988
Year 988 was a leap year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar.
Events
By place
Byzantine Empire
- Fall - Emperor Basil II, supported by a contingent of 6,000 Varangians, organizes the defences of Constantinople to meet a threat from the insurgents, Bardas Phokas the Younger and Bardas Skleros. Basil crosses the Bosphorus, and leads a surprise attack on the rebel camp of Kalokyros Delphinas, at Chrysopolis. Delphinas is captured and executed, either by crucifixion or by impalement.
Europe
- April 1 - 16-year old Robert II of France is married to the much older Rozala. The marriage is arranged by Robert's father, King Hugh Capet, to secure the loyalty of the County of Flanders.
- Borrell II, count of Barcelona, does not renew his allegiance to Hugh Capet. He becomes a de facto independent ruler, and starts minting its own currency – this will be confirmed legally by the Treaty of Corbeil (1258).
- Charles, Duke of Lower Lorraine, revolts against Hugh Capet. He conquers the city of Laon in northern France with support of his half-brother Arnulf (archbishop of Reims).
- Almanzor, de facto ruler of Al-Andalus, continues his offensive against the kingdoms of León and Castile. King Bermudo II escapes to Zamora; the city resists for four days, but is finally sacked and captured.
China
- The Liao dynasty adopts civil service examinations in the 'Southern Chancellery', based on Tang dynasty models.
By topic
Religion
- Grand Prince Vladimir the Great, ruler of Kievan Rus', marries Anna Porphyrogenita and converts to Christianity. He is baptized at Cherson in the Crimea, taking the Christian name of Basil. Vladimir returns in triumph to Kiev, and begins the Christianization of Kievan Rus' to the Eastern Orthodox Church.
- The Mezhyhirskyi Monastery is founded by Michael I of [Kiev (metropolitan)|Michael I], first metropolitan bishop of Kiev. He arrives with Greek monks from Constantinople.
Economy
Births
- Ali ibn Ridwan, Arab physician and astrologer
- Matilda of Swabia, German noblewoman
- Minamoto no Yoriyoshi, Japanese nobleman
- Nōin, Japanese monk and waka poet
- Pang Ji, chancellor of the Song dynasty
- Shōshi, empress consort of Japan
- Stephen I, king of Croatia
- Tilopa, Indian tantric practitioner
Deaths
- February 13 - Adalbert Atto, Lombard nobleman
- March 988 – Ishaq ibn al-Muqtadir, Arab prince
- April 28 - Adaldag, archbishop of Bremen
- May 6 - Dirk II, count of Frisia and Holland
- May 19 - Dunstan, archbishop of Canterbury
- October 7 - Qian Chu, king of Wuyue
- Bagrat II, prince of Tao-Klarjeti
- Guerech, Frankish nobleman
- Ieuaf, king of Gwynedd
- Judith of Hungary, queen of Poland
- Kalokyros Delphinas, Byzantine general
- Sumbat II, prince of Tao-Klarjeti
- Vigrahapala II, ruler of the Pala Empire
- Yelü Sha, Chinese general and statesman