Directory

841 CE

Battle of Fontenay: Frankish forces of Emperor Lothair I, and his nephew Pepin II of Aquitaine, are defeated by allied forces of King Louis the German, and his half-brother Charles the Bald, at Fontenoy (Eastern France), in a civil war among the three surviving sons of the former emperor Louis the Pious. A total of 40,000 men are killed, including the Frankish nobles Gerard of Auvergne and Ricwin of Nantes, fighting on the side of Charles. Comet X/841 Y1 is first sighted in Chang'an by the Japanese monk Ennin. A pro-Umayyad rebellion, led by al-Mubarqa in Palestine, breaks out against caliph al-Mu'tasim of the Abbasid Caliphate (ending in 842).

Conflict & Security

  • June 25 – Battle of Fontenay: Frankish forces of Emperor Lothair I, and his nephew Pepin II of Aquitaine, are defeated by allied forces of King Louis the German, and his half-brother Charles the Bald, at Fontenoy (Eastern France), in a civil war among the three surviving sons of the former emperor Louis the Pious. A total of 40,000 men are killed, including the Frankish nobles Gerard of Auvergne and Ricwin of Nantes, fighting on the side of Charles.source
  • Constantine Kontomytes, Byzantine general (strategos) of the Thracesian Theme, inflicts a severe defeat on the Cretan Saracens. He leads a Byzantine expeditionary force, to raid the monastic community near Mount Latros (modern Turkey).source
  • A pro-Umayyad rebellion, led by al-Mubarqa in Palestine, breaks out against caliph al-Mu'tasim of the Abbasid Caliphate (ending in 842).source
  • Venice sends a fleet of 60 galleys (each carrying 200 men) to assist the Byzantines in driving the Arabs from Crotone, but the attack fails. Muslim troops conquer the city of Brindisi (approximate date).source

Exploration & Expansion

  • The town of Dyflin (meaning "Black Pool") or Dublin (modern Ireland) is founded by Norwegian Vikings, on the south bank of the River Liffey. The settlement is fortified with a ditch and an earth rampart, with a wooden palisade on top. The Norsemen establish a wool weaving industry, and there is also a slave trade. An artificial hill is erected, where the nobility meets to make laws and discuss policy.source

Religion & Belief

  • Summer – Vikings sail up the River Seine and devastate the city of Rouen in Normandy. They burn the Benedictine monastery of Jumièges Abbey; 68 captives are taken, and returned on payment of a ransom, by the monks of St. Denis.source

Science & Discovery

  • December 17 – Comet X/841 Y1 is first sighted in Chang'an by the Japanese monk Ennin.source

Crime & Justice

  • In the Chinese capital of Chang'an, the West Market (and East Market) are closed every night one hour and three quarters before dusk (by government order); the curfew is signaled by the sound of 300 beats to a loud gong. After the official markets have been closed for the night, small night markets in residential areas thrive with plenty of customers, despite government efforts to shut them down. With the decline of the government's authority (by mid 9th century), this edict (like many others) is largely ignored, as urban dwellers keep attending the night markets regardless.source

Births

  • Remigius of Auxerre, Frankish scholar (approximate date)source
  • Boso of Provence, Frankish nobleman (approximate date)source
  • Heiric of Auxerre, Frankish theologian and writer (d. 876)source
  • Bernard Plantapilosa, Frankish nobleman (d. 886)source
  • Pei Shu, chancellor of the Tang Dynasty (d. 905)source
  • Edmund the Martyr, king of East Anglia (approximate date)source
  • Du Rangneng, chancellor of the Tang Dynasty (d. 893)source

Deaths

  • June 25 – Gerard of Auvergne, Frankish noblemansource
  • June 25 – Ricwin of Nantes, Frankish noblemansource
  • October 14 – Shi Yuanzhong, Chinese governorsource
  • Li Ao, Chinese philosopher and prose writer (b. 772)source
  • Khaydhar ibn Kawus al-Afshin, Muslim generalsource
  • Yunyan Tansheng, Chinese Buddhist monk (b. 780)source
  • Jonas of Orléans, Frankish bishopsource
  • Chang Pogo, Korean maritime hegemon (or 846)source
  • Arnulf of Sens, illegitimate son of Louis the Pioussource
  • Langdarma, emperor of Tibet (b. 799)source
  • Guifeng Zongmi, Chinese Buddhist monk (b. 780)source