1031 CE

King Robert II (the Pious) dies at Melun, after a 35-year reign. He is succeeded by his 23-year-old son, Henry I, who becomes the sole ruler of France. Henry's mother, Queen dowager Constance of Arles, prefers her third son, Robert, as heir to the throne and, with the help of Count Odo II, begins a war against Henry. Summer – After a failed invasion in the previous year, the Holy Roman Empire concludes a peace with the Kingdom of Hungary; Emperor Conrad II is forced to cede the lands between Leitha and Fischa to King Stephen I. The Caliphate of Córdoba collapses after years of infighting; the caliphate fractures into a number of independent Muslim taifa (kingdoms). The last Umayyad ruler, Caliph Hisham III, tries to consolidate the caliphate, but his raising of taxes (to pay for mosques) leads to heavy opposition and he is imprisoned by his rivals.

In the 1030s, the 11th century.

Conflict & Security

  • Summer – After a failed invasion in the previous year, the Holy Roman Empire concludes a peace with the Kingdom of Hungary; Emperor Conrad II is forced to cede the lands between Leitha and Fischa to King Stephen I.source
  • King Mieszko II is forced to escape Poland after an attack of Grand Prince Yaroslav I ("the Wise") of Kiev, who installs Mieszko's half-brother Bezprym onto the Polish throne.source
  • The Byzantine general George Maniakes captures Edessa from the Arab Muslims and stabilizes the eastern frontier.source

Religion & Belief

  • The Caliphate of Córdoba collapses after years of infighting; the caliphate fractures into a number of independent Muslim taifa (kingdoms). The last Umayyad ruler, Caliph Hisham III, tries to consolidate the caliphate, but his raising of taxes (to pay for mosques) leads to heavy opposition and he is imprisoned by his rivals.source

Climate & Environment

  • France suffers from a famine (until 1033).source

Births

  • March 26 – Malcolm III (Canmore), king of Scotland (died 1093)source
  • Muhammad ibn Ammar, Moorish poet and writer (died 1086)source
  • Matilda of Flanders, queen consort of England (died 1083)source
  • Spytihněv II, duke of Bohemia (House of Přemyslid) (died 1061)source
  • Shen Kuo, Chinese polymath scientist and engineer (died 1095)source
  • Hoël II (or Houel), duke of Brittany (approximate date)source
  • Roger I (the Great Count), Norman nobleman (died 1101)source
  • Robert of Mortain, Norman nobleman and Earl of Cornwall (died 1095)source

Deaths

  • January 1 – William of Volpiano, Italian abbot (born 962)source
  • January 5 – Gunnor, duchess consort of Normandysource
  • April 10 – Liudolf of Lotharingia, German noblemansource
  • June 17 – Hyeonjong, king of Goryeo (Korea) (born 992)source
  • June 25 – Sheng Zong, emperor of the Liao Dynasty (born 972)source
  • June 28 – Taira no Tadatsune, Japanese governor (born 975)source
  • July 20 – King Robert II (the Pious) dies at Melun, after a 35-year reign. He is succeeded by his 23-year-old son, Henry I, who becomes the sole ruler of France. Henry's mother, Queen dowager Constance of Arles, prefers her third son, Robert, as heir to the throne and, with the help of Count Odo II, begins a war against Henry.source
  • July 20 – Robert II (the Pious), king of France (born 972)source
  • August 20 – Burchard, French archbishop and countsource
  • September 2 – Emeric, Hungarian prince and co-heirsource
  • September 9 – Kang Kam-ch'an, Korean general (born 948)source
  • November 29 – Al-Qadir, Abbasid caliph of Baghdad (born 947)source
  • Qadi 'Abd al-Wahhab, Abbasid scholar and jurist (born 973)source
  • Snorri Goði, Icelandic Viking warrior and chieftain (born 963)source