Directory

1010 CE

Persian poet Ferdowsi finishes writing the Shahnameh (Book of Kings), which will be regarded as the national epic of the greater Iranian culture. Fitna of al-Andalus – Battle of Aqbat al-Bakr: The Caliphate of Córdoba is defeated. Allied to Muslim rebels, Ramon Borrell, Count of Barcelona sacks Córdoba, and Hisham II the Nephast is restored as Umayyad caliph of Córdoba, succeeding Muhammad II al-Mahdi. Song Zhun of Song dynasty China completes the work of the earlier geographer Lu Duosun, an enormous atlas of China that is written and illustrated in 1,556 chapters, showing maps of each region, city, town, and village (the atlas took 39 years to complete).

Geopolitics & Diplomacy

  • Emperor Ichijō wants to retire – the influential statesman Fujiwara no Michinaga supports Crown Prince Okisada (now his son-in-law), who will be the successor, but the emperor prefers his eldest son by the late Empress Teishi, Prince Atsuyasu, who has been raised by Empress Shōshi, who also supports her stepson, leading to conflict at court.source
  • The Russian city of Yaroslavl is founded, as an outpost of the principality of Rostov Veliky.source

Conflict & Security

  • June 2 – Fitna of al-Andalus – Battle of Aqbat al-Bakr: The Caliphate of Córdoba is defeated. Allied to Muslim rebels, Ramon Borrell, Count of Barcelona sacks Córdoba, and Hisham II the Nephast is restored as Umayyad caliph of Córdoba, succeeding Muhammad II al-Mahdi.source
  • Swedish king Olof Skötkonung gives city rights to Sigtuna.source
  • Second conflict in the Goryeo–Khitan War: The Goryeo king is unseated in a revolt, resulting in an invasion by the Liao dynasty, and the burning of the Korean capital Gaegyeong.source
  • The fortified city of Fiesole in Italy is captured and destroyed by the people of nearby Florence.source

Exploration & Expansion

  • Egyptian military commander Zar'ah ibn Isa ibn Nasturus appointed Vizier of Egypt.source
  • Viking explorer Thorfinn Karlsefni attempts to found a settlement in North America (approximate date).source

Religion & Belief

  • March 8 – Persian poet Ferdowsi finishes writing the Shahnameh (Book of Kings), which will be regarded as the national epic of the greater Iranian culture.source
  • Beowulf is written anonymously in Old English (approximate date).source
  • Lady Murasaki writes The Tale of Genji in Japanese (approximate date).source

Technology & Infrastructure

  • Eilmer of Malmesbury in England attempts flight in a glider of his own construction.source

Science & Discovery

  • Song Zhun of Song dynasty China completes the work of the earlier geographer Lu Duosun, an enormous atlas of China that is written and illustrated in 1,556 chapters, showing maps of each region, city, town, and village (the atlas took 39 years to complete).source

Disasters & Accidents

  • The Nile river in Egypt freezes over.source

Culture & Society

  • January – Fujiwara no Kenshi (daughter of Michinaga) is married to the imperial heir Crown Prince Okisada.source
  • The construction of 217 ft (66 m) tall Brihadisvara Temple in Thanjavur (a city now in Tamil Nadu, India) is completed during the Chola dynasty, and at about this time the wall painting Rajaraja I and His Teachersource
  • In the Chola dynasty of southern India, the first votes are celebrated by adding a ballot in an urn.source

Births

  • May 30 – Zhao Zhen, Emperor Renzong of the Song dynasty (d. 1063)source
  • Arialdo, Italian nobleman and deacon (approximate date)source
  • Honorius II, antipope of the Catholic Church (approximate date)source
  • Gebhard, archbishop of Salzburg (approximate date)source
  • Adalbero III of Luxembourg, German nobleman (d. 1072)source
  • Akkadevi, princess of the Chalukya dynasty (d. 1064)source
  • Adalbero, bishop of Würzburg (approximate date)source
  • Eberhard, archbishop of Trier (approximate date)source
  • Otloh of Sankt Emmeram, German monk (approximate date)source
  • Anno II, archbishop of Cologne (approximate date)source
  • Benno, bishop of Meissen (approximate date)source
  • Michael IV the Paphlagonian, Byzantine emperor (d. 1041)source
  • Siegfried I, German nobleman (approximate date)source
  • Eleanor of Normandy, countess of Flanders (d. 1077)source

Deaths

  • February 14 – On the death of Fujiwara no Korechika his daughter, the poet Fujiwara no Chikako, becomes a lady-in-waiting to Empress Shōshi.source
  • February 14 – Fujiwara no Korechika, Japanese nobleman (b. 974)source
  • Aisha, Andalusian poet and writer (approximate date)source
  • Ælfric of Eynsham, English abbot and scholar (approximate date)source
  • Abu'l-Nasr Muhammad, Farighunid ruler (approximate date)source
  • Aimoin, French monk and chronicler (approximate date)source
  • Ermengol I (or Armengol), count of Urgell (b. 974)source
  • Maelsuthan Ua Cerbhail, Irish advisor and chroniclersource
  • John Kourkouas, Byzantine catepan (approximate date)source
  • Vijayanandi, Indian mathematician (approximate date)source
  • Cathal mac Conchobar mac Taidg, king of Connachtsource