Zengi once again attempts to capture Homs…

Suryavarman mounts another attack against Dai Viet in 1138, this time without the support of Champa, but the action proves inconclusive.

Vsevolod had tried to come back to Novgorod at the head of an army in 1137, but had instead withdrawn to Pskov, where he dies in February 1138.

He is buried according to his own wishes in the Church of St. Demetrius in Pskov.

Boleslaw Wrymouth had published his testament dividing his lands among four of his sons before his death in 1138, The "Senioral Principle" established in the testament states that at all times the eldest member of the dynasty is to have supreme power over the rest and is also to control an indivisible "senioral part": a vast strip of land running north-south down the middle of Poland, with Kraków its chief city.

The Senior's prerogatives also include control over Pomerania, a fief of the Holy Roman Empire.

The "senioral principle" will soon be soon broken, leading to a period of nearly two hundred years of Poland's feudal fragmentation.

Herman of Carinthia—who in his own account was born in "central Istria" circa 1100, then part of the Duchy of Carinthia—had most likely attended a Benedictine monastic school in Istria before going on to study in France.

It was probably in France that Herman's attention had been drawn to the classical texts that were becoming available via Arabic sources.

This is before the time of the first university in France, but at Chartres he had attended one of the cathedral schools that are the predecessors of universities; he also studied in Paris in the 1130s.

The teachers at the school of Chartres, known for its interests in Christian platonism and the natural sciences, include Thierry of Chartres, to whom Herman is to dedicate a translation in 1143.

One of Herman's fellow students in France had been Robert of Ketton, with whom he had traveled for four years in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Both men had become translators from the Arabic.

At Constantinople and Damascus, Herman had taken note of the Arabic science of the period.

Returning to Europe around 1138, he and is active as a scholar in Spain (an important country for translations from the Arabic) and southern France.

A huge part of his work remains anonymous.

Herman's first known translation is the sixth book of an astrological treatise, Liber sextus astronomie, by the Jewish writer Sahl ibn Bishr, released in Spain in 1138 under the title Zaelis fatidica (Prophecy).

Sahl ibn Bishr had been writing in the Greek astrological tradition.

Ibn Bishr's first five books are preserved in the translation of John of Seville (Johannes Hispanus) (circa 1090 – circa 1150).

The sixth book deals with three thematic topics regarding the influences on the world and its inhabitants.

The work contains divinations based on the movements of the planets and comets.

Abraham bar Hiyya, together with Abraham ibn Ezra, occupies an important place in the history of Jewish science.

He is, indeed, one of the most important figures in the scientific movement which made the Jews of Provence, Spain, and Italy the intermediaries between Mohammedan science and the Christian world.

He aids this movement not only by original works, but also by translations and by acting as interpreter for another great translator, the celebrated Plato of Tivoli.

Bar Hiyya writes all his works in Hebrew, not in Judaeo-Arabic of the earlier Jewish scientific literature, which makes him a pioneer in the use of the Hebrew language for scientific purposes.

He also cooperates with Plato of Tivoli in the translation of scientific works from Arabic into Latin, particularly the translation of Ptolemy's Tetrabiblos in 1138 at Barcelona.

King Stephen had initially established himself well, displaying understanding and concern for his barons and maintaining good relations with the church, but Stephen’s inability to keep peace and order prompts the barons to rebel in 1138 favor of his cousin Matilda.

Matilda's half-brother, Robert of Gloucester, start the descent into civil war in England.

Robert is one of the most powerful Anglo-Norman barons, controlling estates in Normandy as well as the Earldom of Gloucester.

Robert renounces his fealty to the King and declares his support for Matilda, triggering a major regional rebellion in Kent and across the southwest of England, although Robert himself remains in Normandy.

Matilda has not been particularly active in asserting her claims to the throne since 1135 and in many ways it is Robert that takes the initiative in declaring war in 1138 In France, Geoffrey takes advantage of the situation by re-invading Normandy.

David of Scotland also invades the north of England once again, announcing that he is supporting the claim of Matilda to the throne, pushing south into Yorkshire.

Stephen rapidly responds to the revolts and invasions, focusing primarily on England rather than Normandy.

His wife Matilda is sent to Kent with ships and resources from Boulogne, with the task of retaking the key port of Dover, under Robert's control.

A small number of Stephen's household knights are sent north to help the fight against the Scots.

Stephen himself goes west in an attempt to regain control of Gloucestershire, first striking north into the Welsh Marches, taking Hereford and …

…Shrewsbury, before heading south to …

…Bath.

The town of Bristol itself proves too strong for him, and Stephen contents himself with raiding and pillaging the surrounding area.

The rebels appear to have expected Robert to intervene with support, but he remains in Normandy throughout the year, trying to persuade the Empress Matilda to invade England herself.

Dover finally surrenders to the Queen's forces later in the year.