Directory

979 CE

Second Battle of Pankaleia: An Ibero-Byzantine expeditionary force, under General Bardas Phokas (the Younger), inflicts a crushing defeat on the rebels of General Bardas Skleros, at Sarvenis (modern Turkey). Skleros manages to escape, and finds shelter with his Muslim allies. The rebellion is subdued without difficulty. Louis V, nicknamed le Fainéant (the Do-Nothing), is crowned as the co-emperor of West Francia at Paris by his father, King Lothair. Upon Lothair's death on March 2, 986, Louis becomes the sole ruler. The city of Brussels is founded by Charles, duke of Lower Lorraine. He constructs fortifications (a castrum on an island) on the Senne River (modern Belgium).

Geopolitics & Diplomacy

  • Tynwald (or Tynwald Court), the parliament of the Isle of Man, is founded. It remains active as the longest continuous parliament in the world.source

Conflict & Security

  • March 24 – Second Battle of Pankaleia: An Ibero-Byzantine expeditionary force, under General Bardas Phokas (the Younger), inflicts a crushing defeat on the rebels of General Bardas Skleros, at Sarvenis (modern Turkey). Skleros manages to escape, and finds shelter with his Muslim allies. The rebellion is subdued without difficulty.source
  • Jawhar as-Siqilli is dismissed as vizier of Egypt after an unsuccessful campaign in Syria (near Damascus). He is replaced by Ya'qub ibn Killis.source
  • Battle of Gaoliang River: Emperor Tai Zong leads an expedition into You Prefecture (or Youzhou). The Liao Dynasty counter-attacks and defeats the Song forces near modern-day Beijing.source
  • Summer – Tai Zong invades the Northern Han and besieges the capital of Taiyuan. A relief force sent by the Liao Dynasty is defeated. The Kingdom is absorbed into the Song Dynasty.source

Technology & Infrastructure

  • The city of Brussels is founded by Charles, duke of Lower Lorraine. He constructs fortifications (a castrum on an island) on the Senne River (modern Belgium).source

Crime & Justice

  • Vitale Candiano, doge of Venice, abdicates for health reasons after a 14-month reign, and retires to a monastery. He is succeeded by Tribuno Memmo, a son-in-law of the murdered Pietro IV Candiano. Tribuno declares a general amnesty for everyone complicit in the plot against Pietro.source

Culture & Society

  • June 8 – Louis V, nicknamed le Fainéant (the Do-Nothing), is crowned as the co-emperor of West Francia at Paris by his father, King Lothair. Upon Lothair's death on March 2, 986, Louis becomes the sole ruler.source

Births

  • August 29 – Otto (or Eudes), French nobleman (d. 1045)source
  • Matilda, countess palatine of Lotharingia (d. 1025)source
  • Ibn al-Samh, Andalusian astronomer (d. 1035)source
  • Al-Muqtana Baha'uddin, Druze religious leader (d. 1043)source
  • Estrid (or Astrid), queen consort of Sweden (d. 1035)source
  • Fujiwara no Takaie, Japanese nobleman (d. 1044)source

Deaths

  • June 29 – Fujiwara no Koshi, Japanese empress (b. 947)source
  • August 3 – Thietmar, German noblemansource
  • August 11 – Gero, German noblemansource
  • August 26 – Zhao Dezhao, prince of the Song Dynasty (b. 951)source
  • August 29 – Abu Taghlib, Hamdanid emirsource
  • September 19 – Gotofredo I, archbishop of Milansource
  • probable – Iago ab Idwal, king of Gwyneddsource
  • Vitale Candiano, doge of Venicesource