Editing 965 (section)

== Events ==
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=== By place ===

==== Byzantine Empire ====
* [[Arab–Byzantine wars#Byzantine resurgence, 863–11th century|Arab–Byzantine War]]: Emperor [[Nikephoros II Phokas|Nikephoros II]] conquers the fortress cities of [[Tarsus, Mersin|Tarsus]] and [[Mopsuestia]]. The Muslim residents abandon the defense and flee into [[Syria]]. Nikephoros completes the conquest of [[Cilicia]]; Muslim raids into [[Anatolia]] (modern [[Turkey]]) permanently cease. [[Byzantine Empire|Byzantine]] troops under General [[Niketas Chalkoutzes]] occupy [[Cyprus]], liberating the [[Greeks|Greek]] population from Muslim domination.<ref>W. Treadgold. ''A History of the Byzantine state and Society'', p. 948.</ref>
* [[Battle of the Straits]]: The Byzantine attempt to recover [[Emirate of Sicily|Sicily]] fails, when the [[Byzantine navy|Byzantine fleet]] is annihilated by the [[Fatimid Caliphate|Fatimids]]. The last Byzantine stronghold on the island, [[Rometta]], surrenders. The population is massacred, and the survivors are sold into [[Muslim slave trade|slavery]].  Caliph [[Al-Mu'izz li-Din Allah]] completes the conquest of Sicily, and establishes naval superiority in the Western [[Mediterranean Sea|Mediterranean]].

==== Europe ====
* Spring &ndash; King [[Lothair of France|Lothair III]] exploits the succession crisis in [[County of Flanders|Flanders]] and captures many cities, but is eventually repulsed by the supporters of [[Arnulf II, Count of Flanders|Arnulf II]] – the son of [[Baldwin III, Count of Flanders|Baldwin III]] and former co-ruler of Flanders. Lothair attempts to increase his influence in [[Lotharingia]], once held by the [[Carolingian dynasty]]. Emperor [[Otto I, Holy Roman Emperor|Otto I]] ('''the Great''') encourages resistance to Lothair's overtures.<ref>Jim Bradbury (2007). ''The Capetians: Kings of France, 987–1328'', p. 43 (London: Hambledon Continuum).</ref>
* [[Boleslaus I, Duke of Bohemia|Boleslaus I]] ('''the Cruel'''), duke of [[Duchy of Bohemia|Bohemia]], expands his territory into the Polish territories of [[Upper Silesia]] and [[Lesser Poland]]. By occupying the city of [[Kraków]], he controls important [[trade route]]s from [[Prague]] to [[Kyiv]] and [[Lviv]]. Prince [[Mieszko I of Poland]] makes an [[Military alliance|alliance]] with Boleslaus and marries his daughter [[Doubravka of Bohemia|Dobrawa]].<ref>Richard Brzezinski (1998). History of Poland: ''Old Poland, King Mieszko I'', p. 15. {{ISBN|83-7212-019-6}}.</ref>
* The [[Khazar]] fortress city of [[Sarkel]], located on the Lower [[Don River (Russia)|Don River]], is captured by [[Kievan Rus']] under Grand Prince [[Sviatoslav I of Kiev|Sviatoslav I]]. The city is renamed '''Belaya Vezha''' (''White Fortress'') and settled by [[Slavs]].

==== China ====
* [[July 12]] &ndash; Emperor [[Meng Chang]] of [[Later Shu]] dies after a 30-year reign. His kingdom is invaded and incorporated into the expanding [[Song dynasty]].

=== By topic ===

==== Literature ====
* [[September 23]] &ndash; [[Al-Mutanabbi]], an [[Abbasid Caliphate|Abbasid]] poet, returns from 5 years in [[Mesopotamia]]. He has lived at [[Shiraz]] under the protection of the [[Buyid dynasty|Buyid]] emir [['Adud al-Dawla]], but bandits kill him near [[An Numaniyah]] (modern [[Iran]]).

==== Religion ====
* [[March 1]] &ndash; [[Pope Leo VIII]] dies after a 13-month reign. He is succeeded by [[Pope John XIII|John XIII]] as the 133rd [[pope]] of the [[Catholic Church]].
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