- Apr 24 Battle at Danoura: Yoshitsune Minamoto's fleet beats the Taira during Japan's Genpei War
- Apr 25 Battle at Dan-no-ura: Major sea battle in Japan's Genpei War, Minamoto clan led by Minamoto no Yoshitsune defeats the Taira clan
- Aug 15 The cave city of Vardzia is consecrated by Queen Tamar of Georgia
- Sep 11 Isaac II Angelus kills Stephanus Hagiochristophorites and then appeals to the people, resulting in the revolt that deposes Andronicus I Comnenus and places Isaac on the throne of the Byzantine Empire.
- Nov 25 Pope Lucius III (Ubaldo Allucingoli) reigned 1181-85, dies and is replaced by Umberto Crivelli (Pope Urban III)
Gregory I
Gregory XIII
Julius II
Julius III
Leo X
Pius V