Directory

1110 CE

Lunar eclipse, in which the moon becomes totally dark (according to the Peterborough Chronicle), due to an earlier volcanic eruption putting aerosols into the upper atmosphere of the earth, thus cutting off the earthlight. Henry V marries 8-year-old Matilda (daughter of King Henry I of England). She is crowned Queen of the Romans in a ceremony at Mainz. After the betrothal Matilda is placed into custody of Bruno, archbishop of Trier, who is tasked with educating her in German culture, manners and government. Tancred, Italo-Norman prince of Galilee, brings the Crusader castle Krak des Chevaliers in Syria under his control. He remains regent of the Principality of Antioch in the name of his cousin Bohemond II.

Conflict & Security

  • February–May – Crusaders under Baldwin I besiege Beirut. Genoese and Pisan ships blockade the harbour; Fatimid ships from Tyre and Sidon try in vain to break the blockade. The Fatimid governor flees by night through the Italian fleet to Cyprus. On May 13, Baldwin captures the city by assault and the Italians carry out a massacre among the inhabitants.source
  • October–December – Crusaders under Baldwin I (supported by King Sigurd I of Norway) besiege Sidon. Norwegian ships blockade the harbour, but are nearly dispersed by a powerful Fatimid flotilla from Tyre. They are saved by the arrival of a Venetian squadron under Doge Ordelafo Faliero. On December 4, the city capitulates (under notable terms) to Baldwin.source
  • Approximate date of composition of Jayamkondar's Kalingattuparani, a Tamil epic celebrating the victory of Kulottunga Chola I over the Kalinga king Anantavarman Chodaganga in the Chola invasion of Kalinga that takes place around this year.source
  • Henry V, King of Germany, invades Italy with a large army and concludes an agreement with Pope Paschal II at Sutri. Henry renounces the right of investiture (a dispute with the former Henry IV). In return, Paschal promises to crown him emperor and to restore to the Holy Roman Empire all the lands given to the German church (since the time of Charlemagne).source
  • Second Chola invasion of Kalinga: The Chola emperor Kulottunga I, angered that the Kalinga king Anantavarman Chodaganga has failed to pay tribute for two consecutive years, orders a punitive expedition. He sends his general Karunakara Tondaiman (with involvement of the young prince Vikrama Chola) to lead the invasion. The Chola forces march across the rivers Palar, Pennar, Krishna, Godavari, enter Kalinga territory, defeat the elephant corps sent by Anantavarman, ravage the land, and force Anantavarman to flee.source
  • Almoravid forces under Sultan Ali ibn Yusuf occupy Zaragoza (modern Spain), bringing all of Andalusia's Muslim states under Almoravid control.source

Exploration & Expansion

  • Spring – Mawdud ibn Altuntash, Turkic ruler (atabeg) of Mosul, leads an expedition to capture the territories of the Crusaders (belonging to the County of Edessa) east of the river Euphrates. He besieges the fortress city of Edessa, but is forced to retreat when King Baldwin I of Jerusalem (with the support of Armenian forces sent by Kogh Vasil) intervenes with a Crusader relief force.source

Religion & Belief

  • July 25 – Henry V marries 8-year-old Matilda (daughter of King Henry I of England). She is crowned Queen of the Romans in a ceremony at Mainz. After the betrothal Matilda is placed into custody of Bruno, archbishop of Trier, who is tasked with educating her in German culture, manners and government.source
  • December – Tancred, Italo-Norman prince of Galilee, brings the Crusader castle Krak des Chevaliers in Syria under his control. He remains regent of the Principality of Antioch in the name of his cousin Bohemond II.source
  • Construction begins on Fontevraud Abbey in the French duchy of Anjou.source

Climate & Environment

  • May 5: Lunar eclipse, in which the moon becomes totally dark (according to the Peterborough Chronicle), due to an earlier volcanic eruption putting aerosols into the upper atmosphere of the earth, thus cutting off the earthlight.source

Culture & Society

  • The Rus' Primary Chronicle is completed. The work is considered to be a fundamental source in the history of the East Slavs.source
  • King Henry I has improvements made at Windsor Castle, including a chapel, so that he can use the castle as his formal residence.source

Births

  • Diarmait Mac Murchada, Irish king of Leinster (d. 1171)source
  • Abraham ben Isaac of Narbonne, Jewish rabbi and writer (approximate date)source
  • Robert of Torigni, Norman monk and abbot (d. 1186)source
  • Düsum Khyenpa, Tibetan spiritual leader (karmapa) (d. 1193)source
  • Abraham ibn Daud, Jewish astronomer and historian (d. 1180)source
  • Rohese de Vere, countess of Essex (approximate date)source
  • Aelred of Rievaulx, English Cistercian monk and abbot (d. 1167)source
  • Odo de St Amand (or Eudes), French Grand Master of the Knights Templar (d. 1179)source
  • John Tzetzes, Byzantine grammarian (approximate date)source
  • Reginald de Dunstanville, 1st Earl of Cornwall (d. 1175)source
  • Hodierna of Jerusalem, countess of Tripoli (approximate date)source
  • Lhachen Naglug, Indian ruler of Ladakh (approximate date)source
  • Gilbert Foliot, English abbot and bishop (approximate date)source
  • Walter fitz Alan, Scottish High Steward (approximate date)source

Deaths

  • July 10 – Elias I of Maine (de Baugency), French noblemansource
  • November 12 – Gebhard III, bishop of Constancesource
  • Vijayabahu I, Sri Lankan king of Polonnaruwasource
  • Thiofrid, Benedictine abbot of Echternachsource
  • Robert Scalio of Hauteville, Italo-Norman noblemansource
  • William Bona Anima, archbishop of Rouensource
  • Li Jie, Chinese writer of the Song dynasty (b. 1065)source
  • Richard of Hauteville, Italo-Norman noblemansource
  • Lhachen Utpala, Indian king of Ladakh (b. 1080)source
  • The dukedom of Bohemia is secured for Vladislaus I following the death of Svatopluk ("the Lion") who is assassinated. Vladislaus receives support from Henry V and will rule until 1125.source