1001-1020 A.D.
In 1007, Peter Damian was born, and the Church is so grateful that it has named him both a saint and a Doctor of the Church. His talents were certainly needed. At a time when much corruption stained the faith, Peter Damian was a reformer. He began by re-organizing a monastery and then turned his attention to the Church at large, working with both the papacy and the emperor on such projects as restoring morality to the clergy. For his efforts, the Benedictine priest was named a cardinal -- against his will. Through his writings (letters, sermons, essays, prayers and hymns) and the impressive force of his personality, Peter Damian left a positive mark on the Church he loved as it entered a new millennium.
Elsewhere in time
Edward the Confessor born...Muslims sack Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem...Canute rules
England...Germany and Poland begin war that lasts 15 years...Olaf II restores Christianity
to Norway...
1021-1040 A.D.
A layman one day; pope the next. That's the story of John XIX, who led the Church from 1024 to 1033. He came from such a distinguished family that his brother was also a pontiff, Benedict VIII. When Benedict died, Romanus claimed the title of Head of the Church as an inheritance. In the span of one day, he was ordained a priest, cardinal and pope. He crowned Conrad II emperor and charged men money to become members of the hierarchy. On the positive side, John XIX supported the Cluniac reform, named for a city in France from which a monastic movement spread. (By the way, while three more popes would be named John, there is no Pope John XX, a title that was skipped through earlier confusion in counting pontiffs.)
Elsewhere in time
Eric the Saint, king of Sweden, dies; so does Robert the Devil, duke of Normandy...St.
Vitus' Dance epidemics sweep Europe...Omar Khayyam, Persian poet, born...King Canute dies,
and his kingdom is split into England, Norway and Denmark...Macbeth murders Duncan...
1041-1060 A.D.
In the centuries after Christ's birth, a gulf slowly widened between the east, represented by Constantinople, and the west, represented by Rome. Politically, a split occurred in the Roman Empire when two emperors were crowned. In the Church, the division, known as the Eastern Schism, evolved as different liturgies and interpretations of doctrine developed. The separation grew over several centuries, but the final break is generally dated to 1054 and to an argument over a single Latin word -- "filioque" -- in the Creed. When the Pope and Patriarch of Constantinople condemned each other, a parting began that continues to this day.
Elsewhere in time
Popes Gregory VI and Benedict IX deposed...Clement II elected to head Church...Normans invade England...Construction begins on Westminster Abbey...Macbeth murdered...rule established to limit electors of pope to cardinals...
1061-1080 A.D.
If you were throwing a party in the 11th century, you didn't invite Pope Gregory VII and Emperor Henry IV -- unless you wanted a good argument. One dispute involved who had the authority to name bishops. Henry claimed that he did and summoned a council of German bishops who deposed the Pope. In response, Gregory excommunicated the Emperor. Henry said he was sorry but didn't mean it, so Gregory re-excommunicated him -- and deposed him. In reaction, the German bishops re-deposed the Pope and elected someone to replace him. Henry marched on Rome, forcing Gregory to flee. Their dispute left the Church in turmoil for years with conflicting popes claiming authority.
Elsewhere in time
Cathedral at Pisa constructed...Edward the Confessor dies...Battle of Hastings fought; William the Conqueror crowned...comet appears that will eventually bear Halley's name...married priests excommunicated...Peter Abelard born...
1081-1100 A.D.
Islam quickly spread throughout the Middle East, including many of the holy cities of
Judaism and Christianity. The thought of Jerusalem itself being in the control of
'infidels' -- Arabs and Turks -- disturbed many, including Pope Urban II. He promised
complete remission of sins to anyone who joined in a crusade to return Jerusalem to
Christian hands. (The word 'crusade' comes from a French root meaning 'taking the cross.')
Led by Peter the Hermit, bands of people -- some of them unarmed -- set off to rescue such
holy places as Christ's sepulchre. In 1099, Jerusalem fell to the invading crusaders. More
crusades would follow in succeeding centuries as power was seized and lost.
Elsewhere in time
Domesday Book compiled...William the Conqueror dies...Chinese construct mechanical clock
that runs on water power...Spain expels Moors...Middle English supplants Old English...
1101-1120 A.D.
St. Anselm of Canterbury was one of the most intellectual men of his times, so much so
that he is a Doctor of the Church. But he is widely forgotten today. Born in northern
Italy and educated in France, Anselm ended up in England as archbishop of Canterbury. He
was an avid leader in Church reform, a fierce defender of Church rights against state
control, an innovator in theological study and a writer on such topics as the existence of
God, the meaning of truth and the sinlessness of Jesus. Called the Father of
Scholasticism, Anselm died in 1109 and was canonized less than 60 years later.
Elsewhere in time
Miracle plays written...Emperor Henry V excommunicated...St. Bernard named abbot of
Clairvaux...Thomas a Becket born...
1121-1140 A.D.
The next time you dig in your garden or plow your fields, think of Isidore, a Spaniard who
became a tenant farmer on a wealthy man's estate. He had the intelligence or good luck to
marry another saint-to-be: Maria de la Cabeza. Their only child died at an early age, and
the couple devoted themselves to farming. That included tending to farmyard animals.
Sometimes, Isidore the Farmer is called Isidore the Husbandman, indicating that he knew
something about procreating chicks and ducks and geese. Isidore died in 1130 and became
the patron saint of farming (and of his birthplace, Madrid). His feast day is May 15.
Elsewhere in time
Frederick Barbarossa born...Omar Khayyam, Persian poet, dies...Church council removes
permission of priests to marry in Latin rite...troubadours appear...Moses Maimonides
born...
1141-1160 A.D.
In 1154, Nicholas Breakspear was elected pope. If that sounds strange to you, it's easy to
explain why: His name wasn't Italian, and neither was he. The son of a lower-class clerk,
Nicholas was an Englishman, the only person from that nation to serve as pope. He took the
name Hadrian (or Adrian) IV. As a young man, Nicholas rose quickly in the Church because
of his intelligence and foresight. He was an abbot, bishop of Ostia in Italy and a papal
diplomat who dealt with Scandinavia. During his pontificate, the term 'vicar of Christ'
came into use as a synonym for pope. As a skilled administrator, he guided the Church
through difficult times and is regarded as one of the best popes ever.
Elsewhere in time
Abelard dies...Second Crusade begins...city of Moscow mentioned for first time...rulers
include Albert the Bear and Eric the Saint...Chinese use explosives in war...chess arrives
in England...Carmelites founded...
1161-1180 A.D.
Born in France in 1140, St. Hugh of Lincoln was a scholar and priest of such repute that
King Henry II -- partly to assuage his conscience, heavy with the murder of Thomas a
Becket -- picked him out for special assignments. Soon, Hugh was building churches and
monasteries, defending the faith and establishing schools, caring for lepers and defending
Jews from persecution, dispensing justice to the downtrodden and becoming a model of
Christian zeal. His renown was such that when he died in London in 1200, three kings and
three bishops were his pall-bearers. His feast is November 17.
Elsewhere in time
Thomas a Becket elected archbishop of Canterbury, quarrels with King Henry II, is murdered
and canonized...Charlemagne canonized; rules for canonization revised (Charlemagne would
later be demoted)...Saladin rules Middle East...
1181-1200 A.D.
How many clues do you need to name this saint? He was born in 1195 in Portugal but bears
the name of an Italian city. He was a Franciscan. He was a Doctor of the Church. He was a
contemporary and friend of St. Francis of Assisi. You call on him when you misplace your
car keys or reading glasses. You must have guessed his name by now. He's St. Anthony of
Padua, known in his time as an expert in Scripture, a powerful preacher and theologian to
the newly founded Franciscan order. In our times, he's celebrated as the Finder of Lost
Objects, the saint to whom we pray when we've lost something valuable or important.
Elsewhere in time
Francis of Assisi born...Saladin conquers Jerusalem...China exports tea to Japan...Richard
the Lionhearted imprisoned; Robin Hood legends begin...Cambridge University founded...
1201-1220 A.D.
John Bernadone is one of the most universally beloved Catholic saints. Never heard of him?
That's because he's known to the world as Francis of Assisi. His feast day, October 4, is
celebrated around the world, but that didn't seem possible in his youth when he lived a
dissolute life. The plight of the forgotten and suffering, however, captured his soul, and
he literally shed his luxuriant garments to take on the clothing of the poorest people in
town. Then he traveled wherever he could, preaching the love of God and the beauty of
creation. Often portrayed as a simple-minded tree-hugger, Francis was in fact a tough,
committed and determined man who battled shipwrecks and the Church hierarchy to have his
way.
Elsewhere in time
Fourth Crusade underway...court jesters appear...Genghis Khan gains power over Mongols,
invades China...Moses Maimonides dies...St. Elizabeth of Hungary born...Dominicans
founded...
1221-1240 A.D.
Pontiffs and emperors had been battling for centuries, but the conflict between Pope
Gregory IX and Emperor Frederick II must hold some kind of record for discord. When the
king didn't keep a promise to support a crusade, for example, Gregory excommunicated him,
which he would do at least two more times. Frederick called the Pope 'that wickedness
seated on the throne of the Lord,' while Gregory called the king 'a monster of calumny.'
So Frederick amended his epithet to term the Pope 'a Pharisee seated on the chair of
pestilence, anointed with the oil of wickedness.' With that, he invaded the Vatican and
imprisoned every bishop he could find. This enmity ended only when Gregory died in 1241.
Elsewhere in time
Mongols invade Russia...Francis of Assisi dies and is canonized two years later...Genghis
Khan dies and isn't canonized...Bible-reading by laymen forbidden by Inquisition of
Toulouse...leprosy returns with Crusaders to Europe...
1241-1260 A.D.
How much do you know about St. Thomas Aquinas, one of the most famous and influential men
in Church history? Take this quiz: In what country was he born? In what unusual way did
one of his five sisters die? What religious order did he belong to? What two special
titles does he hold? What is his most famous work? The answers: Italy; struck by
lightning; Dominicans; Doctor of the Church and the Angelic Doctor; the 'Summa
Theologiae.' St. Thomas' contributions to the intellectual life of the Church are
uncountable. He offered proofs for the existence of God; he married Aristotle to
Christianity; he synthesized theology; he linked faith and reason. For his efforts, he is
widely regarded in the Church as its most outstanding example of a saint-scholar.
Elsewhere in time
Pope Celestine IV rules for 17 days...Roger Bacon flourishes...construction of Cologne
Cathedral begins; it still stands...Kublai Khan assumes control of Mongols...Marco Polo
born...Meister Eckhart born...
1261-1280 A.D.
Imagine going three years without a pope. Now imagine having four popes in less than two
years. Both happened during this 20-year period of history. In 1268, when Pope Clement IV
died, the cardinals met to elect his successor. And met. And met. When they delayed
further, the roof was lifted off the papal palace to expose them to the weather and they
were threatened with starvation. Finally, they chose Gregory X. When he died in 1276, the
cardinals wasted no time, electing Innocent V in 11 days. But he reigned only six months.
His successor, Hadrian V, made it only 37 days. Then came John XXI, a physician who
literally had the roof fall in on him after eight months in office. The fourth pope
elected in about 22 months was Nicholas III. He endured the longest of the four, but still
ruled for only two years.
Elsewhere in time
Dante born...Aztecs enter Mexico...Eighth Crusade underway...Tannheuser dies...Marco Polo
visits China...Thomas Aquinas dies...Albertus Magnus dies...
1281-1300 A.D.
As the 13th century ended, an Era of Reluctant Popes occurred as back-to-back pontiffs had
second thoughts about heading the Church. In 1288, a Franciscan friar named Girolamo Masci
was elected pope, the first member of his order to reach the Seat of Peter. But his first
instinct was to decline the honor, so the cardinals re-assembled -- and re-elected him.
This time, he accepted, becoming Nicholas IV. But his reign was remarkably ineffectual,
and it took more than two years to choose his successor. A Benedictine hermit who was in
his mid-80s issued a warning to the cardinals that God would punish them if they didn't
act soon. So they elected the hermit -- Celestine V. But he soon realized he wasn't the
man for the job and resigned after only five months as pope.
Elsewhere in time
'Lohengrin' written by anonymous author...last of Crusades held...Roger Bacon and Kubla
Khan die...Cimabue paints religious art...Pope Boniface VIII declares 1300 as Jubilee
Year...
View information for the years:
1001-1300 A.D.
761-1000 A.D.
561-760 A.D.
441-560 A.D.
321 - 440 A.D.
0 - 320 A.D..
