1097
Year 1097 was a common year starting on Thursday of the Julian calendar.
Events
By place
First Crusade
- 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, and captured the cities of Dyrrhachium and Corfu.
- May 14 - Siege of Nicaea: The Crusaders begin their campaign with the siege of Nicaea, 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, Count of Toulouse and Robert II.
- 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 to pledge their allegiance to Alexios.
- 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.
- 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 from Saint Symeon and Alexandretta.
- 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.
Europe
- April/May - Battle of Gvozd Mountain: In an attempt to win the crown of the Croatia (925–1102)|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. After a fierce battle Peter, the last Croatian king, is defeated and killed by the Hungarians.
- Summer - Almoravid forces launch a new campaign in Al-Andalus. Sultan Yusuf ibn Tashfin, leader of the Almoravid Empire, is honored with the title of Amir al Muslimin.
- August 15 - Battle of Consuegra: The Castilian and Leonese army of King Alfonso VI is defeated by Almoravid forces near the Castle of Consuegra.
Scotland
- King Donald III of Scotland is deposed by his nephew Edgar, [King of Scotland|Edgar] after a 4-year reign. Edgar becomes ruler of Scotland until 1107.
England
- 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.
By topic
Religion
Births
- March 15 - Fujiwara no Tadamichi, Japanese nobleman
- November 5 - André de Montbard, French nobleman
- Abu al-Najib Suhrawardi, Persian scholar and Sufi
- Abu'l-Hasan Bayhaqi, Persian polymath and official
- Cecile of France, French princess and countess of Tripoli
- Conrad I, margrave of Meissen
- Muhammad Buzurg Ummid, Persian ruler of Alamut
- Zhang Jun, Chinese general and grand chancellor
Deaths
- June 6 - Agnes of Aquitaine, queen consort of Aragon and Navarre
- June 16 - Wen Yanbo, Chinese grand chancellor
- August 15 - Diego Rodríguez, Castilian nobleman
- August 20 - Albert Azzo II, margrave of Milan and Liguria
- November 6 - Heonjong, Korean king of Goryeo
- Baldwin Chauderon, French nobleman and crusader
- Florine of Burgundy, French noblewoman and crusader
- Herman of Hauteville, Norman nobleman and crusader
- Marpa Lotsawa, Tibetan Buddhist teacher
- Minamoto no Tsunenobu, Japanese nobleman
- Muhya bint Al-Tayyani, Andalusian female poet
- Odo of Bayeux, Norman nobleman and bishop
- Peter II, king of Croatia
- Sweyn the Crusader, Danish nobleman and crusader