971

971 was a year in the 10th century.

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Events

By Place

Europe

* Kenneth II of Scotland succeeds Culen as King, though he will not be sole king until 977.
* Saint Swithun's body is moved into an indoor shrine (he was previously buried outside). The ceremony is said to have been marred by 40 days of torrential rain.

Asia

* January 23 - In China, the war elephant corps of the Southern Han are soundly defeated at Shao by crossbow fire from Song Dynasty troops. The Southern Han state is forced to submit to the Song Dynasty, ending not only Southern Han rule, but also the first regular war elephant corps employed in a Chinese army that had gained the Southern Han victories throughout the 10th century.
* Basileus John I Tzimiskes defeats Sviatoslav I of Kiev in the Fifth Rus'-Byzantine War ("See"Battle of Dorostolon).

Births

* Kushyar ibn Labban
* Mahmud of Ghazni
* Emperor Shengzong of Liao

Deaths

* Abu Jafar Khazeni
* Culen of Scotland
* Ziri ibn Manad