960s
| Millennium |
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| 1st millennium |
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The960sdecade ran from January 1, 960, to December 31, 969.
Events
960
By place[edit]
Byzantine Empire[edit]
- Summer –Siege of Chandax:AByzantinefleet with an expeditionary force (comprising about 50,000 men) underNikephoros Phokaslands onCrete.Nikephoros defeats the Muslim resistance and begins asiegeat the capital ofChandax.He decides toblockadethe city for the winter, while his engineers begin to constructsiege engines.[1]EmirAbd al-Aziz ibn Shu'aybsends for aid by theFatimidsinIfriqiyaand theCaliphate of Córdoba(modernSpain).
- November 8–Battle of Andrassos:The Byzantines underLeo Phokas the Youngerdefeat theHamdanidarmy (30,000 men) in anambushin the passages of theCilicianmountains, in southAsia Minor(modern-dayTurkey). EmirSayf al-Dawlabarely manages to escape, and returns toAleppowith only 300 horsemen. The Hamdanids can no longer afford to raid inAnatolia,which is a turning point in theArab-Byzantine warsin the East.
Europe[edit]
- Mieszko I,a duke of thePiast Dynasty,becomes prince (de factoruler) ofPolandon the death of his fatherSiemomysł.Mieszko continues to subdue the neighbouring tribes under his control. Two obstacles to this plan are theWestern Slavtribal group, theVeleti(also known as theWilzior "Wolf people" ) who are raiding Mieszko's lands for plunder; and theSaxonborder dukes, who are pushing eastwards in search of new lands to conquer.[2]
- Harald Bluetooth,king ofDenmark,consolidates his rule overJutlandandZealand.He adoptsChristianity,erecting acarved stoneatJellingto honour his parents. It features a runic inscription (best-known in Denmark) and an image ofChristsurrounded by interlace. The otherScandinaviankingdoms slowly convert to Christianity (approximate date).
- June/July –Adalbert II,co-ruler and the son of KingBerengar II,with the support of DukeHugh of Tuscany,invades thePapal StatesunderPope John XII.WithLombardforces closing in onRome,a papal delegation is sent to KingOtto I(the Great) to appeal for assistance.
- Autumn –Oberto I,margrave of theObertenghifamily, takes refuge inGermany.He travels with influential Italian leaders to the Saxon court of Otto I to intervene inItalyto protect him from Berengar II.
- Richard I(the Fearless), duke ofNormandy,marriesEmma of Paris.She is the daughter ofHugh the Great,formerDuke of the Franks.The union gives him a permanent status to theHouse of Capet.
England[edit]
- Dunstanreceives thepalliumas archbishop ofCanterburyfrom Pope John XII. He reforms monasteries and enforces the rule ofSaint Benedict:poverty,chastity and obediencefor monks.
Africa[edit]
- TheKingdom of Aksum(modernEritrea) is destroyed byBeta Israelinvaders, under the leadership of QueenGudit(approximate date).
Asia[edit]
- February 4– TheSong Dynastyis established atKaifengby the 33-year-old military leaderZhao Kuangyin.He begins to unify the empire by conquering other lands and becomes the first emperor, called asTaizu of Song.The Song Dynasty will rule northernChinafor over 300 years (until1279).
By topic[edit]
Religion[edit]
- Dunstan founds theChurch of St. DunstaninEast Sussex.
961
By place[edit]
Byzantine Empire[edit]
- March 6–Siege of Chandax:Byzantine forces underNikephoros II Phokascapture and pillageChandaxafter an 8-monthsiege.Nikephoros massacres the population without mercy and carries them off intoslavery,returning toConstantinoplewith EmirAbd al-Aziz ibn Shu'ayband his family as prisoners. The islandEmirate of Creteis converted into aByzantine themeand the remaining Muslims are converted toChristianity.[3]
Europe[edit]
- May 26–Otto I, Holy Roman Emperorelects his 6-year-old sonOtto IIasheir apparentand co-ruler at theImperial DietinWorms.He is crowned atAachen,and placed under the tutelage of his grandmotherMatildaand his half-brotherWilliam of Mainz.Otto's own brotherBruno Iis charged with the provisional government ofLorraineagain.
- Summer – Otto I leads an expeditionary force into northernItalythrough theBrenner PassatTrento,to assist the beleaguered young PopeJohn XII.He proceeds towardsPavia– KingBerengar IIsends his son and co-rulerAdalbert IIfromRomeat the head of a large army to seize control of theUpper Adigeand contest Otto's entry.
- October 15– CaliphAbd-al-Rahman IIIdies after a 32-year reign. He is succeeded by his sonAl-Hakam IIas ruler of theCaliphate of CórdobainAl-Andalus(modernSpain).
- Battle of Fitjar– AVikingforce under the sons ofEric Bloodaxelands onHordaland.KingHaakon the Gooddefeats the rebelling force, but is killed.Harald Greycloakbecomes ruler of the western part ofNorway.
- TheLombardarmy under Adalbert II refuses to fight Otto I unless Berengar II abdicates in favor of Adalbert. Berengar refuses, and the armies retreat to their strongholds. Berengar and his family take whatever loyal soldiers remain and disperse themselves – Berengar retreats to the fortress atMontefeltro(in thePentapolis).
Armenia[edit]
- KingAshot III of Armenia(the Merciful) moves his capital fromKarseastward toAni(modernTurkey). Located on a major east-westcaravanroute, Ani will become larger than any European city, with a population of about 100,000 that will rivalBaghdad,Cairo,and Constantinople. Ani also becomes the site of the royalmausoleumof theBagratunikings.[4]
By topic[edit]
Art[edit]
- The "Shroud ofSaint Josse",a rich silkSamitecamel cloth fromKhurasan,is made. It is preserved in theAbbey of Saint-Josse-sur-Mer,nearCaen(Normandy) (approximate date).
Religion[edit]
- TheTiger Hill Pagoda(or Huqui Tower) is built in the city ofSuzhou,located inJiangsu Province(Eastern China).
- Tavistock Abbeyis founded byOrdgar, Ealdorman of Devon,inEngland.[5]
962
By place[edit]
Byzantine Empire[edit]
- December–Arab–Byzantine wars–Sack of Aleppo:A Byzantine expeditionary force under GeneralNikephoros Phokasinvades northernSyria,and sacksAleppo,capital of theHamdanidemirSayf al-Dawla.In late December Aleppo is taken by storm, with the population killed or enslaved; the city is razed. The Byzantine army takes possession of 390,000 silverdinars,2,000 camels and 1,400 mules.
Europe[edit]
- February 2– KingOtto I(the Great) is crownedHoly Roman Emperorby PopeJohn XIIat theOld St. Peter's Basilica,endingRome's feudal anarchy. Otto's wifeAdelaideis anointed as empress; theEast Frankish Kingdomand theKingdom of Italyare unified into a common realm, called theRoman Empire.[6]
- February 13– Otto I and John XII co-sign theDiploma Ottonianum,confirming John XII as the spiritual head of theCatholic Church.Otto recognizes John XII's secular control over thePapal States– by expanding the domain over theExarchate of Ravenna,theDuchy of Spoleto,and theDuchy of Benevento.
- Summer – Otto I makesOberto I,amargraveof theObertenghifamily,count palatine(a position second only to his own). He is granted theMarch of Obertenga(EasternLiguria) and establishes his capital inGenoa.Oberto also receives the possessions of theAbbey of Bobbio(famous for itsscriptorium).
- Otto I takes his army to laysiegeatSan Giulio,an island withinLake Orta(Piedmont), where QueenWilla(the wife of KingBerengar II) hasbarricadedherself. She surrenders and is allowed to go free by Otto. Willa departs forMontefeltroto join her husband.
- Otto I proceeds to lay siege toLake Garda,where the sons of Berengar II,Guy of IvreaandAdalbert II(co-ruler of Italy), and their supporters are holed up. Finding severe resistance, Otto gives up the enterprise and returns toPavia,the capital ofLombardy.
- Fall – Otto I receives news that John XII has betrayed him and entered into intrigues with Berengar II, but also with theByzantine Empire.The letters are intercepted byPandulf I(Ironhead), Lombard prince of Benevento.
Scotland[edit]
- Indulf,king of theScotsandPicts,dies after an 8-year reign. He is killed while fightingVikingsnearCullen,at theBattle of Bauds.Indulf is succeeded by his nephewDub(Dub mac Maíl Coluim) as ruler ofScotland.
By topic[edit]
Religion[edit]
- St. Paul's CathedralinLondonis destroyed by fire, but rebuilt in the same year.
963
By place[edit]
Byzantine Empire[edit]
- March 15– EmperorRomanos IIdies at age 25, probably of poison administered by his wife, EmpressTheophano.He is succeeded by his infant sonBasil II.Theophano becomesregentandde factoruler, naming her other sonConstantine VIII(only 3 years old) as co-emperor of theByzantine Empire.[7]
- July 2–Nikephoros II Phokasis proclaimed emperor by his troops inCaesarea.He sends a fleet to secure theBosphorus Straitagainst his enemies. Chief ministerJoseph Bringasgathers support and closes the gates ofConstantinople.GeneralMarianos Argyrosis killed in a riot, forcing Bringas to flee.
- August 16– Nikephoros II makes a triumphal entry in Constantinople and is hailed as 'the conqueror'. He is crowned emperor inHagia Sophia.
- September 20– Nikephoros II marries the former Byzantine consortTheophano,the widow of Emperor Romanos II, bolstering his legitimacy.[8]
Europe[edit]
- Gero I,margrave ofMerseburg,campaigns against theSlavs.He forces PrinceMieszko Iof thePolansinPolandto pay tribute to EmperorOtto I(the Great). He expands his territory, theMarca Geronis(March of Gero), to the mouth of theOder River.[9]
- Sviatoslav I,Grand Prince ofKiev,begins a 2-year campaign in which he will defeatKhazarforces along theDon River– vanquish theOssetesand theCircassiansin the northernCaucasus.He also successfully attacks theBulgarson theVolga River.
- November– Otto arrives atRome;PopeJohn XIIandAdalbert II(co-ruler ofItaly) flee toCampania,taking with them most of the Papal treasury. Otto is warmly received by the Roman citizens as 'liberator'.
- December– KingBerengar II(the father of Adalbert II) surrenders at the fortress ofMontefeltroto German forces. He and his wifeWillaare taken prisoner, and dispatched toBamberg.
- Luxembourghas her beginnings atLuxembourg Castle(located on theBock), founded bySigfried,count of theArdennes.
Asia[edit]
- The Chinese government of theSong Dynastyattempts to ban the practice ofcremation;despite this decree, the lower and middle classes continue to cremate their dead, until the government resolves the problem in the12th century,by establishing publicgraveyardsforpaupers.
- TheNanping State,one of theTen Kingdomsin south-centralChina,is forced to surrender, when invaded by armies of the Song Dynasty.
By topic[edit]
Religion[edit]
- November 6–Synod of Rome:Otto I calls a council atSt. Peter's Basilica.John XII is deposed on charges that he has conducted himself dishonorably and instigated an armedrebellionagainst Otto.
- December 6– PopeLeo VIIIis appointed to the office ofProtonotaryand begins his papacy asantipopeof Rome – a reign with the concurrently deposed John XII.
- TheMonastery of Great LavraatMount Athos(northeasternGreece) is founded by the Byzantine monkAthanasius the Athonite.
964
Byzantine Empire[edit]
- Arab–Byzantine War:EmperorNikephoros IIcontinues the reconquest of south-easternAnatolia(modernTurkey). He recapturesCyprus,and reorganizes the conquered lands into new themes. In the summer, they take the fortress cities ofAnazarbusandAdana.Byzantine troops under GeneralJohn TzimiskesbesiegeMopsuestia,but with the coming of winter he is forced to retreat toCaesarea.[10]
- October 24–25–Siege of Rometta:Nikephoros II sends an expedition toSicily.The Byzantine army (40,000 men) is sent to break the Muslim siege atRometta,and to regain Sicily for theByzantine Empire.For two days a battle takes place in the area between the beach and the besieged citadel of Rometta. TheSaracens(underAl-Hasan ibn Ammar) manage to defeat the Byzantine relief force.
Europe[edit]
- Spring – KingAdalbert IIreturns to the mainland ofItaly,and occupies the environs ofSpoleto.EmperorOtto I('the Great') leavesRomewith his army, and layssiegeto the fortress city ofSpoleto.
- Otto I proceeds on campaign in Italy, remaining in the environs ofLucca.In the fall he leaves plague-wrackedTuscany,and is forced to retreat toLiguria.His rearguard is attacked by Adalbert II.
By topic[edit]
Religion[edit]
- February – PopeJohn XIIreturns with his supporters to Rome. He convenes a synod that deposes AntipopeLeo VIIIwho finds refuge at the court of Otto I. John dispatches a delegation underOtgar,bishop ofSpeyer,to negotiate an agreement.
- May 14–Pope John XIIdies (rumoured to be by apoplexy, or at the hands of a cuckolded husband, during an illicit sexual liaison) after a 9-year reign. The Romans electBenedict V,who is acclaimed by the city militia. He begins hispontificateas the 131stpopeof theCatholic Church.
- June 23– Benedict V is deposed and ecclesiastically degraded after Otto I besieges Rome. He starves the Romans into submission and restores Leo VIII to the papalthrone.
Science[edit]
- Abd al-Rahman al-Sufi,a Persianastronomer,writes theBook of Fixed Stars
965
By place[edit]
Byzantine Empire[edit]
- Arab–Byzantine War:EmperorNikephoros IIconquers the fortress cities ofTarsusandMopsuestia.The Muslim residents abandon the defense and flee intoSyria.Nikephoros completes the conquest ofCilicia;Muslim raids intoAnatolia(modernTurkey) permanently cease.Byzantinetroops under GeneralNiketas ChalkoutzesoccupyCyprus,liberating theGreekpopulation from Muslim domination.[11]
- Battle of the Straits:The Byzantine attempt to recoverSicilyfails, when theByzantine fleetis annihilated by theFatimids.The last Byzantine stronghold on the island,Rometta,surrenders. The population is massacred, and the survivors are sold intoslavery.CaliphAl-Mu'izz li-Din Allahcompletes the conquest of Sicily, and establishes naval superiority in the WesternMediterranean.
Europe[edit]
- Spring – KingLothair IIIexploits the succession crisis inFlandersand captures many cities, but is eventually repulsed by the supporters ofArnulf II— the son ofBaldwin IIIand former co-ruler of Flanders. Lothair attempts to increase his influence inLotharingia,once held by theCarolingian dynasty.EmperorOtto I(the Great) encourages resistance to Lothair's overtures.[12]
- Boleslaus I(the Cruel), duke ofBohemia,expands his territory into the Polish territories ofUpper SilesiaandLesser Poland.By occupying the city ofKraków,he controls importanttrade routesfromPraguetoKievandLviv.PrinceMieszko I of Polandmakes analliancewith Boleslaus and marries his daughterDobrawa.[13]
- TheKhazarfortress city ofSarkel,located on the LowerDon River,is captured byKievan Rus'under Grand PrinceSviatoslav I.The city is renamedBelaya Vezha(White Fortress) and settled bySlavs.
China[edit]
- July 12– EmperorMeng ChangofLater Shudies after a 30-year reign. His kingdom is invaded and incorporated into the expandingSong dynasty.
By topic[edit]
Literature[edit]
- September 23–Al-Mutanabbi,anAbbasidpoet, returns from 5 years inMesopotamia.He has lived atShirazunder the protection of theBuyidemir'Adud al-Dawla,but bandits kill him nearAn Numaniyah(modernIran).
Religion[edit]
- March 1–Pope Leo VIIIdies after a 13-month reign. He is succeeded byJohn XIIIas the 133rdpopeof theCatholic Church.
966
By place[edit]
Byzantine Empire[edit]
- 23 June-Byzantine-Arab War:A prisoner exchangeoccurs at the border between theByzantine Empireand theEmirate of AleppoatSamosata,headed by EmperorNikephoros IIandSayf al-Dawla,the Emir of Aleppo. The Emirate receives 3,000 captured prisoners from the region ofCilicia,after its conquest by the Byzantine Emperor, as well as the poetAbu Firas,who had been previously held prisoner by the Byzantines.
Europe[edit]
- Spring – KingLothair IIImarries PrincessEmma of Italy(the only daughter ofAdelaide of Burgundy— second wife of EmperorOtto I(the Great), from her first marriage with KingLothair II,member of theBosonid Dynasty). Lothair strengthens his ties with theHoly Roman Empire.He temporarily remains in control of the cities ofArrasandDouai.[14]The latter becomes a flourishingtextilemarket centre during theMiddle Ages.
- April 14–Mieszko I,first duke and prince ofPoland,isbaptizedaChristian,which is usually considered thefoundation of the Polish state.Mieszko's baptism, under the influence of his wifeDobrawa,brings his territories into the community of Christian countries. The lands ruled by Mieszko cover about 250,000 km², and are inhabited by about 1,2 million people around this time.[15]
- May–Pietro IV Candiano,doge ofVenice,remarries toWaldrada of Tuscany,a daughter ofHubert, Duke of Spoleto,and a relative of Otto I. Waldrada brings him a largedowry,including the possessions ofFerrara,FriuliandTreviso(NorthernItaly).
- Fall – Otto I departs for a third expedition in Italy and fights inLombardyagainst the partisans underAdalbert II of Ivrea.In November an imperial counter-coup inRometakes control ofCastel Sant'Angelo.
- Winter – Otto I enters Rome and has the twelve principal militia leaders (theDecarcones) hanged. Other plotters of the coup are either executed or blinded. Otto is declared 'liberator of the Church'.
- TheHungariansinvade theBulgarian Empireand forcePeter I,emperor (tsar) of the Bulgarians, to conclude apeace treatywith them. He lets them cross to attack theByzantine Empire.[16]
Asia[edit]
- February 9–Ono no Michikaze(Ono no Tōfū), Japanesecalligrapher,dies after having established the foundations of the 'Waystyle' of calligraphy while serving the imperial court atHeian-kyō(modern-dayKyoto).
By topic[edit]
Religion[edit]
- John VII,patriarch ofJerusalem,isburned at the stakeby a Muslim mob after writing to EmperorNikephoros II,pleading him to intervene inPalestineand retake it from theFatimid Caliphate.[17]
- Re-foundation ofPeterborough(also calledMedeshamstede) Abbey as aBenedictinemonastery by BishopÆthelwold of Winchester(approximate date).
967
By place[edit]
Europe[edit]
- Spring – EmperorOtto I(the Great) calls for a council atRome,to present the new government under PopeJohn XIII.He asserts his rights in the city, and insists on the occasional presence of an imperialjudge,alongside thepapal court.The era of Roman independence is over.Gradobecomes the patriarchal and metropolitan church of the whole of theVeneto.[18]
- Otto I goes on a tour of theLombardduchies of southernItaly.InCapuahe grantsPandulf I(Ironhead) the vacantDuchy of Spoleto and Camerinoand charges him with prosecuting the war against theByzantine Empire.InBenevento,Otto receives thehomageof Pandulf's brother and co-rulerLandulf III.InSalernohe receives also the support ofGisulf I.
- Otto I dispatches an imperial delegation (led by a Venetian named Domenico) toConstantinoplewith assurances of his friendship and a request for PrincessTheophano(a daughter of the late EmperorRomanos II) for his 12-year-old sonOtto II.AsdowryOtto demands theByzantineholdings in southern Italy.
- Summer –Sviatoslav I,Grand Prince ofKiev,defeats Bulgar forces in theBalkansat the behest of EmperorNikephoros II(who pays him 1,500 pounds of gold to invade theBulgarian Empire).[19]
- The imperial delegation arrives inMacedonia,but goes nowhere with Nikephoros II. Far from offeringByzantine Italyas dowry for Theophano, Nikephoros refuses to accept the claims of Otto I.
- Otto I renews the imperial treaty withPietro IV Candiano,doge ofVenice.He grants him commercial privileges, and protection for Venetian citizens (also the possessions of Venetian bishops).
- Winter – Otto I returns to Rome. OnChristmasday, John XIII crowns Otto II as co-emperor of theHoly Roman Empire.Although Otto II is nominated as co-ruler, he exercises no real authority.[20]
- Olaf TryggvasonfleesNorwaywith his mother, only to be attacked byEstonian Vikings(approximate date).
Arabian Empire[edit]
- EmirNasir al-Dawlais deposed and imprisoned atMosulafter a 32-year reign by his sonAbu Taghlib,thede factogovernor, and supporters. He becomes the new ruler of theEmirate of Mosul.
- TheFatimidgeneralJawhar al-Siqillilaunches a military campaign in the west of theMaghreb.He resumes his expansion, together with theZirids,and conquersFez(modern-dayMorocco).
Japan[edit]
- July 5– EmperorMurakamidies after a 21-year reign. He is succeeded by his 17-year-old sonReizei,who is insane and becomes the 63rd emperor ofJapan.
By topic[edit]
Religion[edit]
- Otto I completes and dedicates anew cathedralatMagdeburginSaxony.Like other imperial churches of the period, it includes awestwork– a structure attached to the entrance wall and outfitted with galleries. Otto makes Magdeburg a base formissionaryefforts to convert theSlavsto the east. The patron saint of the city isMauritius,who, as a military leader fighting forChristianityagainst pagan armies, shares affinities with Otto himself.
- Re-foundation ofRomsey AbbeyinHampshireby KingEdgar I(the Peaceful). He appointsMerewenna,an English noblewoman, asabbesswho becomes a foster mother to PrincessÆlfflæd(a step-daughter of Edgar).[21]
- April 22– TheCambodiantempleBanteay Sreiis consecrated and dedicated to theHindugodShiva.
968
By place[edit]
Byzantine Empire[edit]
- EmperorNikephoros IIreceives a Bulgarian embassy led by PrinceBoris(the son of TsarPeter I of Bulgaria), with a plea for help against the invadingKievan Rus'.Nikephoros, occupied in the East, is unable to support him. Instead he sends envoys to summon thePechenegsto aid Boris. Theybesiege Kiev,but Grand PrinceSviatoslav I(on campaign in Bulgaria) returns with a Kievan relief force, and defeats the Pechenegs. He drives them out into theSteppe,and sets upviceroysto rule his Rus' territory.[22]
Europe[edit]
- Spring – EmperorOtto I(the Great) travels toCapuato meet there withambassadorsof Nikephoros II, who again reiterate their friendship, but refuse to consent to hisdowrydemands (see967). Otto invades the ByzantineTheme of Langobardiawith aLombardexpeditionary force. With the assistance ofBenevento-Capuaand naval support fromPisa,Otto attempts to takeBariby assault, but Byzantine resistance is stiff, and Otto withdraws back toRavenna.
- Battle of Silistra:A Kievan army (60,000 men) led by Sviatoslav I crosses theLower Danubeand defeats the Bulgarians atSilistra.He occupies most of theDobrujaby seizing 80 fortresses in northeastern Bulgaria. They are looted and destroyed but not permanently occupied. During the winter, Sviatoslav transfers the capital from Kiev toPereyaslavets.
- Pandulf I(Ironhead), a Lombard prince, takes over the territory of Benevento and Capua after the death of his brotherLandulf III.He appoints his sonLandulf IVas co-prince of Benevento, and disinheritsPandulf II(a son of Landulf III) as lord ofSant'Agata(located northeast ofNaples).
Ireland[edit]
- Battle of Sulcoit:TheIrishof theDál gCaisled byBrian Borudefeats theVikingforces ofLimerick.After the battle the Dál gCais seize andburn the Viking stronghold of Limerick.Ending ofNorseexpansion inIreland.
By topic[edit]
Religion[edit]
- Otto I founds theArchbishopric of Magdeburgat thesynodof Ravenna. He appointsAdalbertas the archbishop ofMagdeburg.The archbishopric under Adalbert includes the bishoprics ofBrandenburgandHavelberg— as well as the newly erected sees ofMeissen,MerseburgandNaumburg-Zeitz.[23]
- Mieszko I,duke and prince ofPoland,constructsPoznań Cathedralwithin the fortified stronghold (gord) ofPoznań.The settlement becomes abishopric,Mieszko appointsJordanas the first bishop.
969
By place[edit]
Byzantine Empire[edit]
- October 28–Siege of Antioch:Byzantine generalMichael Bourtzes(during a night attack) seizes part ofAntioch's fortifications. The capture of the city from theHamdanidsis completed three days later, when reinforcements under thestratopedarchesPeter Phokasarrive. TheByzantinearmy then moves deeper intoSyrianterritory — besieging and taking the city ofAleppo.
- December 11– EmperorNikephoros IIis murdered in the royal palace ofBoukoleonatConstantinopleafter a 6-year reign. Former friends have acted on the instructions of his wifeTheophano.[24]Nikephoros is succeeded by his nephewJohn I Tzimiskes,who becomes co-emperor andregent.He sends Theophano intoexileto the island ofPrinkipo(Prince Islands).
Europe[edit]
- Peter I,emperor (tsar) of theBulgarian Empire,suffers astrokeand abdicates the throne in favour of his eldest sonBoris II.He arrives (after being an honoraryhostageat Constantinople) inPreslavand is proclaimed as the new ruler. Boris regains lost territory from theKievan Rus'and recapturesPereyaslavets,an important trade city at the mouth of theDanube.[25]
- Summer – Grand PrinceSviatoslav Iinvades Bulgaria at the head of a Kievan army, which includesPechenegandHungarianauxiliary forces. He defeats the Bulgarians in a major battle and retakes Pereyaslavets. Boris II capitulates and impales 300 Bulgarianboyarsfor disloyalty. Sviatoslav assigns garrisons to the conquered fortresses in Northern Bulgaria.[26]
- Pandulf Ironhead,duke ofBeneventoandCapua,leads the siege ofBovino.He is captured by the Byzantines and taken in chains toBari,and jailed in Constantinople. Neapolitan forces underMarinus II,duke ofNaples,invade Benevento-Capua, capture the city ofAvellinoand then lay siege toCapua.[27]
- Otto I 'the Great', Holy Roman Emperor,assembles a large expeditionary force atPavia,joined bySpoletantroops. He counter-attacks, relieves the siege of Capua and devastates the area around Naples. Otto enters Benevento, where he is received as 'liberator' byLandulf IVand in the cities ofApulia(SouthernItaly).
Africa[edit]
- February 6–July 9–Fatimid conquest of Egypt:CaliphAl-Mu'izz's army underGeneral JawharinvadesEgypt.Jawhar occupies the lands around theNilefrom theIkhshididsafter asiegeatGizaand the capitulation ofFustat.[28]
Asia[edit]
- September 27–Emperor Reizeiabdicates the throne ofJapan(due to amental illness) after a 2-year reign. He is succeeded by his 10-year-old brotherEn'yū,who becomes the 64th emperor.
By topic[edit]
Geography[edit]
- Ibn Hawqalconcludes his travels.
Religion[edit]
- Summer –Pope John XIIIconvenes asynodatRome.He raises the bishopric ofBeneventotoArchbishopric of Benevento.The city is made a metropolitan see over 10 bishoprics in ByzantineCapitanata(Southern Italy).
Significant people[edit]
- Abd al-Rahman IIIcaliph of Córdoba
- Otto Iof Holy Roman empire
- Al-Muticaliph of Baghdad
- Al-Hakam IIcaliph of Córdoba
- Al-Mu'izz li-Din Allahof Fatimid dynasty
- Pope John XII
- Pope Benedict V
- Pope Leo VIII
Births
960
- Abu Nasr Mansur,Persianmathematician(approximate date)
- Aimoin,French monk andchronicler(approximate date)
- Arnulf II(the Younger), Frankishnobleman(or961)
- Bagrat III,king ofAbkhazia(Georgia) (d.1014)
- Bernward,bishop ofHildesheim(approximate date)
- Constantine VIII,Byzantine emperor (d.1028)
- Eckard I,German nobleman (approximate date)
- Fan Kuan,Chineselandscape painter(approximate date)
- Gershom ben Judah,Germanrabbi(approximate date)
- Gormflaith ingen Murchada,Irish queen (d.1030)
- Gotthard,bishop of Hildesheim (d.1038)
- Hugh III,French nobleman (approximate date)
- Indra Pala,king ofKamarupa(India) (d.990)
- Li,empress consort of theSong Dynasty(d.1004)
- Mazu,Chinese fisherman's daughter and worshipped asTaoistgoddess (approximate date)
- Sharaf al-Dawla,BuyidemirofKermanandFars(approximate date)
- Sigurd the Stout,Viking nobleman (earl) (approximate date)
- Sweyn Forkbeard,king ofDenmarkandEngland(d. 1014)
- Xu You,official and court minister ofSouthern Tang
961
- January 15–Seongjong,ruler ofGoryeo(Korea) (d.997)
- Al-Tha'alibi,Persian historian and writer (d.1038)
- Arnulf II, Count of Flanders(the Younger), Frankishnobleman(or960)
- Edith of Wilton,English princess andnun(approximate date)
- Fujiwara no Michikane,Japanese nobleman (d.995)
- Kou Zhun,ChineseGrand chancellor(approximate date)
- Mahendradatta,queen ofBali(Indonesia) (d.1011)
- Pietro II Orseolo,Doge of Venice(d.1009)
- Ramiro III,king ofLeón(Spain) (d.985)
- Sigmundur Brestisson,Viking chieftain (d.1005)
962
- Bernard Roger,Frenchnobleman(approximate date)
- Edward II(the Martyr), king ofEngland(approximate date)
- Geoffrey(orGodfrey), French nobleman (d.1015)
- Ibn Faradi,Moorish scholar and historian (d.1012)
- Liu Mei,Chinese official and general (approximate date)
- Odilo of Cluny,French Benedictineabbot(d.1049)
- Rogneda of Polotsk,Grand Princess ofKiev(d.1002)
- Wang Qinruo,Chinese chancellor (approximate date)
- William of Volpiano,Italian abbot and architect (d.1031)
963
- March 13–Anna Porphyrogenita,Grand Princess ofKiev(d.1011)
- April 17–Sweyn Forkbeard,king ofDenmarkandNorway(d.1014)
- Edith of Wilton,English princess andabbess(approximate date)
- Li Jiqian,Chinese governor and rebel leader (d.1004)
- Nuh II,emir of theSamanid Dynasty(Iran) (d.997)
- Samsam al-Dawla,Buyidemir(approximate date)
- Snorri Goði,IcelandicVikingchieftain (d.1031)
964
- Bertha of Burgundy,Frankish queen consort (d.1010)
- Heonae,Korean queen consort andregent(d.1029)
- Liu Wenzhi,official of theSong Dynasty(d.1028)
965
- Dudo of Saint-Quentin,Normanhistorian(approximate date)
- Frederick of Luxembourg,count ofMoselgau(d.1019)
- Gerberga of Burgundy,duchess consort ofSwabia(or966)
- Godfrey II,count and duke ofLower Lorraine(d.1023)
- Hárek of Tjøtta,Norwegian chieftain (approximate date)
- Hugh I,count ofEmpúriesandPeralada(approximate date)
- Ibn al-Haytham,Arabastronomerandphysicist(d.1040)
- Leo of Vercelli,German bishop (approximate date)
- Sharif al-Murtaza,BuyidShiascholar (d.1044)
- Theodoric I,duke ofUpper Lorraine(approximate date)
966
- Æthelred II(the Unready), king ofEngland(approximate date)
- Ali al-Sulayhi,sultan ofYemen,TihamahandMecca(d.1066)
- Ding Wei,grand chancellor of theSong Dynasty(d.1037)
- Fujiwara no Kintō,Japanesepoetand bureaucrat (d.1041)
- Fujiwara no Michinaga,Japanesenobleman(d.1028)
- Gerberga of Burgundy,duchess ofSwabia(or965)
- Heonjeong,queen ofGoryeo(Korea) (d.992)
- Hisham II,caliph ofCórdoba(Spain) (d.1013)
- Kenneth III,king ofScotland(approximate date)
- Louis V,king of theWest Frankish Kingdom(d.987)
- Lu Zongdao,Chinese official (approximate date)
- Sei Shōnagon,Japanese poet andcourt lady(approximate date)
967
- December 7–Abū-Sa'īd Abul-Khayr,PersianSufipoet (d.1049)
- Bolesław I(the Brave), king ofPoland(d.1025)
- Gothelo I,duke ofLorraine(approximate date)
- Lin Bu,Chinesepoetand calligrapher (d.1028)
- Vahram Pahlavouni,prince ofBjni(Armenia) (d.1045)
- Walter of Speyer,German bishop and poet (d.1027)
968
- November 29–Kazan,emperor ofJapan(d.1008)
- December 21–Minamoto no Yorinobu,Japanesesamurai(d.1048)
- December 23–Zhen Zong,emperor of theSong Dynasty(d.1022)
- Gisela,French princess and daughter ofHugh Capet(d.1002)
- Pan,Chinese princess and wife of Zhen Zong (d.989)
- Romanos III,emperor of theByzantine Empire(d.1034)
969
- Badi' al-Zaman al-Hamadani,Persian poetand writer (d.1007)
- Hilal al-Sabi',Buyid bureaucrat and historian (d.1056)
- Judith of Hungary,princess and queen ofPoland(d.988)
- Liu,empress andregentof theSong dynasty(d.1033)
- Nathar Shah,Tamilmysticand preacher (d.1039)
- William V 'the Great',duke ofAquitaine(d.1030)
Deaths
960
- May 31–Fujiwara no Morosuke,Japanese statesman (b.909)
- June 15–Eadburh of Winchester,English princess and saint
- June 23–Feng Yanji,chancellor of Southern Tang (b.903)
- August 12–Li Gu,chancellor ofLater Zhou(b. 903)
- Ælfric,bishop ofHereford(approximate date)
- Adele of Vermandois,Frankish noblewoman
- Arnold I of Astarac,Frankish nobleman
- Bernard the Dane,Viking nobleman (approximate date)
- Časlav,prince ofSerbia(approximate date)
- Emmanuel I,patriarch of theChurch of the East
- Fulk II(the Good), Frankish nobleman
- Gao Baorong,king ofNanping(Ten Kingdoms) (b.920)
- George II,king of Abkhazia (Georgia)
- Gopala II,ruler of thePala Empire(India)
- Guan Tong,Chineselandscape painter
- Justan I ibn Marzuban,Sallarid ruler
- Lhachen Dpalgyimgon,king ofMauyul(Tibet)
- Murchadh mac Aodha,king ofUí Maine(Ireland)
- Ratna Pala,king of Kamarupa (India) (b. 920)
- Siemomysł,duke of thePiast Dynasty(Poland)
- William Garés,Frankish nobleman
- Yelü Lihu,prince of theKhitan Empire(b.911)
961
- July 17–Du,empress dowager of theSong dynasty
- August 12–Li Jing,emperor ofSouthern Tang(b.916)
- September 19–Helena Lekapene,Byzantine empress
- October 1–Artald,archbishop ofReims
- October 15–Abd al-Rahman III,caliph ofCórdoba
- Abd al-Malik I,Samanid emir (b.944)
- Abu'l-Qasim Unujur ibn al-Ikhshid,Ikhshidid ruler
- Adarnase V,prince ofTao-Klarjeti(Georgia)
- Atto of Vercelli,Lombard bishop (b.885)
- Ava of Cerdanya,countessregentofCerdanyaandBesalú
- Butuga II,ruler of theWestern Ganga Dynasty(India)
- Fujiwara no Masatada,Japanesepoet
- Haakon the Good,king ofNorway
- Landulf II of Benevento(the Red), Lombard prince
- Li Tao,Chinese chancellor (approximate date)
- Minamoto no Tsunemoto,Japanesesamurai(b.894)
- Raymond II of Rouergue,Frankish nobleman (approximate date)
- William II, Marquess of Montferrat,Frankish nobleman (approximate date)
962
- April 26–Adalbero I,bishop ofMetz
- May 23–Guibert,Frankish abbot (b.892)
- October 14–Gerloc,Frankish noblewoman
- Æthelwald,ealdorman ofEast Anglia
- Baldwin III(the Young), Frankish nobleman
- Charles Constantine,Frankish nobleman
- Dong Yuan,Chinesepainter(approximate date)
- Gao Baoxu,king ofNanping(China) (b.924)
- Gauzelin,Frankish nobleman and bishop
- Hamza al-Isfahani,Persian historian (approximate date)
- Hugh of Vermandois,Frankisharchbishop(b.920)
- Ibn az-Zayyat,Hamdanid governor
- Indulf(the Aggressor), king ofScotland
- Liu Congxiao,Chinese general (b.906)
- Ordoño IV,king ofLeón(or963)
- Sigurd Haakonsson,NorseVikingnobleman
- William Taillefer I,Frankish nobleman
963
- March 15–Romanos II,Byzantine emperor (b.938)
- March 31–Abu Ja'far Ahmad ibn Muhammad,Saffarid emir (b.906)
- April 3–William III,duke ofAquitaine(b.915)
- April 10–Oda of Metz,Germannoblewoman
- April 16–William I,German nobleman
- April 18–Stephen Lekapenos,Byzantine co-emperor
- August 16–Marianos Argyros,Byzantine general
- Abu Muhammad al-Hasan,Buyidvizier
- Alp-Tegin,Samanid commander-in-chief
- Donnchad mac Cellacháin,king ofMunster(Ireland)
- Fothad I,bishop ofSt. Andrews(approximate date)
- Goltregoda,Frankish countess andregent(b.920)
- Ingeborg Tryggvasdotter,Viking noblewoman
- John II,duke ofGaeta(Italy) (approximate date)
- Michael Maleinos,Byzantinemonk(approximate date)
- Ordoño IV(the Bad), king ofLeón(or962)
- Rudolfe II(orRaoul), Frankish nobleman
- Tryggve Olafsson,NorseVikingking
- Wang,empress of theSong Dynasty(b.942)
964
- May 14–John XII,pope of theCatholic Church
- July 3–Henry I,Frankishnoblemanand archbishop
- November 5–Fan Zhi,chancellor of the Song Dynasty
- December 8–Zhou(the Elder), Chinese queen consort
- Al-Hasan ibn Ali al-Kalbi,Fatimid nobleman andemir
- Fujiwara no Anshi,empress consort ofJapan(b.927)
- Godfrey I,count and vice-dukeofLower Lorraine
- Khosrov of Andzev,Armenian monk andpoet
- Toichleach ua Gadhra,king ofGailenga(Ireland)
965
- February 22–Otto,duke ofBurgundy(b.944)
- March 1–Leo VIII,pope of theCatholic Church
- March 28–Arnulf I,count ofFlanders
- May 20–Gero(the Great), Frankishnobleman
- June 25–Guy,margrave ofIvrea(b.940)
- July 4–Benedict V,pope of the Catholic Church
- July 12–Meng Chang,emperor ofLater Shu(b.919)
- September 23–Al-Mutanabbi,Abbasid poet (b.915)
- October 11–Bruno I,archbishop of Cologne(b.925)
- Al-Husayn ibn Ali al-Maghribi,Abbasid statesman
- Guo Chong,Chinese general (approximate date)
- Hedwig of Saxony,Frankish duchess and regent
- Li,empress dowager ofLater Shu(Ten Kingdoms)
- Li Hao,Chinesechancellor(approximate date)
- Moses ben Hanoch,Jewishrabbi(approximate date)
- Joseph Bringas,Byzantineeunuchand official
- Wu Cheng,Chinese chancellor (b.893)
- Zhong,empress consort ofSouthern Tang
966
- January 19–Fujiwara no Asatada,Japanese nobleman (b.910)
- February 9–Ono no Michikaze,Japanesecalligrapher(b.894)
- March 28–Flodoard,Frankishcanonandchronicler
- August 4–Berengar II,margrave and king ofItaly
- December 19–Sancho I,king ofLeón(Spain)
- Abu Ishaq Ibrahim,Samanid governor
- Abu'l-Hasan Ali,Ikhshidid governor
- Bagrat II,prince ofTao-Klarjeti(Georgia)
- Bertha of Swabia,Frankish queen consort
- Cormac ua Cillín,abbot ofTuamgraney(Ireland)
- John VII,patriarch ofJerusalem(Israel)
- Viśa' Saṃbhava,king ofKhotan(China)
- Nako,Obotrite prince (approximate date)
- Rashiq al-Nasimi,Hamdanid governor
- Sergius I,duke ofAmalfi(Italy)
967
- February 9–Sayf al-Dawla,Hamdanidemir(b.916)
- April 8–Mu'izz al-Dawla,Buyid emir (b.915)
- May 10–Renaud of Roucy,Vikingnobleman
- July 5–Murakami,emperor ofJapan(b.926)
- September 22–Wichmann II,Frankish nobleman
- October 20–Li Yi xing,Chinese governor
- Abu al-Faraj al-Isfahani,Umayyad historian (b.897)
- Abu 'Ali Muhammad ibn Ilyas,Ilyasid emir
- Aleramo di Savona,marquess ofMontferrat
- Al-Qabisi,Hamdanidastrologer(approximate date)
- Ashot III,prince ofTaron(approximate date)
- Boleslaus I(the Cruel), duke ofBohemia(or972)
- Dub mac Maíl Coluīm,king ofAlba(Scotland)
- Fergal ua Ruairc,king ofConnacht(Ireland)
- Hugh II(the Kind), lord ofLusignan
- Krishna III,ruler of theRashtrakuta Dynasty
- Li Cheng,Chinesepainter(b.919)
- Robert of Vermandois,Frankish nobleman (or968)
- Vushmgir,Ziyarid emir (approximate date)
- Wahsudan ibn Muhammad,Sallarid emir
- Yan Xu,Chinesechancellor(b.910)
968
- March 2–William,archbishop ofMainz(b.929)
- March 14–Matilda of Ringelheim,Frankish queen
- March 19–Emma of Paris,duchess ofNormandy(b.943)
- April 2–Yuan Dezhao,Chinesechancellor(b.891)
- April 4–Abu Firas al-Hamdani,Arab prince andpoet(b.932)
- Abu al-Misk Kafur,IkhshididvizierofEgypt(b.905)
- Aldred,bishop ofLindisfarne(approximate date)
- Al-Muttaqi,Abbasid caliph (b.908)
- Ananias I,catholicos of theArmenian Apostolic Church
- Bardas Phokas(the Elder), Byzantine general
- Eadgifu,wife ofEdward the Elder(approximate date)
- John III,duke ofNaples(approximate date)
- Landulf III,prince ofBenevento(or969)
- Liu Jun,emperor ofNorthern Han(b.926)
- Mord Fiddle,Icelandic farmer andlawexpert
- Mumadona Dias,countess ofPortugal
- Rajendravarman II,ruler of theKhmer Empire
- Robert of Vermandois,Frankishnobleman(or967)
- Sun Guangxian,Chinese chief strategist
- Sunifred II,Frankish nobleman (b.915)
969
- March 12–Mu Zong,emperor of theLiao dynasty(b.931)
- June 26–George El Mozahem,Egyptianmartyr(b.940)
- July 11–Olga of Kiev,princess andregentofRussia(b. c.890)
- September 25–Burchard,bishop ofMeissen(approximate date)
- December 1–Fujiwara no Morotada,Japanese statesman (b.920)
- December 11–Nikephoros II,emperor of theByzantine Empire
- Dou Zhengu,Chinese official andchancellor of the Tang dynasty(b.892)
- Landulf III,prince ofBeneventoandCapua(or968)
- Michael Krešimir II,king ofCroatia(House of Trpimir)
- Nasir al-Dawla,deposed Hamdanid emir ofMosul
References[edit]
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- ^Richard Brzezinski (1998). History of Poland:Old Poland, King Mieszko I,p. 14.ISBN83-7212-019-6.
- ^Romane, Julian (2015).Byzantine Triumphant.Barnsley: Pen and Sword Books. p. 6.ISBN978-1473845701.
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- ^Timothy Reuter (1999).The New Cambridge Medieval History, Volume III,p. 592.ISBN978-0-521-36447-8.
- ^Ostrogorsky, George (1969).History of The Byzantine State.New Brunswick: Rutgers University Press. p.284.ISBN0-8135-0599-2.
- ^Timothy Reuter (1999).The New Cambridge Medieval History, Volume III,p. 248.ISBN978-0-521-36447-8.
- ^W. Treadgold.A History of the Byzantine State and Society,p. 948.
- ^W. Treadgold.A History of the Byzantine state and Society,p. 948.
- ^Jim Bradbury (2007).The Capetians: Kings of France, 987–1328,p. 43 (London: Hambledon Continuum).
- ^Richard Brzezinski (1998). History of Poland:Old Poland, King Mieszko I,p. 15.ISBN83-7212-019-6.
- ^Jim Bradbury (2007).The Capetians: Kings of France, 987–1328,p. 42 (London: Hambledon Continuum).
- ^Richard Brzezinski (1998). History of Poland:Old Poland, King Mieszko I,p. 15.ISBN83-7212-019-6.
- ^Bóna, Istvá (2000).The Hungarians and Europe in the 9th-10th centuries.Budapest: Historia - MTA Történettudományi Intézete, p. 34.ISBN963-8312-67-X.
- ^Steven Runciman (1987).A History of the Crusades, Vol. 1. The First Crusade,p. 30 (Cambridge University Press).
- ^The Papacy: An Encyclopedia,Ed. Philippe Levillain, p. 841 (Routledge, 2002).
- ^W. Treadgold.A History of the Byzantine State and Society,p. 509.
- ^Reuter, Timothy (1991).Germany in the Early Middle Ages: 800–1056.Addison Wesley Longman.ISBN978-0-582-49034-5.
- ^"The Abbey Church of St. Mary & St. Aethelfla".Archived fromthe originalon June 19, 2016.RetrievedOctober 17,2017.
- ^Fine, John V. A. Jr.(1991) [1983].The Early Medieval Balkans: A Critical Survey from the Sixth to the Late Twelfth Century.Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press. p. 183.ISBN0-472-08149-7.
- ^Reuter, Timothy (1999).The New Cambridge Medieval History, Volume III,p. 252.ISBN978-0-521-36447-8.
- ^Reuter, Timothy (1999).The New Cambridge Medieval History, Volume III,p. 594.ISBN978-0-521-36447-8.
- ^Fine, John V. A. Jr.(1991) [1983].The Early Medieval Balkans: A Critical Survey from the Sixth to the Late Twelfth Century.Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press. p. 184.ISBN0-472-08149-7..
- ^Reuter, Timothy (1999).The New Cambridge Medieval History, Volume III,p. 584.ISBN978-0-521-36447-8.
- ^Gay, Jules (1904).L'Italie méridionale et l'empire Byzantin: Livre II.New York: Burt Franklin.
- ^Brett, Michael (2002). "The Fatimid Revolution (861-973) and its aftermath in North Africa".The Cambridge History of Africa,Vol.2ed. J. D. Fage; Roland Anthony Oliver. Cambridge University Press. p. 622.