979

By place

Byzantine Empire

• March 24 - Second Battle of Pankaleia: An Ibero-Byzantine expeditionary force, under General Bardas Phokas, inflicts a crushing defeat on the rebels of General Bardas Skleros, at Sarvenis. Skleros manages to escape, and finds shelter with his Muslim allies. The rebellion is subdued without difficulty.

  Europe

• 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.
• June 8 - Louis V, nicknamed le Fainéant, 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 on the Senne River.

  England

• Tynwald, the parliament of the Isle of Man, is founded. It remains active as the longest continuous parliament in the world.

  Africa

• Jawhar as-Siqilli is dismissed as vizier of Egypt after an unsuccessful campaign in Syria. He is replaced by Ya'qub ibn Killis.

  China

• Battle of Gaoliang River: Emperor Tai Zong leads an expedition into You Prefecture. The Liao Dynasty counter-attacks and defeats the Song forces near modern-day Beijing.
• 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.