1116 CE

Coloman, King of Hungary ("the Learned") dies after a 21-year reign in which he has consolidated the feudal system in Hungary and expanded the frontier (partly by overthrowing Petar Snačić, king of Croatia). Henry V visits Venice. During the visit, Doge Ordelafo Faliero secures imperial support for Venetian action in Dalmatia during the conflict with the Kingdom of Hungary. Ordelafo Faliero, doge of Venice, defeats Hungarian troops under King Stephen II, who have arrived to relieve Zadar; the remaining towns of Dalmatia surrender to Venice.

In the 1110s, the 12th century.

Geopolitics & Diplomacy

  • The Zirid ruler of Ifriqiya, Ali ibn Yahya, conquers the island of Jerba, then acting as an independent piratical republic.source

Conflict & Security

  • March – Henry V visits Venice. During the visit, Doge Ordelafo Faliero secures imperial support for Venetian action in Dalmatia during the conflict with the Kingdom of Hungary.Italysource
  • July 15 – Ordelafo Faliero, doge of Venice, defeats Hungarian troops under King Stephen II, who have arrived to relieve Zadar; the remaining towns of Dalmatia surrender to Venice.source
  • 15 July – Venetian forces under Doge Ordelafo Faliero defeat forces connected with Stephen II near Zara. The victory strengthens Venetian control over parts of Dalmatia, although the conflict continues into the following year.Italysource
  • Almoravid troops conquer the Balearic Islands, whose Moorish rulers have been severely weakened by Pisan and Catalan raiders.source
  • Autumn – Baldwin I hastens to Tyre (modern Lebanon) and begins the construction of a new fortress, known as Scandelion Castle, at the Ladder of Tyre, which completes the blockade of the town from the mainland.source
  • Autumn – Battle of Philomelion (1116): Emperor Alexios I Komnenos leads an expedition into Anatolia and meets the Seljuk army under Sultan Malik Shah (near Philomelium). The Byzantines introduce a new battle formation of Alexios' devising, the parataxis (a defensive formation, consisting of a hollow square, with the baggage in the centre). During the battle, the Seljuk Turks mount several attacks on the formations, but all are repulsed. The Byzantine cavalry makes two counterattacks; the first is unsuccessful. But a second attack, led by Nikephoros Bryennios the Younger, breaks the Seljuk forces, who then turn to flight. The following day Malik Shah again attacks, his army completely surrounding the Byzantines from all sides. The Seljuk Turks are once more repulsed, with many losses. Alexios claims the victory, and Malik Shah is forced to accept a peace treaty, in which he promises to respect the frontiers of the Byzantine Empire.source
  • The Welsh under King Gruffydd ap Rhys of Deheubarth attack Llandovery Castle, but are defeated. Gruffydd also attacks Swansea Castle and destroys the outer walls.source
  • Portuguese forces under Countess Theresa take two Galician cities, Tui and Ourense. In reply, the sister of Theresa, Queen Urraca ("the Reckless"), attacks Portugal.source
  • Diarmait Ua Briain, king of Munster, attacked Muirchertach and Brian Ua Briain "in violation of a mutual oath on the relics of Ireland" besieging Limerick. This resulted in Muirchertach making peace with Diarmait but he was eventually captured by Muircheartach.Irelandsource

Exploration & Expansion

  • Summer – Crusaders under King Baldwin I of Jerusalem undertake an expedition to Egypt and march as far as Akaba on the Red Sea. After the local inhabitants flee from the town, Baldwin constructs castles in Akaba and on a nearby island. He leaves a garrison in both fortresses. The three Crusader strongholds – Montréal, Eilat, and Graye – secure the control of the caravan routes between Syria and Egypt.source
  • Pope Paschal II authorizes a crusading expedition for the recovery of Tarragona at the request of Ramon Berenguer III, Count of Barcelona.Italysource

Religion & Belief

  • Construction starts on the Chennakeshava Temple (located on the Yagachi River) commissioned by King Vishnuvardhana at Belur in India.source
  • Ramon Berenguer III, Count of Barcelona ("the Great"), sails to Rome in an effort to gain support from the Italian states and a licence from Pope Paschal II for his crusade against the Moors in Spain.source
  • The monastery and cathedral at Peterborough in England are destroyed by fire.source

Climate & Environment

  • The settlement of Malamocco on the Venice Lido is submerged as a result of an exceptional storm surge.source

Culture & Society

  • Aak music is introduced to the Korean court, through a large gift of 428 musical instruments as well as 572 costumes and ritual dance objects from China, by Emperor Huizong of the Song dynasty.source

Births

  • April 12 – Richeza of Poland, queen consort of Sweden (died 1156)source
  • August 29 – Philip of France, king of France (died 1131)source
  • November 23 – William FitzRobert, 2nd Earl of Gloucester (died 1183)source
  • Ruaidrí Ua Conchobair, Irish king of Connacht (died 1198)source
  • Ibn Mada', Arab scholar and polymath (died 1196)source
  • Ibn al-Azraq al-Fariqi, Arab historian and writer (died 1176)source
  • Roger de Clare, 2nd Earl of Hertford, Anglo-Norman noble (died 1173)source
  • Ibn Saad al-Khair al-Balancy, Arab Andalusian linguist and poet (died 1175)source
  • Ibn al-Jawzi, Arab historian and philologist (died 1201)source
  • Berengaria of Barcelona, queen consort of León and Castile (died 1149)source

Deaths

  • February 3 – Coloman, King of Hungary ("the Learned") dies after a 21-year reign in which he has consolidated the feudal system in Hungary and expanded the frontier (partly by overthrowing Petar Snačić, king of Croatia).source
  • February 3 – Coloman ("the Learned"), king of Hungarysource
  • 3 February – Coloman, King of Hungary dies and is succeeded by his son Stephen II. The succession occurs during the wider Venetian-Hungarian struggle over the Dalmatian coast.Italysource
  • February 13 – Galon (or Gallo), bishop of Beauvaissource
  • Bagrat Pakrad, Armenian nobleman and adventurersource
  • Jimena Díaz, Spanish noblewomansource
  • Mary of Scotland, countess of Boulogne (born 1082)source
  • Malik Shah, Seljuk ruler of the Sultanate of Rumsource
  • Abu Nasr Farsi, Persian statesman and poet (or 1117)source
  • Robert of Arbrissel, founder of Fontevrault Abbeysource
  • Robert of Caiazzo, Italo-Norman nobleman and count of Alife, Caiazzo, Sant'Agata and other territories in southern ItalyItalysource
  • Emperor Henry V crosses the Alps into Italy and takes possession of the lands associated with the inheritance of Matilda of Tuscany, who had died the previous year. The disputed succession to the Matildine lands becomes an important issue in relations between the empire and the papacy.Italysource