Editing 960 (section)

=== By place ===

==== Byzantine Empire ====
* Summer &ndash; [[Siege of Chandax]]: A [[Byzantine Empire|Byzantine]] fleet with an expeditionary force (comprising about 50,000 men) under [[Nikephoros II Phokas|Nikephoros Phokas]] lands on [[Emirate of Crete|Crete]]. Nikephoros defeats the Muslim resistance and begins a [[siege]] at the capital of [[Heraklion|Chandax]]. He decides to [[blockade]] the city for the winter, while his engineers begin to construct [[siege engine]]s.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Romane|first1=Julian|title=Byzantium Triumphant|date=2015|publisher=Pen and Sword Books|location=Barnsley|isbn=978-1473845701|pages=5}}</ref> Emir [[Abd al-Aziz ibn Shu'ayb]] sends for aid by the [[Fatimid Caliphate|Fatimids]] in [[Ifriqiya]] and the [[Caliphate of Córdoba]] (modern [[Spain]]).
* [[November 8]] &ndash; [[Battle of Andrassos]]: The Byzantines under [[Leo Phokas the Younger]] defeat the [[Hamdanid dynasty|Hamdanid]] army (30,000 men) in an [[ambush]] in the passages of the [[Cilicia]]n mountains, in south [[Asia Minor]] (modern-day [[Turkey]]). Emir [[Sayf al-Dawla]] barely manages to escape, and returns to [[Aleppo]] with only 300 horsemen. The Hamdanids can no longer afford to raid in [[Anatolia]], which is a turning point in the [[Arab-Byzantine wars]] in the East.

==== Europe ====
* [[Mieszko I of Poland|Mieszko I]], a duke of the [[Piast dynasty|Piast Dynasty]], becomes prince (''[[de facto]]'' ruler) of [[Greater Poland|Poland]] on the death of his father [[Siemomysł]]. Mieszko continues to subdue the neighbouring tribes under his control. Two obstacles to this plan are the [[West Slavs|Western Slav]] tribal group, the [[Veleti]] (also known as the '''Wilzi''' or "Wolf people") who are raiding Mieszko's lands for plunder; and the [[Saxony|Saxon]] border dukes, who are pushing eastwards in search of new lands to conquer.<ref>Richard Brzezinski (1998). History of Poland: ''Old Poland, King Mieszko I'', p. 14. {{ISBN|83-7212-019-6}}.</ref> 
* [[Harald Bluetooth]], king of [[Denmark]], consolidates his rule over [[Jutland]] and [[Zealand]]. He adopts [[Christianity]], erecting a [[Jelling stones|carved stone]] at [[Jelling]] to honour his parents. It features a runic inscription (best-known in Denmark) and an image of [[Jesus|Christ]] surrounded by interlace. The other [[Scandinavia]]n kingdoms slowly convert to Christianity (approximate date).
* June/July &ndash; [[Adalbert of Italy|Adalbert II]], co-ruler and the son of King [[Berengar II of Italy|Berengar II]], with the support of Duke [[Hugh, Margrave of Tuscany|Hugh of Tuscany]], invades the [[Papal States]] under [[Pope John XII]]. With [[Lombardy|Lombard]] forces closing in on [[Rome]], a papal delegation is sent to King [[Otto I, Holy Roman Emperor|Otto I]] ('''the Great''') to appeal for assistance.
* Autumn &ndash; [[Oberto I]], margrave of the [[Obertenghi]] family, takes refuge in [[Germany]]. He travels with influential Italian leaders to the Saxon court of Otto I to intervene in [[Kingdom of Italy (Holy Roman Empire)|Italy]] to protect him from Berengar II.
* [[Richard I of Normandy|Richard I]] ('''the Fearless'''), duke of [[Duchy of Normandy|Normandy]], marries [[Emma of Paris, Duchess of Normandy|Emma of Paris]]. She is the daughter of [[Hugh the Great]], former [[Duke of the Franks]]. The union gives him a permanent status to the [[House of Capet]].

==== England ====
* [[Dunstan]] receives the [[pallium]] as archbishop of [[Diocese of Canterbury|Canterbury]] from Pope John XII. He reforms monasteries and enforces the rule of [[Order of Saint Benedict|Saint Benedict]]: poverty, [[Evangelical counsels|chastity and obedience]] for monks.

==== Africa ====
* The [[Kingdom of Aksum]] (modern [[Eritrea]]) is destroyed by [[Beta Israel]] invaders, under the leadership of Queen [[Gudit]] (approximate date).

==== Asia ====
* [[February 4]] &ndash; The [[Song dynasty|Song Dynasty]] is established at [[Kaifeng]] by the 33-year-old military leader [[Emperor Taizu of Song|Zhao Kuangyin]]. He begins to unify the empire by conquering other lands and becomes the first emperor, called as '''Taizu of Song'''. The Song Dynasty will rule northern China for over 300 years (until [[1279]]).