Year 961 ( CMLXI) was a

common year starting on Tuesday A common year starting on Tuesday is any non-leap year (i.e. a year with 365 days) that begins on Tuesday, 1 January, and ends on Tuesday, 31 December. Its dominical letter hence is F. The most recent year of such kind was 2019 and the next one wi ...

(link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar.

Events

By place

Byzantine Empire

* March 6 – Siege of Chandax: Byzantine forces under Nikephoros II Phokas capture and pillage

Chandax Heraklion or Iraklion ( ; el, Ηράκλειο, , ) is the largest city and the administrative capital city, capital of the island of Crete and capital of Heraklion (regional unit), Heraklion regional unit. It is the fourth largest city in Gree ...

after an 8-month siege. Nikephoros massacres the population without mercy and carries them off into slavery, returning to Constantinople with Emir Abd al-Aziz ibn Shu'ayb and his family as prisoners. The island Emirate of Crete is converted into a

Byzantine theme The themes or ( el, θέματα, , singular: , ) were the main military/administrative divisions of the middle Byzantine Empire. They were established in the mid-7th century in the aftermath of the Slavic invasion of the Balkans and Muslim con ...

and the remaining Muslims are converted to Christianity.

Europe

May 26 Events Pre-1600 * 17 – Germanicus celebrates a triumph in Rome for his victories over the Cherusci, Chatti, and other German tribes west of the Elbe. * 451 – Battle of Avarayr between Armenian rebels and the Sasanian Empire take ...

–

Otto I, Holy Roman Emperor Otto I (23 November 912 – 7 May 973), traditionally known as Otto the Great (german: Otto der Große, it, Ottone il Grande), was East Francia, East Frankish king from 936 and Holy Roman Emperor from 962 until his death in 973. He was the olde ...

elects his 6-year-old son Otto II as heir apparent and co-ruler at the Imperial Diet in Worms. He is crowned at

Aachen Aachen ( ; ; Aachen dialect: ''Oche'' ; French and traditional English: Aix-la-Chapelle; or ''Aquisgranum''; nl, Aken ; Polish: Akwizgran) is, with around 249,000 inhabitants, the 13th-largest city in North Rhine-Westphalia, and the 28th- ...

, and placed under the tutelage of his grandmother

Matilda Matilda or Mathilda may refer to: Animals * Matilda (chicken) (1990–2006), World's Oldest Living Chicken record holder * Matilda (horse) (1824–1846), British Thoroughbred racehorse * Matilda, a dog of the professional wrestling tag-team The ...

and his half-brother William of Mainz. Otto's own brother Bruno I is charged with the provisional government of Lorraine again. * Summer – Otto I leads an expeditionary force into northern Italy through the

Brenner Pass The Brenner Pass (german: link=no, Brennerpass , shortly ; it, Passo del Brennero ) is a mountain pass through the Alps which forms the border between Italy and Austria. It is one of the principal passes of the Eastern Alpine range and has ...

at Trento, to assist the beleaguered young Pope John XII. He proceeds towards Pavia – King

Berengar II Berengar II ( 900 – 4 August 966) was the King of Italy from 950 until his deposition in 961. He was a scion of the Anscarid and Unruoching dynasties, and was named after his maternal grandfather, Berengar I. He succeeded his father as Marg ...

sends his son and co-ruler Adalbert II from Rome at the head of a large army to seize control of the Upper Adige and contest Otto's entry. *

October 15 Events Pre-1600 *1066 – Following the death of Harold II at the Battle of Hastings, Edgar the Ætheling is proclaimed King of England by the Witan; he is never crowned, and concedes power to William the Conqueror two months later. * 1211 ...

– Caliph

Abd-al-Rahman III ʿAbd al-Rahmān ibn Muḥammad ibn ʿAbd Allāh ibn Muḥammad ibn ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ibn al-Ḥakam al-Rabdī ibn Hishām ibn ʿAbd al-Raḥmān al-Dākhil () or ʿAbd al-Rahmān III (890 - 961), was the Umayyad Emir of Córdoba from 912 to 92 ...

dies after a 32-year reign. He is succeeded by his son Al-Hakam II as ruler of the Caliphate of Córdoba in Al-Andalus (modern Spain). *

Battle of Fitjar The Battle of Fitjar (''Slaget ved Fitjar på Stord'') took place in 961 in Fitjar at Stord in the county of Hordaland, Norway. Battle and aftermath The Battle of Fitjar at Stord was the last battle in a war between the sons of Eric Bloodaxe and ...

– A Viking force under the sons of Eric Bloodaxe lands on Hordaland. King Haakon the Good defeats the rebelling force, but is killed. Harald Greycloak becomes ruler of the western part of Norway. * The Lombard army under Adalbert II refuses to fight Otto I unless Berengar II abdicates in favor of Adalbert. Berengar refuses, and the armies retreat to their strongholds. Berengar and his family take whatever loyal soldiers remain and disperse themselves – Berengar retreats to the fortress at Montefeltro (in the

Pentapolis A pentapolis (from Greek ''penta-'', 'five' and ''polis'', 'city') is a geographic and/or institutional grouping of five cities. Cities in the ancient world probably formed such groups for political, commercial and military reasons, as happened ...

Armenia

* King Ashot III of Armenia (the Merciful) moves his capital from

Kars Kars (; ku, Qers; ) is a city in northeast Turkey and the capital of Kars Province. Its population is 73,836 in 2011. Kars was in the ancient region known as ''Chorzene'', (in Greek Χορζηνή) in classical historiography ( Strabo), part of ...

eastward to Ani (modern Turkey). Located on a major east-west

caravan Caravan or caravans may refer to: Transport and travel *Caravan (travellers), a group of travellers journeying together **Caravanserai, a place where a caravan could stop *Camel train, a convoy using camels as pack animals *Convoy, a group of veh ...

route, Ani will become larger than any European city, with a population of about 100,000 that will rival Baghdad, Cairo, and Constantinople. Ani also becomes the site of the royal

mausoleum A mausoleum is an external free-standing building constructed as a monument enclosing the interment space or burial chamber of a deceased person or people. A mausoleum without the person's remains is called a cenotaph. A mausoleum may be consid ...

of the Bagratuni kings.

By topic

Art

* The "Shroud of Saint Josse", a rich silk

Samite Samite was a luxurious and heavy silk fabric worn in the Middle Ages, of a twill-type weave, often including gold or silver thread. The word was derived from Old French ''samit'', from medieval Latin ''samitum, examitum'' deriving from the Byzant ...

camel cloth from

Khurasan Greater Khorāsān,Dabeersiaghi, Commentary on Safarnâma-e Nâsir Khusraw, 6th Ed. Tehran, Zavvâr: 1375 (Solar Hijri Calendar) 235–236 or Khorāsān ( pal, Xwarāsān; fa, خراسان ), is a historical eastern region in the Iranian Plate ...

, is made. It is preserved in the Abbey of Saint-Josse-sur-Mer, near

Caen Caen (, ; nrf, Kaem) is a commune in northwestern France. It is the prefecture of the department of Calvados. The city proper has 105,512 inhabitants (), while its functional urban area has 470,000,Normandy) (approximate date).

Religion

* The Tiger Hill Pagoda (or Huqui Tower) is built in the city of

Suzhou Suzhou (; ; Suzhounese: ''sou¹ tseu¹'' , Mandarin: ), alternately romanized as Soochow, is a major city in southern Jiangsu province, East China. Suzhou is the largest city in Jiangsu, and a major economic center and focal point of trade ...

, located in

Jiangsu Province Jiangsu (; ; pinyin: Jiāngsū, alternatively romanized as Kiangsu or Chiangsu) is an eastern coastal province of the People's Republic of China. It is one of the leading provinces in finance, education, technology, and tourism, with its ca ...

(

Eastern China East China () is a geographical and a loosely defined cultural region that covers the eastern coastal area of China. A concept abolished in 1978, for economical purposes the region was defined from 1949 to 1961 by the Chinese Central Governme ...

). * Tavistock Abbey is founded by

Ordgar, Ealdorman of Devon Ordgar (died 971) was Ealdorman of Devon in England. He was a great West Country landowner and apparently a close advisor of his son-in-law Edgar the Peaceful, king of England. His daughter Ælfthryth was King Edgar's third wife and was the mothe ...

, in England.Chisholm, Hugh (1911). " Tavistock". '' Encyclopædia Britannica'' (Eleventh Edition). Cambridge University Press, pp. 457–458.

Births

January 15 Events Pre-1600 * 69 – Otho seizes power in Rome, proclaiming himself Emperor of Rome, beginning a reign of only three months. * 1541 – King Francis I of France gives Jean-François Roberval a commission to settle the province of ...

– Seongjong, ruler of Goryeo ( Korea) (d. 997) * Al-Tha'alibi, Persian historian and writer (d.

1038 Year 1038 ( MXXXVIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. Events By place Europe * Emperor Conrad II (the Elder) travels to Southern Italy and holds court in Troia. He orde ...

) * Arnulf II, Count of Flanders (the Younger), Frankish nobleman (or 960) *

Edith of Wilton Edith of Wilton ( – 16 September 984) was an English nun, saint, and the only daughter of Edgar, King of England (r. 959–975), and Saint Wulfthryth, who later became abbess of Wilton Abbey. Edgar most likely abducted Wulfthryth from Wilto ...

, English princess and nun (approximate date) *

Fujiwara no Michikane Fujiwara no Michikane (藤原道兼; 961 – June 13, 995), the son of Kaneie, was a Japanese nobleman and monk of the Heian period. When his nephew took the throne as Emperor Ichijō in 994, he returned from monastic life and took the governme ...

, Japanese nobleman (d. 995) *

Kou Zhun Kou Zhun ( 961 – 24 October 1023), courtesy name Pingzhong, was a much-praised official in ancient China's Northern Song Dynasty. He was the chancellor from 1004 to 1006 during Emperor Zhenzong's reign. Biography Kou Zhun became a ''jinshi'' ...

, Chinese

Grand chancellor Chancellor ( la, cancellarius) is a title of various official positions in the governments of many nations. The original chancellors were the of Roman courts of justice—ushers, who sat at the or lattice work screens of a basilica or law co ...

(approximate date) * Mahendradatta, queen of

Bali Bali () is a province of Indonesia and the westernmost of the Lesser Sunda Islands. East of Java and west of Lombok, the province includes the island of Bali and a few smaller neighbouring islands, notably Nusa Penida, Nusa Lembongan, and Nu ...

( Indonesia) (d.

1011 Year 1011 ( MXI) was a common year starting on Monday of the Julian Calendar. Events By place Europe * June 11 – Lombard Revolt: Mahmoud the Fat of Bari rises up against the Lombard rebels, led by Melus, and delivers the city ...

) * Pietro II Orseolo, Doge of Venice (d.

1009 Year 1009 ( MIX) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar. Events By place Europe * February 14 or March 9 – The first known mention is made of the name of Lithuania, in connection with the murder of Bruno ...

) *

Ramiro III Ramiro is a Spanish and Portuguese name. Notable people with the name include: Given name * Ramiro I of Asturias (c. 790–850), king of Asturias * Ramiro II of León (c. 900–951), king of Leon * Ramiro III of León (961–985), king of Leo ...

, king of León ( Spain) (d. 985) *

Sigmundur Brestisson Sigmundur Brestisson (961–1005) was a Faroese Viking chieftain, and was responsible for introducing Christianity to the Faroe Islands in 999. He is one of the main characters of the Færeyinga saga. According to the Færeyinga saga, emigrant ...

, Viking chieftain (d.

1005 Year 1005 ( MV) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. Events By place Europe * Spring – The Republic of Pisa conducts a military offensive against the Saracen stronghol ...

)

Deaths

* July 17 – Du, empress dowager of the Song dynasty * August 12 – Li Jing, emperor of Southern Tang (b.

916 __NOTOC__ Year 916 ( CMXVI) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. Events By place Europe * Sicilian Berbers in Agrigento revolt and depose the independent Emir Ahmed ibn Khor ...

) * September 19 – Helena Lekapene, Byzantine empress * October 1 – Artald, archbishop of

Reims Reims ( , , ; also spelled Rheims in English) is the most populous city in the French department of Marne, and the 12th most populous city in France. The city lies northeast of Paris on the Vesle river, a tributary of the Aisne. Founded by ...

– Abd al-Rahman III, caliph of Córdoba * Abd al-Malik I, Samanid emir (b. 944) *

Abu'l-Qasim Unujur ibn al-Ikhshid Abu'l-Qasim Unujur ibn al-Ikhshid ( ar, أبو القاسم أنوجور بن الإخشيد) was the second ruler of the Ikhshidid dynasty, which ruled Medieval Egypt, Egypt, Bilad al-Sham, Syria and the Hejaz under the suzerainty of the Abbasid ...

, Ikhshidid ruler * Adarnase V, prince of

Tao-Klarjeti Tao-Klarjeti may refer to: *Tao-Klarjeti Tao-Klarjeti may refer to: * Tao-Klarjeti, part of Georgian historical region of Upper Kartli * Kingdom of Tao-Klarjeti, AD 888 to 1008 {{set index article Kingdom of Iberia Historical regions of Ge ...

( Georgia) * Atto of Vercelli, Lombard bishop (b.

885 Year 885 (Roman numerals, DCCCLXXXV) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. Events By place Europe * Summer – Emperor Charles the Fat summons a meeting of officials at ...

) *

Ava of Cerdanya Ava of Cerdanya (died 961) was countess consort of Cerdanya and Besalú. She ruled as regent during the minority of her sons from 927 until 941. Life The origin of Ada is unconfirmed. She has been suggested to be the daughter of a local aristocr ...

, countess regent of

Cerdanya Cerdanya () or often La Cerdanya ( la, Ceretani or ''Ceritania''; french: Cerdagne; es, Cerdaña), is a natural comarca and historical region of the eastern Pyrenees divided between France and Spain. Historically it was one of the counties ...

and

Besalú Besalú () is a town in the ''comarca'' of Garrotxa, in Girona, Catalonia, Spain. The town's importance was greater in the early Middle Ages, as capital of the county of Besalú, whose territory was roughly the same size as the current ''comarca' ...

* Butuga II, ruler of the Western Ganga Dynasty ( India) * Fujiwara no Masatada, Japanese poet * Haakon the Good, king of Norway *

Landulf II of Benevento Landulf II (died 961), called the Red, was the Lombard prince of Benevento and prince of Capua (as Landulf IV) from 939 or 940, when his father, Landulf I, first associated him with the government. His mother was Gemma, daughter of Athanasius of ...

(the Red), Lombard prince * Li Tao, Chinese chancellor (approximate date) * Minamoto no Tsunemoto, Japanese samurai (b. 894) * Raymond II of Rouergue, Frankish nobleman (approximate date) *

William II, Marquess of Montferrat William II (died probably around 961) was the co-Marquis of Montferrat with his father Aleram. He was the eldest son of Aleram by his first wife, name unknown. He was named after his grandfather, the head of the family, William I William I ...

, Frankish nobleman (approximate date)

References

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