Directory

903 CE

Pope Benedict IV dies after a 3-year reign. He is succeeded by Leo V as the 118th pope of the Catholic Church. Leo is imprisoned and tortured by Antipope Christopher after a reign of just 1 month. Christopher makes himself the new pope of Rome. Battle of Hama: Abbasid forces under Muhammad ibn Sulayman al-Katib defeat the Qarmatians near Hama, on the banks of the Orontes River (modern Syria). The Qarmatian army is scattered and pursued by Abbasid troops; Al-Husayn ibn Zikrawayh and other Qarmatian leaders are captured. King Berengar I of Italy proceeds to issue concessions and privileges to the Lombard nobility and monasteries. He grants concessions to Bobbio Abbey in Emilia-Romagna (Northeast Italy).

Conflict & Security

  • November 29 – Battle of Hama: Abbasid forces under Muhammad ibn Sulayman al-Katib defeat the Qarmatians near Hama, on the banks of the Orontes River (modern Syria). The Qarmatian army is scattered and pursued by Abbasid troops; Al-Husayn ibn Zikrawayh and other Qarmatian leaders are captured.source
  • The Danish Vikings invade Anglesey after being driven out of Dublin (see 902). They fail to gain a foothold in Wales, and sail on to Chester.source
  • A party of Danes under the Viking warlord Ingimundr attack the Welsh in a pitched battle at Maes Ros Meilon, perhaps near Llanfaes.source

Religion & Belief

  • King Berengar I of Italy proceeds to issue concessions and privileges to the Lombard nobility and monasteries. He grants concessions to Bobbio Abbey in Emilia-Romagna (Northeast Italy).source

Technology & Infrastructure

  • King Louis IV ("the Child") promulgates the Raffelstetten customs regulations, a legal document for a toll-bridge on the Danube River in Asten (modern Austria).source

Births

  • December 7 – Abd al-Rahman al-Sufi, Persian astronomer (d. 986)source
  • Feng Yanji, chancellor of Southern Tang (d. 960)source
  • Wang Jun, chancellor of Later Zhou (or 902)source
  • Kūya, Japanese priest of Pure Land Buddhism (d. 972)source
  • Li Gu, chancellor of Later Zhou (d. 960)source

Deaths

  • March 6 – Su Jian, Chinese official and chancellorsource
  • March 6 – Lu Guangqi, Chinese official and chancellorsource
  • March 26 – Sugawara no Michizane, Japanese politician and poet (b. 845)source
  • June 10 – Cheng Rui, Chinese warlordsource
  • July 27– Abdallah II of Ifriqiya, Aghlabid emirsource
  • July – Pope Benedict IV dies after a 3-year reign. He is succeeded by Leo V as the 118th pope of the Catholic Church. Leo is imprisoned and tortured by Antipope Christopher after a reign of just 1 month. Christopher makes himself the new pope of Rome.source
  • July – Benedict IV, pope of the Catholic Churchsource
  • December 24 – Hedwiga, duchess of Saxonysource
  • December 30 – Tian Jun, Chinese warlord (b. 858)source
  • Théodrate of Troyes, Frankish queen (b. 868)source
  • Zhu Yanshou, Chinese governor (b. 870)source
  • Adalhard of Babenberg, Frankish noblemansource
  • Moses Bar-Kepha, Syriac bishop and writersource