975

By place

Byzantine Empire

• Arab–Byzantine War: Emperor John I raids Mesopotamia and invades Syria, using the Byzantine base at Antioch to press southwards to Tripoli. He conquers the cities of Baalbek, Damascus, Sidon, Tiberias and Caesarea, but fails to take Jerusalem.

  Europe

• October 15 - Oberto I, an Italian count palatine, dies. The Marca Obertenga is divided among the Obertenghi family.
• Emperor Otto II leads a punitive expedition against Boleslaus II, duke of Bohemia.

  England

• July 8 - King Edgar I dies at Winchester after a 16-year reign. He is succeeded by his 12-year-old son Edward II as ruler of England.

  Africa

• December 21 - Caliph Al-Mu'izz dies in Egypt after a 22-year reign in which he has extended his realm from Sicily to the Atlantic. He is succeeded by his son Al-Aziz Billah as ruler of the Fatimid Caliphate.

  China

• Emperor Taizu conquers Hunan Province and brings the power of the military under Song control. Ending the era of the warlords.

  By topic

Religion

• March - Otto II appoints his archchancellor Willigis as archbishop of Mainz. He receives the pallium from Pope Benedict VII.