Directory

854 CE

Viking chieftains Rorik and Godfrid Haraldsson return to Denmark, to gain power after the death of King Horik I. During a civil war, they are forced to go back to Friesland. Viking chieftain Ubba winters in Milford Haven (Wales) with 23 ships. The German city of Ulm is first mentioned, in a document by Louis the German.

Geopolitics & Diplomacy

  • Emperor Lothair I meets his (half) brothers (Louis the German and Charles the Bald) in Attigny, Ardennes for the third time, to continue the system of "con-fraternal government".source

Conflict & Security

  • Croatian–Bulgarian battle: Bulgarian Khan (later Knyaz) Boris I, attacks the Duchy of Littoral Croatia, ruled by Duke Trpimir I during the First Croatian-Bulgarian War. It is fought on the Croatian territory in the vicinity of the Croatian–Bulgarian border in present-day northeastern Bosnia and Herzegovina. None of the warring sides emerges victorious, Bulgarian forces retreat and finally both parties subsequently conclude a peace treaty.source

Exploration & Expansion

  • King Cyngen of Powys makes the first pilgrimage to Rome of a Welsh ruler.source
  • Viking chieftain Ubba winters in Milford Haven (Wales) with 23 ships.source
  • King Æthelwulf of Wessex sends his two youngest sons, Alfred and Æthelred, on a pilgrimage to Rome.source

Technology & Infrastructure

  • The German city of Ulm is first mentioned, in a document by Louis the German.source

Births

  • Cui Yin, chancellor of the Tang Dynasty (d. 904)source
  • Cadell ap Rhodri, king of Seisyllwg (d. 909)source
  • Al-Mu'tadid, Muslim caliph (or 861)source
  • Theobald the Elder, Frankish nobleman (d. 942)source

Deaths

  • Túathal mac Máele-Brigte, king of Leinstersource
  • King Æthelweard of East Anglia dies, and is succeeded by his 14-year-old son Edmund ("the Martyr").source
  • Eardulf becomes bishop of Lindisfarne, after the death of Eanbert.source
  • Liudger, bishop of Utrecht (approximate date)source
  • Viking chieftains Rorik and Godfrid Haraldsson return to Denmark, to gain power after the death of King Horik I. During a civil war, they are forced to go back to Friesland.source
  • Sahnun ibn Sa'id, Muslim jurist (or 855)source
  • Osburh, queen of Wessex (approximate date)source
  • Horik I, Viking king of Denmarksource
  • Wang Yuankui, Chinese general (b. 812)source
  • Æthelweard, king of East Angliasource
  • Eanbert, bishop of Lindisfarnesource
  • Abu Thawr, Muslim scholar (b. 764)source