1046
Fan Zhongyan writes the Yueyang Tower essay
In exile at a provincial post, the reformer-official composed his famous essay on the Yueyang Tower, declaring that a true scholar should 'be the first to worry about the world's troubles and the last to enjoy its pleasures.' The line became the most quoted expression of Confucian public duty in the Chinese language, memorized by every schoolchild for a thousand years.
Synod of Sutri deposes three popes
Henry III marched into Italy and called a synod at Sutri that deposed the three rival claimants to the papacy, installed his German candidate as Clement II, and was himself crowned emperor on Christmas Day. The intervention turned the papal reform movement in a direction that would later turn against him.
Pagan Empire consolidates in the Irrawaddy valley
King Anawrahta continued his unification of the Burmese heartland, subduing rival chieftains along the Irrawaddy and establishing Theravada Buddhism as the state religion. Mon monks from the south brought Pali scriptures and architectural traditions that would inspire the construction of thousands of brick temples across the Pagan plain in the coming centuries.
Earthquake strikes Tabriz in Persia
A powerful earthquake devastated the city of Tabriz in northwestern Persia, destroying mosques, bazaars, and residential quarters and killing tens of thousands. The disaster disrupted trade along the northern Silk Road routes and forced the city's reconstruction under Seljuk patronage, reshaping the urban landscape of one of the Islamic world's great commercial crossroads.
Want 1046 in context? Print the whole 11th century as a one-sheet timeline chart.
Frequently asked
What happened in the year 1046?
Saeculum lists 4 curated events from 1046. The most significant is Fan Zhongyan writes the Yueyang Tower essay: In exile at a provincial post, the reformer-official composed his famous essay on the Yueyang Tower, declaring that a true scholar should 'be the first…
What era was 1046 part of?
1046 falls within the High Middle Ages (1000-1300). Crusades, cathedrals, and the slow waking of Europe.
Which regions saw notable events in 1046?
The curated events from 1046 span East Asia, Europe, Southeast Asia and Middle East.