976

By place

Byzantine Empire

• January 10 - Emperor John I Tzimiskes dies at Constantinople, after returning from a second campaign against the Abbasids in Syria. He is buried in the Church of Christ Chalkites, and succeeded by his 18-year-old nephew Basil II, who becomes sole ruler of the Byzantine Empire. The administration remains in the hands of Basil Lekapenos.

Europe

• June - Emir Abu'l-Qasim launches a raiding expedition into Byzantine Italy from Sicily. He imposes a tribute on the cities of Cosenza and Cellere. Meanwhile, a Fatimid fleet assaults the Apulian coast and raids the surrounding countryside. Abu'l-Qasim sends an army to Otranto and besieges Gravina, before returning to Sicily – bringing home hundreds of captives and slaves.
• July - Emperor Otto II occupies Regensburg, forcing his rebellious cousin Henry II to flee to Bohemia. Henry is deposed and Bavaria is handed over to Otto I of Swabia. He sets up the new "Grand Duchy of Carinthia" covering modern-day Austria.
• Summer - Otto II appoints Leopold I, a member of the House of Babenberg, as margrave of the Marcha Orientalis. In order to maintain his possession in Southern Italy, Otto strengthens his army with 2,100 mailed horsemen from Germany, of which around 1,500 are to be provided by the Churches.
• Summer - Pietro IV Candiano, doge of Venice, demands Venetian assistance to put down a revolt in his personal fiefs around Ferrara. The Venetians also revolt against Candiano and assault the doge's palace. Repelled by mercenary forces, they burn the neighborhood – bringing the palace down with it. Candiano and his family escape, but are killed by the mob.
• October 16 - Caliph Al-Hakam II dies after a 15-year reign in which he has ended the Fatimid Caliphate in Morocco and made the University of Córdoba the greatest institution in the world. Al-Hakam is succeeded by his 10-year-old son Hisham II as ruler of the Caliphate of Córdoba. His widow Subh becomes regent together with Almanzor the de facto rulers.

China

• November 14 - Emperor Taizu dies at Kaifeng after a 16-year reign. He is succeeded by his brother Tai Zong as ruler of the Song Dynasty. During his rule the Yuelu Academy is founded, which becomes one of the renowned academies.
• Zhang Sixun, a Chinese astronomer and engineer, employs the use of liquid mercury, in order that the escapement mechanism of his astronomical clock can function, and metal parts will not rust by using hydraulics, or freeze in winter.