988

Prince Vladimir I (the Great) is baptised.

Year 988 (CMLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar.

Events

By place

Byzantine Empire

• Fall – Emperor Basil II, supported by a contingent of 6,000 Varangians (the future Varangian Guard), 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 (approximate date).

Europe

• April 1 – The 16-year old Robert II (the Pious) is married to the much older Rozala (the widow of Arnulf II). The marriage is arranged by Robert's father, King Hugh I (Capet), to secure the loyalty of the County of Flanders.
• Borrell II, count of Barcelona, does not renew his allegiance to Hugh I. He becomes a de facto independent ruler, and starts minting its own currency – this will be later confirmed legally by the Treaty of Corbeil (see 1258).
• Charles, duke of Lower Lorraine (the younger brother of the late King Lothair III), revolt against Hugh I. He conquers with support of his half-brother Arnulf (archbishop of Reims) the city of Laon (Northern France).
• Al-Mansur, the 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 (approximate date).

By topic

Religion

• Grand Prince Vladimir I (the Great) marries Anna Porphyrogenita (the sister of Basil II), and converts to Christianity. He is baptized at Cherson in the Crimea, taking the Christian name of Basil (in honor of his brother-in-law). Vladimir returns in triumph to Kiev, and begins the Christianization of Kievan Rus' to the Eastern Orthodox Church.
• The Mezhyhirskyi Monastery (located on the Dnieper River) is founded by Michael I, the first metropolitan bishop of Kiev. He arrives with Greek monks from Constantinople.

Economy

• March 18 – The city of Odense (located on the island of Funen) in Denmark is founded. King Otto III grants trade rights and to the neighbouring settlements.^[1]

Births

• Ali ibn Ridwan, Arab physician and astrologer (d. 1061)
• Matilda of Swabia, German noblewoman (d. 1032)
• Minamoto no Yoriyoshi, Japanese nobleman (d. 1075)
• Nōin, Japanese monk and waka poet (d. 1051)
• Pang Ji, chancellor of the Song Dynasty (d. 1063)
• Shōshi, empress consort of Japan (d. 1074)
• Stephen I, king of Croatia (approximate date)
• Tilopa, Indian tantric practitioner (d. 1069)

Deaths

• February 13 – Adalbert Atto, Lombard nobleman
• April 28 – Adaldag, archbishop of Bremen
• May 6 – Dirk II, count of Frisia and Holland
• May 19 – Dunstan, archbishop of Canterbury (b. 909)
• October 7 – Qian Chu, king of Wuyue (d. 929)
• Bagrat II, prince of Tao-Klarjeti (Georgia)
• Guerech, Frankish nobleman (approximate date)
• Idwal ab Idwal (or Ieuaf), king of Gwynedd (Wales)
• Judith of Hungary, queen of Poland (approximate date)
• Kalokyros Delphinas, Byzantine general (or 989)
• Sumbat II, prince of Tao-Klarjeti (Georgia)
• Vigrahapala II, ruler of the Pala Empire (India)
• Yelü Sha, Chinese general and statesman

References