1097 CE

/May – Battle of Gvozd Mountain: In an attempt to win the crown of the Kingdom of Croatia, the Hungarian army crosses the Drava River and invades Croatia. King Peter II of Croatia moves his residency at Knin Castle to defend his kingdom. The two armies meet each other near Gvozd Mountain (modern-day Mala Kapela). After a fierce battle Peter, the last Croatian king, is defeated and killed by the Hungarians. Siege of Nicaea: The Crusaders begin their campaign with the siege of Nicaea (the capital of the Sultanate of Rum), assigning their forces to different sections of the walls, which are well-defended with 200 towers. Towards the end, an advance party of the Seljuk Turks is defeated by troops of Raymond IV of Toulouse ("Saint-Gilles") and Robert II. Siege of Antioch: The Crusaders arrive outside the city and begin the siege. They can not impose a complete blockade on Antioch. The Seljuk garrison comes out of the city to harass Crusader siege-lines and intercept supply convoys (supported by a Genoese fleet of 12 galleys) from Saint Symeon and Alexandretta (modern Turkey).

In the 1090s, the 11th century.

Geopolitics & Diplomacy

  • King Donald III of Scotland ("the Fair") is deposed by his nephew Edgar (who is supported by King William II of England) after a 4-year reign. Edgar (nicknamed Probus, "the Valliant") becomes ruler of Scotland until 1107.source

Conflict & Security

  • April/May – Battle of Gvozd Mountain: In an attempt to win the crown of the Kingdom of Croatia, the Hungarian army crosses the Drava River and invades Croatia. King Peter II of Croatia moves his residency at Knin Castle to defend his kingdom. The two armies meet each other near Gvozd Mountain (modern-day Mala Kapela). After a fierce battle Peter, the last Croatian king, is defeated and killed by the Hungarians.source
  • May 14 – Siege of Nicaea: The Crusaders begin their campaign with the siege of Nicaea (the capital of the Sultanate of Rum), assigning their forces to different sections of the walls, which are well-defended with 200 towers. Towards the end, an advance party of the Seljuk Turks is defeated by troops of Raymond IV of Toulouse ("Saint-Gilles") and Robert II.source
  • June 19 – The Seljuk Turks surrender Nicaea to the Crusaders after a month siege. The Byzantines occupy the city; their commander Manuel Boutoumites is named by Emperor Alexios I Komnenos as doux of Nicaea. In the consternation the Crusaders are not allowed to plunder the city and are forced (again) to pledge their allegiance to Alexios.source
  • July 1 – Battle of Dorylaeum: The Crusaders defeat a Seljuk army led by Kilij Arslan I, ruler of the Sultanate of Rum, who wants revenge for the capture of Nicaea. During the battle many Crusaders are killed but the Seljuk Turks are forced to flee and abandon their tents and treasure after being surprised by the arrival of a second Crusader army.source
  • August 15 – Battle of Consuegra: The Castilian and Leonese army (30,000 men) of King Alfonso VI ('"the Brave") is defeated by Almoravid forces (10,000 men) near the Castle of Consuegra.source
  • October 21 – Siege of Antioch: The Crusaders arrive outside the city and begin the siege. They can not impose a complete blockade on Antioch. The Seljuk garrison comes out of the city to harass Crusader siege-lines and intercept supply convoys (supported by a Genoese fleet of 12 galleys) from Saint Symeon and Alexandretta (modern Turkey).source
  • December 31 – Battle of Harenc: The Crusaders under the command of Bohemond I and Robert II defeat Seljuk forces from Aleppo, which try to relieve besieged Antioch.source
  • Spring – The Crusaders under Godfrey of Bouillon attack the Byzantine imperial palace at Blachernae. Norman forces led by Bohemond I join the Crusaders – he is not welcome in Constantinople because his father, Robert Guiscard, has invaded Illyria (territory belonging to the Byzantine Empire), and captured the cities of Dyrrhachium and Corfu (see 1084).source
  • Summer – Almoravid forces launch a new campaign in Al-Andalus (modern Spain). Sultan Yusuf ibn Tashfin, leader of the Almoravid Empire, is honored with the title of Amir al Muslimin ("Commander of the Muslims").source

Religion & Belief

  • October – Anselm, archbishop of Canterbury, goes into exile. Conflicts between him and William II result in Anselm leaving England and heading for Rome. William confiscates Anselm's land.source
  • William II orders the construction of Westminster Hall near Westminster Abbey in London. The hall is designed to hold banquets, ceremonies and coronations that take place in the Abbey nearby.source

Births

  • March 15 – Fujiwara no Tadamichi, Japanese nobleman (died 1164)source
  • November 5 – André de Montbard, French nobleman (died 1156)source
  • Abu al-Najib Suhrawardi, Persian scholar and Sufi (died 1168)source
  • Conrad I ("the Great"), margrave of Meissen (approximate date) (died 1157)source
  • Abu'l-Hasan Bayhaqi, Persian polymath and official (died 1169)source
  • Cecile of France, French princess and countess of Tripoli (died 1145)source
  • Zhang Jun, Chinese general and grand chancellor (died 1164)source
  • Muhammad Buzurg Ummid, Persian ruler of Alamut (died 1162)source

Deaths

  • June 6 – Agnes of Aquitaine, queen consort of Aragon and Navarresource
  • June 16 – Wen Yanbo, Chinese grand chancellor (born 1006)source
  • August 15 – Diego Rodríguez, Castilian noblemansource
  • August 20 – Albert Azzo II, margrave of Milan and Liguriasource
  • November 6 – Heonjong, Korean king of Goryeo (born 1084)source
  • Odo of Bayeux, Norman nobleman and bishopsource
  • Minamoto no Tsunenobu, Japanese nobleman (born 1016)source
  • Sweyn the Crusader, Danish nobleman and crusadersource
  • Peter II, king of Croatia (see Battle of Gvozd Mountain)source
  • Florine of Burgundy, French noblewoman and crusader (born 1083)source
  • Baldwin Chauderon, French nobleman and crusadersource
  • Herman of Hauteville, Norman nobleman and crusadersource
  • Marpa Lotsawa, Tibetan Buddhist teacher (born 1012)source
  • Muhya bint Al-Tayyani, Andalusian female poetsource