963

Events

By Place

Asia

• Turkish Khan Sebük Tigin establishes his empire in modern day Afghanistan.
• The Nanping State is forced to surrender when invaded by Song Dynasty armies.
• The Song Dynasty Chinese government attempts to ban the practice of cremation; despite this decree, the lower and middle classes continue to cremate their dead, until the government resolves the problem in the 12th century by establishing public graveyards for paupers.

Byzantine Empire

• Nicephorus I Phocas marries Theophano (10th century), widow of Emperor Romanus II.

Europe

• Holy Roman Emperor Otto I defeats Mieszko I of Poland, compelling him to pay tribute.
• Luxembourg is founded.

By Topic

Religion

• December 6 — Pope Leo VIII begins papacy as the 131st pope, a reign which initially runs concurrently with Pope John XII.

Births

• Li Jiqian, Tangut jiedushi who ruled the new Western Xia Dynasty in northwestern China (d. 1004)

Deaths

• April 3 — William III, Duke of Aquitaine
• Romanus II, Byzantine Emperor (b. 939)

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