Directory

1003 CE

Pope Sylvester II dies after a 4-year pontificate. He is succeeded by John XVII as the 140th pope of the Catholic Church. John XVII dies after a pontificate of about 7 months and is buried in the Lateran Basilica at Rome. Construction of the Brihadisvara Temple in Tamil Nadu (modern India), during the Chola Dynasty (Early Medieval period).

Geopolitics & Diplomacy

  • King Rudolph III of Burgundy invests Humbert I (the White-Handed) with the domains of the Duchy of Aosta. He becomes the first count of the House of Savoy.source

Conflict & Security

  • February 9 – Boleslaus III is restored to authority with armed support from Duke Bolesław I (the Brave) of Poland. The following months, Boleslaus' brothers Jaromír and Oldřich flee to Germany and place themselves under the protection of King Henry II, while Boleslaus orders the massacre of his Bohemian leading nobles at Vyšehrad.source
  • German–Polish War: Bolesław I annexes Bohemia and parts of Moravia (modern Slovakia). German nobles under Henry of Schweinfurt revolt against Henry II (who has been promised the Duchy of Bavaria).source
  • King Stephen I of Hungary invades Transylvania (modern Romania) and establishes the Diocese of Transylvania (approximate date).source
  • King Sweyn I (Forkbeard) lands with a Danish Viking fleet in East Anglia, ravaging the countryside. Northumbria surrenders to him (approximate date).source
  • Battle of Albesa: Muslim forces of the Caliphate of Cordoba defeat the northern Christian armies of León, Pamplona and Castile.source
  • King Robert II (the Pious) invades Burgundy, but fails. After this fiasco Robert repudiates his second wife, Bertha of Burgundy, and marries Constance of Arles who becomes queen consort of France.source

Exploration & Expansion

  • Emperor Sheng Zong of the Khitan-led Liao Dynasty leads an expedition into Mongolia and subdues the Zubu tribe who are forced to pay an annual tribute.source

Religion & Belief

  • Construction of the Brihadisvara Temple in Tamil Nadu (modern India), during the Chola Dynasty (Early Medieval period).source
  • Heribert, archbishop of Cologne, founds Deutz Abbey at Deutz (Germany).source
  • Count Oliba (Taillefer) Ripoll. Oliba takes up the Benedictine habit at the Monastery of Santa Maria de Ripoll.source

Technology & Infrastructure

  • Emperor Lê Hoàn of the Anterior Lê dynasty ordered the excavation of the Đa Cái Canal and quelled the rebellions of the Đa Cái people.source

Births

  • Liudolf of Brunswick, margrave of Frisia (d. 1038)source
  • Ibn Zaydún, Andalusian poet and writer (d. 1071)source
  • Musharrif al-Dawla, Buyid emir of Iraq (d. 1025)source
  • Jing Zong, Chinese emperor of Western Xia (d. 1048)source
  • Edward the Confessor, king of England (d. 1066)source
  • Hedwig (or Advisa), French princess (approximate date)source
  • Amatus, bishop of Nusco (approximate date)source
  • Frederick, duke of Lower Lorraine (approximate date)source
  • Conrad II (the Younger), duke of Carinthia (d. 1039)source
  • Ibn Hayyus, Syrian poet and panegyrist (d. 1081)source
  • Herleva, Norman noblewoman (approximate date)source

Deaths

  • January 19 – Kilian of Cologne, Irish abbotsource
  • January 25 – Lothair I, margrave of the Nordmarksource
  • May 4 – Herman II, duke of Swabia (Germany)source
  • May 12 – Sylvester II, pope of the Catholic Churchsource
  • May 12 – Pope Sylvester II dies after a 4-year pontificate. He is succeeded by John XVII as the 140th pope of the Catholic Church.source
  • July 11 – Al-Mansur al-Qasim al-Iyyani, Zaidi imamsource
  • August 3 – At-Ta'i, Abbasid caliph of Baghdad (b. 929)source
  • November 6 – John XVII, pope of the Catholic Churchsource
  • November 6 – John XVII dies after a pontificate of about 7 months and is buried in the Lateran Basilica at Rome.source
  • December 27 – Emma of Blois, duchess of Aquitainesource
  • Didda, queen consort and regent of Kashmir (India)source
  • Flannchad ua Ruaidíne, abbot of Clonmacnoisesource
  • Gurgen IV, king of Vaspurakan (Armenia)source
  • Gregory of Narek, Armenian theologian (b. 951)source