980s

The980sdecade ran from January 1, 980, to December 31, 989.

Events

980

By place

Europe

• Peace is concluded between EmperorOtto II(the Red) and KingLothair III(orLothair IV) atMargut,ending theFranco-German war of 978–980.Lothair renounces his claim onLower Lorraine,while Otto promises to recognize Lothair's sonLouis Vas the rightful heir of theWest Frankish Kingdom.
• June 11–Vladimir I(the Great), grand prince ofKiev,consolidates the Kievan realm from modernUkraineto theBaltic Sea.Vladimir is proclaimed ruler (knyaz) of allKievan Rus'.
• Fall – Otto II sets off on his first expedition toItaly.He leaves the government in the hands of ArchchancellorWilligis.Otto is accompanied by his wife, EmpressTheophanu.
• Winter – Otto II celebratesChristmaswith his family atRavenna.He receives theIron Crown of Lombardyas theKing of Italy.
• KingHarald Bluetoothorders the construction of theViking ring fortressofTrelleborg(modernDenmark).

England

• Vikingraids fromScandinaviathreaten the southernEnglishcoast after a pause of 25 years.Hampshireand theIsle of Thanetare ravaged.

Arabian Empire

• TheDari dialect(which will become the major language ofPersia) is developed in the royal courts of theSamanid EmpireinCentral Asia.

Africa

• TheKilwa Sultanate,centered atKilwa(an island off modernTanzania), is founded byAli ibn al-Hassan Shirazi,Persian prince ofShiraz.

By topic

Religion

• Notker(orNotger), FrankishBenedictinemonk and bishop, founds thePrince-Bishopric of Liège(modernBelgium) which will remain an independent state inside theHoly Roman Empirefor more than 800 years.

981

By place

Europe

• Spring – EmperorOtto II(the Red) leads the imperial court toRome,making the city his imperial capital, and receivesnoblesfrom all parts ofWestern Europe.Otto makes plans to conquerByzantine Italy.
• Fall – Otto II departs with an expeditionary force from Rome, and invadesApulia(SouthernItaly) to punish theSaracens.He demands a fleet fromPisa,and imposes atrade embargoagainstVenice.
• Al-Mansur,thede factoruler ofAl-Andalus,conquers and razes the city ofZamora,as part of his effort to seize theChristian-dominated north of theIberian Peninsula.

Asia

• Summer –Seongjongascends the throne ofGoryeo(Korea) after the death of his brother-in-law (and cousin), kingGyeongjong.
• The first recordedMahamastakabhishekaceremony, of the sacred 57 foot (17 m) highmonolithicstatue ofBahubali,is performed.
• TheGommateshwara statueis built byChavundaraya,minister and commander of theGanga Dynasty,inIndia(approximate date).

By topic

Exploration

• Erik the RedleavesNorway,to survey west ofIcelandinVikinglongships,that carry nearly 700 people with cattle, horses, and other necessities for starting acolonyon the island. Erik finds land and calls itGreenland.

Religion

• Spring – PopeBenedict VIIdissolves theSlavicbishopric of Merseburg,after conferring with Otto II. He issues anencyclical,forbidding the exaction of money for the conferral of anyHoly Order(known assimony).

Commerce

• The first commercially madeshaving soapsells for 3dirhams(0.3dinars).

982

By place

Europe

• Summer – EmperorOtto II(the Red) assembles an imperial expeditionary force atTaranto,and proceeds along the gulf coast towardsCalabria.In the meantime, EmirAbu'l-Qasim(Kalbid) of theEmirate of Sicilydeclares aHoly War(jihad) against the Germans, but his forces retreat when he notices the unexpected strength of Otto's troops (not far fromRossano).
• July 13(or14) –Battle of Stilo:Abu'l-Qasim is cornered by the imperial German forces led by Otto II atCape Colonna(south ofCrotone). After a violent clash, the German heavy cavalry destroys the Muslim centre, killing al-Qasim in the initial fighting. TheSaracenshold together and draw Otto into a trap, encircling and defeating his forces (killing around 4,000 men).
• KingHarald BluetoothinvadesNorway,pillaging southwest Norway all the way toStad,where he encountersHaakon Sigurdsson(thede factoruler of Norway) and his army. He flees back toDenmark,ending the invasion.

Asia

• 'Adud al-Dawla,emir (king of kings) of theBuyid Dynasty,concludes a 10-yearpeace treatywith theByzantine Empire.He establishes what will soon become the most importanthospitalofBaghdad.
• TheIndianRashtrakuta Dynastyends as its last rulerIndra IVcommitsSallekhana(theJainreligious practice of voluntarily starving oneself to death).

• October 13–Chinese EmperorJingzongdies in camp during a hunting trip after a 13-year reign. He is succeeded by his 11-year-old son,Shengzong,as ruler of theKhitan-ledLiao Dynasty.His mother, Empress DowagerXiao Yanyanbecomes theregent.

By topic

Exploration

• Erik the Redestablishes the firstVikingcolonies inGreenland(see981).

Religion

• Adalbertbecomes bishop ofPragueafter the death ofDětmar(orDietmar).

983

By place

Europe

• Summer –Diet of Verona:EmperorOtto II(the Red) declares war against theByzantine Empireand theEmirate of Sicily.He assembles a large expeditionary force for a renewal of an invasion inCalabria(SouthernItaly). Otto gifts theRheingau( "Rhine District" ) to theArchbishopric of Mainzduring the 'Veronese donation'.Otto IIIis elected king of Germany and Italy.
• Great Slav Rising:ThePolabian Slavs(Wends), mainlyLuticiandObotritetribes living east of theElbe Riverrevolt againstChristianityand their subjugation to the German (formerEast Frankish) realm of theHoly Roman Empire.They invade northernGermany,sacking the cities ofHavelberg,BrandenburgandHamburg.
• KingHarald Bluetoothrebels against the overlordship of Otto II. A DanishVikingarmy under his sonSweyn Forkbeardinvades theMarch of Schleswig– along the northern border of modernDenmark.TheSorb Slavsin northern Germany overrun and conquer theMarch of Zeitz(Marca Geronis) fromSaxoncontrol.
• December 7– Otto II dies from afeverin his palace atRomeafter a 10-year reign. He is succeeded by his 3-year-old son, Otto III.
• December 25– Otto III is crowned atAachenby ArchbishopsWilligis of MainzandJohn X of Ravenna.The Holy Roman Empire comes under theregencyof his mother, Empress consortTheophanu.

Arabian Empire

• March 26–'Adud al-Dawla,ruler (emir) of theBuyid Dynasty,dies after a 34-year reign. He is succeeded by his 20-year-old sonSamsam al-Dawla,who is recognised by theAbbasid Caliphate.During al-Dawla's rule his dominions are divided through civil war and revolts (until987).
• Fall –Fatimidtroops under the defectingHamdanidgovernor ofHoms,Bakjur,attackAleppo(modernSyria), but are repulsed through the intervention of the Byzantine army.Bardas Phokas(the Younger) sacks the city, while Bakjur flees to Fatimid territory inEgypt.

China

• EmperorSheng Zongof theKhitan-ledLiao Dynastyleads an expeditionary force against theZubuafter they killed their ownkhanand begin to act in defiance of the Khitan.
• One of theFour Great Books of Song,the encyclopediaImperial Readings of the Taiping Erais completed in 1,000 volumes, of 4.7 million writtenChinese characters.

By topic

Religion

• July 10– PopeBenedict VIIdies after a 9-year reign. Otto II secures the election of the imperial chancellor and appointsJohn XIVas the 136thpopeof theCatholic Church.

984

By place

Europe

• Spring – German boy-kingOtto III(4 years old) is seized by the deposedHenry II, Duke of Bavaria( "the Wrangler" ), who has recovered his duchy and claims theregencyas a member of theOttonian Dynasty.But Henry is forced to hand over Otto to his mother, empress consortTheophanu.
• KingRamiro III of Leónloses his throne toBermudo II(the rival king ofGalicia), who also becomes ruler of the entireKingdom of León(modern-daySpain).

Japan

• Fall –Emperor En'yūabdicates the throne in favor of his 16-year-old sonKazanafter a 15-year reign. En'yū retires and becomes aBuddhistpriest.

By topic

Technology

• Qiao Weiyue,a Chinese engineer, innovates the first known use of the double-gated canalpound lockduring theSong dynasty,for adjusting different water levels in segments of theGrand CanalinChina.

Religion

• August 20– PopeJohn XIVdies a prisoner in theCastel Sant'AngeloatRomeafter a 1-year reign, having either been murdered orstarvedto death.
• Anti-PopeBoniface VIIreturns fromConstantinopleand gains support from the powerful RomanCrescentiifamily. He takes hold of thepapal throne.

985

By place

Europe

• Summer –Henry II(the Wrangler) is restored as duke ofBavariaby EmpressTheophanuand her mother-in-lawAdelaideat anHoftagassembly inRohr(Thuringia). KingOtto III(5-years old) remains under theregencyof the two empresses in theHoly Roman Empireand in theKingdom of Italy.
• Battle of Fýrisvellir:KingEric the Victoriousdefeats a SwedishVikingarmy underStyrbjörn the Strong(his nephew) nearUppsala.
• July 6– The city ofBarcelonais sacked byMoorishtroops underAl-Mansur,thede factoruler ofAl-Andalus(modern-daySpain).

England

• LadyWulfrun,an Anglo-Saxonnoblewoman,is granted land by KingÆthelred II(the Unready). She foundsHeantunethat later becomes the city ofWolverhamptonin theWest Midlands.

Asia

• Raja Raja Chola I(considered by many as the greatest emperor of the Chola Empire) becomes ruler of theChola Dynasty.During his reign he expands his domains beyondSouth India.

By topic

Exploration

• Greenlandis colonized by theIcelandicVikingErik the Red(according tolegend,but has been established as approximately correct – seeHistory of Greenland).

Religion

• July 20– Anti-PopeBoniface VIIdies under suspicious circumstances atRome.He is succeeded byJohn XVas the 137thpopeof theCatholic Church.
• AmalfitanBenedictinesfound the only Latin Christian monastery onMount Athoswith the support ofJohn the Iberian.The monastery will last until 1287.

986

By place

Byzantine Empire

• August 17–Battle of the Gates of Trajan:EmperorBasil IIleads aByzantineexpeditionary force (30,000 men) against the Bulgarians to capture the fortress city ofSredets.After asiegeof 20 days, Basil is forced to retreat from theSofia Valleytowards the town ofIhtiman(through a passage known as theGate of Trajan). The Bulgarians under TsarSamuelambush and defeat the Byzantine forces. Only the eliteVarangian Guardescapes with heavy casualties and leads Basil to safety through secondary routes.

Europe

• March 2– KingLothair III(orLothair IV) dies after a 32-year reign atLaon.He is succeeded by his 19-year-old sonLouis Vas ruler of theWest Frankish Kingdom.
• Summer:Al-Mansur,thede factoruler ofAl-Andalus,continues his effort in the north of theIberian Peninsulaand plunders the city ofCoimbra(modernPortugal).
• EmpressTheophanu,accompanied by the 6-year-old KingOtto IIIandHenry II of Bavaria,leads a campaign againstBohemiaand theSlavson theElbefrontier.
• Mieszko I,duke (de facto) ruler ofPoland,pledges his allegiance to Otto III and theHoly Roman Empire.He promises assistance in Otto's war against the Slavs.
• Battle of Hjörungavágr:TheEarls of LadeunderHaakon Sigurdsson(the Powerful) defeat a Danish invasion force led by theJomsvikingsin westernNorway.
• Winter – KingHarald II(Bluetooth) dies after a 28-year reign (driven intoexile). He is succeeded by his sonSweyn Forkbeardas ruler ofDenmarkand Norway.

Arabian Empire

• Winter –Sabuktigin,emir of theGhaznavid Dynasty,invadesIndia.He expands the emirate between theKabul Valleyand theIndus Riverafter defeating KingJayapala.

Asia

• EmperorKazanabdicates the throne after a political struggle from theFujiwarafamily. He is succeeded by his 6-year-old cousinIchijōas the 66th emperor (tennō) ofJapan.
• Summer – Chi Go Pass Campaign: TheSong Dynastysends armies on three fronts against theLiao Dynastyin theSixteen Prefectures,but they are defeated on all fronts.

By topic

Exploration

• Bjarni Herjólfsson,aNorse-Icelandicmerchant captain and explorer, becomes the first inhabitant of theOld Worldto discover the mainland of theAmericas.

Literature

• One of theFour Great Books of Song,the Chinese encyclopediaFinest Blossoms in the Garden of Literatureis finished, with a total of 1,000 volumes.

987

By place

Byzantine Empire

• February 7–Bardas Phokas(the Younger) andBardas Skleros,two members of the military elite, begin awide-scale rebellionagainst EmperorBasil II.They overrunAnatolia,and Phokas declares himself Emperor. Basil applies for military assistance from PrinceVladimir the Great,ruler ofKievan Rus',who agrees to help him and sends aVarangianarmy (6,000 men).

Europe

• Al-Mansur,thede factoruler ofAl-Andalus,occupies the city ofCoimbra(modernPortugal).
• July 3– After the last Carolingian king ofWest Francia,Louis V,had died in May,Hugo Capetis crowned king atNoyon.
• December– The 15-year-oldRobert(the son of Hugh Capet) is crowned co-ruler of France aroundChristmasatOrléans.
• The population ofBarirevolts against theByzantine Empire.

Africa

• TheZirid Dynastyfails to reconquer the western part of theMaghreb(Land of Atlas), which they have recently lost to theUmayyad Caliphate.

988

By place

Byzantine Empire

• Fall – EmperorBasil II,supported by a contingent of 6,000Varangians(the futureVarangian Guard), organizes the defences ofConstantinopleto meet a threat from the insurgents,Bardas Phokas the YoungerandBardas Skleros.Basil crosses theBosphorus,and leads a surprise attack on the rebel camp ofKalokyros Delphinas,atChrysopolis.Delphinas is captured and executed, either bycrucifixionor byimpalement(approximate date).

Europe

• April 1– 16-year oldRobert II of France( "Robert the Pious" ) is married to the much olderRozala(the widow ofArnulf II). Themarriageis arranged by Robert's father, KingHugh Capet,to secure the loyalty of theCounty of Flanders.
• Borrell II,count ofBarcelona,does not renew his allegiance to Hugh Capet. He becomes ade factoindependent ruler, and starts minting its own currency – this will be confirmed legally by theTreaty of Corbeil (1258).
• Charles, Duke of Lower Lorraine(younger brother of the late KingLothair of France), revolts against Hugh Capet. He conquers the city ofLaonin northernFrancewith support of his half-brotherArnulf (archbishop of Reims).
• Almanzor(Al-Mansur),de factoruler ofAl-Andalus,continues his offensive against the kingdoms ofLeónandCastile.KingBermudo IIescapes toZamora;the city resists for four days, but is finally sacked and captured.

China

• TheLiao dynastyadoptscivil serviceexaminationsin the 'Southern Chancellery', based onTang dynastymodels (approximate date).

By topic

Religion

• Grand PrinceVladimir the Great,ruler ofKievan Rus',marriesAnna Porphyrogenita(sister of Basil II) and converts toChristianity.He is baptized atChersonin theCrimea,taking the Christian name of Basil (in honor of his brother-in-law). Vladimir returns in triumph toKiev,and begins theChristianization of Kievan Rus'to theEastern Orthodox Church.
• TheMezhyhirskyi Monastery(located on theDnieper River) is founded byMichael I,firstmetropolitan bishopof Kiev. He arrives with Greekmonksfrom Constantinople.

Economy

• March 18– The city ofOdense(located on the island ofFunen) inDenmarkis founded. KingOtto IIIgrantstraderights and to the neighbouring settlements.

989

By place

Byzantine Empire

• EmperorBasil IIuses his contingent of 6,000Varangiansto help him defeatBardas Phokas(the Younger), who suffers a seizure during thesiegeofAbydos(threatening to blockade theDardanelles). Phokas dies, ending the revolt and threat toConstantinople.Upon Phokas' death, the other rebel leaderBardas Skleros(who is captured andblinded) yields to Basil's superior forces.

Europe

• Summer –Charles,Duke ofLower Lorraine,captures the city ofReimsby treachery of its new archbishop,Arnulf(theillegitimateson of the late KingLothair III). KingHugh I(Capet), demands that PopeJohn XVdisciplines Arnulf. But John XV, not wishing to defy EmpressTheophanurefuses.
• Winter – Theophanu arrives with her son, KingOtto IIIinRometo meet John XV.Crescentius II(the Younger) offers his submission to theHoly Roman Empire,in return for which she confirms his title aspatricianof Rome.

By topic

Religion

• Council of Charroux:French bishops under thepatronageofWilliam IV,duke ofAquitaine,declare the firstPeace of God(orPax Dei). This agreement grants immunity from violence to noncombatants (peasants andclergy) who can not defend themselves.

Art

• October 25– TheHagia Sophiaat Constantinople is struck by a greatearthquake,causing the collapse of the westerndomearch. Basil II asks theArmenianarchitectTrdat,the creator of theCathedral of Ani,to direct the repairs.

Education

• Sankore Madrasah,at this stage a mosque, founded in Timbuktu (modern-dayMali).

Astronomy

• September –Halley's Cometis atperihelion.

Significant people

• At-Ta'i
• Pope John XV

Births

980

• July 5–Mokjong,king ofGoryeo(Korea) (d.1009)
• July 15–Ichijō,emperor ofJapan(d.1011)
• Abu Mansur al-Baghdadi,Persian scholar (d.1037)
• Abu 'Ubayd al-Juzjani,Persian physician (d.1070)
• Adalbero,Germannobleman(approximate date)
• Avicenna,Persianpolymath(approximate date)
• Baldwin IV(the Bearded), French nobleman (d.1035)
• Bardo,Germanabbotand archbishop (approximate date)
• Benedict VIII,pope of theCatholic Church(d.1024)
• Einar Thambarskelfir,Norwegian nobleman (d.1050)
• Ekkehard IV,Swiss chronicler (approximate date)
• Farrukhi Sistani,Persianpoet(approximate date)
• Geoffrey I,French nobleman (d.1008)
• Herman I,German nobleman (approximate date)
• Humbert I,founder of theHouse of Savoy(approximate date)
• Pope Nicholas II,pope of theCatholic Church(d.1061)
• Olof Skötkonung,king ofSweden(approximate date)
• Otto III,Holy Roman Emperor (d.1002)
• Sviatopolk I,Grand Prince ofKiev(approximate date)
• Tancred of Hauteville,Norman nobleman (d.1041)
• Theodora Porphyrogenita,Byzantine empress (d.1056)
• Xuedou Chongxian,ChineseBuddhistmonk (d.1052)

981

• Abu'l-Qasim al-Husayn ibn Ali al-Maghribi,Arab statesman (d.1027)
• Giovanni Orseolo,Venetiannobleman(d.1006)
• Li Deming,Chinese general and rebel leader (d.1032)
• Theodora,Empress of theEastern Roman Empire(d.1056)
• Torstein Knarresmed,NorseVikingwarrior (approximate date)
• Vladivoj,duke ofBohemia(approximate date)

982

• Atiśa,BengaliBuddhistreligious leader (d.1054)
• Dirk III(orTheodoric), count ofHolland(d.1039)
• Judith of Brittany,duchess ofNormandy(d.1017)

983

• Abd al-Rahman Sanchuelo,Umayyad chief minister (d.1009)
• Anthony of Kiev,Rus'monkand saint (d.1073)
• Gunnlaugr Ormstunga,Icelandicpoet(approximate date)
• Odo II,Frenchnoblemanand pretender (d.1037)
• Wulfnoth Cild,Anglo-Norse nobleman (approximate date)

984

• Abu al-Qasim Muhammad ibn Abbad,founder of theAbbadid dynasty(d.1042)
• Choe Chung,KoreanConfucianscholar andpoet(d.1068)
• Emma of Normandy,noblewoman, queen consort ofEngland(twice),DenmarkandNorway(d.1052;approximate date)

985

• August 13–Al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah,Fatimid caliph (d.1021)
• Adalbert,margrave ofAustria(approximate date)
• Boniface III,margrave ofTuscany(approximate date)
• Gilbert Buatère,Normannobleman(approximate date)
• Gisela(orGizella), queen ofHungary(d.1065)
• John Gualbert,Italian monk andabbot(d.1073)
• Hamza ibn 'Ali ibn-Ahmad,founding leader of theDruze
• Maria of Amalfi,Lombard duchess andregent
• Osmond Drengot,Norman nobleman (approximate date)
• Pilgrim,archbishop ofCologne(approximate date)
• Radbot,German nobleman (approximate date)
• Rodulfus Glaber,French monk andchronicler(d.1047)
• Theobald II,French nobleman (approximate date)
• Wazo,bishop ofLiège(approximate date)
• Zhao Yuanyan,prince of theSong Dynasty(d.1044)

986

• Al-Qushayri,PersianSufischolar and theologian (d.1072)
• Æthelstan Ætheling,son ofÆthelred II(the Unready) (d.1014)
• Bezprym(orBesfrim), duke ofPoland(approximate date)
• Constance of Arles,French queen (approximate date)
• Lê Long Đĩnh,emperor of theLê Dynasty(d.1009)
• Poppo,archbishop ofTrier(approximate date)
• Reginald I,count palatine ofBurgundy(d.1057)

987

• Al-Mahdi al-Husayn,ZaidiimamofYemen(d.1013)
• Ibn Hayyan,Moorish writer andhistorian(d.1075)
• Li,imperial consort of theSong Dynasty(d.1032)
• Liu Yong,Chinesepoetof the Song Dynasty (d.1053)

988

• Ali ibn Ridwan,Arabphysicianandastrologer(d.1061)
• Matilda of Swabia,Germannoblewoman(d.1032)
• Minamoto no Yoriyoshi,Japanese nobleman (d.1075)
• Nōin,Japanese monk andwakapoet (d.1051)
• Pang Ji,chancellor of theSong Dynasty(d.1063)
• Shōshi,empress consort ofJapan(d.1074)
• Stephen I,king ofCroatia(approximate date)
• Tilopa,Indiantantric practitioner(d.1069)

989

• September 5–Fan Zhongyan,chancellor of theSong Dynasty(d.1052)
• Adémar de Chabannes,Frenchmonkand historian (d.1034)
• Al-Jayyānī,Arab scholar andmathematician(d.1079)
• Chaghri Beg,co-ruler of theSeljuk Empire(d.1060)
• Regelinda,margravine ofMeissen(approximate date)

Deaths

980

• February 15–Berthold,German nobleman (approximate date)
• September 28–Minamoto no Hiromasa,Japanese nobleman (b.918)
• Dado(orDodon), Italian nobleman (approximate date)
• Domnall ua Néill(orDonal O'Neill), High King ofIreland
• Eoghan Ua Cathain,abbot ofClonfert(Ireland)
• Gunnhild,NorwegianVikingqueen (approximate date)
• Ibn Khalawayh,Persian scholar andgrammar(or981)
• Liu Chang,emperor ofSouthern Han(b.942)
• Yaropolk I,Grand Prince of Kiev (approximate date)

981

• February 12–Ælfstan,bishop of Ramsbury
• June 20–Adalbert,archbishop ofMagdeburg
• July 9–Ramiro Garcés,king ofViguera(Spain)
• July 12–Xue Juzheng,Chinesescholar-officialand historian
• August 13–Gyeongjong,king ofGoryeo(Korea) (b.955)
• Abu'l-Faraj Muhammad,Buyidnoblemanand statesman
• Amlaíb Cuarán,Viking king ofScandinavian York
• Ibn Khalawayh,Persian scholar andgrammar(or980)
• Pandulf Ironhead,prince ofBeneventoandCapua
• Slavník,founder of theSlavník Dynasty(Bohemia)
• Wigger I,German nobleman (approximate date)
• Zhao Defang,prince of theSong Dynasty(b.959)

982

• January 2–Dětmar(orDietmar), bishop ofPrague
• July 13(or14) –Battle of Stilo:
  • Abu'l-Qasim,KalbidemirofSicily
  • Gunther,margrave ofMerseburg
  • Henry I,bishop ofAugsburg
  • Landulf IV,Lombard prince
  • Pandulf II,Lombard prince
• October 13–Jing Zong,emperor of theLiao Dynasty(b.948)
• November 26–Matilda,queen ofBurgundy(or981)
• Abu'l Haret Muhammad,Farighunid ruler (approximate date)
• Abu'l-Husain Utbi,Samanidvizier
• Al-Hasan ibn Ubayd Allah ibn Tughj,Ikhshidid prince andregent
• Eadwine,ealdorman ofSussex(approximate date)
• Gao Huaide,Chinese general (b.926)
• Indra IV,Rashtrakuta ruler (India)
• Jordan,bishop ofPoland(or984)
• Otto I,duke ofSwabiaandBavaria(b.954)
• Senorina,Galicianabbessand saint
• Shabbethai Donnolo,Jewish physician (b.913)
• Wang Pu,Chinesechancellor(b.922)

983

• March 26–'Adud al-Dawla,ruler of theBuyid Dynasty(b.936)
• July 10–Benedict VII,pope of theCatholic Church
• December 7–Otto II,Holy Roman Emperor (b.955)
• Aed Ua Dubhda,king ofUí Fiachrach(Ireland)
• Ælfhere,Anglo-Saxonealdorman(approximate date)
• Antony III(the Studite), patriarch ofConstantinople
• Ibrahim ibn Marzuban,ruler of theSallarid Dynasty
• Minamoto no Muneyuki,Japanese nobleman and poet
• Minamoto no Shitagō,Japanesewakapoet (b.911)
• Mu'ayyad al-Dawla,ruler of the Buyid Dynasty (b.942)

984

• July 7–Crescentius the Elder,Roman politician andaristocrat
• July 18–Dietrich I,bishop ofMetz
• August 1–Æthelwold,bishop ofWinchester
• August 20–John XIV,pope of theCatholic Church
• September 9–Warin,archbishop ofCologne
• Buluggin ibn Ziri,ruler (emir) of theZirid Dynasty
• Domnall Claen,king ofLeinster(Ireland)
• Edith of Wilton,English princess andabbess
• Eochaid Ua Floinn,Irish poet (approximate date)
• Gerberga,Frankish queen (approximate date)
• Jordan,bishop ofPoland(or982)
• Miró III,count ofCerdanyaandBesalú(b.920)
• Ragnhild Eriksdotter,NorseVikingnoblewoman
• Shi Shouxin,Chinese general (b.928)

985

• January 31–Ryōgen,Japanese monk and abbot (b.912)
• June 26–Ramiro III,king ofLeón(Spain) (b.961)
• July 20–Boniface VII,antipope of theCatholic Church
• August 25–Dietrich of Haldensleben,Germanmargrave
• Basil Lekapenos,Byzantine chief minister (b.925)
• Chen Hongjin,Chinesewarlordand general (b.914)
• Herbert III(the Old), Frankish nobleman (b.910)
• Hywel ap Ieuaf,king ofGwynedd(Wales)
• Judith,duchessregentofBavaria(b.925)
• Kishi Joō,Japanese femalewakapoet (b.929)
• Marzuban ibn Muhammad,Shaddadid emir
• Muirgus mac Domnaill,king ofUí Maine(Ireland)
• Rikdag,margrave ofMeissen(Germany)
• Tornike Eristavi,Georgian general andmonk
• Harold II(Bluetooth), king ofDenmarkandNorway

986

• March 2–Lothair III,king of theWest Frankish Kingdom(b.941)
• May 25–Abd al-Rahman al-Sufi,Persianastronomer(b.903)
• August –Yang Ye,Chinese general and governor (jiedushi)
• August 15–Minnborinus,Irish missionary andabbot
• unknown date
  • Bahram ibn Ardashir al-Majusi,Buyid official and general
  • Cadwallon ab Ieuaf,king ofGwynedd(Wales)
• probable
  • Æthelstan Mannessune,Englishlandowner
  • Bobo,Frankish warrior andpilgrim

987

• January 10–Pietro I Orseolo,doge ofVenice(b.928)
• March 30–Arnulf II(the Younger), Frankishnobleman
• May 21–Louis V,king of theWest Frankish Kingdom
• July 13–Abu'l-Fawaris Ahmad ibn Ali,Ikhshidid governor
• July 21–Geoffrey I(Greymantle), Frankish nobleman
• September 8(approximate date) –Adalbert I, Count of Vermandois,Frankish nobleman
• November 16–Shen Lun,Chinesescholar-official

988

• February 13–Adalbert Atto,Lombard nobleman
• March988 –Ishaq ibn al-Muqtadir,Arab prince
• April 28–Adaldag,archbishop ofBremen
• May 6–Dirk II,count ofFrisiaandHolland
• May 19–Dunstan,archbishop ofCanterbury(b.909)
• October 7–Qian Chu,king ofWuyue(d.929)
• Bagrat II,prince ofTao-Klarjeti(Georgia)
• Guerech,Frankish nobleman (approximate date)
• Ieuaf(Idwal ab Idwal), king ofGwynedd(Wales)
• Judith of Hungary,queen ofPoland(approximate date)
• Kalokyros Delphinas,Byzantine general (or989)
• Sumbat II,prince of Tao-Klarjeti (Georgia)
• Vigrahapala II,ruler of thePala Empire(India)
• Yelü Sha,Chinese general andstatesman

989

• January 23–Adalbero,archbishop ofReims
• April 13–Bardas Phokas,Byzantine general
• October 5–Henry III,duke ofBavaria(b.940)
• Chavundaraya,Indian general, architect andpoet
• Chen Tuan,ChineseTaoistmonk andphilosopher
• Ch'oe Sung-no,Korean politician and poet (b.927)
• Fujiwara no Korenari,Japanese courtier (b.953)
• Fujiwara no Yoritada,Japanesenobleman(b.924)
• Glúniairn,Norse-Gael king ofDublin(approximate date)
• Gofraid mac Arailt,Norse-Gael king of theIsles(Hebrides)
• Kalokyros Delphinas,Byzantine general (or988)
• Kiurike I,king ofTashir-Dzoraget(Armenia)
• Pan,Chinese princess and wife ofZhen Zong(b.968)
• Sharaf al-Dawla,Buyid emir ofKermanandFars(b.960)