Seljuk forces underAlp Arslan defeat the Byzantine rear guard and advance deep intoCappadocia andLycaonia. They plunder at will, but fail to capture the city ofIconium. Romanos retreats and returns toConstantinople. Alp Arslan takes advantage of Romanos' retreat and capturesManzikert. He recaptures the strategical fortress cities of Chliat andVan, consolidating his control over the Lake Van region.[2]
Spring – Romanos IV sends a Byzantine fleet (supported with an army) to relieve the siege ofBari. The Normans underRobert Guiscard defeat the Byzantines, and occupy the cities ofGravina andObbiano inApulia.
KingSweyn II of Denmark lands a fleet in theHumber in support of the Northumbrian rebels and they join him to burn York, attacking its two castles and destroying the oldMinster.[3]
Winter of 1069–1070 –Harrying of the North: KingWilliam the Conqueror quells rebellions made by his English subjects against his rule, campaigning through the north ofEngland with his forces, burning houses, crops, cattle and land fromYork toDurham, resulting in the deaths of over 100,000 people, mainly from starvation and winter cold.[4]
