961. Berengar finally dethroned by Otho the Great; the sovereignty of Italy passes from Charlemagne's descendants to German rulers.
962. Otho the Great, master of Italy; his coronation as emperor of the Romans by Pope John XII; establishment of the Holy Roman Empire of the German nation.
963. Nicephorus Phocas defeats the Saracens and recovers the former provinces of the empire as far as the Euphrates.
Al Hakem, Caliph of Cordova, famous as a patron of literature and learning, and who is said to have collected a library of 600,000 volumes, employs agents in Africa and Arabia to purchase or copy manuscripts.
King Edgar, England, defeats the Welsh and exacts an annual tribute of three hundred wolves' heads.
964. Pope Leo VIII is expelled; John XII reinstated, he dies soon after; Rome is besieged and captured by the Emperor, after a revolt encouraged by Berengar.
966. After 328 years' subjection Antioch is recovered from the Saracens.
Bulgaria invaded by the Russians, who also extend their dominion to the Black Sea.
Miecislas, ruler of Poland, embraces Christianity.
969. Kahira (now Cairo) built by the Fatimites, who establish a caliphate in Egypt. See "[CONQUEST OF EGYPT BY THE FATIMITES]," v, 94.