The construction of the Brihadisvara Temple in India is completed, dedicated to the Hindu deity Shiva.
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What Happened in October?
Explorations, great battles, and crowned leaders. Discover meaningful events and milestones from October throughout history. Dates for earlier events may be approximate.
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The Icelandic parliament, Althing, is established, making it one of the oldest extant parliamentary institutions in the world.
Circa 1000 CE
Estimated date of Vikings led by the Norse explorer Leif Erikson, landing in North America in present-day Canada.
King Æthelred the Unready orders the St. Brice's Day massacre, leading to the killing of many Danes in England.
Circa 1009, October
The Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem is destroyed by order of the Fatimid caliph Al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah. The Church has been destroyed and rebuilt multiple times throughout history.
After the significant 1009 damage the site was eventually restored and rebuilt by the Byzantine emperor Constantine Monomachus in 1048. Subsequent rebuilding and repairs, particularly the rebuilding by Crusaders in the 12th century and major renovations in 1810, have led to the current structure.
Pope Clement II, who had been installed by Emperor Henry III, dies suddenly.on October 9, 1047. His death, which came less than a year after his election, is widely attributed to poisoning.
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The Battle of Hastings takes place, resulting in William the Conqueror's victory over King Harold II of England, marking the beginning of the Norman Conquest of England. More
1097, c. October,20
The First Crusade siege of Antioch begins, as the forces led by Bohemond I of Antioch, Raymond of Toulouse, and Godfrey of Bouillon, surrounded the city. The siege lasted for nearly eight months, a period marked by severe hardship, including starvation and disease, the Crusaders ultimately captured the city in June 1098, largely due to a betrayal from within.
King Bolesław III Wrymouth of Poland dies on October 28, 1138, leaving a will dividing the Kingdom among his sons leading to a period of succession disputes among different princes which lasted approximately 200 years, until the late 13th or early 14th century.
The Kingdom of Portugal is recognized by the Kingdom of León through the Treaty of Zamora. The agreement was signed by Afonso Henriques, who became the first king of Portugal, and his cousin, King Alfonso VII of León and Castile, officially establishing Portugal as an independent kingdom. This treaty was a crucial step in solidifying Portugal's independence, which was later confirmed by Pope Alexander III in 1179.
The Second Crusade begins, with European forces launching campaigns to the Holy Land.
1164, c. October 15
Thomas Becket was exiled from England in October 1164 after a conflict with King Henry II over the Constitutions of Clarendon, a set of laws issued by Henry II in January 1164 that aimed to increase royal control over the church by limiting the rights of the clergy and forbidding appeals to the Pope.
Becket fled to France to escape punishment after being found guilty of contempt of royal authority at a council in Northampton. He stayed in exile for six years until December 1170. He was murdered in the Cathedral on December 29 1170.
Saladin captures Jerusalem from the Crusaders, on October 2, 1187 after a decisive victory at the Battle of Hattin. The event was a major shock to the Christian world, prompting Pope Gregory VIII to call for a holy war, leading to the Third Crusade, as European monarchs like Richard the Lionheart sought to recapture the holy city.
The Maya civilization reaches its peak in the Yucatan Peninsula, with cities like Chichen Itza flourishing.
Otto IV is crowned Holy Roman Emperor by Pope Innocent III on October 4, 1209 in Rome. The event relied on Otto's promise to the Pope to keep the crowns of the Holy Roman Empire and the Kingdom of Sicily separate.
He broke his promise the following year, leading to his excommunication in November 1210 and loss of support which led to his eventual abdication 1n 1215.
The Mongol Empire conquers the Jin Dynasty in China.
King Philip IV of France orders the arrest of the Knights Templar on October 13, 1307, leading to their suppression and persecution. The actions were fueled by his financial debts to the order and a desire for their wealth and power.
The Templars were accused of heresy and other charges, and many were tortured to extract confessions. Pope Clement V eventually dissolved the order in 1312 at the Council of Vienne under pressure from Philip. Much of the order's assets were seized by Philip, despite being officially designated for the Knights Hospitaller.
King Philip IV of France orders the arrest of the Knights Templar, leading to their persecution.
The Council of Vienne begins on October 16 1311 to discuss various church matters including the Templar Order. The council was summoned by Pope Clement V under heavy pressure from King Philip IV of France, who had arrested the Templars in France in 1307. The Council ended on May 6, 1312. More
The Battle of Salado, also known as the Battle of Tarifa is fought between the armies of King Afonso IV of Portugal and King Alfonso XI of Castile against those of Sultan Abu al-Hasan 'Ali of the Marinid dynasty and Yusuf I of Granada, resulting in a Christian victory. More