997

The 168th prime number, also By place Byzantine Empire July 16 – Battle of Spercheios: Byzantine forces under General Nikephoros Ouranos defeat the Bulgarians at the Spercheios River in Greece. During a night battle the Bulgarian co-ruler Samuel is wounded, he and his son Gavril Radomir evade capture by feigning death among the bodies of their slain soldiers. Samuel sets off to Bulgaria and retreats with the remnants of his army into the Pindus Mountains. Ouranos returns to Constantinople, with 1,000 heads of Bulgarian soldiers and 12,000 captives.1 Europe Al-Mansur, the de facto ruler of Al-Andalus, assaults and partially destroys the city of Santiago de Compostella. He is accompanied in his raid by Christian Portuguese lords, who all receive a share of the booty. On their way, they sack the cities of Zamora and León.2 Summer – Roman of Bulgaria dies in captivity in Constantinople. He is succeeded by his brother Samuel (a member of the Cometopuli Dynasty) who takes the Bulgarian title of tsar. He possibly receives his 'imperial crown' from Gregory V (approximate date). King Stephen Držislav of Croatia dies after a 28-year reign. His three sons, Svetoslav, Krešimir III and Gojslav, open a violent contest for the throne, weakening the kingdom and allowing Samuel to encroach on the Croatian possessions along the Adriatic. (yes i copied this from Wikipedia please don't sue me)