Browse Historical Events by Month:
Tragic deaths, ravaged cities, and great acts of heroism. Discover what happened this month in history and the defining moments that shaped the world. Dates for earlier events may be approximate.
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Alfred the Great, then a prince, led the West Saxon army to a victory at the Battle of Ashdown against a Danish invasion, on January 8, 871. He was fighting alongside his brother, King Æthelred, in a key battle where the Danes suffered heavy losses, including several of their earls.
Holy Roman Empire Emperor, Otto III dies at the age of 21 on January 23, 1002 , without having a direct heir, leaving a power vacuum in Europe which lasted until his cousin, Henry of Bavaria, successfully claimed the throne and was elected as the new emperor.
Emperor Otto III, ruler of the Holy Roman Empire, dies unexpectedly at the age of 21. on January 24, 1002, at age 21, from a sudden fever while on campaign near Civita Castellana.
His death, before he could be married to the Byzantine princess Zoe, threw the Empire into political crisis due to the lack of a clear heir. Otto III was succeeded by his second cousin Henry II who was crowned King of Germany in 1002 and Holy Roman Emperor in 1014.
Edward the Confessor, King of England, dies, leading to a succession crisis, the Battle of Hastings. and the Norman Conquest.
Harold Godwineson, head of the most powerful noble family in England, is crowned King Harold II, following the death of Edward the Confessor, leading to a war of succession involving Tostig, brother of Harold, King Harald III Hardraade of Norway and William, duke of Normandy.
King Harold managed to fight and kill Tostig and King Harald III at the Battle of Stamford Bridge near York but was himself soon defeated and killed by William at the Battle of Hastings. Almost a year after Edward the Confessor's death, on Christmas Day, 1066, William the Conqueror was crowned the first Norman king of England. More
Holy Roman Emperor Henry IV arrives at the fortress of Canossa, on January 25, 1077 beginning the famous Walk to Canossa to seek forgiveness from Pope Gregory VII after being excommunicated.
Crusaders start constructing siege engines for the siege of Arqa during the First Crusade.
The Crusaders besiege the city of Arqa, an important strategic point in Lebanon, during the First Crusade. The siege ended with the Crusaders failing to capture Arqa. They then continued their march along the coast towards Jerusalem.
Grand Prince Sviatopolk II of Kiev is murdered, leading to political unrest in Kievan Rus'.
Henry I of England's daughter, Matilda (Maud), marries Holy Roman Emperor Henry V, strengthening Anglo-German relations. The marriage took place in Worms, Germany, when she was 12 years old.
Pope Gelasius II succeeds Pope Paschal II as the 161st pope.
The Council of Troyes, convened by Bernard of Clairvaux, acting as a Legate of Pope Honorius II, grants official sanction from the papacy to the Templar Order (Knights Templar) which had been founded in 1119 by some French noblemen. The act officially recognized the military order as an "army of God".
The order and the rules were subsequently approved by Pope Honorius II. The Templar Order gradually increase it size, power and gaining considerable influence. It was eventually abolished by Pope Clement V who disbanded the order in 1312. More
King Stephen of England and Empress Matilda sign the Treaty of Wallingford, recognizing Stephen as king while allowing Matilda's son to inherit the throne.
Lotario dei Conti di Segni is elected Pope Innocent III on January 8, 1198, He was elected at age 37, shortly after the death of Pope Celestine III at the age of 37 and became one of the most influential popes of the Middle Ages. His papacy is considered by many historians to be the peak of medieval papal power.
The Fourth Crusade begins with a call for a crusade against Alexios III Angelos, the Byzantine Emperor.
King John of England appoints Stephen Langton as Archbishop of Canterbury.
Michael VIII Palaiologos was proclaimed co-emperor of the Byzantine Empire on January 1, 1259 through a coup, becoming the senior co-ruler to the young John IV Laskaris. He later became the sole emperor in 1261 after overthrowing and blinding John IV.
He went on to the restoration of the Byzantine Empire after the fall of Constantinople in 1204. This event established the last ruling dynasty of the empire, the Palaiologan dynasty which ruled for nearly two centuries until the empire's fall in 1453.
The first English Parliament to include members outside the nobility, is summoned by Simon de Montfort after his forces defeated and captured King Henry III and his heir, Prince Edward, at the Battle of Lewes in May 1264. His victory made de Montfort the de facto ruler of England.
Although Montfort rule did not last long, the concept of a more representative Parliament which for the first time, was composed not only of nobles and bishops but also elected representatives; two knights from each county and two citizens (or burgesses) from each town, took hold, setting an important precedent for future parliaments. Henry III's son and successor, Edward I, adopted the practice of including knights and burgesses in parliament, which became standard procedure by the end of the 13th century.
The University of Paris condemns the teachings of philosopher and theologian Peter Abelard.
The Principality of Wales becomes united with England following the Statute of Rhuddlan.
