1056

Coin of Emperor Michael VI "the Old", Byzantine emperor 1056–57

Events

August 31 – Empress Theodora (a sister of the former Empress Zoë) dies after a 18-month reign, by a sudden illness at Constantinople. She is succeeded by Michael VI Bringas ("the Old"), who had served as military finance minister under the former Emperor Romanos III. Michael is appointed through the influence of Leo Paraspondylos, Theodora's most trusted adviser. This ends the Macedonian dynasty.<ref>John Julius Norwich (1991). Byzantium: The Apogee – Michael the Aged, p. 327. Template:ISBN.</ref>
Theodosius, a nephew of the former Emperor Constantine IX, tries to usurp the Byzantine throne, and liberates all the prisoners who flock to his banner. With their support, he marches through the streets of Constantinople to the Palace. There, the Varangian Guard forms outside to stop him. Theodosius loses heart and heads for Hagia Sophia. Later he is captured, and exiled to Pergamon.

October 5 – Henry III, Holy Roman Emperor ("the Black") dies after a 10-year reign at Bodfeld, an imperial hunting lodge (Königspfalz) in the Harz Mountains. He is succeeded by his 5-year-old only son Henry IV as "king of the Germans" and enthroned by Pope Victor II (also a German) at Aachen – while his mother, Empress Agnes of Poitou, becomes co-regent.<ref>Jonathan Riley-Smith (2004). The New Cambridge Medieval History: Volume IV – Part II (c. 1024–c. 1198), p. 50. Template:ISBN.</ref>
Ottokar I, count of Steyr, becomes margrave of the Karantanian March (later known as Styria).

June 16 – In response to the attack on Hereford Cathedral in 1055, Leofgar the bishop of Hereford takes an army into Wales to deal with the Welsh prince Gruffydd ap Llywelyn. He along with a large number of English troops is killed in battle at Glasbury-on-Wye by the Welsh. Earl Harold Godwinson raises an army to take revenge, but comes to peaceful terms with Gruffydd.<ref>Fryde, E. B.; Greenway, D. E.; Porter, S.; Roy, I. (1996). Handbook of British Chronology, p. 217. Cambridge University Press. Template:ISBN.</ref>

The Pagoda of Fogong Temple at Shanxi in northern China is built during the Liao dynasty. Work begins on the Pizhi Pagoda of Lingyan Temple at Shandong under the opposing Song dynasty.
Dromtön, an Atiśa chief disciple, founds Reting Monastery in the Reting Tsangpo Valley (north of Lhasa) as the seat of Kadam lineage of Tibetan Buddhism.
The Muslims expel 300 Christians from Jerusalem, and European Christians are forbidden to enter the Church of the Holy Sepulcher.

February 10 – Æthelstan, English bishop of Hereford
February 11 – Herman II (or Heriman), archbishop of Cologne
June 16 – Leofgar (or Leovegard), English bishop of Hereford, killed in battle
August 31
- Odda of Deerhurst, English nobleman
- Theodora, empress regnant of the Byzantine Empire<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
September 10 – William, margrave of the Nordmark
October 5 – Henry III ("the Black"), Holy Roman Emperor (b. 1017)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
November 25 – Flann Mainistreach, Irish poet and historian
Áed Ua Forréid, bishop of Armagh (Church of Ireland)
Anselm of Liège, French chronicler (approximate date)
Benedict IX, pope of the Catholic Church (approximate date)
Ekkehard IV, Swiss monk and chronicler (approximate date)
Hilal al-Sabi', Buyid historian, bureaucrat and writer
Leo of Ohrid, Byzantine archbishop and theologian
Yahya ibn Umar al-Lamtuni, Almoravid chieftain