1045

Events

January 20 – Pope Sylvester III becomes the 146th pope, succeeding Benedict IX, who abdicated during the previous year.<ref name=Sylvester>Template:Cite web</ref>
January 23 – Edward the Confessor, King of England, marries Edith of Wessex (daughter of Earl Godwin) and she is crowned queen consort at Winchester.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> This year also in England, Edward begins construction of Westminster Abbey.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
February – Pope Sylvester III is deposed (election deemed invalid); Pope Benedict IX is elected once more, becoming the 147th pope.<ref name=Sylvester />
February 5 – Emperor Go-Reizei ascends the throne of Japan.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
May 5 – Pope Gregory VI becomes the 148th pope, following the resignation of Pope Benedict IX in exchange for money. There are growing allegations that simony is taking place during Gregory VI's reign.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Movable type printing is invented by Bi Sheng in China.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
The Qingli Reforms, put forth by the Chinese statesman Fan Zhongyan in 1043,<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> are halted by their conservative ministerial peers, but will later influence reform efforts under Wang Anshi.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
The Bagratid Kingdom of Armenia is surrendered to the Eastern Roman Empire, ending the Kingdom.

Huang Tingjian, famous Chinese calligrapher, painter and poet (d. 1105)<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
Approximate date
- Margaret, queen consort of Scotland (d. 1093)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Robert of Arbrissel (d. 1116), Bretonic preacher and founder of Fontevraud Abbey<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
- Stephen, Count of Blois (d. 1102)<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

February 7 – Emperor Go-Suzaku of Japan (b. 1009)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
May 27 – Bruno of Würzburg, imperial chancellor of Italy (b. c. 1005)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
June 27 – Hemma of Gurk, Austrian religious founder and countess (b. 980)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Radbot, Count of Habsburg (b. 985)<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
Approximate date – Maria Skleraina, Byzantine Imperial political adviser