1165

The year 1165 was a year in the 12th century. It falls within the High Middle Ages. In the Byzantine Empire, Emperor Manuel I Komnenos was reigning. He faced ongoing conflicts with the Hungarians and the Seljuk Turks. The Battle of Myriokephalon had occurred the previous year, significantly weakening Byzantine military power in Anatolia and marking a turning point in the Komnenian restoration.

In Western Europe, Henry the Young King, son of Henry II of England, was crowned in 1170, but tensions were building. The Investiture Controversy had largely been settled by this time, but political and ecclesiastical power struggles continued. In France, Louis VII was king. The Kingdom of Scotland was ruled by Malcolm IV, who died in this year and was succeeded by his brother William the Lion.

In the Islamic world, the Zengid dynasty continued to hold sway in Syria and Egypt, though internal divisions and the rising power of Saladin were becoming increasingly evident. Saladin had been consolidating his power in Egypt, laying the groundwork for the eventual unification of Muslim forces against the Crusader states. The Song dynasty was in power in China, experiencing a period of relative stability and cultural development.