Directory

1053 CE

Harold Godwinson succeeds his father Godwin as earl of Wessex. He invites the exiled Edward the Exile, son of Edmund II, to return in the hope that he can claim the English throne from King Edward the Confessor. Battle of Civitate: Norman horsemen (3,000 men), led by Humphrey of Hauteville, count of Apulia and Calabria, rout the combined forces under Pope Leo IX, in Southern Italy. The Normans destroy the allied Papal army and capture Leo, who is imprisoned (as a hostage for 8 months) in Benevento. Conrad I, duke of Bavaria, is summoned to a Christmas court at Merseburg, and deposed by Emperor Henry III. He flees to King Andrew I in Hungary, and joins a coalition with the rebellious Welf III, duke of Carinthia. Henry's 4-year-old son Henry becomes the new duke of Bavaria.

Conflict & Security

  • June 18 – Battle of Civitate: Norman horsemen (3,000 men), led by Humphrey of Hauteville, count of Apulia and Calabria, rout the combined forces under Pope Leo IX, in Southern Italy. The Normans destroy the allied Papal army and capture Leo, who is imprisoned (as a hostage for 8 months) in Benevento.source
  • End of the Pecheneg Revolt: Emperor Constantine IX Monomachos makes peace with the Pechenegs. However, Pecheneg raids do not cease; they not only damage the economy by plundering, but Constantine is also forced to buy protection or peace from them by gifts, land grants, privileges and titles.source

Religion & Belief

  • Jōchō sculpts Amida Buddha for the Byōdō-in Temple in Japan during the Heian period (approximate date).source

Culture & Society

  • April – Harold Godwinson succeeds his father Godwin as earl of Wessex. He invites the exiled Edward the Exile, son of Edmund II, to return in the hope that he can claim the English throne from King Edward the Confessor.source
  • December – Conrad I, duke of Bavaria, is summoned to a Christmas court at Merseburg, and deposed by Emperor Henry III. He flees to King Andrew I in Hungary, and joins a coalition with the rebellious Welf III, duke of Carinthia. Henry's 4-year-old son Henry becomes the new duke of Bavaria.source

Births

  • May 26 – Vladimir II, Grand Prince of Kiev (d. 1125)source
  • July 7 – Shirakawa, emperor of Japan (d. 1129)source
  • Toba Sōjō, Japanese artist-monk (d. 1140)source
  • Hugh of Châteauneuf, bishop of Grenoble (d. 1132)source
  • Maria of Alania, Byzantine empress consort (d. 1118)source
  • Ramon Berenguer II, count of Barcelona (or 1054)source
  • Guibert of Nogent, French historian and theologian (d. 1124) (approximate date)source
  • Solomon (or Salomon), king of Hungary (d. 1087)source
  • Berenguer Ramon II, count of Barcelona (approximate date)source
  • Iorwerth ap Bleddyn, Welsh prince of Powys (d. 1111)source

Deaths

  • March 25 – Procopius of Sázava, Czech hermitsource
  • April 15 – Godwin of Wessex, English noblemansource
  • October 25 – Enguerrand II, count of Ponthieusource
  • November 7 – Lazaros, Byzantine monk and stylitesource
  • Cormac O'Ruadrach, Irish priest and archdeaconsource
  • Wulfsige (or Wulsy), English bishop of Lichfieldsource
  • Chananel ben Chushiel, Tunisian Jewish rabbi (b. 990)source
  • Murchadh Ua Beolláin, Irish priest and archdeaconsource
  • Liu Yong, Chinese poet of the Song dynasty (b. 987)source
  • Abu'l-Fath an-Nasir ad-Dailami, imam of Yemen, killedsource
  • by January 5 – Rhys ap Rhydderch, Welsh co-ruler of Morgannwg, killedsource