Pope John XV is elected circa August 5, 985 following the death of the antipope Boniface VII. He succeeded Pope John XIV, whose reign was cut short in 984 by imprisonment and murder. He was the first Pope to perform a solemn, official canonization of a saint (Ulrich of Augsburg). More
Browse Historical Events by Month:
What Happened in August?
Conquests, crusades, and victories. Explore pivotal historical events that took place in August. Dates for earlier events may be approximate.
Note: Sources for the historical content shown, include research and reviews of relevant Online History Resources or printed material. When possible, we show a link to a source which provides additional or unique perspective about the event.
We do our best to provide accurate information but would appreciate being notified if any incorrect information is found. You may do so by using our Feedback link.
991, c. August 10
The Battle of Maldon occurs on August 10, 991 near the town of Essex, England, where an English force led by Earl Byrhtnoth is defeated by Viking raiders. The battle is immortalized in the old Anglo-Saxon poem "The battle of Maldon"
The younger Henry is elected by the Bavarian nobles as the new Duke of Bavaria on August 28, 995, after the death of his father, Henry II called the Wrangler. Henry went on to be elected and anointed King of Germany on June 7, 1002, after his cousin Emperor Otto III died. Then, King of Italy on May 15, 1004 and Holy Roman Emperor on February 14,1014. He became known as Henry the Saint.
Byzantine Empress Theodora, selects the elderly patrician Michael VI Bringas to succeed her, shortly before her death on August 31, 1056 marking the end of the almost 200 years of Macedonian dynasty rule of the Byzantine empire.
Empress Theodora's did not have any children and her decision, was intended to secure a successor. Michael VI reign was short-lived, he was forced to abdicate in 1057 after being unable to secure the support of the military establishment. The Macedonian era was marked by significant territorial expansion and a cultural "renaissance".
Pope Stephen IX, becomes the 154th pope on August 3, 1057. He was a younger member of the Ardennes-Verdun dynasty, a politically active family in the mid-11th century. He died on march 1058, having been Pope for less than a year.
Malcolm Canmore slains King Macbeth of Scotland at the Battle of Lumphananand. His father, King Duncan I, had been murdered by Macbeth 17 years earlier. Following the battle Macbeth's stepson, Lulach, was crowned King, before being killed by Malcolm who then recovered the Scottish throne as Malcolm III. All the kings of Scotland since Malcolm himself and all the kings of England since the accession of Henry II descend from Malcolm and his English wife Margaret, the grandchild of Edmund Ironside. More
The Battle of Manzikert takes place on August 26, 1071, near Manzikert (modern Malazgirt, Turkey) where the Seljuk Turks, led by Sultan Alp Arslan, defeated the Byzantine Empire resulting in the capture of Emperor Romanos IV Diogenes, leading to Turkish dominance in Anatolia and and to the eventual decline of the Byzantine Empire.
The Battle of Manzikert is fought on August 26, 1071, near Lake Van, where the Seljuk Turks under Sultan Alp Arslan defeated the Byzantine army, capturing Emperor Romanos IV Diogenes severely crippling the Byzantine defenses and allowing for the rapid conquest of Anatolia and Asia Minor.
The Battle of Manzikert takes place on August 26, 1071 resulting in the defeat of the Byzantine Empire army of Emperor Romanos IV Diogenes, by the Seljuk Turks led by Alp Arslan. Eventually leading to the loss of Anatolia and the rise of the Ottoman Empire.
The Seljuk Turks, led by Alp Arslan, defeat the Byzantine Empire at the Battle of Manzikert, marking a significant step in the decline of Byzantine power.
The Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey and record of the extent, value, ownership, and liabilities of landholdings in England, ordered by King William I (William the Conqueror) is completed and presented to the King at a court in Salisbury. William I was the first Norman King of England.
Armed ships from the northern Italian maritime republics of Genoa and Pisa sack the North African city of Mahdia, on c. August 15, 1087.
Death of King William II of England, also known as William Rufus, in a hunting accident, leading to the accession of his brother Henry I. More
Henry I is crowned King of England at Westminster Abbey, succeeding his brother King William II, who had died in a hunting accident in the New Forest three days before. Henry swiftly seized the treasury at Winchester and was crowned to legitimize his rule, issuing a Charter of Liberties to appease the barons and secure his position.
The influential Chinese poet Su Shi, dies on August 24, 1101, leaving behind him a prolific collection of poems, lyrics, prose, and essays. His poetry had enduring popularity and influence in China and other areas in the near vicinity such as Japan. He is well known in some English-speaking countries through translations by Arthur Waley and Stephen Owen, among others.
Su Shi was born in Meishan, near Mount Emei in Sichuan province on January 8, 1037 during the Song Dynasty. He was known by his courtesy name Zizhan and his art name Dongpo. he was a talented calligrapher, essayist, cook, pharmacologist, poet, politician, and travel writer.
Magnus III Barefoot, King of Norway, is killed on August 24, 1103, in an ambush while in an expedition to establish Norwegian influence in the Irish Sea area His death marked the end of a significant period of Norwegian overseas expansion.
Henry IV, Holy Roman Emperor, dies on August 7, 1106, in Liège, Lower Lorraine (modern-day Belgium) at the age of 55 from a sudden illness.
At the time of his death, he was preparing a counter-offensive to regain his throne from his son who had led a successful coup and forced him to abdicate in late 1105.
Louis VI is crowned as the King of France in the cathedral of Orléans. He succeeded his father, Philip I, who died on July 29, 1108.
Henry I of England defeats Louis VI of France at the Battle of Bremule. The victory helped solidify Henry's hold on Normandy and his son William Adelin as the heir to the Duchy of Normandy. More
The Battle of the Standard, sometimes called the Battle of Northallerton, took place on August 22, 1138 near Northallerton in Yorkshire, England resulting in the English forces under William of Aumale repelling the Scottish army led by King David I of Scotland.