Directory

890 CE

King Alfred the Great begins to commission and undertake a series of translations into Old English, beginning with his own version of Pope Gregory the Great's Pastoral Care. The Frankish nobles, who have ruled Provence in anarchy (since 887), declare Louis the Blind (a son of the late usurper King Boso) ruler of Lower Burgundy, at an assembly at Valence. Ohthere of Hålogaland, a Norse Viking seafarer, narrates the story of his travels to Alfred the Great, who arranges for it to be written down.

Geopolitics & Diplomacy

  • The sovereignty of Svatopluk I, ruler (knyaz) of Moravia, is confirmed in Bohemia. Lusatia becomes a part of his kingdom (approximate date).source

Conflict & Security

  • In March or April 890, the ambitious warlord Zhu Quanzhong (later called Zhu Wen) faced a mutiny at Suzhou and was unable to retake the city. He pressured Emperor Zhaozong of Tang China to launch a campaign against his primary rival, Li Keyong. By winter 890, Zhu strategically shifted his focus northward, giving up his claim to the Huainan Circuit after failing to take it.source

Exploration & Expansion

  • Ohthere of Hålogaland, a Norse Viking seafarer, narrates the story of his travels to Alfred the Great, who arranges for it to be written down.source
  • Lord Æthelred II and Lady Æthelflæd (a daughter of Alfred the Great) of the Mercians found the Priory of St. Oswald in Gloucester (probably originally dedicated to St. Peter).source

Religion & Belief

  • King Alfred the Great begins to commission and undertake a series of translations into Old English, beginning with his own version of Pope Gregory the Great's Pastoral Care.source

Health & Medicine

  • King Donald II of Scotland expels the British aristocracy of Strathclyde. They flee south to North Wales.source

Crime & Justice

  • The Frankish nobles, who have ruled Provence in anarchy (since 887), declare Louis the Blind (a son of the late usurper King Boso) ruler of Lower Burgundy, at an assembly at Valence.source

Culture & Society

  • King Anarawd ap Rhodri of Gwynedd makes the first ceremonial visit to an English court (that of Alfred the Great).source

Births

  • Olga of Kiev, princess and regent of Russia (approximate date)source
  • Marozia of the Rule of the Harlots, Roman noblewoman (approximate date)source
  • Gorm the Old, Danish Viking king (approximate date)source
  • Motoyoshi, Japanese prince and nobleman (d. 943)source
  • Gilbert, duke of Lotharingia (or Lorraine) (approximate date)source
  • Olaf Feilan, Icelandic priest and chieftain (approximate date)source
  • Reginar II, Frankish nobleman (d. 932)source
  • Arnulf I, count of Flanders (approximate date)source
  • Lady Ma, wife of Qian Yuanguan (d. 939)source
  • Rudolph, Frankish king (approximate date)source
  • Ulrich, bishop of Augsburg (approximate date)source

Deaths

  • February 12 – Henjō, Japanese waka poet (b. 816)source
  • August 5 – Ranulf II, duke of Aquitaine (b. 850)source
  • Guthrum, Danish Viking king (approximate date)source
  • Anandavardhana, Indian philosopher (b. 820)source
  • Ashot I (the Great), king of Armeniasource
  • Askericus, archbishop of Paris (approximate date)source
  • Æthelhelm, king of Wessex (approximate date)source
  • Land ingen Dúngaile, princess of Osraigesource
  • Aldalhard II, Frankish noblemansource
  • Abu Hatim al-Razi, Muslim hadith scholar (b. 811)source
  • Arib al-Ma'muniyya (July/August) was the poet, singer of the Abbasid Court.source