1197

1197 (MCXCVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar, the 1197th year of the Common Era (CE) and Anno Domini (AD) designations, the 197th year of the 2nd millennium, the 97th year of the 12th century, and the 8th year of the 1190s decade. As of the start of 1197, the Gregorian calendar was 7 days ahead of the Julian calendar, which was the dominant calendar of the time.

• Amalric II succeeds Henry II of Champagne as King of Jerusalem.
• Theobald III becomes Count of Champagne.
• The town of Arbroath, Angus, Scotland is consecrated, and dedicated to St Thomas Becket.
• Kaloyan becomes tsar of Bulgaria.
• Corfu is occupied by the Genoese.
• Hubert Walter, Archbishop of Canterbury, negotiates a peace with Wales.
• North Crawley is split into Great Crawley and Little Crawley.
• Philip of Swabia marries Irene Angela, daughter of Byzantine emperor Isaac II.

• October 22 — Emperor Juntoku of Japan (d. 1242)
• Amadeus IV of Savoy (d. 1253)
• Raymond VII of Toulouse (d. 1249)

• January — William Longchamp, Lord Chancellor of England and bishop
• April 28 — Rhys ap Gruffydd, Welsh ruler (b. 1132)
• September 10 — Henry II of Champagne (b. 1166)
• September 28 — Henry VI, Holy Roman Emperor (b. 1165)
• Marguerite of France, daughter of Louis VII of France (b. 1158)