1087

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political events

William the Conqueror invades the French Vexin to retaliate for raids on his territory. He sacks and burns the town of Mantes, but when he rides out to view the ruins his horse plunges on the burning cinders. Thrown violently against the high pommel of his saddle, William sustains internal injuries, is carried in great pain to the priory of St. Gervais at Rouen, and dies there September 9 at age 59 or 60. His supporters scatter to enrich themselves with vast estates, leaving William's body stripped of anything valuable. His second son, William Rufus, 31, rules England as William II in a reign that will continue until 1100. William's eldest son Robert Curthose, 33, succeeds him as duke of Normandy and will reign until 1106.

Sweden's former king Ingold regains power from Blot-Sweyn and will reign until 1105 as Ingold I (Inge I).

Heretic Bogomils in Thrace and Bulgaria defeat a large Byzantine army under the command of the emperor Alexius I Comnenus at the Battle of Drystra. The Bogomils have revolted against Constantinople's rule.

Genoa and Pisa wrest control of the western Mediterranean from the Arabs and capture Mahdiyah in North Africa.

medicine

The medical scholar Constantine the African dies at the monastery of Monte Cassino at age 67 (approximate), having initiated the translation of Arabic medical works into Latin. His abbreviated version of The Royal Book (Kitab al-maliki) by the 10th century Persian physician Ali ibn al-Abbas and other works have been quickly circulated throughout Europe. More accurate and polished translations will soon be available, but European scholars will study Constantine's work until the 16th century.

religion

Pope Victor III convenes a synod at Capua in March and resumes his papal authority (see 1086). He sends an army to Tunis, where it defeats the Muslims and compels them to pay tribute to Rome; convenes a second synod at Benevento in August that excommunicates the antipope Clement III; bans the archbishop of Lyons Hugues de Die and Richard, the abbot of Marseilles, condemns lay investiture, but falls ill at the synod, returns to Monte Cassino, and dies there September 16 at age 60 (approximate) after a 1-year reign (see 1088).

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