1077

Events

Fall - Nikephoros Bryennios the Elder, governor of the Theme of Dyrrhachium in the western Balkans, and Nikephoros Botaneiates, a general of the Theme of Anatolics, are proclaimed emperors by their troops. Emperor Michael VII Doukas offers Bryennios the title of caesar if he submits to his rule, but Bryennios refuses. He sets out from Dyrrhachium, and marches towards Constantinople.

January 25 - Walk to Canossa: Emperor Henry IV, [Holy Roman Emperor|Henry IV] travels to the Castle of Canossa near Reggio Emilia, to visit Pope Gregory VII. He waits at the gates for three days, for absolution of his excommunication. Gregory lifts the sentence, imposing on Henry a vow to comply with certain conditions.
King Alfonso VI reaches an agreement with his cousin Sancho Ramírez, who is elected as king of Navarre. Alfonso annexes the territories of Álava, part of Gipuzkoa and La Bureba, he is crowned and adopts the title of Imperator totius Hispaniae.
March 14 - German nobles opposing king Henry IV elected an antiking, Rudolf of Rheinfelden, despite king Henry having been absolved.
April 3 - Henry IV grants the County of Friuli to Sigaerd of Beilstein, patriarch of Aquileia. He creates the first Parliament, representing the communes as well the nobility and clergy.
Hugh I, duke of Burgundy, supports Sancho Ramírez in his conquest of the Castle of Muñones from Emir Ahmad al-Muqtadir, who rules the Taifa of Zaragoza.
King Mihailo I is given the title "King of the Slavs" by Gregory VII. He becomes the first recognized ruler of the kingdom of Duklja.

August 14 - A fire destroys much of London.
Robert Curthose instigates his first insurrection against his father, King William the Conqueror in the Normandy.
The first recorded trial by combat is held between Wulfstan and Walter.

Suleiman ibn Qutulmish, a cousin of late Sultan Alp Arslan, consolidates his leadership over the Oghuz Turks and founds the Sultanate of Rum.
Anushtegin Gharchai becomes governor of Khwarezm and a vassal of the Seljuk Empire.

The Bayeux Tapestry is completed, probably in England, possibly to unveil at the dedication of Bayeux Cathedral this year.

September 1 - Pope Gregory VII appoints Landulf as bishop of Pisa. He makes him permanent legate of the Holy See in Corsica.
Paul of Caen is installed as abbot of St. Albans in England. He commences the building of St. Albans Abbey Church.
Pope Christodolos of Alexandria|Christodolos] ends his reign as leader of the Coptic [Orthodox Church of Alexandria].