Most important person of the 12th century? - Historum

Formosus · November 14th, 2012, 07:18 PM

Hello friends,

In your humble opinions, who would you say was the most important person of the 12th Century? Or, who would you say most shaped the century? Yes, vague. Yes, debatable; but I would like to hear some answers from you folk. Much appreciated.

Bamboozle · November 14th, 2012, 07:48 PM

Tough choice, but I'd say Salah ad-Din.

**Mangekyou** · November 15th, 2012, 01:56 AM

One of the contenders has been mentioned. The other two I would say are Richard "Lionheart" and Frederick "Barberossa".

**Lucius Vorenus** · November 15th, 2012, 06:21 AM

Pope Innocent III

**davu** · November 15th, 2012, 09:13 AM

Quote:

you say most shaped the century

my "humble" ideas --

Bernard_of_Clairvaux

Knights_Templar

Cistercian_monks

Quote:

Bernard of Clairvaux entered the monastery in the early 1110s with 30 companions and helped the rapid proliferation of the order. By the end of the 12th century, the order had spread throughout France and into England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland, Spain, Portugal, Italy, and Eastern Europe

**M.E.T.H.O.D.** · November 15th, 2012, 09:19 AM

The 12th century is not my area of expertise, but from what I know, Manuel Komnenos was a big-time political player during the mentioned period.
Salah al-Din, Richard Lionheart, Barbarossa and Innocent III are however some really solid choices!

funakison · November 15th, 2012, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bamboozle

Tough choice, but I'd say Salah ad-Din.

agree

**AlpinLuke** · November 15th, 2012, 12:34 PM

A century of great historical figures, no doubt.

Salah Ad-Din is really a giant of that period, just because he got impressive achievement starting from a losing context [the Arabs suffering the power of the Crusaders and the occupation of a part of Middle East by the Christian states].

It could be matter of discussion the figure of Gengis Khan, born around 1162, but actually he reached the full power in early XIII century, so I would keep him out of the chart.

King Richard cannot be missing in the list, Barbarossa follows and more than the Pope, Bernardo from Chiaravalle, the great thinker of the "militia dei", he really left a clear and lasting influence on medieval Christianity.

**DreamWeaver** · November 16th, 2012, 05:45 PM

Limiting ourselves to Europe

Frederick Barbarossa, Innocent III (though not Pope until 1198) Bernard of Clarvaux, John of Slaisbury, Phillip II Augustus

In a grander context

Genghis Khan

**Belloc** · November 16th, 2012, 06:09 PM

St. Bernard of Clarvaux is my personal top pick.