Directory

1047 CE

Battle of Val-ès-Dunes: Norman duke William I secures control over Normandy with assistance from King Henry I of France by defeating rebel Norman barons at Caen. Later in October, William promulgates the "Truce of God" throughout his duchy. 28 – Rebel general Leo Tornikios (a nephew of Emperor Constantine IX) proclaims himself emperor at Adrianople, and besieges Constantinople. Byzantine troops personally led by Constantine repel him, and re-occupy the walls. Tornikios is forced to withdraw, while his followers start to abandon him. Finally, he is captured at a church in Boulgarophygon (modern Turkey), and is publicly blinded. Pope Clement II dies suddenly after a 9-month pontificate. Benedict IX usurps the papal throne as the 150th pope of the Catholic Church (his third time in the office).

Conflict & Security

  • August 10 – Battle of Val-ès-Dunes: Norman duke William I secures control over Normandy with assistance from King Henry I of France by defeating rebel Norman barons at Caen. Later in October, William promulgates the "Truce of God" throughout his duchy.source
  • September 25–28 – Rebel general Leo Tornikios (a nephew of Emperor Constantine IX) proclaims himself emperor at Adrianople, and besieges Constantinople. Byzantine troops personally led by Constantine repel him, and re-occupy the walls. Tornikios is forced to withdraw, while his followers start to abandon him. Finally, he is captured at a church in Boulgarophygon (modern Turkey), and is publicly blinded.source

Exploration & Expansion

  • Winter – Constantine IX allows the Pecheneg tribes to cross the Danube and settle permanently in Byzantine territory. He buys their alliance with presents, using them to attack his enemies (Bulgars and Magyars) in the rear, and so to prevent any southward advance of the Kievan Rus'.source

Crime & Justice

  • November – Benedict IX, with support of Boniface III, Margrave of Tuscany, seizes the Lateran Palace in Rome.source

Culture & Society

  • Spring – Henry III, Holy Roman Emperor ("the Black") travels to southern Italy, and deprives Guaimar IV of his title Duke of Apulia and Calabria. He receives homage from Drogo of Hauteville, who becomes "Duke and Master of all Italy".source

Births

  • December 28 – Sunjong, ruler of Goryeo (d. 1083)source
  • Wyszesława of Kiev, duchess of Polandsource
  • Cai Jing, Chinese official and calligrapher (d. 1126)source
  • Hugh d'Avranches, Norman nobleman (d. 1101)source
  • Yizong, Chinese emperor of Western Xia (d. 1068)source
  • Simon de Crépy, French noblemansource
  • Xiang, Chinese empress regent of the Song dynasty (d. 1102)source
  • Qingshui, Chinese Chan Buddhist monk (d. 1101)source

Deaths

  • March 29 (or 1048) – Æthelstan of Abingdon, English abbot (or 1048)source
  • June 16 – Poppo, archbishop of Triersource
  • August 29 – Ælfwine, bishop of Winchestersource
  • September 7 – Otto II, duke of Swabiasource
  • October 9 – Pope Clement II dies suddenly after a 9-month pontificate. Benedict IX usurps the papal throne as the 150th pope of the Catholic Church (his third time in the office).source
  • October 9 – Clement II, pope of the Catholic Churchsource
  • October 16 – Henry VII, German noblemansource
  • October 25 – Harald Hardrada becomes sole king of Norway on the death of his nephew and co-regent Magnus I ("the Good"). The crown of Denmark passes to Sweyn II.source
  • October 25 – Magnus the Good, king of Norwaysource
  • Rodulfus Glaber, French Benedictine chronicler (b. 985)source
  • Eustace I, count of Boulogne (House of Flanders)source
  • Grimketel, English clergyman and bishopsource
  • Raymond III, count of Pallars Jussàsource
  • Levente, Hungarian nobleman (House of Árpád)source