Directory

874 CE

Muhammad al-Mahdi, the child of the eleventh Shi'i Twelver Imam Hasan al-Askari, begins his Imamate. His first period of occultation, known as the Minor Occultation, also begins (ends 941 CE). Huang Chao, a salt privateer, joins forces with Wang Xianzhi to raise a rebel army at Changyuan (modern Xinxiang). The uprising further weakens the Tang dynasty, which is already weakened by natural disasters such as severe droughts and floods. The Danish Vikings (from their base at Repton) drive King Burgred of Mercia into exile, and sack Tamworth. They conquer his kingdom and install his political opponent, Ceolwulf II, as sub-king.

Geopolitics & Diplomacy

  • Svatopluk I, ruler (knyaz) of Great Moravia, concludes a peace treaty at Forchheim (Northern Bavaria). He is able to expand his territories outside the Frankish sphere, and subjugates the Vistulans.source

Conflict & Security

  • Huang Chao, a salt privateer, joins forces with Wang Xianzhi to raise a rebel army at Changyuan (modern Xinxiang). The uprising further weakens the Tang dynasty, which is already weakened by natural disasters such as severe droughts and floods.source
  • Autumn – The Great Heathen Army splits into two bands; Halfdan returns with his forces to Northumbria, along with his brother Ubba, where he establishes a new base on the River Tyne.source
  • The Danish Vikings (from their base at Repton) drive King Burgred of Mercia into exile, and sack Tamworth. They conquer his kingdom and install his political opponent, Ceolwulf II, as sub-king.source

Exploration & Expansion

  • Ingólfr Arnarson arrives from Norway, as the first permanent Viking settler in Iceland. He builds his homestead and founds Reykjavík. The settlement of Iceland begins (approximate date).source

Religion & Belief

  • March 13 – The remains of Saint Nikephorus I are interred in the Church of the Holy Apostles, in Constantinople.source
  • Muhammad al-Mahdi, the child of the eleventh Shi'i Twelver Imam Hasan al-Askari, begins his Imamate. His first period of occultation, known as the Minor Occultation, also begins (ends 941 CE).source
  • The monastery of Sevanavank, located on the shore of Lake Sevan (Armenia), is founded.source

Crime & Justice

  • Salomon, duke ('king') of Brittany, is murdered by a faction which includes his son-in-law Pascweten and Gurvand, son-in-law of late ruler Erispoe. After Salomon's death they divide the country, and Pascweten and Gurvand co-rule Brittany.source
  • Amlaíb Conung, the first Norse 'king' of Dublin, is killed in Scotland, during a campaign against his rival Constantin I (approximate date).source

Climate & Environment

  • November – Frost begins in Scotland, and lasts until April 875.source

Births

  • May 10 – Meng Zhixiang, general of Later Tang (d. 934)source
  • Lothar II, Frankish nobleman (d. 929)source
  • Ota, Frankish queen and Holy Roman Empress (approximate date)source
  • Constantine II, king of Scotland (approximate date)source
  • Abu al-Hasan al-Ash'ari, Muslim scholar (d. 936)source
  • Wang Shifan, Chinese warlord (d. 908)source
  • Edward the Elder, king of Wessex (approximate date)source
  • Liu Yin, governor (jiedushi) of Southern Han (d. 911)source

Deaths

  • January 4 – Hasan al-Askari, 11th Shia Imam (b. 846)source
  • August 15 – Altfrid, bishop of Hildesheimsource
  • December 16 – Ado, archbishop of Viennesource
  • Bayazid Bastami, Persian Sufi (approximate date)source
  • Han Yunzhong, general of the Tang dynasty (b. 814)source
  • Salomon, duke ('king') of Brittanysource
  • Lu Yan, chancellor of the Tang dynasty (b. 829)source
  • Liu Zhan, chancellor of the Tang dynastysource
  • Unruoch III, margrave of Friulisource
  • Pei Tan, chancellor of the Tang dynastysource
  • Amlaíb Conung, Viking leader (approximate date)source