Feudalism (a caste system) is established where peasants (slaves)
are bound to a life of servitude by grinding obligations.

EUROPEAN & ASIAN HISTORY 1000 - 1499

EUROPEAN & ASIAN HISTORY Return to EUROPEAN & ASIA INDEX 500 - 999

EUROPEAN & ASIAN HISTORY Return to EUROPEAN & ASIA History

DIRECTORY Return to MAIN HISTORY index

Some refer to this period as the invaders of the Holy See.
The French consider the papacy as having lost all moral and spiritual authority.

980  

Vladimir I (d-1015) the illegitimate son Sviatoslav established himself as the sole ruler of Kiev (Russia).  Like his predecessor he engaged in ceaseless warfare.  He introduced the Christian faith into Russia.

981  

Erik the Red (Erik Thorvaldsson), a habitual Viking criminal, his father had previously been banished from Norway, sailed from Iceland under a three year banishment order for Gunnbjorn land (Greenland).  Earlier Gunnbjorn Ulf Kragesson was storm-driven to Greenland and Snaebjorn Hog had discovered a grave of previous voyages to Greenland.  Between 932 and 981 the Viking made many voyages to Greenland.

Erik started out with 25 ships, arrived with 14 ships and 450 settlers establishing two colonies, one at Eriksford the other at Eriksey.  Erik was probably in search of Aris, his kinsmen and with intent to raid the Westman settlements.  Some of the Westman are semi-religious, starving hermits who mortify their flesh.  The Viking called these people Papas.  Erik discovered Celtic habitation but no people.  They apparently fled, either back to Ireland or further west that is the more probable option.  The Celts declining use of European materials suggest most fled west to Canada.  The following year Erik explores the west coast of Greenland north to cape Burnil then crosses Davis strait and explores Cumberland peninsula of Baffin Island.  They collected walrus ivory for trade.

983  

Erik wintered on the island of Hulm near Cape Burnil where much driftwood can be found.  He explores up the Greenland coast to Greenstrups Glacier.  In 984 Erik returns to Eriksey and winters, then in the following spring he returns to Iceland.

984  

Boniface VII (974-985) bishop of the duchy of Rome returned to Rome and imprisoned John XIV (983-984) bishop of the duchy of Rome, had him deposed and eventually murdered in the Castle Sant'Angelo.

Boniface VII (974-985) bishop of the duchy of Rome died in the act of adultery at the hands of an enraged husband.  Ancient lists include him as a bishop of Rome a later listing records him as an anti-bishop of Rome.  John XIV (983-984) of Pava is appointed bishop of the duchy of Rome by Emperor Otto (973-983) without consulting the Roman clergy or people.  Boniface VII (974-985) bishop of the duchy of Rome living in Constantinople excommunicated John XIV duchy of Rome (anti-bishop of Rome).  Cardinal Baronius called the pontiffs of this period invaders of the Holy See, less apostles than apostates.

985  

Erik returned to Eriksfiord and named the land Greenland.  Twelve chieftains are established, widely spaced up different fjords.  In the autumn one final ship arrived, Herjolf and he established a prime trading port not far north of cape Farewell.  In late summer Bjarni Herjolfsson sailed for Greenland to meet up with his father Herjolf.  A storm drove him off course to Newfoundland.  The land is heavily forested with no ice-covered mountains, therefore it was definitely not Greenland.  Bjarni reckoned he was 800 nautical miles south west of Greenland.  Bjarni sailed north and recorded no signs of human habitation.  Bjarni cleared cape St. Francis and encountered Labrador.  The next land sighting was Kaumajet peninsula of northern Labrador.  They then sailed due east for Greenland.

Boniface VII (974-985) bishop of Rome is smothered to death.  John XV (985-996) a Roman son of a priest is elected bishop of Rome.  The bishop of Rome aligned with the nobility and alienated himself from his clergy.  The French Bishops are acting independent of Rome being convinced that the papacy had lost all moral or spiritual authority.

986  

The Russians, in search of a religion, contact Muslim missionaries from Khwarezm, but decide not to adopt Islam.  By 988 the Russians adopt Orthodox Christianity. 

987  

The Greeks entered Antioch after a three century absence.  The Viking of Dublin, Ireland are selling slaves in the South of Spain.

Hugh Capet (987-906) is elected King of the Western Franks that had evolved into a Feudal Society.  Feudalism first emerged in Burgundy central France and the German Rhineland.  In England, Northern Italy, Spain, and Central Germany Feudalism assumed a special form; beyond those frontiers, in Scandinavia and Byzantium, they never sank deep roots.  Feudalism is a European term for a Caste system.  The peasantry are slaves being bound to a life of servitude by grinding obligations.  The slave is considered a beast of burden with a host of duties and few rights.

988  

Vladimir I of Kiev, Russia according to legend examined the faith of the Jews, Mohammedians, Roman Catholics and Christian Orthodox Sects before embracing the Christian Orthodox sect.  The Eastern Church had a closer contact with the original faith and preserved Christianity in its purest form.  The Roman Church had gone its own way adopting a more materialist aspect.  Vladimir I of Russia converted to Christian Orthodox Church and he organized a general christening of his subjects in 990.  Many would be baptized by force.  He chose his wife from Byzance the sister of the Emperor.  He claimed supreme authority over the church and promoted the autonomy of the Russian Orthodox Church.

991  

The synod of Saint Basle, Verzy established that papal approval is not required for a synod to dispose a bishop.

993  

The synod of Chelles proclaimed that a bishop of Rome who transgressed the decrees of the fathers is no better than a heretic.  John XV (985-996) bishop of Rome would be driven from office in 995 for transgressions.

995  

Lief Ericksson, son of Erik the Red, is determined to visit Bjarni land to obtain lumber and continue searching for the Westman colony.  He bought Gjarni's ship and set sail with 35 men, visiting Helluland meaning flat-stone land (now Baffin island), Markland meaning woodland (Labrador) and Vineland meaning wine berry (probably Trinity bay Newfoundland) where he spent the winter.  Contact between the Viking, Dorsek or Beothuk of Newfoundland is not recorded in this visit.  Others contend Epaves Bay (L'Anse Au Meadows) which is actually Meduse Bay was the first wintering site however this does not appear to be a main Viking settlement.  When Lief returned from Vineland the following year he discovered a ship wrecked crew of 15 Germanic-Norwegian traders led by Thorer and he returned them to Greenland.

996  

Gregory V (996-999) a Germanic is appointed bishop of Rome by Emperor Otto III (996-1002).  Gregory is a relative of Otto being the son of his cousin Duke Otto of Cartintha a priest.  The Romans led by Crescentius II resented any foreign bishop of Rome in their land and revolted driving the bishop from Rome.   The bishopery of Rome is considered a political position not the Chair of St. Peter or Paul.

997  

John XVI alias John Philagathos (997-998) a Greek is elected bishop of Rome but is immediately excommunicated by Gregory V bishop of Rome.

998  

Emperor Zhenzong of China reigned (998-1022) in The Northern Song.

Emperor Otto marched on Rome.  Gregory V (996-999) bishop of Rome is restored by force to Rome.  The revolutionary leaders are mutilated, deposed imprisoned or killed.  He excommunicated King Robert II of France who married his own cousin Bertha.

999  

Emperor Otto III (980-1002) a Germanic-Saxon of the Holy Empire installed his mentor Gerbert as Silvester II alias Gerbert (999-1003) as the first French bishop of Rome.  This bishop would be deposed after the Emperors death in 1002.  Romans can not accept a foreign bishop of Rome.  Silvester II (99901003) denounced simony (buying and selling of offices) and nepotism (biases toward family members while in office), called for celibacy and insisted on free elections of abbots by monks.

Some claim that the Bishop of Rome never once on his own special authority pronounced upon any doctrinal point addressed to the Roman Catholic World.  He did not interfere between bishops and his flock in ordinary diocesan affairs or collect money except within his own immediate Episcopal jurisdiction.
 
Back to Top