Editing 972 (section)

== Events ==
<onlyinclude>

=== By place ===

==== Byzantine Empire ====
* Spring &ndash; Emperor [[John I Tzimiskes]] divides the [[Bulgaria]]n territories, recently held by the [[Kievan Rus']], into six new [[Theme (Byzantine district)|themes]]. He turns his attention to the East against the [[Abbasid Caliphate]] and its [[vassal]]s, beginning with an invasion of [[Upper Mesopotamia]]. John transfers Byzantine troops to [[Macedonia (region)|Macedonia]], and the region of [[Philippopolis (Thracia)|Philippopolis]] in [[Thrace (theme)|Thrace]], to dilute the [[Slavs]].<ref>Brian Todd Carey (2012). ''Road to Manzikert: Byzantine and Islamic Warfare 527–1071'', p. 95. {{ISBN|978-1-84884-215-1}}.</ref>
* John I removes various Bulgarian [[boyar]]s from their homes, and settles them in [[Constantinople]] and [[Anatolia]] (modern [[Turkey]]), where they are given high titles and lands.<ref>{{The Early Medieval Balkans|p=188}}</ref>
* [[John I Tzimiskes|John I]] grants a charter for the Monastic Republic of Holy [[Mount Athos]], in [[Greece]].

==== Europe ====
* Spring &ndash; Grand Prince [[Sviatoslav I of Kiev|Sviatoslav I]] is [[ambush]]ed by the [[Pechenegs]] (possibly in the service of the Byzantines) and killed during his attempt to cross the [[Khortytsia|Dnieper rapids]] (modern [[Ukraine]]). His skull is made into a [[Skull cup|drinking cup]]. Sviatoslav is succeeded by his eldest son [[Yaropolk I of Kiev|Yaropolk I]] as ruler of [[Kyiv]], which leads to a civil war with his brother [[Oleg of the Drevlyans|Oleg]].<ref>{{The Early Medieval Balkans|p=187}}</ref> 
* [[April 14]] &ndash; [[Otto II, Holy Roman Emperor|Otto II]] ('''the Red'''), joint-ruler and son of [[Otto I, Holy Roman Emperor|Otto I]] ('''the Great'''), marries the Byzantine princess [[Theophanu]] (niece or granddaughter of John I). She is crowned empress by Pope [[Pope John XIII|John XIII]] at [[Rome]]. Creating an [[alliance]] between the [[Ottonian dynasty|Ottonian Dynasty]] and the [[Byzantine Empire]] (called the [[Marriage Charter of Empress Theophanu|Tzimiscian Peace]]).<ref>Reuter, Timothy (1999). ''The New Cambridge Medieval History, Volume III'', p. 254. {{ISBN|978-0-521-36447-8}}.</ref>
* [[June 24]] &ndash; [[Battle of Cedynia]]: The [[Polans (western)|Polans]] under prince (or [[Duke]]) [[Mieszko I of Poland|Mieszko I]], defeat the German forces of the [[Duchy of Saxony|Saxon]] count [[Odo I, Margrave of the Saxon Ostmark|Odo I]] at their stronghold in [[Cedynia]] (with the help of hidden reinforcements). The battle – one of the first in [[History of Poland|Polish history]] – strengthens Mieszko's hold over Western [[Pomerania]].<ref>Richard Brzezinski (1998). History of Poland: ''Old Poland, King Mieszko I'' , p. 15. {{ISBN|83-7212-019-6}}.</ref>

==== Africa ====
* [[Buluggin ibn Ziri]] is appointed [[viceroy]] in [[Ifriqiya]] (modern [[Tunisia]]) and becomes the first ruler ([[emir]]) of the [[Zirid dynasty|Zirid Dynasty]].

=== By topic ===

==== Religion ====
* [[September 6]] &ndash; John XIII dies at Rome after a 6-year reign. He is succeeded by [[Pope Benedict VI|Benedict VI]] as the 134th [[pope]] of the [[Catholic Church]].
* The monastery at the site of [[Peterborough Cathedral]] is rebuilt by [[Dunstan]], archbishop of [[Diocese of Canterbury|Canterbury]].<ref>The most recent survey of the Anglo-Saxon history of Peterborough Abbey is in Kelly, S.E. (ed.), ''Charters of Peterborough Abbey'', Anglo-Saxon Charters 14, [[Oxford University Press|OUP]], 2009.</ref>
</onlyinclude>