Directory

859 CE

Battle of St. Quentin: Frankish forces, led by Humfrid, defeat King Louis the German at Saint-Quentin (Northern France). Humfrid is enfeoffed with the County of Autun, and appointed Margrave of Burgundy, by King Charles the Bald. Emperor Xuān Zong (Li Yi) dies after a 13-year reign. He is succeeded by his eldest son Yi Zong, as ruler of the Tang dynasty. The University of Al Karaouine is founded in Fes (modern Morocco), by Fatima al-Fihri (recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records as the oldest still-operating university in the world).

Conflict & Security

  • January 15 – Battle of St. Quentin: Frankish forces, led by Humfrid, defeat King Louis the German at Saint-Quentin (Northern France). Humfrid is enfeoffed with the County of Autun, and appointed Margrave of Burgundy, by King Charles the Bald.source
  • Battle of Albelda: King Ordoño I of Asturias, and his ally García Íñiguez I, defeat the Muslims under Musa ibn Musa al-Qasawi at Albelda.source
  • Viking raiders invade the Kingdom of Pamplona (Western Pyrenees), and capture King García Íñiguez I, somewhere in the Andalusian heartland. They extort a ransom, rising to around 70,000 gold dinars.source

Exploration & Expansion

  • The Russian city of Novgorod is first mentioned in the Sofia Chronicles.source
  • Summer – The Viking chieftains Hastein and Björn Ironside (a son of Ragnar Lodbrok) begin an expedition, and sail from the Loire River with a fleet of 62 ships, to raid cities and monasteries in the Mediterranean Sea.source

Disasters & Accidents

  • Viking raiders burn the mosques of Seville and Algeciras in al-Andalus (modern Spain).source

Climate & Environment

  • 859 Syrian coast earthquake. It affected the Mediterranean coast of Syria It caused almost the complete destruction of Latakia and Jableh, major damage at Antioch and led to many deaths.source
  • Winter – The weather is so severe that the Adriatic Sea freezes, and Italy is covered in snow for 100 days.source

Culture & Society

  • The University of Al Karaouine is founded in Fes (modern Morocco), by Fatima al-Fihri (recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records as the oldest still-operating university in the world).source

Births

  • Ali ibn Isa al-Jarrah, vizier of the Abbasid Caliphate (d. 946)source
  • Odo I, king of the West Frankish Kingdom (or 860)source
  • Tannet of Pagan, king of Burma (d. 904)source
  • Rudolph I, king of Burgundy (d. 912)source
  • Al-Hadi ila'l-Haqq Yahya, first Zaydi Imam of Yemen (d. 911)source

Deaths

  • September 7 – Xuān Zong, emperor of the Tang dynasty (b. 810)source
  • September 7 – Emperor Xuān Zong (Li Yi) dies after a 13-year reign. He is succeeded by his eldest son Yi Zong, as ruler of the Tang dynasty.source
  • December 13 – Angilbert II, archbishop of Milansource
  • Dhul-Nun al-Misri, Egyptian scholar and Sufi (b. 796)source
  • Lu Shang, chancellor of the Tang dynasty (b. 789)source
  • Máel Gualae, king of Munster (Ireland)source
  • Immo, bishop of Noyon (approximate date)source