The supernova SN 1006, one of the brightest stellar events recorded, appears in the southern skies after appearing earlier in the year in the north. Now we know that is a remnant of a so-called Type Ia supernova. This class of supernova is caused when a white dwarf pulls too much mass from a companion star and explodes, or when two white dwarfs merge and explode. In this case, the star whose death brightened the early medieval sky was 7200 light years away. That means the supernova really happened about 8.200 years ago, but it took until 1006 for the light of the cosmic explosion to reach Earth. More
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What Happened in December?
Victories, births, and treaties. Explore the significant historical events and milestones that occurred in December. Dates for earlier events may be approximate.
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Sweyn Forkbeard, King of Denmark is proclaimed King of England after the English nobility submits to him. Sweyn had built a strong an imposing Danish North Sea empire, establishing control in Norway in 1000 and conquering England in 1013. He died there on February 1014, having ruled England for only five weeks. Sweyn's cause of death is unknown.
The Byzantine Emperor Basil II dies, marking the end of the Macedonian Dynasty
Westminster Abbey, located in London, is consecrated and opened by Edward the Confessor, becoming the site of coronations and other ceremonies of national significance in England. More
William the Conqueror, Duke of Normandy, is crowned King of England at Westminster Abbey, following the Norman conquest.
The compilation of the Domesday Book, a survey of England initiated by William the Conqueror, begins.
Bishop Anselm. Abbot of the Bec Abbey, reluctantly becomes Archbishop of Canterbury on December 4, 1093. He was consecrated in Canterbury after King William II agreed to restore the lands of the archbishopric that had been seized by the crown.
His tenure was marked by conflict with William II and his successor, King Henry I, over the issue of royal control over Church appointments (lay investiture). He is recognized as a Christian philosopher and theologian of the eleventh century. More
1098 CE, c December
Crusaders under Raymond IV of Toulouse capture Ma'arrat al-Numan in Syria during the First Crusade. The capture of Ma'arra was followed by the infamous practice of cannibalism among the starving Crusader forces, which is well-documented in contemporary sources.
King Alfonso I of Aragon captures the city of Zaragoza from the Almoravids control during the Reconquista after a siege which lasted about eight months before the city fell on December 18th, 1118.
King Henry I of England, dies on December 1, 1135. Although an arrangement had been made by Henry I for his daughter, Empress Matilda, to become Queen, her cousin Stephen of Blois was crowned King of England on the 22nd December, leading to a succession crisis and period of civil war known as "The Anarchy."
Pope Eugenius III issues his papal bull Quantum praedecessores, calling for the Second Crusade to recapture the Holy Land from the Muslims.
His call was preached throughout Europe by Abbot Bernard of Clairvaux. The same indulgences as those offered during the First Crusade were granted to encourage participation.
The start of the Second Crusade, as European forces begin their journey to the Holy Land.
Henry II of England is crowned as king, beginning the Angevin Empire.
Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury, returns to England from exile on December 1, 1170, after an agreement with King Henry II. His return was met with a mixed reception Becket was murdered in the cathedral on December 29, 1170.
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Archbishop of Canterbury Thomas Becket is assassinated in Canterbury Cathedral, leading to a conflict between church and state in England. It is believed the Henry II expressed frustrations with Becket was interpreted by some of the Kings supporters as a mandate to eliminate him, prompting four knights to travel to Canterbury where they murdered Becket in the cathedral on December 29, 1170.
Richard the Lionheart is captured in Austria while returning from the Third Crusade.
Pope Honorius III officially recognizes the Order of Preachers (now known as the Dominican Order) on December 22, 1216. The order was founded by Saint Dominic de Guzman with a focus on preaching the Gospel, combating heresy, and combining rigorous scholarship with active ministry.
The city of Ryazan in Russia is captured and burned by Mongol forces under Batu Khan a grandson of Genghis Khan.
After an eight-day siege, a Mongol army led by Batu Khan occupies and destroys Kyiv on December 6, 1240. Out of 50,000 people in the city, only 2,000 survived. The victory allowed Batu Khan to proceed westward into Central Europe.
Pope Innocent IV canonizes Saint Edmund of Abingdon, the Archbishop of Canterbury on December 16, six years after his death.