Editing 1196 (section)

== Events ==
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=== By place ===

==== Byzantine Empire ====
* [[December]] &ndash; Emperor [[Alexios III Angelos|Alexios III]] ('''Angelos''') is threatened by Emperor [[Henry VI, Holy Roman Emperor]], who demands 5,000 pounds of gold or the Byzantines will face an invasion, this due to a convoluted system of dynastic claims of Henry gaining control of Alexios' daughter [[Irene Doukaina]]. The amount is negotiated down to 1,600 pounds of gold – with Alexios plundering the imperial tombs within the [[Church of the Holy Apostles]] – as well as levying a heavy and unpopular tax, known as the ''[[Alamanikon]]'' (or '''German Tax''').<ref>Brand, Charles M. (1991). ''The Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium'', pp. 50–51. Oxford and New York: Oxford University Press. {{ISBN|0-19-504652-8}}.</ref>

==== Europe ====
* Spring &ndash; Henry VI persuades a diet at [[Würzburg]]. He manages to convince the majority of the German nobles and clergy to recognize his 2-year-old son, [[Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor|Frederick II]], as king of the Romans and heir to the imperial throne. However, Archbishop [[Adolf of Altena|Adolf of Cologne]] thwarts the will of the diet and arouses the resistance of several [[Duchy of Saxony|Saxon]] and [[Duchy of Thuringia|Thuringian]] nobles against Henry, who realizes that he is unable to establish a hereditary monarchy (see [[Erbreichsplan]]) in the [[Holy Roman Empire]] without resistance.<ref>Hampe, Karl (1973). ''Germany under the Salian and Hohenstaufen Emperors'', p. 226. Trans: Bennett, Ralph. Oxford: Blackwell. {{ISBN|0-631-14180-4}}.</ref>
* [[April 23]] &ndash; [[Béla III of Hungary|Béla III]] dies after a 23-year reign in which he has supported the former Byzantine emperor [[Isaac II Angelos|Isaac II]] ('''Angelos''') against the invading Bulgarians. Having made the Hungarian court one of the most brilliant in [[Europe]] and made his hereditary monarchy. Béla is succeeded by his 22-year-old son [[Emeric, King of Hungary|Emeric]] as ruler of [[Kingdom of Hungary|Hungary]], [[Croatia in personal union with Hungary|Croatia]] and [[Dalmatia]] (until [[1204]]).
* [[April 25]] &ndash; King [[Alfonso II of Aragon|Alfonso II]] ('''the Chaste''') dies after a 32-year reign at [[Perpignan]]. He leaves a will that divides his realm ([[kingdom of Aragon|Aragon]] loses [[Provence]]) and is succeeded by his 21-year-old son [[Peter II of Aragon|Peter II]] ('''the Catholic''').
* [[Battle of Serres]]: Bulgarian forces under Tsar [[Ivan Asen I of Bulgaria|Ivan Asen I]] defeat the Byzantine army near [[Serres]]. During the winter Ivan continues his campaign in [[Central Macedonia]] and captures many Byzantine fortresses.
* Ivan Asen I is stabbed to death by [[Ivanko (Bulgarian boyar)|Ivanko]], a Bulgarian [[boyar]] (aristocrat), who is accused of having an affair with Ivan's wife's sister. He is succeeded by his brother [[Kaloyan of Bulgaria|Kaloyan]] as co-ruler of the [[Second Bulgarian Empire|Bulgarian Empire]].

==== England ====
* Spring &ndash; [[William Fitz Osbert|William FitzOsbert]], a rebel leader, leads an uprising of the poor against the rich in [[London]]. He gathers over 52,000 supporters, stocks of weapons are cached throughout the city by breaking into the houses of the rich. Finally, the riots are suppressed and William is [[hanged, drawn and quartered]] by orders of [[Hubert Walter]], archbishop of [[Diocese of Canterbury|Canterbury]]. 
* [[Kingdom of England|England]] is struck by pestilence and a resulting [[famine]].<ref>Warren, W. L. (1961). ''King John''. University of California Press. p. 60.</ref>

==== Asia ====
* [[Ch'oe Ch'ung-hŏn]], a Korean general, massacres his rivals and restores unity. After a [[coup d'état]], he takes full power and becomes prime-minister of the Korean state [[Goryeo]] (until [[1219]]).<ref>Williams, Hywel (2005). ''Cassell's Chronology of World History'', p. 131. {{ISBN|0-304-35730-8}}.</ref>
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