Editing 1081 (section)

== Events ==
<onlyinclude>

=== By place ===

==== Byzantine Empire ====
* [[April 1]] &ndash; Emperor [[Nikephoros III Botaneiates|Nikephoros III]] is forced to abdicate the throne, and retires to the [[Church of St. George of Samatya|Peribleptos]] monastery. He is succeeded by [[Alexios I Komnenos]], who is crowned on [[April 5]], as ruler of the [[Byzantine Empire]]. His brother-in-law [[Nikephoros Melissenos]] supports Alexios as new emperor, in exchange for the title of ''[[Caesar (title)|Caesar]]'' (co-emperor), and is appointed as commander of the Byzantine armies in the West.<ref>Brian Todd Carey (2012). ''Road to Manzikert: Byzantine and Islamic Warfare (527–1071)'', p. 158. {{ISBN|978-1-84884-215-1}}.</ref>
* [[May]] &ndash; A Norman fleet of 150 ships (including 60 [[Horse transports in the Middle Ages|horse transports]]), led by Duke [[Robert Guiscard]], sets off towards the [[Dalmatia]]n coast. An army of 15,000 men (including about 1,300 Norman knights) sails to the city of [[Vlorë|Avalona]] (modern [[Albania]]); they are joined by several ships from [[Republic of Ragusa|Ragusa]], a republic in the [[Balkans]] who are enemies of the Byzantines.<ref>Norwich, John Julius (1995). ''Byzantium: The Decline and Fall'', p. 16. London, United Kingdom: Viking. {{ISBN|0-670-82377-5}}.</ref>
* [[October 18]] &ndash; [[Battle of Dyrrhachium (1081)|Battle of Dyrrhachium]]: After taking the island of [[Corfu]], Robert Guiscard advances to Dyrrhachium (modern-day [[Durrës]]), and lays siege to the city. Alexios I Komnenos attempts to defend [[Illyria]] from the [[Normans]] (the first recorded mention of Albania), but is defeated by Guiscard, outside Dyrrhachium, the Byzantine capital city of Illyria.

==== Europe ====
* King [[Alfonso VI of León and Castile|Alfonso VI]] ("the Brave") of [[Kingdom of Castile|Castile]] exiles his most famous commander, [[El Cid]], who goes into [[exile]] and offers his services to the twins – Counts [[Ramon Berenguer II, Count of Barcelona|Ramon Berenguer II]] and [[Berenguer Ramon II, Count of Barcelona|Berenguer Ramon II]] of [[County of Barcelona|Barcelona]], but is turned down. He ends up in the service of Emir [[Yusuf al-Mu'taman ibn Hud]] of [[Taifa of Zaragoza|Zaragoza]].
* King [[Mihailo Vojislavljević|Mihailo]] ("[[King of the Slavs]]") dies after a 30-year reign. He is succeeded by his son, [[Constantine Bodin]] as ruler of [[Duklja]] (until [[1101]]).

==== Britain ====
* [[Battle of Mynydd Carn]] (near [[St Davids]] in [[Wales]]): [[Gruffudd ap Cynan]] in alliance with [[Rhys ap Tewdwr]], prince of [[Deheubarth]], defeats the forces of [[Trahaearn ap Caradog]], [[Caradog ap Gruffydd]] and Meilir ap Rhiwallon (who are all killed), allowing Gruffudd to claim the [[Kingdom of Gwynedd]].<ref>{{cite book|author=The Welsh Academy|title=[[Encyclopaedia of Wales]]}}</ref>
* King [[William the Conqueror]] of England orders the creation of a castle at [[Cardiff]] during his tour of southern Wales. The first castle on the site would be a [[Motte-and-bailey castle|motte and bailey]] type and is built on existing Roman fortifications.

==== Seljuk Empire ====
* Seljuk emir [[Tzachas]] (or Chaka Bey) conquers [[Smyrna]] (modern-day [[İzmir]]) and founds a short-lived independent state, which emerges as the first sea power in [[History of Turkey|Turkish history]].

=== By topic ===

==== Religion ====
* [[Pope Gregory VII]] writes a letter to Hermann, bishop of [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Metz|Metz]], about the behavior of [[Henry IV, Holy Roman Emperor]] (approximate date).
* Construction begins on [[St. Canute's Cathedral]] in [[Odense]] (modern [[Denmark]]).</onlyinclude>