1116

Events

Autumn - Battle of Philomelion (1116): Emperor Alexios I Komnenos leads an expedition into Anatolia and meets the Seljuk army under Sultan Malik Shah. The Byzantines introduce a new battle formation of Alexios' devising, the parataxis. During the battle, the Seljuk Turks mount several attacks on the formations, but all are repulsed. The Byzantine cavalry makes two counterattacks; the first is unsuccessful. But a second attack, led by Nikephoros Bryennios the Younger, breaks the Seljuk forces, who then turn to flight. The following day Malik Shah again attacks, his army completely surrounding the Byzantines from all sides. The Seljuk Turks are once more repulsed, with many losses. Alexios claims the victory, and Malik Shah is forced to accept a peace treaty, in which he promises to respect the frontiers of the Byzantine Empire.

Summer - Crusaders under King Baldwin I of Jerusalem undertake an expedition to Egypt and march as far as Akaba on the Red Sea. After the local inhabitants flee from the town, Baldwin constructs castles in Akaba and on a nearby island. He leaves a garrison in both fortresses. The three Crusader strongholds – Montréal, Eilat and Graye – secure the control of the caravan routes between Syria and Egypt.
Autumn - Baldwin I hastens to Tyre and begins the construction of a new fortress, known as Scandelion Castle, at the Ladder of Tyre, which completes the blockade of the town from the mainland.

February 3 - Coloman, [King of Hungary] dies after a 21-year reign in which he has consolidated the feudal system in Hungary and expanded the frontier.
Ramon Berenguer III, Count of Barcelona, sails to Rome in an effort to gain support from the Italian states and a licence from Pope Paschal II for his crusade against the Moors in Spain.
July 15 - Ordelafo Faliero, doge of Venice, defeats Hungarian troops under King Stephen II, who have arrived to relieve Zadar; the remaining towns of Dalmatia surrender to Venice.
The settlement of Malamocco on the Venice Lido is submerged as a result of an exceptional storm surge.
Portuguese forces under Countess Theresa take two Galician cities, Tui and Ourense. In reply, the sister of Theresa, Queen Urraca, attacks Portugal.
Almoravid troops conquer the Balearic islands, whose Moorish rulers have been severely weakened by Pisan and Catalan raiders.

The Welsh under King Gruffydd ap Rhys of Deheubarth attack Llandovery Castle, but are defeated. Gruffydd also attacks Swansea Castle and destroys the outer walls.

The Zirid ruler of Ifriqiya, Ali ibn Yahya, conquers the island of Jerba, then acting as an independent piratical republic.

Aak music is introduced to the Korean court, through a large gift of 428 musical instruments as well as 572 costumes and ritual dance objects from China, by Emperor Huizong of the Song dynasty.

Construction starts on the Chennakeshava Temple commissioned by King Vishnuvardhana at Belur in India.
The monastery and cathedral at Peterborough in England are destroyed by fire.