868 CE
The earliest extant printed book, an illustrated scroll of the Diamond Sutra ("Perfection of Wisdom"), unearthed at Dunhuang (Western China), is produced. Ahmad ibn Tulun, a Turkish general, is sent to Egypt as governor, by the Abbasid caliph Al-Mu'tazz. He becomes the founder of the Tulunid Dynasty (until 905), and Egypt becomes an autonomous state for the first time since the Ptolemaic Kingdom. Ratramnus, a Frankish monk and abbot of Corbie Abbey, writes Contra Graecorum Opposita.
Geopolitics & Diplomacy
- The County of Portugal is established around the town of Portus Cale (present-day Porto) by Vímara Peres, an Asturian nobleman, after the reconquest from the Moors of the region north of the Douro River.source
- King Charles the Bald meets his brother Louis the German at Metz. They agree to a partition of Lotharingia, which belonged to former emperor Lothair I (now in possession of his sons Lothair II and Louis II).source
- Alfred the Great marries Ealhswith (a daughter of Æthelred, known as Mucel, an ealdorman of the Gaini). He supports his brother Æthelred I, in his choice to form an alliance with Mercia.source
Conflict & Security
- King Burgred of Mercia appeals to Æthelred I for help in resisting the Great Heathen Army. The Danes occupy Nottingham, and stay through the winter without any serious opposition.source
- Al-Andalus: The city of Mérida rises against the Umayyad rule. Emir Muhammad I regains control, and has the walls of the city destroyed. He supports the rival creation of Badajoz in retaliation.source
- Salomon, duke ('king') of Brittany, leads a joint campaign against the Loire Vikings. He is forced to defend southeastern Brittany unaided, and mobilizes levies raised at Poitiers to defeat the Vikings.source
- Muslim Arab forces under Muhammad II, emir of the Aghlabid Dynasty (modern Tunisia), conquer the island of Malta and raid into the mainland of Italy.source
- King Áed Findliath drives the invading Danes and Norwegians out of Ireland, after defeating them at the Battle of Killineery.source
Religion & Belief
- September 15 – Ahmad ibn Tulun, a Turkish general, is sent to Egypt as governor, by the Abbasid caliph Al-Mu'tazz. He becomes the founder of the Tulunid Dynasty (until 905), and Egypt becomes an autonomous state for the first time since the Ptolemaic Kingdom.source
- Ratramnus, a Frankish monk and abbot of Corbie Abbey, writes Contra Graecorum Opposita.source
Culture & Society
- May 11 – The earliest extant printed book, an illustrated scroll of the Diamond Sutra ("Perfection of Wisdom"), unearthed at Dunhuang (Western China), is produced.source
Births
Deaths
- Conwoïon, Breton abbot (approximate date)source
- Muzahim ibn Khaqan, Muslim governorsource
- Al-Jahiz, Afro-Muslim scholar and writer (b. 776)source
- Theotgaud, archbishop of Triersource
- Yang Shou, chancellor of the Tang Dynastysource
- Minamoto no Makoto, Japanese prince (b. 810)source
- Bugha al-Sharabi, Turkish military leadersource
- Yu Xuanji, Chinese poet (or 869)source