Directory

989 CE

Halley's Comet is at perihelion. The Hagia Sophia at Constantinople is struck by a great earthquake, causing the collapse of the western dome arch. Basil II asks the Armenian architect Trdat, the creator of the Cathedral of Ani, to direct the repairs. Council of Charroux: French bishops under the patronage of William IV, duke of Aquitaine, declare the first Peace of God (or Pax Dei). This agreement grants immunity from violence to noncombatants (peasants and clergy) who can not defend themselves.

Conflict & Security

  • Winter – Theophanu arrives with her son, King Otto III in Rome to meet John XV. Crescentius II (the Younger) offers his submission to the Holy Roman Empire, in return for which she confirms his title as patrician of Rome.source
  • In Vietnam during the Early Le dynasty, provincial governor Dương Tiến Lộc seized control of the two provinces Hoan and Ái in an attempt to request annexation to Champa, which was rejected. He then rebelled against the emperor but was quickly suppressed within the same year, resulting in heavy civilian casualties in both provinces.source

Religion & Belief

  • October 25 – The Hagia Sophia at Constantinople is struck by a great earthquake, causing the collapse of the western dome arch. Basil II asks the Armenian architect Trdat, the creator of the Cathedral of Ani, to direct the repairs.source
  • Council of Charroux: French bishops under the patronage of William IV, duke of Aquitaine, declare the first Peace of God (or Pax Dei). This agreement grants immunity from violence to noncombatants (peasants and clergy) who can not defend themselves.source
  • Sankore Madrasah, at this stage a mosque, is founded in Timbuktu (modern-day Mali).source
  • Summer – Charles, Duke of Lower Lorraine, captures the city of Reims by treachery of its new archbishop, Arnulf (the illegitimate son of the late King Lothair III). King Hugh I (Capet) demands that Pope John XV discipline Arnulf. But John XV, not wishing to defy Empress Theophanu, refuses.source

Science & Discovery

  • September – Halley's Comet is at perihelion.source

Births

  • September 5 – Fan Zhongyan, chancellor of the Song Dynasty (d. 1052)source
  • Al-Jayyānī, Arab scholar and mathematician (d. 1079)source
  • Adémar de Chabannes, French monk and historian (d. 1034)source
  • Chaghri Beg, co-ruler of the Seljuk Empire (d. 1060)source
  • Regelinda, margravine of Meissen (approximate date)source

Deaths

  • January 23 – Adalbero, archbishop of Reimssource
  • April 13 – Bardas Phokas, Byzantine generalsource
  • October 5 – Henry III, duke of Bavaria (b. 940)source
  • Chavundaraya, Indian general, architect and poetsource
  • Kalokyros Delphinas, Byzantine general (or 988)source
  • Chen Tuan, Chinese Taoist monk and philosophersource
  • Glúniairn, Norse-Gael king of Dublin (approximate date)source
  • Pan, Chinese princess and wife of Zhen Zong (b. 968)source
  • Emperor Basil II uses his contingent of 6,000 Varangians to help him defeat Bardas Phokas (the Younger), who suffers a seizure during the siege of Abydos (threatening to blockade the Dardanelles). Phokas dies, ending the revolt and threat to Constantinople. Upon Phokas' death, the other rebel leader Bardas Skleros (who is captured and blinded) yields to Basil's superior forces.source
  • Kiurike I, king of Tashir-Dzoraget (Armenia)source
  • Fujiwara no Yoritada, Japanese nobleman (b. 924)source
  • Gofraid mac Arailt, Norse-Gael king of the Isles (Hebrides)source
  • Sharaf al-Dawla, Buyid emir of Kerman and Fars (b. 960)source
  • Ch'oe Sung-no, Korean politician and poet (b. 927)source