1077

By place

Byzantine Empire

• Fall - Nikephoros Bryennios, governor of the Theme of Dyrrhachium in the western Balkans, and Nikephoros Botaneiates, a general of the Theme of Anatolics, are proclaimed emperors by their troops. Emperor Michael VII offers Bryennios the title of caesar if he submits to his rule, but Bryennios refuses. He sets out from Dyrrhachium, and marches towards Constantinople.

  Europe

• January 25 - Walk to Canossa: Emperor Henry IV travels to the Castle of Canossa near Reggio Emilia, to visit Pope Gregory VII. He waits at the gates for three days, for absolution of his excommunication. Gregory lifts the sentence, imposing on Henry a vow to comply with certain conditions.
• King Alfonso VI reaches an agreement with his brother Sancho Ramírez, who is elected as king of Navarre. Alfonso annexes the territories of Álava, part of Gipuzkoa and La Bureba, he is crowned and adopts the title of Imperator totius Hispaniae.
• April 3 - Henry IV grants the County of Friuli to Sigaerd of Beilstein, patriarch of Aquileia. He creates the first Parliament, representing the communes as well the nobility and clergy.
• Hugh I, duke of Burgundy, supports Sancho Ramírez in his conquest of the Castle of Muñones from Emir Ahmad al-Muqtadir, who rules the Taifa of Zaragoza.
• King Mihailo I is given the title "King of the Slavs" by Gregory VII. He becomes the first recognized ruler of the kingdom of Duklja.

  England

• Robert II instigates his first insurrection against his father, King William I, in Normandy.
• The first recorded trial by combat is held between Wulfstan and Walter.
• August 14 - A fire destroys much of London.

  Seljuk Empire

• Suleiman ibn Qutulmish, a cousin of late Sultan Alp Arslan, consolidates his leadership over the Oghuz Turks and founds the Sultanate of Rum.
• Anushtegin Gharchai becomes governor of Khwarezm and a vassal of the Seljuk Empire.

  Africa

• The Almoravids complete the conquest of the Ghana Empire, and reach Spain.

  By topic

Arts

• The Bayeux Tapestry is completed, probably in England, possibly to unveil at the dedication of Bayeux Cathedral this year.

  Religion

• September 1 - Pope Gregory VII appoints Landulf as bishop of Pisa. He makes him permanent legate of the Holy See in Corsica.
• Paul of Caen is installed as abbot of St. Albans in England. He commences the building of St. Albans Abbey Church.
• Pope Christodolos ends his reign as leader of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria.