1045

Events

* Emperor Go-Reizei ascends the throne of Japan.
* Edward the Confessor marries Edith of Wessex.
* Edward the Confessor begins construction on Westminster Abbey.
* January 20 — Pope Sylvester III becomes the 146th pope, succeeding former pope Benedict IX, who abdicated the previous year.
* April — Pope Sylvester III is deposed (election deemed invalid); Pope Benedict IX is elected once more, becoming the 147th pope.
* May 5 — Pope Gregory VI becomes the 148th pope, following the deposition of Pope Benedict IX. There are growing allegations that simony is taking place during Gregory VI's reign.
* Movable type printing is invented by Bi Sheng in China.
* The Lingxiao Pagoda of China is built during the Song Dynasty.
* The Qingli Reforms, put forth by the Chinese statesmen Ouyang Xiu and Fan Zhongyan in 1043, are halted by their conservative ministerial peers, but would later influence reform efforts under Wang Anshi.

Births

* Stephen, Count of Blois (approximately) (d. 1102)
* Waltheof, 1st Earl of Northampton (approximately) (d. 1076)
* Huang Tingjian, famous Chinese calligrapher, painter, and poet (d. 1105)

Deaths

* February 7 — Emperor Go-Suzaku of Japan (b. 1009)