- 1066
1066 is a
common year in theGregorian calendar and theAnno Domini (common) era. It is the 66th year of the11th century and the2nd millennium . The year is considered by many historians to be a turning point in history due to various events (see below), particularly theBattle of Hastings and ensuingNorman conquest of England , with years prior to 1066 being the lateDark Ages and years after 1066 being theMiddle Ages . [cite web | title = The What-ifs of 1066 | work = Dan Carlin's Hardcore History | url = http://dancarlin.libsyn.com/media/dancarlin/The_What_Ifs_Of_1066.mp3 | date =2007-03-13 , but also cite journal |last=Bates |first=David |authorlink= |coauthors= |year=2005 |month= |title=1066: Does the Date Still Matter? |journal=Historical Research |volume=78 |issue=202 |pages=443–464 |doi=10.1111/j.1468-2281.2005.00355.x |url= |accessdate= |quote= ] This was the last successful hostile invasion of Great Britain.Events
*
January 5 —Edward the Confessor dies. TheWitan proclaimsHarold Godwinson King .
*January 6 — Harold II is crownedKing ofEngland atWestminster Abbey .
*March 20 -Halley's Comet reaches perihelion, it is subsequently recorded in theBayeux Tapestry .
*September 20 —Battle of Fulford : KingHarald III of Norway (Harold Hardrada ) defeats the northern English earls Edwin andMorcar .
*September 25 —Battle of Stamford Bridge : King King Harold II ofEngland defeats the Norwegians under Harald Hardrada.
*September 28 — Duke William of Normandy, lands inEngland atPevensey .
*October 14 —Battle of Hastings , fought between King Harold II of England and Duke William of Normandy: Harold is killed and William is victorious. In England this is the traditional end of theDark Ages and the start of theMiddle Ages .
*December 25 — Duke William of Normandy, is crowned KingWilliam I of England .
*Magnus II is crowned King of Norway.
*The first black Africans in modern-dayGambia convert toIslam .
*December 30 - Granada massacre: A Muslim mob storms the royal palace inGranada , crucifiesJewish vizier Joseph ibn Naghrela and massacres most of the Jewish population of the city.
*Shen Kuo receives a post in the capital.
*Hedeby is destroyed by a Slavic army.
*Sima Guang completes the compilation of a large dictionary, an important work of Chineselexicography .Deaths
*
January 5 — KingEdward the Confessor ofEngland
*September 25 — Killed at theBattle of Stamford Bridge :
**KingHarald III of Norway (Harald Hardrada ) (b.1015 ),
**Tostig Godwinson ,Earl of Northumbria , brother of King Harold
*October 14 — Killed at theBattle of Hastings :
**King Harold II of England,
**Leofwine Godwinson , brother of King Harold
**Gyrth Godwinson , brother of King Harold
*November 11 - Bishop ofMecklenburg Johannes Scotus (b. approx.990 ) — sacrificed to Radegast
*Ibn Butlan , Baghdad physician
*Imam Bayhaqi Eminent Scholar of Islamic Faith.References
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