1046 CE

Nasir Khusraw begins his 7-year Middle Eastern (19,000-kilometre) journey, which he later describes in the book Safarnāmé. Pope Gregory VI is accused of simony at the Council of Sutri, and abdicates as pope of the Catholic Church. Bao Zheng (Lord Bao), a Chinese government officer during the reign of Emperor Renzong of Song, writes a memorial to the throne. He warns about governmental corruption – and a foreseeable bankruptcy of the Chinese iron industry – if increasingly poorer families continued to be listed on the register for iron-smelting households (while rich households avoid being listed for fear of financial calamity). Apparently the government heeds the warning, and produces more iron products by the year 1078 than China ever had before.

In the 1040s, the 11th century.

Conflict & Security

  • Vata pagan uprising in the Kingdom of Hungary: Peter, King of Hungary ("the Venetian"), is overthrown after a 2-year reign and perhaps executed. Bishops Gerard of Csanád and Bystrík (or Bestricus) are stoned to death in Budapest.source

Exploration & Expansion

  • March 5 – Nasir Khusraw begins his 7-year Middle Eastern (19,000-kilometre) journey, which he later describes in the book Safarnāmé.source

Religion & Belief

  • December 20 – Pope Gregory VI is accused of simony at the Council of Sutri, and abdicates as pope of the Catholic Church.source
  • December 25 – Pope Clement II succeeds Gregory VI as the 149th pope, and crowns Henry III as Holy Roman Emperor.source
  • Summer – Ex-Pope Benedict IX gives up a renewed attempt to reclaim the papal throne in Rome; Sylvester III reasserts his claim.source
  • Ealdred, bishop of Worcester, leads troops from England on an unsuccessful punitive raid against the Welsh leaders Gruffydd ap Rhydderch, Rhys ap Rhydderch and Gruffydd ap Llywelyn.source
  • Hildesheim Cathedral (Germany) is largely destroyed by fire.source
  • Autumn – King Henry III ("the Black") travels to Italy to secure the imposition of Guido da Velate, archbishop of Milan, and other similarly loyal candidates in other sees (like Ravenna, Verona and Modena).source

Economy & Finance

  • Bao Zheng (Lord Bao), a Chinese government officer during the reign of Emperor Renzong of Song, writes a memorial to the throne. He warns about governmental corruption – and a foreseeable bankruptcy of the Chinese iron industry – if increasingly poorer families continued to be listed on the register for iron-smelting households (while rich households avoid being listed for fear of financial calamity). Apparently the government heeds the warning, and produces more iron products by the year 1078 than China ever had before.source

Culture & Society

  • Munjong is crowned the 11th king of Goryeo (Korea).source

Births

  • May 8 – Constance of Burgundy, queen consort of Castile and León (died 1093)source
  • Bernard of Thiron, founder of the Tironensian Order (died 1117)source
  • Ingegerd, queen of Denmark and Sweden (approximate date)source
  • Afridun I ("the Martyr"), ruler (shah) of Shirvan (died 1120)source
  • Leo of Ostia ("Marsicanus"), Italian cardinal (died 1115)source
  • Masud Sa'd Salman, Persian poet and writer (died 1121)source
  • Matilda, margravine of Tuscany (died 1115) (approximate date)source

Deaths

  • January 24 – Eckard II, Margrave of Meissen (or Ekkehard), German nobleman (born 985)source
  • February 26 – Fujiwara no Sanesuke, Japanese nobleman (born 957)source
  • March – Lyfing of Winchester, English abbot and bishopsource
  • June 24 – Jeongjong II, king of Goryeo (born 1018)source
  • July 18 – Elijah, bishop of Beth Nuhadra (born 975)source
  • September 24 – Gerard of Csanád, Hungarian missionary bishop, killedsource
  • September 27 – Bystrík (or Bestricus), Hungarian bishop, killedsource
  • Geoffrey II, count of Gâtinais (approximate date)source
  • Oliba, Spanish count, abbot and bishopsource
  • Gothelo II, duke of Lower Lorraine (born 1008)source
  • Richard of Verdun, French abbot (born 970)source
  • William Iron Arm, Norman noblemansource
  • Eido II (or Egidius), bishop of Meissen (or 1045)source
  • Art Uallach Ua Ruairc, Irish king of Connachtsource