1010 CE

Persian poet Ferdowsi finishes writing the Shahnameh (Book of Kings), which will be regarded as the national epic of the greater Iranian culture. Fitna of al-Andalus – Battle of Aqbat al-Bakr: The Caliphate of Córdoba is defeated. Allied to Muslim rebels, Ramon Borrell, Count of Barcelona sacks Córdoba, and Hisham II the Nephast is restored as Umayyad caliph of Córdoba, succeeding Muhammad II al-Mahdi. Song Zhun of Song dynasty China completes the work of the earlier geographer Lu Duosun, an enormous atlas of China that is written and illustrated in 1,556 chapters, showing maps of each region, city, town, and village (the atlas took 39 years to complete).

In the 1010s, the 11th century.

Geopolitics & Diplomacy

  • Emperor Ichijō wants to retire – the influential statesman Fujiwara no Michinaga supports Crown Prince Okisada (now his son-in-law), who will be the successor, but the emperor prefers his eldest son by the late Empress Teishi, Prince Atsuyasu, who has been raised by Empress Shōshi, who also supports her stepson, leading to conflict at court.source
  • The Russian city of Yaroslavl is founded, as an outpost of the principality of Rostov Veliky.source

Conflict & Security

  • June 2 – Fitna of al-Andalus – Battle of Aqbat al-Bakr: The Caliphate of Córdoba is defeated. Allied to Muslim rebels, Ramon Borrell, Count of Barcelona sacks Córdoba, and Hisham II the Nephast is restored as Umayyad caliph of Córdoba, succeeding Muhammad II al-Mahdi.source
  • Swedish king Olof Skötkonung gives city rights to Sigtuna.source
  • Second conflict in the Goryeo–Khitan War: The Goryeo king is unseated in a revolt, resulting in an invasion by the Liao dynasty, and the burning of the Korean capital Gaegyeong.source
  • The fortified city of Fiesole in Italy is captured and destroyed by the people of nearby Florence.source

Exploration & Expansion

  • Egyptian military commander Zar'ah ibn Isa ibn Nasturus appointed Vizier of Egypt.source
  • Viking explorer Thorfinn Karlsefni attempts to found a settlement in North America (approximate date).source
  • Emperor Lý Thái Tổ of the Lý dynasty moved the capital from Hoa Lư to Thăng Long (modern-day Hanoi).source

Technology & Infrastructure

  • Eilmer of Malmesbury in England attempts flight in a glider of his own construction.source

Disasters & Accidents

  • The Nile river in Egypt freezes over.source

Culture & Society

  • January – Fujiwara no Kenshi (daughter of Michinaga) is married to the imperial heir Crown Prince Okisada.source
  • February 14 – On the death of Fujiwara no Korechika his daughter, the poet Fujiwara no Chikako, becomes a lady-in-waiting to Empress Shōshi.source
  • March 8 – Persian poet Ferdowsi finishes writing the Shahnameh (Book of Kings), which will be regarded as the national epic of the greater Iranian culture.source
  • Beowulf is written anonymously in Old English (approximate date).source
  • The construction of 217 ft (66 m) tall Brihadisvara Temple in Thanjavur (a city now in Tamil Nadu, India) is completed during the Chola dynasty, and at about this time the wall painting Rajaraja I and His Teachersource
  • In the Chola dynasty of southern India, the first votes are celebrated by adding a ballot in an urn.source
  • Lady Murasaki writes The Tale of Genji in Japanese (approximate date).source
  • Song Zhun of Song dynasty China completes the work of the earlier geographer Lu Duosun, an enormous atlas of China that is written and illustrated in 1,556 chapters, showing maps of each region, city, town, and village (the atlas took 39 years to complete).source

Births

  • May 30 – Zhao Zhen, Emperor Renzong of the Song dynasty (died 1063)source
  • Arialdo, Italian nobleman and deacon (approximate date)source
  • Honorius II, antipope of the Catholic Church (approximate date)source
  • Tunka Manin, ruler of the Ghana Empire (died 1078)source
  • Gebhard, archbishop of Salzburg (approximate date)source
  • Akkadevi, princess of the Chalukya dynasty (died 1064)source
  • Adalbero, bishop of Würzburg (approximate date)source
  • Odo (or Eudes), Gascon nobleman (approximate date)source
  • Otloh of Sankt Emmeram, German monk (approximate date)source
  • Anno II, archbishop of Cologne (approximate date)source
  • Benno, bishop of Meissen (approximate date)source
  • Michael IV the Paphlagonian, Byzantine emperor (died 1041)source
  • Siegfried I, German nobleman (approximate date)source
  • Eleanor of Normandy, countess of Flanders (died 1077)source

Deaths

  • February 14 – Fujiwara no Korechika, Japanese nobleman (born 974)source
  • Aisha, Andalusian poet and writer (approximate date)source
  • Ælfric of Eynsham, English abbot and scholar (approximate date)source
  • Abu'l-Nasr Muhammad, Farighunid ruler (approximate date)source
  • Aimoin, French monk and chronicler (approximate date)source
  • Ermengol I (or Armengol), count of Urgell (born 974)source
  • Maelsuthan Ua Cerbhail, Irish advisor and chroniclersource
  • John Kourkouas, Byzantine catepan (approximate date)source
  • Vijayanandi, Indian mathematician (approximate date)source
  • Cathal mac Conchobar mac Taidg, king of Connachtsource