List of state leaders in 972

This is a list of heads of state, government leaders, and other rulers in the year 972.

Africa

• Fatimid Caliphate – Maʻād al-Muʻizz li Dīn Allāh, Caliph (953–975)
  • Ifriqiya – Buluggin ibn Ziri, Zirid Viceroy (972–984)

Asia

• Byzantine Empire – John I Tzimiskes (Ιωάννης Α' Κουρκούας ο Τσιμισκής) (969–976)
• China –
  • Northern Song Dynasty – Emperor Taizu (960–976)
  • Dingnan – Li Kerui, Dingnan Jiedushi (967–978)
  • Northern Han – Liu Jiyuan, Emperor of Northern Han (970–979)
  • Pinghai – Chen Hongjin, Pinghai Jiedushi (963–978)
  • Southern Tang – Li Houzhu, Ruler of Southern Tang (961–975)
  • Wuyue – Qian Chu, King of Wuyue (947–978)
• Japan (Heian period) –
  • Monarch – Emperor En'yū (969–984)
  • Regent (Sesshō; Kampaku) –
    1. Fujiwara no Koretada, Sesshō (970–972)
    2. Fujiwara no Kanemichi, Kampaku (972–977)
• Korea (Goryeo Kingdom) – Gwangjong (949–975)
• Liao (Khitan Empire) – Emperor Jingzong (969–982)
• Byzantine Empire – John I Tzimisces (969–976)

Europe

• Bulgaria - Interregnum Comitopuli brothers (David, Moses, Aron, Samuil) (972–976)
• Kingdom of Burgundy - Conrad the Peaceful (937–993)
  • County of Provence -
    • Rotbold II, Count of Provence (968–1008)
    • William I, Count of Provence (968–993)
• Byzantine Empire - John I Tzimiskes (969–976)
• Caucasus
  • Kingdom of Armenia - Ashot III (953–977)
  • Kingdom of Iberia - Bagrat II (958–994)
  • Principality of Kakheti - Kvirike II (929–976)
  • Klarjeti - Sumbat II, Prince of Klarjeti (943–988)
• Kingdom of Croatia - Stephen Držislav (969–997)
• Kingdom of Denmark - Harald I (958–985/986)
• Kingdom of England – Edgar (959–975)
• West Frankish Kingdom - Lothair (954–986)
  • County of Angoulême - Ranulf (962–975)
  • County of Anjou - Geoffrey I (958–987)
  • Duchy of Aquitaine - William IV (963–995)
  • County of Blois - Theobald I (960–975)
  • Duchy of Brittany - Hoel I (c. 960–981)
  • Duchy of Burgundy - Eudes-Henry (965–1002)
  • County of Flanders - Arnulf II (965–987)
  • County of Maine - Hugh II (950–992)
  • March of Neustria - Hugh Capet (956–987)
  • Duchy of Normandy - Richard I (942–996)
  • County of Paris - Hugh Capet (956–996)
  • County of Toulouse -
    1. Raymond IV (944–972)
    2. Raymond V (972–978)
  • County of Vermandois - Adalbert I (943–987)
• Duchy of Gascony - William II (c. 961–996)
• Holy Roman Empire - Otto I the Great (962–973)
  • Duchy of Bavaria - Henry II (955–976)
  • Duchy of Bohemia -
    1. Boleslaus I (935–972)
    2. Boleslaus II (972–999)
  • Lotharingia -
    • County of Bar - Frederick I (959–978)
    • County of Frisia - Dirk II (c. 939–988)
    • County of Luxembourg - Siegfried (963–998)
    • Lower Lorraine - Richar (964–973)
    • Duchy of Upper Lorraine - Frederick I (959–978)
    • County of Mons - Richar (964–973)
  • Duchy of Saxony - Otto I the Great (936–973)
    • Billung March - Hermann Billung, Margrave of Saxony (953–973)
    • Saxon Eastern March - Odo I (965–993)
    • Northern March - Dietrich of Haldensleben (965–983)
    • March of Meissen - Thietmar (970–979)
    • March of Merseburg - Günther (965–976)
    • March of Zeitz - Wigger I (965–981)
  • Duchy of Swabia - Burchard III (954–973)
• Hungarian tribal federation -
  1. Taksony, Grand Prince of the Hungarians (c. 955– c. 972)
  2. Géza, Grand Prince of the Hungarians (c. 972–997)
• Ireland - Domnall ua Néill, High King of Ireland (956–980)
  • Ailech - Domnall ua Néill, King of Ailech (943–980)
  • Connacht - Conchobar mac Tadg, King of Connacht (967–973)
  • Uí Maine - Geibennach mac Aedha, King of Uí Maine (960–973)
  • Leinster -
    1. Murchad mac Finn, King of Leinster (966–972)
    2. Úgaire mac Túathail, King of Leinster (972–978)
  • Kingdom of Mide - Donnchad Finn mac Aeda (960–974)
  • Munster - Mathgamain mac Cennétig, King of Munster (970–976)
• Kingdom of Italy - Otto I, Holy Roman Emperor (963–973)
  • Duchy of Amalfi - Manso I (966–1004)
  • Principality of Benevento - Pandulf I (961–981)
  • Principality of Capua - Pandulf I (961–981)
  • Catepanate of Italy - Michael Abidelas (970–975)
  • Duchy of Gaeta - Gregory (963–978)
  • March of Ivrea - Conrad (965–989)
  • March of Montferrat - Otto I (967–991)
  • Duchy of Naples - Marinus II (968–992)
  • Papal States - Pope John XIII (965–972)
  • Principality of Salerno - Gisulf I (946–977)
  • Emirate of Sicily - Abū l-Qāsim ʿAlī ibn al-Ḥasan (969–982)
  • Duchy of Spoleto - Pandulf I (967–981)
  • March of Tuscany - Hugh (961–1001)
  • Republic of Venice - Pietro IV Candiano, Doge of Venice (959–976)
• Kievan Rus' -
  1. Sviatoslav I, Prince of Kiev (945–972)
  2. Yaropolk I, Prince of Kiev (972–980)
  • Principality of Polotsk - Rogvolod (c. 945–c. 978)
• Kingdom of Norway - Haakon Sigurdsson (970–995)
• Poland - Mieszko I, Duke of the Polans (c. 960–992)
• Kingdom of Alba (Scotland) - Kenneth II (971–995)
• Spain -
  • County of Barcelona - Borrell II (947–993)
  • County of Castile - García Fernández (970–995)
  • Caliphate of Córdoba - Al-Hakam II (961–976)
  • Kingdom of León - Ramiro III (966–984)
    • County of Portugal - Gonçalo I Mendes (c. 950–997)
  • Kingdom of Pamplona - Sancho II Abarca (970–994)
    • Kingdom of Viguera - Ramiro Garcés (970–c. 991)
• Kingdom of Sweden -
  • Eric the Victorious (970–995)
  • Olof (II) Björnsson (970–975) (co-ruler)
• Wales -
  • Deheubarth - Owain ap Hywel, Prince of Deheubarth (950–987)
  • Kingdom of Gwynedd - Iago ab Idwal (950–979)
  • Kingdom of Powys - Owain ap Hywel (950–987)

Middle East

• Abbasid Caliphate – Al-Muti (946–974)
• Byzantine Empire – John I Tzimiskes (Ιωάννης Α' Κουρκούας ο Τσιμισκής) (969–976)
• Persia -
  • Fars (Buwayhids) – 'Adud al-Daula, Emir (949–983)
  • Iraq (Buwayhids) – 'Izz al-Daula, Emir (967–978)
  • Mazandaran (Ziyarids) – Bisutun, Emir (967–976)
  • Jibal (Buwayhids) – Rukn al-Daula, Emir (935–976)
  • Samanids – Mansur I (961–976)
  • Seistan (Saffarids) – Wali-ud-Dawlah Khalaf I (963–1003)