Editing 976

{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2011}}
{{About year|976}}{{For|telephone numbers beginning with 976-|area code 900}}
{{more citations needed|date=September 2018}}
{{Year nav|976}}
{{M1 year in topic}}

[[File:Histamenon nomisma-Nicephorus II and Basil II-sb1776.jpg|upright=1.35|thumb|[[Basil II]] (right) and his step-father, Emperor [[Nikephoros II Phokas|Nikephoros II]] (r. 963–969).]]
Year '''976''' ('''[[Roman numerals|CMLXXVI]]''') was a [[leap year starting on Saturday]] of the [[Julian calendar]].

== Events ==
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=== By place ===
==== Byzantine Empire ====
* [[January 10]] &ndash; Emperor [[John I Tzimiskes]] dies at [[Constantinople]], after returning from a second campaign against the [[Abbasid Caliphate|Abbasids]] in [[Syria]]. He is buried in the Church of [[Arslan Hane, Istanbul|Christ Chalkites]], and succeeded by his 18-year-old nephew [[Basil II]], who becomes sole ruler of the [[Byzantine Empire]]. The administration remains in the hands of [[Basil Lekapenos]] (an illegitimate son of the late Emperor [[Romanos I Lekapenos|Romanos I]]).

==== Europe ====
* [[June]] &ndash; Emir [[Abu'l-Qasim Ali ibn al-Hasan al-Kalbi|Abu'l-Qasim]] launches a raiding expedition into [[Longobardia|Byzantine Italy]] from [[Emirate of Sicily|Sicily]]. He imposes a [[tribute]] on the cities of [[Cosenza]] and [[Cellere]]. Meanwhile, a Fatimid fleet assaults the [[Apulia]]n coast and raids the surrounding countryside. Abu'l-Qasim sends an army to [[Otranto]] and besieges [[Gravina in Puglia|Gravina]], before returning to Sicily – bringing home hundreds of captives and slaves.
* [[July]] &ndash; Emperor [[Otto II, Holy Roman Emperor|Otto II]] ('''the Red''') occupies [[Regensburg]], forcing his rebellious cousin [[Henry II, Duke of Bavaria|Henry II]] ('''the Wrangler''') (who claims rulership over the [[Holy Roman Empire]]) to flee to [[Duchy of Bohemia|Bohemia]]. Henry is deposed and [[Duchy of Bavaria|Bavaria]] is handed over to [[Otto I, Duke of Swabia and Bavaria|Otto I]] of [[Duchy of Swabia|Swabia]] (a grandson of the late Emperor [[Otto I, Holy Roman Emperor|Otto I]]). He sets up the new "Grand [[Duchy of Carinthia]]" covering modern-day [[Austria]].<ref>Reuter, Timothy (1999). ''The New Cambridge Medieval History, Volume III'', p. 254. {{ISBN|978-0-521-36447-8}}.</ref>
* Summer &ndash; Otto II appoints [[Leopold I, Margrave of Austria|Leopold I]] ('''the Illustrious'''), a member of the [[House of Babenberg]], as margrave of the [[Margraviate of Austria|Marcha Orientalis]] (the later [[Archduchy of Austria]]). In order to maintain his possession in Southern [[Kingdom of Italy (Holy Roman Empire)|Italy]], Otto strengthens his army with 2,100 mailed horsemen ([[heavy cavalry]]) from [[Kingdom of Germany|Germany]], of which around 1,500 are to be provided by the Churches.<ref>Reuter, Timothy (1999). ''The New Cambridge Medieval History, Volume III'', p. 255. {{ISBN|978-0-521-36447-8}}.</ref>
* Summer &ndash; [[Pietro IV Candiano]], doge of [[Republic of Venice|Venice]], demands Venetian assistance to put down a revolt in his personal fiefs around [[Ferrara]]. The Venetians also revolt against Candiano and assault the doge's palace. Repelled by [[mercenary]] forces, they burn the neighborhood – bringing the palace down with it. Candiano and his family escape, but are killed by the mob.
* [[October 16]] &ndash; Caliph [[Al-Hakam II]] dies after a 15-year reign in which he has ended the [[Fatimid Caliphate]] in [[Morocco]] and made the [[University of Córdoba (Spain)|University of Córdoba]] the greatest institution in the world. Al-Hakam is succeeded by his 10-year-old son [[Hisham II]] as ruler of the [[Caliphate of Córdoba]]. His widow [[Subh of Cordoba|Subh]] becomes [[regent]] together with [[Almanzor]] the ''[[de facto]]'' rulers.

==== China ====
* [[November 14]] &ndash; Emperor [[Emperor Taizu of Song|Taizu]] ('''Zhao Kuangyin''') dies at [[Kaifeng]] after a 16-year reign. He is succeeded by his brother [[Emperor Taizong of Song|Tai Zong]] as ruler of the [[Song dynasty|Song Dynasty]]. During his rule the [[Yuelu Academy]] (located in [[Hunan|Hunan Province]]) is founded, which becomes one of the renowned academies ([[Academies (Shuyuan)|Shūyuàn]]). 
* [[Zhang Sixun]], a Chinese astronomer and engineer, employs the use of [[Mercury (element)|liquid mercury]], in order that the [[escapement]] mechanism of his [[Astronomy|astronomical]] [[clock]] can function, and metal parts will not rust by using [[hydraulic]]s (water), or freeze in winter.
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== Births ==
* [[February 5]] &ndash; [[Emperor Sanjō|Sanjō]], emperor of [[Japan]] (d. [[1017]])
* [[Izumi Shikibu]], Japanese [[Japanese poetry|poet]] (approximate date)

== Deaths ==
* [[January 10]] &ndash; [[John I Tzimiskes]], Byzantine emperor
* [[May 11]] &ndash; [[Henry I the Bald, Count of Stade|Henry I]] ('''the Bald'''), German [[Nobility|nobleman]]
* [[June 13]] &ndash; [[Mansur I]], emir of the [[Samanid Empire]]
* [[June 14]]  
** [[Aron of Bulgaria|Aron]], Bulgarian nobleman
** [[David of Bulgaria|David]], Bulgarian nobleman
** [[Moses of Bulgaria|Moses]], Bulgarian nobleman
* [[June 29]] &ndash; [[Gero (archbishop of Cologne)|Gero]], archbishop of [[Cologne]]
* [[October 8]] &ndash; [[Helen of Zadar]], queen of [[Kingdom of Croatia (925–1102)|Croatia]]
* [[October 16]] &ndash; [[Al-Hakam II]], Umayyad caliph (b. [[915]])
* [[November 14]] &ndash; [[Emperor Taizu of Song|Taizu]], Chinese emperor (b. [[927]])
* [[Al-Mansur Yahya]], Zaidi scholar and [[imam]]
* [[Isarn (bishop of Grenoble)|Isarn]], bishop of [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Grenoble-Vienne|Grenoble]] (approximate date)
* [[Kvirike II of Kakheti|Kvirike II]], Georgian prince and [[chorbishop]]
* [[Madame Huarui]], Chinese concubine and [[Chinese poetry|poet]]
* [[Mathgamain mac Cennétig]], king of [[Munster]]
* [[Pietro IV Candiano]], doge of [[Republic of Venice|Venice]]
* [[Rukn al-Dawla]], Buyid general and emir 
* [[Sun Taizhen]], queen of [[Wuyue]] ([[Ten Kingdoms]])
* [[Theodoric I of Wettin|Theodoric I]], German nobleman (approximate date)
* [[Ali ibn Muhammad al-Iyadi]], Arabic poet.
* [[Phạm Thị Trân]], Vietnamese opera singer and Mandarin (b. [[926]])

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

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