Directory

877 CE

Siege of Syracuse: The Aghlabids begin raiding the Byzantine territories, in the east of the island of Sicily. They besiege Syracuse, and blockade the fortress city by sea and land. Photius I is reinstated as patriarch of Constantinople, after the death of Ignatius. Autumn – King Alfred the Great raises a large force, and marches on the Viking camp at the city of Exeter. His army besieges the Great Summer Army, led by Guthrum, and forces the Vikings to surrender. They flee north to Gloucester, and settle in the Five Boroughs (modern East Midlands).

Geopolitics & Diplomacy

  • December 8 – Louis the Stammerer is crowned by Hincmar as king (not emperor) of the West Frankish Kingdom, in the church of Compiègne. The imperial throne will remain vacant until 881.source
  • Ceolwulf II is installed as puppet king of Mercia. The west of the kingdom comes under Ceolwulf's rule, while in the east the Five Boroughs begin as fortified Danish burhs.source

Conflict & Security

  • August – Siege of Syracuse: The Aghlabids begin raiding the Byzantine territories, in the east of the island of Sicily. They besiege Syracuse, and blockade the fortress city by sea and land.source
  • King Constantin I is killed fighting Viking raiders, at the "Black Cave" in Fife. He is succeeded by his brother Áed mac Cináeda as ruler of Alba (Scotland).source
  • The Vikings invade Wales once more, and King Rhodri ap Merfyn ("the Great") of Gwynedd, Powys and Seisyllwg is forced to flee to Ireland (approximate date).source
  • Autumn – King Alfred the Great raises a large force, and marches on the Viking camp at the city of Exeter. His army besieges the Great Summer Army, led by Guthrum, and forces the Vikings to surrender. They flee north to Gloucester, and settle in the Five Boroughs (modern East Midlands).source
  • Battle of Strangford Lough: King Halfdan I leaves for Ireland, in an attempt to claim the Kingdom of Dublin from his rival Bárid mac Ímair. He is killed in battle at Strangford Lough, and a probable interregnum follows in York.source

Births

  • January 31 – Wang Kon, founder of Goryeo (d. 943)source
  • September 10 – Eutychius, patriarch of Alexandria (d. 940)source
  • Liu, Chinese empress of Qi (d. 943)source
  • Fujiwara no Kanesuke, Japanese nobleman (d. 933)source
  • Rudesind I, bishop of Mondoñedo (d. 907)source
  • Wang Rong, Chinese warlord (d. 921)source
  • Luo Shaowei, Chinese warlord (d. 910)source
  • Pi Guangye, Chinese chancellor (d. 943)source
  • Ælfthryth, English princess and countess of Flanders (d. 929)source

Deaths

  • August 5 – Ubayd Allah ibn Yahya ibn Khaqan, Abbasid viziersource
  • October 23 – Ignatius, patriarch of Constantinoplesource
  • October 23 – Photius I is reinstated as patriarch of Constantinople, after the death of Ignatius.source
  • Carloman, Frankish abbot (approximate date)source
  • Engelram, Frankish chamberlainsource
  • Jayavarman III, king of the Khmer Empire (Cambodia)source
  • Johannes Scotus Eriugena, Irish theologian (approximate date)source
  • Ōe no Otondo, Japanese scholar (b. 811)source
  • Wang Ying, Chinese rebel leadersource
  • King Jayavarman III dies after a 42-year reign. He is succeeded by his cousin Indravarman I, as ruler of the Khmer Empire (modern Cambodia).source
  • Andrew the Scot, Irish archdeacon (approximate date)source
  • Gérard II, Frankish nobleman (or 879)source
  • Musa ibn Bugha al-Kabir, Abbasid generalsource
  • Constantine I, king of Alba (Scotland)source