May 5:
Lunar eclipse, in which the moon became totally dark according to the
Peterborough Chronicle, due to an earlier volcanic eruption putting aerosols into the upper atmosphere of the earth, thus cutting off the
earthlight.[1]
February –
May – The Crusaders under Baldwin I
besiege Beirut. The
Genoese and
Pisan ships blockade the harbour,
Fatimid ships from
Tyre and
Sidon try in vain to break the blockade. The Fatimid governor flees by night through the Italian fleet to
Cyprus. On
May 13, Baldwin captures the city by assault. The Italians conduct a massacre among the inhabitants.[3]
October –
December – The Crusaders under Baldwin I (supported by King
Sigurd I) besiege Sidon. Norwegian ships blockade the harbour – but are nearly dispersed by a powerful Fatimid flotilla from Tyre. They are saved by the arrival of a
Venetian squadron under Doge
Ordelafo Faliero. On
December 4, the city capitulates (under notable terms) to Baldwin.[4]
King
Henry V invades
Italy with a large army and concludes an agreement with Pope
Paschal II at
Sutri. Henry renounces the right of investiture (a dispute with the former
Henry IV). In return, Paschal promises to crown him emperor and to restore to the
Holy Roman Empire all the lands given to the German church (since the time of
Charlemagne).[5]
July 25 – Henry V marries the 8-year-old
Matilda (daughter of King
Henry I of England). She is crowned
Queen of the Romans in a ceremony at
Mainz. After the betrothal Matilda is placed into custody of
Bruno, archbishop of
Trier, who is tasked with educating her in German culture, manners and government.[6]
The dukedom of
Bohemia is secured for
Vladislaus I following the death of
Svatopluk (the Lion) who is assassinated. Vladislaus receives support from Henry V and will rule until
1125.
^Steven Runciman (1952). A History of the Crusades. Vol II: The Kingdom of Jerusalem, p. 74.
ISBN978-0-241-29876-3.
^Steven Runciman (1952). A History of the Crusades. Vol II: The Kingdom of Jerusalem, pp. 74–75.
ISBN978-0-241-29876-3.
^Comyn, Robert (1851). History of the Western Empire, from its Restoration by Charlemagne to the Accession of Charles V. Vol I.
^Chibnall, Marjorie (1991). Matilda of England (1102–1167), Empress, Consort of Henry V. Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, retrieved 22 December 2013.