Directory

785 CE

Ludger, Frisian missionary, visits Heligoland (Fossitesland), and destroys the remains of paganism. On his return he meets the blind bard Bernlef, last of the Frisian skalds, and cures his blindness (approximate date). The Frankish Kingdom conquers Girona and Urgell (modern Spain) from the Moors. The Franks divide Catalonia into 14 countships. Charlemagne suppresses a rebellion by count Hardrad of Thuringia. Council of Paderborn: The clergy debates the matter of the Christianization of the Saxons. They make laws against idolatry, and order the death penalty for self-appointed witch-hunters, who have caused the death of people accused of witchcraft.

Conflict & Security

  • Saxon Wars: King Charlemagne summons a major assembly of Saxon and Frankish lords at Paderborn, then leads his army across Saxony as far as the Lower Elbe, without significant resistance. Duke Widukind retreats with his 'rebel' forces beyond the Elbe, but then negotiates and exchanges hostages. Charlemagne returns to his palace at Attigny (Ardennes), followed by Widukind; here the Saxon leaders are baptized as Christians on Christmas Day. Widukind and the Saxon nobility swear fealty to Charlemagne.source
  • The Frankish Kingdom conquers Girona and Urgell (modern Spain) from the Moors. The Franks divide Catalonia into 14 countships. Charlemagne suppresses a rebellion by count Hardrad of Thuringia.source
  • King Offa of Mercia re-asserts his control of Kent, deposes his rival Egbert II, and establishes direct Mercian rule. Egbert's brother, Eadberht Præn, flees to the court of Charlemagne.source

Exploration & Expansion

  • Ludger, Frisian missionary, visits Heligoland (Fossitesland), and destroys the remains of paganism. On his return he meets the blind bard Bernlef, last of the Frisian skalds, and cures his blindness (approximate date).source

Religion & Belief

  • Caliph Muhammad ibn Mansur al-Mahdi is poisoned by one of his concubines. He is succeeded by his son Al-Hadi, who becomes the fourth ruler of the Abbasid Caliphate.source
  • Prince (or duke) Višeslav, with the support of Pope Adrian I and the Byzantine Empire, becomes ruler of Dalmatian Croatia (approximate date).source

Crime & Justice

  • Fujiwara no Tanetsugu, Japanese nobleman (chūnagon), has his daughter Azumako married to the 12-year-old crown prince Heizei (son of Emperor Kanmu). While supervising construction of the buildings in the capital of Nagaoka, he is killed by an arrow.source

Births

  • Zhang Yunshen, general of the Tang dynasty (d. 872)source
  • Tian Bu, general of the Tang dynasty (d. 822)source
  • Junna, emperor of Japan (approximate date)source
  • Harald Klak, king of Denmark (approximate date)source
  • Antony the Younger, Byzantine saint (d. 865)source
  • Paschasius Radbertus, Frankish abbot (d. 865)source

Deaths

  • October 5- Ōtomo no Yakamochi, Japanese statesman and poet, Shōgunsource
  • November 8 – Sawara, Japanese princesource
  • Liu Peng, general of the Tang dynasty (b. 727)source
  • K'ak' Tiliw Chan Yopaat, king of Quiriguá (Guatemala)source
  • Liu Changqing, Chinese poet (b. 709)source
  • Muhammad ibn Mansur al-Mahdi, Muslim Caliphsource
  • Li Huaiguang, general of the Tang dynasty (b. 729)source
  • Liu Congyi, chancellor of the Tang dynasty (b. 742)source
  • Seondeok, king of Silla (Korea)source
  • Zhu Tao, general of the Tang dynastysource
  • Theophilus of Edessa, Greek astrologer (b. 695)source
  • Fujiwara no Tanetsugu, Japanese nobleman (b. 737)source
  • Yan Zhenqing, Chinese calligrapher (b. 709)source
  • Council of Paderborn: The clergy debates the matter of the Christianization of the Saxons. They make laws against idolatry, and order the death penalty for self-appointed witch-hunters, who have caused the death of people accused of witchcraft.source