What Happened in 1054

Major Events

  • Mar 12 Pope Leo IX escapes captivity & returns to Rome
  • Jul 4 Brightest known supernova SN 1054 (creates the Crab Nebula) 1st reported by Chinese astronomers
  • Jul 16 Beginning of the Great Schism between Western and Eastern churches when Roman Cardinal Humbert issues bull of excommunication against Cerularius, Patriarch of Constantinople, on the altar of the Hagia Sophia, Constantinople
  • Jul 17 Holy Roman Emperor Henry III crowns his son Henry IV king
  • Jul 20 Patriarch of Constantinople Michael Caerularius, as head of a Synod held in Constantinople excommunicates Cardinal Humbert of the Western church (Rome)

Who Died in 1054

  • Feb 20 Yaroslav I, the Wise, ruler of Kiev, dies
  • Apr 19 Pope Leo IX [Bruno, Graf von Egisheim und Dagsburg], Catholic Church's 151st pope (1049-54), dies at 51
  • Jul 19 Bernold[us] Benno/Bernulphus, bishop of Utrecht (1027-54)/saint, dies
  • Sep 24 Hermann of Reichenau [Hermannus Contractus], German Benedictine monk and scholar, dies at 41