972

By place

Byzantine Empire

• Spring - Emperor John I Tzimiskes divides the Bulgarian territories, recently held by the Kievan Rus', into six new themes. He turns his attention to the East against the Abbasid Caliphate and its vassals, beginning with an invasion of Upper Mesopotamia. John transfers Byzantine troops to Macedonia and the region of Philippopolis in Thrace to dilute the Slavs.
• John I removes various Bulgarian boyars from their homes and settle them in Constantinople and Anatolia, where they are given high titles and lands.
• John I grants a charter for the Monastic Republic of Holy Mount Athos, in Greece.

  Europe

• Spring - Grand Prince Sviatoslav I is ambushed by the Pechenegs and killed during his attempt to cross the Dnieper rapids. His skull is made into a drinking cup. Sviatoslav is succeeded by his eldest son Yaropolk I as ruler of Kiev, which leads to a civil war between his brother Oleg.
• April 14 - Otto II, joint-ruler and son of Otto I, marries the Byzantine princess Theophanu. She is crowned empress by Pope John XIII at Rome. Creating an alliance between the Ottonian Dynasty and the Byzantine Empire.
• June 24 - Battle of Cedynia: The Polans under prince Mieszko I, defeat at their stronghold in Cedynia the German forces of the Saxon count Odo I. The battle – one of the first in Polish history – strengthen Mieszko's hold over Western Pomerania.

  Africa

• Buluggin ibn Ziri is appointed viceroy in Ifriqiya and becomes the first ruler of the Zirid Dynasty.

  By topic

Religion

• September 6 - John XIII dies at Rome after a 6-year reign. He is succeeded by Benedict VI as the 134th pope of the Catholic Church.
• The monastery at the site of Peterborough Cathedral is rebuilt by Dunstan, archbishop of Canterbury.