1048 CE

Pope Damasus II succeeds Benedict IX as the 151st pope of the Catholic Church, but dies after 23 days. Battle of Kapetron: A combined Byzantine-Georgian army, under Byzantine generals Aaronios and Katakalon Kekaumenos (supported by the Georgian duke Liparit IV), confronts the invading Seljuk Turks, led by Ibrahim Inal (a half-brother of Sultan Tughril), at Kapetron (near modern-day Pasinler). The Byzantines defeat their opposing Turkish forces in the flanks, but in the centre Ibrahim Inal captures Liparit, and can safely withdraw from Byzantine territory, laden with spoils and captives, including Liparit. Bruno von Egisheim-Dagsburg, bishop of Toul, is selected as the new pope by an assembly at Worms - after canonical election in Rome next February, he assumes the name Pope Leo IX.

In the 1040s, the 11th century.

Conflict & Security

  • September 18 – Battle of Kapetron: A combined Byzantine-Georgian army, under Byzantine generals Aaronios and Katakalon Kekaumenos (supported by the Georgian duke Liparit IV), confronts the invading Seljuk Turks, led by Ibrahim Inal (a half-brother of Sultan Tughril), at Kapetron (near modern-day Pasinler). The Byzantines defeat their opposing Turkish forces in the flanks, but in the centre Ibrahim Inal captures Liparit, and can safely withdraw from Byzantine territory, laden with spoils and captives, including Liparit.source
  • 1048 or 1066 – End of the Viking Age: Vikings make an unsuccessful raid on the Kingdom of England; The raiders flee to Flanders (modern Belgium).source
  • King Edward the Confessor goes to war against Flanders, blockading the English Channel with a fleet based at Sandwich, Kent.source
  • Winter – Emperor Constantine IX sends an embassy with gifts and a ransom, to release Liparit IV to Tughril. However, the sultan sets Liparit free, on the condition that he will never again fight the Seljuks.source

Religion & Belief

  • July 16 – At orders of Henry III, German troops under Boniface III, Margrave of Tuscany ("of Canossa"), enter Rome and expel Pope Benedict IX.source
  • December – Bruno von Egisheim-Dagsburg, bishop of Toul, is selected as the new pope by an assembly at Worms - after canonical election in Rome next February, he assumes the name Pope Leo IX.source
  • Winter – Henry III, Holy Roman Emperor appoints his cousin, Bishop Bruno of Toul (related to the counts of Egisheim-Dagsburg in Upper Alsace) as successor of Damasus II at an assembly at Worms.source

Climate & Environment

  • Catastrophic Yellow River flood in Northern Song China; the river changes its course until 1194.source

Culture & Society

  • The city of Oslo is founded by King Harald Hardrada of Norway (approximate date).source

Births

  • May 18 – Omar Khayyam, Persian mathematician and poet (died 1131)source
  • May 25 – Shenzong, emperor of the Song dynasty (died 1085)source
  • October – Matilda of Germany, duchess of Swabia (died 1060)source
  • Harding of Bristol, English sheriff reeve (approximate date)source
  • Peter I, Italian nobleman (House of Savoy) (died 1078) (approximate date)source
  • Domnall Ua Lochlainn, High King of Ireland (died 1121)source
  • Magnus II (Haraldsson), king of Norway (approximate date)source
  • Sheikh Ahmad-e Jami, Persian Sufi writer and poet (died 1141)source
  • Arwa al-Sulayhi, queen and co-ruler of Yemen (died 1138)source
  • Turgot of Durham, Scottish bishop (approximate date)source

Deaths

  • January 19 – Jingzong, Chinese founding emperor of Western Xia (born 1003)source
  • January 25 – Poppo, abbot of Stavelot-Malmedy (born 977)source
  • March 29 (or 1047) – Æthelstan of Abingdon, English abbot (or 1047)source
  • June 1 – Minamoto no Yorinobu, Japanese samurai (born 968)source
  • June 7 – Berno of Reichenau, German abbotsource
  • July 17 – Pope Damasus II succeeds Benedict IX as the 151st pope of the Catholic Church, but dies after 23 days.source
  • August 9 – Damasus II, pope of the Catholic Churchsource
  • November 11 – Adalbert, duke of Upper Lorraine (born 1000)source
  • December 9 – Al-Biruni, Persian scholar and polymath (born 973)source
  • Mael Fabhaill Ua hEidhin, Irish king of Uí Fiachrach Aidhnesource
  • Cenn Fáelad Ua Cúill, Irish poet and Chief Ollamsource
  • Humbert I, founder of the House of Savoy (or 1047)source
  • Rainulf Trincanocte, Italo-Norman noblemansource