971

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Year 971 (CMLXXI) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar.

Events

By place

Byzantine Empire

• Theodora).^[2]
• John I returns in triumph to Constantinople. He brings along Boris II, ruler (tsar) of the Bulgarian Empire, and his family, together with the contents of the Bulgarian imperial treasury. Boris is given the Byzantine 'court title' of magistros as compensation. The Bulgarian lands in Thrace and Lower Moesia become part of the Byzantine Empire.

Europe

• Otto I 'the Great', Holy Roman Emperor, appoints his imperial secretary Willigis as chancellor (guardian of the emperor's seal), an office formerly held by Otto's brother, Archbishop Bruno I
  .

• King Cuilén (or Cuilean) is killed by Britons after a 6-year reign. He is succeeded by his nephew Kenneth II, as ruler of Alba (Scotland). He will not be sole king until 977.

Africa

• Battle of Alexandretta: The Byzantines defeat a Fatimid force (4,000 men) near Alexandretta (modern Turkey), while the main Fatimid army is besieging the fortress city of Antioch. Coupled with news of an advance against Damascus of the Qarmatians, the Fatimids are forced to lift the siege and withdraw to Egypt.

Asia

• Emperor
  Aditya Chola II, co-regent of the Chola dynasty (modern India), is murdered and succeeded by Uttama. Due to his immaturity, Arunmozhi Varman becomes the heir apparent
  .

• January 23 – A war elephant corps of the Southern Han is defeated at Shao, by crossbow fire from Song dynasty troops. The Southern Han Kingdom is forced to submit to the Song dynasty. Ending Southern Han rule, but also the first regular war elephant corps employed in a Chinese army, that had gained the Southern Han victories throughout the 10th century.

By topic

Religion

• The grave of Swithun, Anglo-Saxon bishop of Winchester, is moved into an indoor shrine (he was previously buried outside) in the Old Minster. The ceremony is said to have been marred by 40 days of torrential rain.

Births

• Kushyar Gilani, Persian mathematician and geographer (d. 1029)
• Mahmud of Ghazni, emir of the Ghaznavid Empire (d. 1030)
• Oliba, Spanish count and bishop (approximate date)
• Chola Dynasty
  at its peak

Deaths

• Aditya Chola II, prince and ruler of the Chola dynasty (India
  )
• Abū Ja'far al-Khāzin, Persian astronomer (b. 900
  )
• Anemas, Byzantine (Muslim) army commander
• Atto, bishop of Vic (Spain) (approximate date)
• Cuilén (or Cuilean), king of Alba (Scotland)
• Eraclus (or Evraclus), bishop of Liège
• Ja'far ibn Fallah, Fatimid general and governor
• Kalokyros, Byzantine patrician and pretender
• Li Jingda, prince of Southern Tang (b. 924)
• Muhammad al-Khushani, Umayyad historian
• Muhammad ibn Rumahis, Umayyad admiral
• Ordgar, English ealdorman
  and advisor
• Qian Hongzong, king of Wuyue (approximate date)
• Ziri ibn Manad, founder of the Zirid dynasty

References