Editing 963 (section)

==== Byzantine Empire ====
* [[March 15]] &ndash; Emperor [[Romanos II]] dies at age 39, probably of poison administered by his wife, Empress [[Theophano (born Anastaso)|Theophano]]. He is succeeded by his infant son [[Basil II]].  Theophano becomes [[regent]] and ''[[de facto]]'' ruler, naming her other son [[Constantine VIII]] (only 3 years old) as co-emperor of the [[Byzantine Empire]].<ref>Timothy Reuter (1999). ''The New Cambridge Medieval History, Volume III'', p. 592. {{ISBN|978-0-521-36447-8}}.</ref>
* [[July 2]] &ndash; [[Nikephoros II Phokas]] is proclaimed emperor by his troops in [[Kayseri|Caesarea]]. He sends a fleet to secure the [[Bosphorus|Bosphorus Strait]] against his enemies. Chief minister [[Joseph Bringas]] gathers support and closes the gates of [[Constantinople]]. General [[Marianos Argyros]] is killed in a riot, forcing Bringas to flee.
* [[August 16]] &ndash; Nikephoros II makes a triumphal entry in Constantinople and is hailed as 'the conqueror'. He is crowned emperor in [[Hagia Sophia]].
* [[September 20]] &ndash; Nikephoros II marries the former Byzantine consort [[Theophano (born Anastaso)|Theophano]], the widow of Emperor Romanos II, bolstering his legitimacy.<ref>{{Cite book|title = History of The Byzantine State|last = Ostrogorsky|first = George|publisher = Rutgers University Press|year = 1969|isbn = 0-8135-0599-2|location = New Brunswick|page = [https://archive.org/details/historyofbyzanti00ostr/page/284 284]|url-access = registration|url = https://archive.org/details/historyofbyzanti00ostr/page/284}}</ref>