1058
Robert Guiscard proclaimed Duke of Apulia
The sixth of the Hauteville brothers, a red-bearded Norman who had started out robbing pilgrims, was recognized as Count of Apulia by his fellow adventurers. Within a decade Pope Nicholas II would formally invest him with the duchy, turning the Norman freebooters into legitimate lords of southern Italy. His transformation from brigand to duke was one of the most remarkable social ascents in medieval history.
Shin Arahan Spreads Theravada Buddhism at Pagan
The Mon monk Shin Arahan, who had first arrived at Pagan around 1056, deepened his influence over King Anawrahta's court, teaching Theravada orthodoxy in place of the local Ari Buddhism with its tantra-inflected rituals. Anawrahta, freshly enriched by Thaton's plundered libraries, now had both the doctrine and the texts. Pagan began its transformation into one of Southeast Asia's great centers of Buddhist learning and temple construction.
Song Dynasty Expands Maritime Trade from Guangzhou
The Song court's Maritime Trade Superintendency at Guangzhou oversaw a boom in seaborne commerce, as Chinese junks loaded with silk, porcelain, and lacquerware sailed for Southeast Asian and Indian Ocean ports. Foreign merchants - Arab, Persian, Indian, Malay - crowded the city's designated quarter. The customs revenues pouring into Song coffers made the empire's southern coast as strategically vital as its perpetually threatened northern frontier.
Almoravids Capture Awdaghust at the Sahara's Southern Edge
Having already seized Sijilmasa in the north, the Almoravids struck south to capture Awdaghust, the key trading town at the Sahara's opposite margin. With both termini of the trans-Saharan gold route now in their hands, the Almoravid movement controlled the most lucrative overland trade corridor in the medieval world. Gold, salt, and slaves moved under their authority; Islam traveled with the caravans.
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Frequently asked
What happened in the year 1058?
Saeculum lists 4 curated events from 1058. The most significant is Robert Guiscard proclaimed Duke of Apulia: The sixth of the Hauteville brothers, a red-bearded Norman who had started out robbing pilgrims, was recognized as Count of Apulia by his fellow adventurers.
What era was 1058 part of?
1058 falls within the High Middle Ages (1000-1300). Crusades, cathedrals, and the slow waking of Europe.
Which regions saw notable events in 1058?
The curated events from 1058 span Europe, Southeast Asia, East Asia and Africa.