clermont, Urban II urged Christians to take up weapons against infidels and to create a holy war against the Seljuk Turks.