1003
Thorfinn Karlsefni sails for Vinland
An Icelandic merchant led sixty men and five women in three ships to establish a permanent colony in the lands Leif had found.
Sweyn Forkbeard invades England
Infuriated by the St. Brice's Day killings, the Danish king landed on the Wessex coast and burned his way through Wilton and Salisbury.
Rajaraja Chola conquers the Maldives
The Tamil emperor extended his maritime dominion southward, sending a fleet to seize the coral atolls of the Maldives and establish Chola authority…
Sweyn Forkbeard destroys Exeter
The Danish king's fleet sailed into the Exe estuary and took the old walled town with the help of a Norman reeve who betrayed the gates.
Want 1003 in context? Print the whole 11th century as a one-sheet timeline chart.
Frequently asked
What happened in the year 1003?
Saeculum lists 4 events from 1003. The most significant is Thorfinn Karlsefni sails for Vinland: An Icelandic merchant led sixty men and five women in three ships to establish a permanent colony in the lands Leif had found.
What era was 1003 part of?
1003 falls within the High Middle Ages (1000-1300). Crusades, cathedrals, and the slow waking of Europe.
Which regions saw notable events in 1003?
The events from 1003 span North America, Europe and South Asia.