Directory

1017 CE

Cnut ("the Great") is crowned king of England. In July he marries Emma of Normandy, the widow of Æthelred the Unready, securing his ties with Normandy. Construction of Saint Sophia Cathedral, Kyiv is started (approximate date). Summer – Hamza ibn-'Ali ibn-Ahmad publicly declares the founding of the Druze religion, during the reign of the Fatimid Caliph Al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah.

Geopolitics & Diplomacy

  • March – Fujiwara no Michinaga passes the title of regent of Japan (Sesshō) to his eldest son Fujiwara no Yorimichi.source
  • Rajendra I, ruler of the Chola dynasty (in modern India), conquers Sri Lanka and annexes the island.source

Conflict & Security

  • Summer – Melus of Bari, a Lombard nobleman, revolts and is supported by Norman mercenaries at Capua. He marches into Apulia to catch the Byzantine army off-guard. Melus defeats the Byzantines on the banks of the Fortore River and ravages the territory in Apulia.source
  • Winter – Emperor Basil II ("the Bulgar Slayer") replaces Leo Tornikios with the new catapan Basil Boioannes and sends him reinforcements (including a detachment of the elite Varangian Guard) from Constantinople.source
  • The Sunnis of Kairouan (modern Tunisia) revolt against the Shi'ite Zirid dynasty. The city is quickly retaken and sacked.source

Religion & Belief

  • Construction of Saint Sophia Cathedral, Kyiv is started (approximate date).source
  • Cnut divides England into four earldoms: Wessex, Mercia, East Anglia and Northumbria.source
  • Summer – Hamza ibn-'Ali ibn-Ahmad publicly declares the founding of the Druze religion, during the reign of the Fatimid Caliph Al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah.source

Health & Medicine

  • Prince Atsuakira of Japan, eldest son of ex-Emperor Sanjō, having been struck by a skin disease and under intense pressure from Michinaga, resigns the title of Crown Prince in favour of his younger brother, Prince Atsunaga who marries Fujiwara no Kanshi, daughter of Michinaga.source

Disasters & Accidents

  • Michinaga makes a pilgrimage to the Iwashimizu Shrine in Japan accompanied by many courtiers. The travelers divide themselves amongst 15 boats for a floating trip down the Yotogawa River. One of the vessels overturns and more than 30 people lose their lives.source

Culture & Society

  • January 6 – Cnut ("the Great") is crowned king of England. In July he marries Emma of Normandy, the widow of Æthelred the Unready, securing his ties with Normandy.source
  • December 24 – Michinaga is granted the honorary title Daijō-daijin of Japan.source

Births

  • October 28 – Henry III, Holy Roman Emperor (d. 1056)source
  • Ahimaaz ben Paltiel, Italian-Jewish liturgical poet (d. 1060)source
  • Zhou Dunyi, Chinese philosopher and cosmologist (d. 1073)source
  • Floris I, count of Friesland west of the Vlie (approximate date)source
  • Ramanuja, Indian Sri Vaishnavism philosopher (d. 1137)source
  • Bermudo III (or Vermudo), king of León (approximate date)source
  • Vikramabahu (Kassapa VI), king of Sri Lanka (d. 1041)source

Deaths

  • February 5 – Sancho García, count of Castilesource
  • June 5 – Sanjō, ex-emperor of Japan (b. 976)source
  • June 22 – Leo Passianos, Byzantine generalsource
  • July 6 – Genshin, Japanese Tendai scholar (b. 942)source
  • September 18 – Henry of Schweinfurt, German noblemansource
  • October 6 – Wang Dan, Chinese Grand Chancellorsource
  • Ramon Borrell, count of Barcelona (b. 972)source
  • Judith of Brittany, duchess of Normandy (b. 982)source
  • Emnilda, duchess consort of Polandsource
  • Ma'mun II, Ma'munid ruler of Khwarezmsource
  • Eadwig Ætheling, son of Æthelred IIsource
  • Eadric Streona, ealdorman of Merciasource
  • Fujiwara no Junshi, Japanese empress (b. 957)source
  • Elvira of Castile, queen consort of Leónsource