# 997

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Calendar year

This article is about the year 997.  For the car, see [Porsche 997](/source/Porsche_997).

Calendar year

Years Millennium 1st millennium Centuries 9th century 10th century 11th century Decades 970s 980s 990s 1000s 1010s Years 994 995 996 997 998 999 1000 v t e

997 by topic Leaders Political entities State leaders Religious leaders Categories Births Deaths Establishments v t e

997 in various calendars Gregorian calendar 997 CMXCVII Ab urbe condita 1750 Armenian calendar 446 ԹՎ ՆԽԶ Assyrian calendar 5747 Balinese saka calendar 918–919 Bengali calendar 403–404 Berber calendar 1947 Buddhist calendar 1541 Burmese calendar 359 Byzantine calendar 6505–6506 Chinese calendar 丙申年 (Fire Monkey) 3694 or 3487 — to — 丁酉年 (Fire Rooster) 3695 or 3488 Coptic calendar 713–714 Discordian calendar 2163 Ethiopian calendar 989–990 Hebrew calendar 4757–4758 Hindu calendars - Vikram Samvat 1053–1054 - Shaka Samvat 918–919 - Kali Yuga 4097–4098 Holocene calendar 10997 Iranian calendar 375–376 Islamic calendar 386–387 Japanese calendar Chōtoku 3 (長徳３年) Javanese calendar 898–899 Julian calendar 997 CMXCVII Korean calendar 3330 Minguo calendar 915 before ROC 民前915年 Nanakshahi calendar −471 Seleucid era 1308/1309 AG Thai solar calendar 1539–1540 Tibetan calendar མེ་ཕོ་སྤྲེ་ལོ་ (male Fire-Monkey) 1123 or 742 or −30 — to — མེ་མོ་བྱ་ལོ་ (female Fire-Bird) 1124 or 743 or −29

The [Bulgars](/source/Bulgars) are put to flight at the [Battle of Spercheios](/source/Battle_of_Spercheios) (Chronicle of [John Skylitzes](/source/John_Skylitzes)).

Year **997** (**[CMXCVII](/source/Roman_numerals)**) was a [common year starting on Friday](/source/Common_year_starting_on_Friday) of the [Julian calendar](/source/Julian_calendar).

## Events

### By place

#### Japan

- [1 February](/source/1_February): Empress Teishi gives birth to Princess Shushi - she is the first child of the emperor, but because of the power struggle between Michinaga and Korechika, the empress is not allowed to go to the palace.

- [18 May](/source/18_May): The imperial court decides to pardon Korechika and Takaie, under the illness of Teishi.

#### Byzantine Empire

- [July 16](/source/July_16) – [Battle of Spercheios](/source/Battle_of_Spercheios): [Byzantine](/source/Byzantine) forces, under General [Nikephoros Ouranos](/source/Nikephoros_Ouranos), defeat the Bulgarians at the [Spercheios River](/source/Spercheios_River) in [Greece](/source/Greece). During a night battle, the Bulgarian co-ruler [Samuel](/source/Samuel_of_Bulgaria) is wounded; he and his son [Gavril Radomir](/source/Gavril_Radomir) evade capture, by feigning death among the bodies of their slain soldiers. Samuel sets off to [Bulgaria](/source/First_Bulgarian_Empire), and retreats with the remnants of his army, into the [Pindus Mountains](/source/Pindus_Mountains). Ouranos returns to [Constantinople](/source/Constantinople), with 1,000 heads of Bulgarian soldiers and 12,000 captives.[1]

#### Europe

- [Al-Mansur](/source/Almanzor), the *[de facto](/source/De_facto)* ruler of [Al-Andalus](/source/Al-Andalus), assaults and partially destroys the city of [Santiago de Compostela](/source/Santiago_de_Compostela). He is accompanied in his raid by Christian [Portuguese](/source/Portugal) lords, who all receive a share of the booty. On their way, they sack the cities of [Zamora](/source/Zamora%2C_Spain) and [León](/source/Le%C3%B3n%2C_Spain).[2]

- Summer – [Roman of Bulgaria](/source/Roman_of_Bulgaria) dies in captivity in Constantinople. He is succeeded by his brother Samuel (a member of the [Cometopuli dynasty](/source/Cometopuli_dynasty)) who takes the Bulgarian title of *[tsar](/source/Tsar)*. He possibly receives his 'imperial crown' from [Gregory V](/source/Pope_Gregory_V) (approximate date).

- King [Stephen Držislav of Croatia](/source/Stephen_Dr%C5%BEislav_of_Croatia) dies after a 28-year reign. His three sons, [Svetoslav](/source/Svetoslav_Suronja), [Krešimir III](/source/Kre%C5%A1imir_III) and [Gojslav](/source/Gojslav), open a violent contest for the throne, weakening the kingdom and allowing Samuel to encroach on the Croatian possessions along the [Adriatic](/source/Adriatic).

- Winter – Emperor [Otto III](/source/Otto_III) travels to [Italy](/source/Kingdom_of_Italy_(Holy_Roman_Empire)), leaving the government of the [Holy Roman Empire](/source/Holy_Roman_Empire) in the hands of his aunt, [Matilda of Quedlinburg](/source/Matilda_of_Quedlinburg). He is accompanied by Bishop [Gilbert of Aurillac](/source/Pope_Sylvester_II), his teacher and advisor.

- [Trondheim](/source/Trondheim) is founded by King [Olav Tryggvason](/source/Olav_Tryggvason).[3] This will function as the main city and capital of [Norway](/source/Norway), until [Bergen](/source/Bergen) is founded in [1070](/source/1070).

#### Scotland

- King [Constantine III](/source/Constantine_III_of_Scotland) dies after a 2-year reign, possibly murdered by a dynastic conflict between two rival lines of royalty. He is succeeded by [Kenneth III](/source/Kenneth_III) as sole ruler of [Alba](/source/Alba) ([Scotland](/source/Kingdom_of_Scotland)).

#### Central Asia

- [Sabuktigin](/source/Sabuktigin), founder of the [Ghaznavid dynasty](/source/Ghaznavid_dynasty), dies after a 20-year reign. He is succeeded by his son [Ismail](/source/Ismail_of_Ghazni) as emir of Ghazna. But many in the court favor his elder brother [Mahmud](/source/Mahmud_of_Ghazni).

#### China

- [May 8](/source/May_8) – Emperor [Tai Zong](/source/Emperor_Taizong_of_Song) (**Zhao Jiong**) dies at [Kaifeng](/source/Kaifeng) after a 21-year reign. He is succeeded by his son [Zhen Zong](/source/Emperor_Zhenzong) as the third ruler of the [Song dynasty](/source/Song_dynasty).

### By topic

#### Religion

- Spring – Pope [Gregory V](/source/Pope_Gregory_V) is exiled during a rebellion led by [Crescentius II](/source/Crescentius_II) (**the Younger**), patrician (the *de facto* ruler) of [Rome](/source/Rome). The Crescentii family appoints Giovanni Filagato (former tutor of Otto III) as an [antipope](/source/Antipope) under the name [John XVI](/source/Antipope_John_XVI) (or XVII), until [998](/source/998).

- [April 23](/source/April_23) – [Adalbert](/source/Adalbert_of_Prague), exiled bishop of [Prague](/source/Archdiocese_of_Prague), organises a mission to convert the [Old Prussians](/source/Old_Prussians) in north-east [Poland](/source/Greater_Poland). On his way, Adalbert is murdered by [pagans](/source/Paganism) on the [Baltic](/source/Baltic_Sea) coast. His body is bought back for its weight in [gold](/source/Gold) by Duke [Bolesław I](/source/Boles%C5%82aw_I_the_Brave) (**the Brave**).[4]

- The first documented reference of [Gdańsk](/source/Gda%C5%84sk) is made by Adalbert. During his mission he [baptises](/source/Baptism) the inhabitants of the city called *Gyddannyzc*.

## Births

- [Alan III](/source/Alan_III) (**de Bretagne**), duke of [Brittany](/source/Duchy_of_Brittany) (d. [1040](/source/1040))

- [Bertha of Milan](/source/Bertha_of_Milan), Lombard duchess and [regent](/source/Regent) (approximate date)

- [Godfrey III](/source/Godfrey_III%2C_Duke_of_Lower_Lorraine), duke of [Lower Lorraine](/source/Lower_Lorraine) (approximate date)

- [Gusiluo](/source/Gusiluo), Tibetan religious leader of [Buddhism](/source/Buddhism) (d. [1065](/source/1065))

- [Gytha Thorkelsdóttir](/source/Gytha_Thorkelsd%C3%B3ttir), Danish [noblewoman](/source/Nobility) (approximate date)

- [Ibn al-Wafid](/source/Ibn_al-Wafid), Andalusian [pharmacologist](/source/Pharmacologist) (d. [1074](/source/1074))

- [Rhys ap Tewdwr](/source/Rhys_ap_Tewdwr), king of [Deheubarth](/source/Deheubarth) (d. [1093](/source/1093))

## Deaths

- [April 23](/source/April_23) – [Adalbert of Prague](/source/Adalbert_of_Prague), Bohemian bishop

- [May 8](/source/May_8) – [Tai Zong](/source/Emperor_Taizong_of_Song), Chinese emperor (b. [939](/source/939))

- [July 23](/source/July_23) – [Nuh II](/source/Nuh_II), Samanid [emir](/source/Emir) (b. [963](/source/963))

- [August 20](/source/August_20) – [Conrad I](/source/Conrad_I%2C_Duke_of_Swabia), duke of [Swabia](/source/Duchy_of_Swabia)

- [October 6](/source/October_6) – [Minamoto no Mitsunaka](/source/Minamoto_no_Mitsunaka), Japanese [samurai](/source/Samurai) (b. [912](/source/912))

- [November 29](/source/November_29) – [Seongjong](/source/Seongjong_of_Goryeo), Korean king (b. [961](/source/961))

- [Abu Bakr Ibn Al-Qutia](/source/Abu_Bakr_Ibn_Al-Qutia), Andalusian historian

- [Constantine III](/source/Constantine_III_of_Scotland), king of [Alba](/source/Alba) ([Scotland](/source/Kingdom_of_Scotland))

- [Géza](/source/G%C3%A9za%2C_Grand_Prince_of_the_Hungarians) (or **Gejza**), Grand Prince of [Hungary](/source/Kingdom_of_Hungary)

- [Gonzalo Menéndez](/source/Gonzalo_Men%C3%A9ndez), Portuguese nobleman

- [Gonzalo Sánchez](/source/Gonzalo_S%C3%A1nchez_of_Aragon), count of [Aragon](/source/County_of_Aragon) ([Spain](/source/Spain))

- [Ibn Battah al-Ukbari](/source/Ibn_Battah_al-Ukbari), Arab theologian (b. [917](/source/917))

- [Idwal ap Meurig](/source/Idwal_ap_Meurig), king of [Gwynedd](/source/Kingdom_of_Gwynedd) ([Wales](/source/Wales))

- [Máel Coluim](/source/M%C3%A1el_Coluim%2C_King_of_Strathclyde), king of [Strathclyde](/source/Kingdom_of_Strathclyde) (Scotland)

- [Waldrada of Tuscany](/source/Waldrada_of_Tuscany), dogaressa of [Venice](/source/Republic_of_Venice)

- [Ma'mun I ibn Muhammad](/source/Ma'mun_I_ibn_Muhammad), ruler of [Khwarezm](/source/Khwarezm)

- [Roman](/source/Roman_of_Bulgaria), ruler (*[tsar](/source/Tsar)*) of the [Bulgarian Empire](/source/First_Bulgarian_Empire)

- [Sabuktigin](/source/Sabuktigin), founder of the [Ghaznavid dynasty](/source/Ghaznavid_dynasty)

- [Stephen Držislav](/source/Stephen_Dr%C5%BEislav) (**Dirzislaus**), king of [Croatia](/source/Kingdom_of_Croatia_(925%E2%80%931102))

- [Tailapa II](/source/Tailapa_II), ruler of the [Western Chalukya Empire](/source/Western_Chalukya_Empire)

- [Teresa Ansúrez](/source/Teresa_Ans%C3%BArez), queen and regent of [León](/source/Kingdom_of_Le%C3%B3n)

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** Paul Stephenson (2003). *The Legend of Basil the Bulgar-Slayer*, Cambridge University Press. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-521-81530-4](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-521-81530-4).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Collins, Roger (1983). *Early Medieval Spain*, p. 199. New York: St. Martin's Press. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-312-22464-8](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-312-22464-8).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Christine Schefte (June 20, 2012). ["Hva husker du fra 1000-årsjubileet?"](http://www.adressa.no/nyheter/trondheim/article3207238.ece) (in Norwegian). Adressa. Retrieved March 5, 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Richard Brzezinski (1990). *History of Poland*: The Piast Dynasty - Bolesław the Brave, p.16. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [83-7212-019-6](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/83-7212-019-6).

## External links

Media related to [997](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:997) at Wikimedia Commons

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [997](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/997) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/997?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.