972

Year 972 (CMLXXII) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar.

Africa

Buluggin ibn Ziri is appointed viceroy in Ifriqiya, starting the Zirid Dynasty.

The city of Satu Mare, Romania is founded.

Otto II marries Theophanu, Byzantine princess.

Battle of Cedynia: Polish duke Mieszko I defeats the Germans.

Boleslaus II the Pious succeeds Boleslav I in Bohemia.

The monastery at the site of Peterborough Cathedral is rebuilt.

Emperor John Tzimisces makes eastern Bulgaria a Byzantine dependency.

A battle between Estonian and Icelandic Vikings in Saaremaa is described in Njál's saga.

Yaropolk of Kiev succeeds Sviatoslav I in Kiev.

Pope Benedict VI succeeds Pope John XIII as pope.

Saint Eadburga is canonized.

March 27 – King Robert II of France (d. 1031)

Al-Mawardi

Ermesinde of Carcassonne, countess and regent of Barcelona (d. 1057)

Fujiwara no Yukinari

Fulk III of Anjou

Pope Gregory V

Henry II, Holy Roman Emperor

Renauld I, Count of Nevers

September 6 – Pope John XIII

Boleslav I of Bohemia

Liutprand, bishop of Cremona and historian

Sviatoslav I, Prince of Kiev

Kuya, Japanese monk of Pure Land Buddhism (b. 903).