The Battle of Alnwick is fought in Northumberland, England, between Scottish and English forces. The battle resulted in an English victory; Malcolm III of Scotland, later known as Malcolm Canmore, was killed together with his son Edward by an army of English knights led by Robert de Mowbray. More
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What Happened in November?
Wars, expanding empires, and critical deaths. Explore significant events and milestones from November that have helped shape the world. Dates for earlier events may be approximate.
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Margaret of Scotland, Queen of Scotland, dies on November 16, 1093 at Edinburgh Castle, reportedly of grief, a few days after learning of her husband and eldest son's deaths in battle.
She was a deeply pious and charitable woman known for her work in church reform and for aiding the poor. In 1250, Pope Innocent IV officially canonized her as a saint in the Roman Catholic in recognition of her holiness and fidelity. She was later declared a patroness of Scotland in 1673. Her feast day is currently celebrated on November 16, the date of her death, in the revised General Roman Calendar, while some traditionalist Catholics observe it on June 10.
Pope Urban II delivered a rousing sermon on November 27, 1095, at the Council of Clermont in France, calling on Western Christians to launch a holy war to recapture the Holy Land and Jerusalem from Muslim rule, leading to the First Crusade. His call to arms was "Deus vult" ("God wills it")
Pope Urban II delivers a sermon at the Council of Clermont in France on November 27, 1065, calling for the First Crusade and urging Western Christians to aid the Byzantine Empire and reclaim the Holy Land from Muslim control; popularizing the cry "Deus vult" ("God wills it")
The People's Crusade, a precursor to the First Crusade. It was a disorganized popular movement led by Peter the Hermit and others, with thousands of peasants and commoners embarking on a journey to the Holy Land.
The Siege of Ma'arrat al-Numan begins during the First Crusade, resulting in the capture of the town and its gruesome events.
The Crusaders, led by Godfrey of Bouillon, enter Jerusalem during the First Crusade and captured the city.
Henry I of England marries Matilda of Scotland on November 11, 1100, at Westminster Abbey, uniting the Norman and Saxon lines and securing a crucial alliance.
Henry I of England marries Matilda of Scotland, consolidating his rule after the turmoil following his brother's death.
William II of England (William Rufus) is buried at Winchester Cathedral, England, after his death in a hunting accident.
Welf I, Duke of Bavaria dies on November 6, 1101 in Paphos, Cyprus while returning from the Crusade of 1101 likely due to disease or exhaustion after experiencing a disaster in Anatolia where many in his contingent were killed by Turkish forces.
Maginulfo is elected as the Antipope Sylvester IV, on November 18, 1105, challenging Pope Paschal II.
Henry IV, Holy Roman Emperor, dies, and his son Henry V succeeds him.
The Council of Poitiers begins, addressing issues related to simony and clerical marriage within the Catholic Church.
A massive earthquake known as the "Marash Earthquake" strikes modern day Turkey and Syria, in the early morning hours of November 29, 1114, killing thousands of people and destroying many towns and cities. The effects of the earthquake in the city of Marash was so devastating that one account described it as a "tomb for its own people". The city is now known as Kahramanmaraş.
The White Ship, carrying King Henry I's 17-year-old son and heir, William Adelin, and about 300 other nobles, rapidly sinks in the English Channel after striking a well known rock. Only one person, a butcher survived. The disaster left Henry with no legitimate male heir, resulting in a succession crisis and a devastating 18-year civil war known as "The Anarchy" after his death.
The First Lateran Council, the ninth ecumenical council and the first of the Catholic Church opens in Rome on March 18, 1123. It was convened by Pope Callistus II and it primarily served to formally ratify the Concordat of Worms which ended the investiture controversy.
The Council went on to confirm that only the Church had the authority to bestow spiritual powers on bishops, not secular rulers. It also issued decrees against simony, clerical concubinage, and church robbery, and reaffirmed indulgences for Crusaders.
Empress Matilda's forces defeat King Stephen's troops at the Battle of the Standard during the Anarchy in England.
Stephen, King of England, ratifies the Treaty of Winchester, (also known as the Treaty of Wallingford), on November 6, 1153, naming Henry Plantagenet (later Henry II), as his adopted son and rightful heir to he English throne in exchange for being allowed to rule for the remainder of his life. The agreement ended the civil war known as "The Anarchy" between King Stephen and Empress Matilda.
King Stephen of England dies, and Henry II becomes King, marking the end of the Anarchy.