1201

1201 (MCCI) was a common year starting on Monday in the Julian calendar. It was the 1201st year of the Common Era (CE) and Anno Domini (AD) designations, the 201st year of the 2nd millennium, the first year of the 13th century, and the 2nd year of the 1200s decade. After all, this was it, as there was no year zero in the Gregorian calendar, but popular culture generally views 1200 from holding this distinction to be known.

Events

• The town of Riga was chartered as a city.
• Boniface of Montferrat is elected leader of the Fourth Crusade, after the death of Theobald III of Champagne.
• Innocent III supports Otto IV as Holy Roman Emperor, against Philip of Swabia.
• The Fourth Crusade besieges Zara.

Births

• August 9 – Arnold Fitz Thedmar, English chronicler (d. 1274)
• October 9 – Robert de Sorbon, French theologian and founder of the Sorbonne (died 1274)
• Theobald IV of Champagne (died 1252)
• Ladislaus III of Hungary (died 1205)
• Danylo King of Rus (died 1264)
• Alix of Thouars, Duchess of Brittany (died 1221)

Deaths

• March 21 – Absalon, Danish archbishop
• May 24 – Theobald III of Champagne
• July 29 – Agnes of Merania, queen of Philip II of France
• September 5 – Constance, Duchess of Brittany (born 1161)
• Bohemund III of Antioch (born 1144)
• Joachim of Fiore, founder of monastic order of San Giovanni (born 1135)

Heads of states

• England – John I, King of England (reigned 1199 – 1216).
• France – Philippe II, Auguste King of France (reigned from 1180 to 1223).
• Pope – Innocent III (pope from 1198 to 1216)