1044 facts for kids
| Millennium: | 2nd millennium |
|---|---|
| Centuries: | 10th century – 11th century – 12th century |
| Decades: | 1010s 1020s 1030s – 1040s – 1050s 1060s 1070s |
| Years: | 1041 1042 1043 – 1044 – 1045 1046 1047 |
The year 1044 (written as MXLIV in Roman numerals) was a leap year starting on Sunday in the Julian calendar. This means it had an extra day, February 29th, and started on a Sunday. Many important things happened around the world in 1044, including changes in leadership and new inventions.
Major Events of 1044
New Leaders and Popes
In 1044, there were important changes in leadership in different parts of the world.
- King Anawrahta became the new ruler of Pagan, a powerful kingdom in what is now Myanmar. He was a very important king who helped unite the country.
- Benedict IX decided to step down from his role as the leader of the Catholic Church. After him, Sylvester III became the new Pope. The Pope is a very important religious leader.
Amazing Chinese Inventions
During 1044, a very important book was created in China during the Song Dynasty.
- Scholars named Zeng Gongliang, Ding Du, and Yang Weide wrote a military book called the Wujing Zongyao. This book was like a guide for military strategies and weapons.
- It was the first book in history to include recipes for gunpowder. It also described how to use gunpowder in different types of bombs. These bombs could be thrown by hand or launched using a large machine called a trebuchet.
- The book also explained how to build a special flamethrower that used a double-piston pump. This allowed soldiers to spray fire at their enemies.
- Another cool invention described in the book was a compass that worked using heat. This was many years before Shen Kuo wrote about the first known magnetic mariner's compass.
- Even with all these new weapons, the Wujing Zongyao still showed great respect for the crossbow. It explained how skilled crossbowmen could stop charging groups of nomadic cavalrymen, who were soldiers on horseback.
Important Births in 1044
- Rodrigo Diaz de Vivar, who later became famous as El Cid, was born in 1044. He was a brave Spanish knight and military leader. He died in 1099.
Notable Deaths in 1044
- Gothelo I, Duke of Lotharingia passed away in 1044. He was a powerful duke in a region that is now part of modern-day France, Germany, and Belgium.
See also
In Spanish: 1044 para niños
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1044 Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.