1117 CE

1117 Verona earthquake. The earthquake is rated at VII (Very strong) on the Mercalli intensity scale, and strikes northern Italy and Germany. The epicentre of the first shock is near Verona, the city which suffers the most damage. The outer wall of the amphitheatre is partially felled, and the standing portion is damaged in a later earthquake of 1183. Many other churches, monasteries, and ancient monuments are destroyed or seriously damaged, eliminating much of Verona's early medieval architecture and providing space for a massive Romanesque rebuilding. Merton Priory (previously established at Huntingdon) is consecrated at a site near London. The priory becomes an important centre of learning and diplomacy in England. The magnetic compass is first used for maritime navigation purposes during the Song dynasty in China.

In the 1110s, the 12th century.

Geopolitics & Diplomacy

  • Ramon Berenguer III ("the Great"), count of Barcelona, inherits Cerdanya (located between the Pyrenees and the Ebro River) which becomes part of the Principality of Catalonia.source
  • Vladislaus I, duke of Bohemia, abdicates in favor of his brother Bořivoj II, but retains much of the actual power.source
  • Stephen II of Hungary reconquers Dalmatia from VeniceItalysource

Conflict & Security

  • The Crusaders led by King Baldwin I of Jerusalem raid Pelusium in Egypt and burn the city to the ground. Baldwin marches back to Palestine and strengthens the fortifications of the southern frontier.source
  • King Mahaabarana Adeettiya (Koimala) from the Theemuge Dynasty becomes the first king to rule over the whole Maldives. He reclaims the northern atolls from the Indian invaders.source
  • Conflict between the de facto independent Muslim republics of Gabès and Mahdia (modern Tunisia) in Ifriqiya. Madhia is supported by the Zirid Dynasty while Gabes receives the aid of Roger II, count of Sicily.source
  • The sōhei or warrior monks of Mii-dera and Enryaku-ji unite their forces to attack Nara in Japan.source
  • Battle of Ghazni: Seljuk forces under Ahmad Sanjar (supporting the claim of Bahram-Shah) invade Afghanistan and defeat the ruling Sultan Arslan-Shah. Bahram succeeds his brother as ruler of the Ghaznavid Empire.source

Exploration & Expansion

  • The Almoravids briefly reconquer Coimbra (modern Portugal).source
  • King Stephen II of Hungary regains Dalmatia from the Republic of Venice while the Venetians are on a naval expedition. Doge Ordelafo Faliero dies in battle (near Zadar) against the Hungarians. Faliero is succeeded by Domenico Michiel, who reconquers more territory and agrees to a 5-year truce with Hungary.source

Technology & Infrastructure

  • The magnetic compass is first used for maritime navigation purposes during the Song dynasty in China.source

Climate & Environment

  • January 3 – 1117 Verona earthquake. The earthquake is rated at VII (Very strong) on the Mercalli intensity scale, and strikes northern Italy and Germany. The epicentre of the first shock is near Verona, the city which suffers the most damage. The outer wall of the amphitheatre is partially felled, and the standing portion is damaged in a later earthquake of 1183. Many other churches, monasteries, and ancient monuments are destroyed or seriously damaged, eliminating much of Verona's early medieval architecture and providing space for a massive Romanesque rebuilding.source

Culture & Society

  • May 3 – Merton Priory (previously established at Huntingdon) is consecrated at a site near London. The priory becomes an important centre of learning and diplomacy in England.source

Births

  • September 7 – Nicolò Politi, Italian hermit (died 1167)source
  • Otto I ("the Redhead"), duke of Bavaria (died 1183)source
  • Robert FitzRanulph, English high sheriff (died 1172)source
  • Humphrey II of Toron, constable of Jerusalem (died 1179)source
  • Henry I, count of Guelders and Zutphen (died 1182)source
  • Gerard la Pucelle, bishop of Coventry (died 1184)source
  • Simon III de Montfort, French nobleman (died 1181)source
  • Fujiwara no Nariko, Japanese empress (died 1160)source
  • Maurice of Carnoet, French Cistercian abbot (died 1191)source

Deaths

  • February 14 – Bertrade de Montfort, French queen (born 1070)source
  • April 11 – Tescelin le Roux, Burgundian nobleman (born 1070)source
  • April 14 – Bernard of Thiron, founder of the Tironensian Order (born 1046)source
  • April 16 – Magnus Erlendsson, Norse earl of Orkney (born 1080)source
  • September 1 – Robert de Limesey, bishop of Coventrysource
  • December 9 – Gertrude of Brunswick, margravine of Meissensource
  • Danxia Zichun, Chinese Zen Buddhist monk (born 1064)source
  • Gilbert Crispin, Norman abbot and theologian (born 1055)source
  • Faritius (or Faricius), Italian abbot and physiciansource
  • Ordelafo Faliero (or Dodoni), doge of Venicesource
  • Gertrude of Flanders, duchess of Lorraine (born 1070)source
  • Lu'lu' al-Yaya, Seljuk ruler and regent of Alepposource
  • Anselm of Laon (or Ansel), French theologian and writersource
  • Gilbert Fitz Richard, English nobleman (born 1066)source
  • Máel Muire Ua Dunáin, head of the clergy of Ireland.Irelandsource
  • Diarmait mac Énna meic Murchada ruler of the kingdoms of Leinster and Dublin.Irelandsource