1078 CE

Nikephoros Botaneiates enters Constantinople in triumph and is crowned by Patriarch Cosmas I as emperor Nikephoros III of the Byzantine Empire. Michael VII resigns his throne after a 7-year reign and retires into the Monastery of Stoudios. The Romanesque tympanum of Santiago de Compostela Cathedral in Galicia (Spain) is constructed. Grand Prince Iziaslav I dies, and is succeeded by Vsevolod I, who unites the principalities – Kiev, Chernigov and Pereyaslavl – in Kievan Rus'.

In the 1070s, the 11th century.

Conflict & Security

  • August 7 – Battle of Mellrichstadt: Emperor Henry IV defeats the German anti-king Rudolf of Rheinfelden, duke of Swabia, near Mellrichstadt (modern Germany).source
  • Philaretos Brachamios abandons his claim to the Byzantine throne, on being appointed governor of Antioch, a foundation of the later Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia.source
  • The Almoravid emir, Yusuf ibn Tashfin, besieges Ceuta. Since the city can receive help from the sea, the siege will last until 1083.source
  • Spring – Nikephoros Botaneiates, a Byzantine general (strategos) of the Theme of the Anatolics, revolts against Emperor Michael VII Doukas. With the support of the Seljuk Turks who provide him with troops, Nikephoros marches upon Nicaea (modern Turkey). He defeats the imperial army and proclaims himself emperor.source
  • Battle of Kalavrye: The imperial forces of General Alexios Komnenos are victorious over the rebellious army (12,000 men) under Nikephoros Bryennios the Elder, governor (doux) of the Theme of Dyrrhachium. Bryennios is captured and later blinded.source

Religion & Belief

  • March 24 – Nikephoros Botaneiates enters Constantinople in triumph and is crowned by Patriarch Cosmas I as emperor Nikephoros III of the Byzantine Empire. Michael VII resigns his throne after a 7-year reign and retires into the Monastery of Stoudios.source
  • July 11 – The Romanesque tympanum of Santiago de Compostela Cathedral in Galicia (Spain) is constructed.source
  • A church council in Poitiers deposes Bishop Sylvester of Rennes who had bought his office in 1076. This leads also to the flight of Robert of Arbrissel to Paris where he begins his studies.source
  • Anselm is elected abbot of Bec Abbey, in Normandy.source
  • Approximate date – The White Tower of the Tower of London is begun, under the direction of Gundulf (or Gundulph), bishop of Rochester.source

Technology & Infrastructure

  • By this year, the iron industry in the Song dynasty is producing a total weight of 127,000,000 kg (125,000 t) of iron product per year.source

Births

  • March 17 – Abdul Qadir Gilani, Persian preacher (died 1166)source
  • April/May – Al-Mustazhir, Abbasid caliph in Baghdad (died 1118)source
  • Constance of France, princess of Antioch (died 1125)source
  • Reishi, Japanese empress consort (died 1144)source
  • Approximate date – Alexander I ("the Fierce"), king of Scotland (died 1124)source
  • Ermengol V, count of Urgell (Catalonia) (died 1102)source
  • Fujiwara no Tadazane, Japanese nobleman (died 1162)source
  • Ibn Quzman, Moorish poet and writer (died 1160)source

Deaths

  • January – Immilla of Turin, Italian noblewomansource
  • February 20 – Herman, bishop of Salisburysource
  • May 30 – Gleb Svyatoslavich, Kievan princesource
  • August 9 – Peter I, Italian noblemansource
  • August 26 – Herluin, founder of Bec Abbeysource
  • October 3 – Grand Prince Iziaslav I dies, and is succeeded by Vsevolod I, who unites the principalities – Kiev, Chernigov and Pereyaslavl – in Kievan Rus'.source
  • October 3 – Boris Vyacheslavich, prince of Chernigovsource
  • October 3 – Iziaslav I, Grand Prince of Kiev (born 1024)source
  • November 6 – Berthold II, duke of Carinthiasource
  • November 11 – Udo, archbishop of Triersource
  • Approximate date – Abd al-Qahir al-Jurjani, Persian scholarsource
  • Mu'ayyad fi'l-Din al-Shirazi, Fatimid scholar (born 1000)source
  • Andreas (or Andrew), archbishop of Bari, convert to Judaismsource
  • Richard I (Drengot), prince of Capuasource