Directory

796 CE

King Æthelred I of Northumbria is murdered, probably at Corbridge, by his ealdormen, Ealdred and Wada. Another rival, Torhtmund, slays Ealdred in revenge. Northumbria is plunged into chaos. The patrician Osbald is placed on the throne, but is deserted by his supporters after only 27 days. He flees from Lindisfarne to Pictland. Another faction brings back Æthelred I's old back-from-the-dead rival, Eardwulf, as the new king. He dismisses his wife and publicly takes a concubine. Eardwulf is alienated from Archbishop Eanbald of York. Tō-ji, a Buddhist temple of the Shingon sect, is established in Kyoto, Japan. King Offa of Mercia and Charlemagne seal a trading agreement, and a marriage alliance is proposed. However, Offa dies after a 39-year reign, that has incorporated Kent, Essex, Sussex, and East Anglia into the Mercian realm. Offa is buried at Bedford, and succeeded for a short time by his son Ecgfrith, and then a distant cousin, Coenwulf.

Geopolitics & Diplomacy

  • Prince Eadberht Præn leaves the Church, returns to Kent and claims his throne. Eadwald proclaims himself king of East Anglia, but is later ousted by Coenwulf. Direct rule from Mercia is re-established.source

Conflict & Security

  • The Three Fires Confederacy is formed at Michilimackinac.source

Religion & Belief

  • Tō-ji, a Buddhist temple of the Shingon sect, is established in Kyoto, Japan.source
  • Alcuin, Anglo-Saxon monk and scholar, is appointed as abbot by Charlemagne, who puts him in charge of leading Marmoutier Abbey in Tours.source

Crime & Justice

  • April 18 – King Æthelred I of Northumbria is murdered, probably at Corbridge, by his ealdormen, Ealdred and Wada. Another rival, Torhtmund, slays Ealdred in revenge. Northumbria is plunged into chaos. The patrician Osbald is placed on the throne, but is deserted by his supporters after only 27 days. He flees from Lindisfarne to Pictland. Another faction brings back Æthelred I's old back-from-the-dead rival, Eardwulf, as the new king. He dismisses his wife and publicly takes a concubine. Eardwulf is alienated from Archbishop Eanbald of York.source

Births

  • Liu Zhuan, chancellor of the Tang Dynasty (d. 858)source
  • Dhul-Nun al-Misri, Egyptian scholar and Sufi (d. 859)source
  • Xiao Fang, chancellor of the Tang Dynasty (d. 875)source
  • Al-Mu'tasim, Muslim caliph (d. 842)source
  • Lü Dongbin, Chinese scholar and poetsource
  • Ibrahim ibn Ya'qub al-Juzajani, Muslim hadith scholarsource

Deaths

  • April 18 – Æthelred I, king of Northumbriasource
  • June 12 – Hisham I, Muslim emir (b. 757)source
  • July 29 – Offa, king of Mercia (b. 730)source
  • August 10 – Eanbald, archbishop of Yorksource
  • Sibawayh, Persian linguist and grammarian (b. 760)source
  • The Kingdom of Sussex again becomes independent from the Kingdom of Mercia following the death of King Offa.source
  • Fujiwara no Tsuginawa, Japanese statesman (b. 727)source
  • Muhammad ibn Ibrahim al-Fazari, Muslim philosopher (or 806)source
  • King Offa of Mercia and Charlemagne seal a trading agreement, and a marriage alliance is proposed. However, Offa dies after a 39-year reign, that has incorporated Kent, Essex, Sussex, and East Anglia into the Mercian realm. Offa is buried at Bedford, and succeeded for a short time by his son Ecgfrith, and then a distant cousin, Coenwulf.source
  • Colla mac Fergusso, king of Connacht (Ireland)source
  • Tassilo III, duke of Bavaria (approximate date)source