1086

Pope Victor III (c. 1026–1087)

Events

October 23 – Battle of Sagrajas: Spanish forces under King Alfonso VI ("the Brave") of Castile are defeated by the Moors and their allies, the Almoravids, who have been invited to help on orders by Emir Al-Mu'tamid ibn Abbad.
Siege of Syracuse (1086) – Norman forces under Count Roger I ("Bosso") conquer Syracuse, the last Muslim stronghold in Sicily.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

August 1 – King William the Conqueror calls for a meeting at Old Sarum, where he invites his major vassals and tenants-in-chief to swear allegiance to him. This is known as the Oath of Salisbury.
The Domesday Book is completed. Drawn up on the orders of William I; it describes in detail the landholdings and resources in England.
The population in England is estimated to be 1.25 million citizens with 10% living in boroughs.<ref>W. G. Hoskins. The Making of the English Landscape. London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1955; also Pelican Books, 1970.</ref>

Summer – Suleiman ibn Qutulmish, ruler of the Turks in Rum, is killed by Emir Tutush I in the battle of Ain Salm near Antioch. Suleiman's 7-year-old son Kilij Arslan I is captured and transferred as hostage to Isfahan (modern Iran).<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
Sultan Malik-Shah I rebuilds the Imam Ali Mosque in Najaf (modern Iraq), after it was destroyed by fire.

May 24 – Pope Victor III succeeds Gregory VII as the 158th pope of the Catholic Church, though he does not accept election until 1087.