Spring –
Tzachas, a Seljuk Turkish military commander, establishes an independent maritime state centred in the
Ionian coastal city of
Smyrna (modern-day
İzmir). He proclaims himself emperor (basileus), and concludes an alliance with the
Pechenegs in
Thrace. Tzachas uses his fleet to blockade
Constantinople by sea, while the Pechenegs besiege the capital by land.[1]
April 29 –
Battle of Levounion: Emperor
Alexios I, supported by his allies, defeats the Pechenegs' 80,000 men (including women and children) at the
Evros River, near
Enos (modern
Turkey). The
Cumans and Byzantine forces fall upon the enemy camp, slaughtering all in their path. The Pechenegs are butchered so savagely, that they are almost wiped out.
Europe
Spring – King
Stephen II, the last member of the
Trpimirović Dynasty, dies without leaving an heir after a 2-year reign. War and unrest breaks out in
Croatia afterwards. King
Ladislaus I of Hungary, on instigation of his sister, Queen
Helena, intervenes in the conflict and occupies Croatia. He proclaims himself king, but is contested by the Croatian nobleman
Petar Snačić.
Summer – The
Norman invasion of Malta: A Norman fleet led by Count
Roger I (Bosso) arrives in
Malta. Roger disembarks his army, and besieges the island's capital Medina (modern-day
Mdina). The inhabitants negotiate peace terms (by promising to pay an annual
tribute) and swear an oath of loyalty to Roger. On the way back, the Normans sack the island
Gozo.
Summer – King
Malcolm III of Scotland invades the north of
England, and besieges
Durham. The Normans led by William II march north to oppose the Scots, but a conflict is averted. Malcolm is forced to accept the terms of the
Treaty of Abernethy (see
1072) and pays
homage to William.
^Brian Todd Carey (2012). Road to Manzikert: Byzantine and Islamic Warfare (527–1071), p. 160.
ISBN978-1-84884-215-1.
^Picard, Christophe (2000). Le Portugal musulman (VIIIe-XIIIe siècle. L'Occident d'al-Andalus sous domination islamique. Paris: Maisonneuve & Larose. p. 109.
ISBN2-7068-1398-9.