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1117 CE

1117 Verona earthquake. The earthquake is rated at VII (Very strong) on the Mercalli intensity scale, and strikes northern Italy and Germany. The epicentre of the first shock is near Verona, the city which suffers the most damage. The outer wall of the amphitheatre is partially felled, and the standing portion is damaged in a later earthquake of 1183. Many other churches, monasteries, and ancient monuments are destroyed or seriously damaged, eliminating much of Verona's early medieval architecture and providing space for a massive Romanesque rebuilding. Merton Priory (previously established at Huntingdon) is consecrated at a site near London. The priory becomes an important centre of learning and diplomacy in England. The magnetic compass is first used for maritime navigation purposes during the Song dynasty in China.

Geopolitics & Diplomacy

  • Ramon Berenguer III ("the Great"), count of Barcelona, inherits Cerdanya (located between the Pyrenees and the Ebro River) which becomes part of the Principality of Catalonia.source
  • Vladislaus I, duke of Bohemia, abdicates in favor of his brother Bořivoj II, but retains much of the actual power.source

Conflict & Security

  • The Crusaders led by King Baldwin I of Jerusalem raid Pelusium in Egypt and burn the city to the ground. Baldwin marches back to Palestine and strengthens the fortifications of the southern frontier.source
  • King Mahaabarana Adeettiya (Koimala) from the Theemuge Dynasty becomes the first king to rule over the whole Maldives. He reclaims the northern atolls from the Indian invaders.source
  • Conflict between the de facto independent Muslim republics of Gabès and Mahdia (modern Tunisia) in Ifriqiya. Madhia is supported by the Zirid Dynasty while Gabes receives the aid of Roger II, count of Sicily.source
  • The sōhei or warrior monks of Mii-dera and Enryaku-ji unite their forces to attack Nara in Japan.source
  • Battle of Ghazni: Seljuk forces under Ahmad Sanjar (supporting the claim of Bahram-Shah) invade Afghanistan and defeat the ruling Sultan Arslan-Shah. Bahram succeeds his brother as ruler of the Ghaznavid Empire.source

Exploration & Expansion

  • The Almoravids briefly reconquer Coimbra (modern Portugal).source
  • King Stephen II of Hungary regains Dalmatia from the Republic of Venice while the Venetians are on a naval expedition. Doge Ordelafo Faliero dies in battle (near Zadar) against the Hungarians. Faliero is succeeded by Domenico Michiel, who reconquers more territory and agrees to a 5-year truce with Hungary.source
  • The magnetic compass is first used for maritime navigation purposes during the Song dynasty in China.source

Religion & Belief

  • May 3 – Merton Priory (previously established at Huntingdon) is consecrated at a site near London. The priory becomes an important centre of learning and diplomacy in England.source

Climate & Environment

  • January 3 – 1117 Verona earthquake. The earthquake is rated at VII (Very strong) on the Mercalli intensity scale, and strikes northern Italy and Germany. The epicentre of the first shock is near Verona, the city which suffers the most damage. The outer wall of the amphitheatre is partially felled, and the standing portion is damaged in a later earthquake of 1183. Many other churches, monasteries, and ancient monuments are destroyed or seriously damaged, eliminating much of Verona's early medieval architecture and providing space for a massive Romanesque rebuilding.source

Births

  • September 7 – Nicolò Politi, Italian hermit (d. 1167)source
  • Otto I ("the Redhead"), duke of Bavaria (d. 1183)source
  • Robert FitzRanulph, English high sheriff (d. 1172)source
  • Humphrey II of Toron, constable of Jerusalem (d. 1179)source
  • Henry I, count of Guelders and Zutphen (d. 1182)source
  • Gerard la Pucelle, bishop of Coventry (d. 1184)source
  • Simon III de Montfort, French nobleman (d. 1181)source
  • Fujiwara no Nariko, Japanese empress (d. 1160)source
  • Maurice of Carnoet, French Cistercian abbot (d. 1191)source

Deaths

  • February 14 – Bertrade de Montfort, French queen (b. 1070)source
  • April 11 – Tescelin le Roux, Burgundian nobleman (b. 1070)source
  • April 14 – Bernard of Thiron, founder of the Tironensian Order (b. 1046)source
  • April 16 – Magnus Erlendsson, Norse earl of Orkney (b. 1080)source
  • September 1 – Robert de Limesey, bishop of Coventrysource
  • December 9 – Gertrude of Brunswick, margravine of Meissensource
  • Danxia Zichun, Chinese Zen Buddhist monk (b. 1064)source
  • Faritius (or Faricius), Italian abbot and physiciansource
  • Abu'l-Fath Yusuf, Persian vizier of Arslan-Shah of Ghaznasource
  • Ordelafo Faliero (or Dodoni), doge of Venicesource
  • Gertrude of Flanders, duchess of Lorraine (b. 1070)source
  • Lu'lu' al-Yaya, Seljuk ruler and regent of Alepposource
  • Anselm of Laon (or Ansel), French theologian and writersource
  • Gilbert Fitz Richard, English nobleman (b. 1066)source