Year 980 (CMLXXX) was a leap year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. Events By place Europe Peace is concluded between Emperor Otto II (the Red) and King Lothair III (or Lothair IV) at Margut, ending the Franco-German war of 978–980. Lothair renounces his claim on Lower Lorraine, while Otto promises to recognize Lothair's son Louis V as the rightful heir of the West Frankish Kingdom. June 11 – Vladimir I (the Great), grand prince of Kiev, consolidates the Kievan realm from modern Ukraine to the Baltic Sea. Vladimir is proclaimed ruler (knyaz) of all Kievan Rus'. Fall – Otto II sets off on his first expedition to Italy. He leaves the government in the hands of Archchancellor Willigis. Otto is accompanied by his wife, Empress Theophanu. Winter – Otto II celebrates Christmas with his family at Ravenna. He receives the Iron Crown of Lombardy as the King of Italy. King Harald Bluetooth orders the construction of the Viking ring fortress of Trelleborg (modern Denmark). England Viking raids from Scandinavia threaten the southern English coast after a pause of 25 years. Hampshire and the Isle of Thanet are ravaged. Arabian Empire The Dari dialect (which will become the major language of Persia) is developed in the royal courts of the Samanid Empire in Central Asia. Africa The Kilwa Sultanate, centered at Kilwa (an island off modern Tanzania), is founded by Ali ibn al-Hassan Shirazi, Persian prince of Shiraz. By topic Religion Notker (or Notger), Frankish Benedictine monk and bishop, founds the Prince-Bishopric of Liège (modern Belgium) which will remain an independent state inside the Holy Roman Empire for more than 800 years. Births July 5 – Mokjong, king of Goryeo (Korea) (d. 1009) July 15 – Ichijō, emperor of Japan (d. 1011) Abu Mansur al-Baghdadi, Persian scholar (d. 1037) Abu 'Ubayd al-Juzjani, Persian physician (d. 1070) Adalbero, German nobleman (approximate date) Avicenna, Persian polymath (approximate date) Baldwin IV (the Bearded), French nobleman (d. 1035) Bardo, German abbot and archbishop (approximate date) Benedict VIII, pope of the Catholic Church (d. 1024) Einar Thambarskelfir, Norwegian nobleman (d. 1050) Ekkehard IV, Swiss chronicler (approximate date) Farrukhi Sistani, Persian poet (approximate date) Geoffrey I, French nobleman (d. 1008) Herman I, German nobleman (approximate date) Humbert I, founder of the House of Savoy (approximate date) Pope Nicholas II, pope of the Catholic Church (d. 1061) Olof Skötkonung, king