Year 1094 (MXCIV): A Year of Significant Events
Year 1094 was a common year starting on Sunday according to the Julian calendar.
Events
By Place
Byzantine Empire
In Spring, Emperor Alexios I Komnenos dispatched a Byzantine expeditionary force under General Tatikios to recapture the city of Nicaea from the Seljuk Turks. However, the arrival of Barkiyaruq‘s army halted the Byzantines. Faced with a lack of supplies, the Seljuk Turks were forced to retreat after Alexios sent reinforcements. The Seljuk governor of Nicaea, Abu’l-Qasim, was defeated, leading to a truce with Alexios.
Europe
In May, El Cid (Rodrigo Diaz de Vivar) completed his conquest of Valencia in Al-Andalus (modern-day Spain) and initiated his rule there in the name of King Alfonso VI, while the Almoravid campaign to reclaim the city ultimately failed.
From May to June, Duncan, son of the late King Malcolm III of Scotland, amassed a substantial army, primarily composed of Anglo-Normans from England, to challenge his uncle Donald III (“the Fair”) for the Scottish throne. Duncan was crowned king at Scone.
On July 28, the death of William Bertrand resulted in the inheritance of his margravial title of Provence by Raymond IV (“Saint-Gilles”), who became Count of Toulouse until 1105.
On November 12, Donald III mobilized his forces and killed Duncan II in battle in the Scottish Lowlands, regaining the Scottish throne.
Fatimid Egypt
Following the death of Caliph al-Mustansir Billah, his son-in-law and vizier Al-Afdal orchestrated a coup, declaring al-Musta’li, a younger son of al-Mustansir, as the new Caliph while Nizar, the designated heir, fled to Alexandria.
Eastern Islamic World
On February 3, Caliph al-Muqtadi of Baghdad passed away and was succeeded by his nominated heir Ahmad (al-Mustazhir). In October, Seljuk sultan Mahmud I died after a brief two-year reign and was succeeded by his brother Barkiyaruq.
By Topic
Religion
On May 15, the Cathedral of St. Agatha in Catania (Sicily) was consecrated by the Breton abbot Ansger. On October 8, Doge Vitale Faliero consecrated the new Basilica of San Marco in Venice. Additionally, King Ladislaus I of Hungary established a diocese in Zagreb, while Al-Musta’li became the nineteenth imam of Musta’li Ismailism.
Notable Births
- January 14 – Eudokia Komnene, Byzantine princess (d. 1129)
- Approximate date – Abd al-Mu’min, Almohad caliph
- Approximate date – Ibn Zuhr (Avenzoar), Moorish physician (d. 1162)
- Approximate date – Malachy, Irish archbishop and saint (d. 1148)
- Approximate date – Richard d’Avranches, 2nd Earl of Chester (d. 1120)
- Approximate date – Yelü Dashi, founder of the Qara Khitai (d. 1143)
Notable Deaths
- January 10 – Al-Mustansir Billah, Fatimid caliph (b. 1029)
- February 3 – Al-Muqtadi, Abbasid caliph (b. 1056)
- June 2 – Nicholas the Pilgrim, Italian shepherd (b. 1075)
- June 4 – Sancho V, king of Aragon and Pamplona
- July 28 – William Bertrand, margrave of Provence
- October 14 – Bertha of Holland, French queen consort
- October – Mahmud I, sultan of the Seljuk Empire
- November 12 – Duncan II, king of Scotland
- November 12 – Abu Ali Fana-Khusrau, Buyid nobleman
- November 12 – Al-Bakri, Moorish historian and geographer
- November 12 – Aq Sunqur al-Hajib, Seljuk sultan of Aleppo
- November 12 – Badr al-Jamali, Fatimid vizier and statesman
- November 12 – Isaac Albalia, Andalusian Jewish astronomer (b. 1035)
- November 12 – Jonathan I, Italo-Norman count of Carinola
- November 12 – Michael of Avranches, Italian bishop
- November 12 – Roger de Beaumont, Norman nobleman
- November 12 – Roger de Montgomery, Norman nobleman
- November 12 – Terken Khatun, Seljuk empress and regent
- November 12 – William Fitzeustace, 1st Earl of Gloucester, Norman nobleman
- November 12 – Wulfnoth Godwinson, English nobleman