996 ( CMXCVI ) was a leap year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar , the 996th year of the Common Era (CE) and Anno Domini (AD) designations, the 996th year of the 1st millennium , the 96th year of the 10th century , and the 7th year of the 990s decade. As of the start of 996, the Gregorian calendar was 5 days ahead of the Julian calendar, which was the dominant calendar of the time.

Events [ change | change source ]

• March/April ? Pope John XV dies before being able to crown Otto III , King of Germany as Holy Roman Emperor . Otto resides in Pavia while waiting for the election of the next Pope .
• May 3 ? Twenty-four year old Bruno of Carinthia , grandson of Otto I, Holy Roman Emperor and first cousin of Otto III, is elected Pope Gregory V . He is the first German Pope.
• May 21 ? Sixteen year old Otto III is crowned Holy Roman Emperor by his cousin Pope Gregory V .
• October 24 ? Hugh Capet , King of France dies and is succeeded by his son Robert II of France .
• Abu Mansoor Nizar al-Aziz Billah , fifth Caliph in Egypt dies and is succeeded by his son Al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah .
• November 1 ? Emperor Otto III issues a deed to Gottschalk, Bishop of Freising , which is the oldest known document using the name Ostarrichi ( Austria in Old High German ).
• Niujie Mosque constructed in Beijing