Directory

931 CE

Pope Stephen VII dies after a three-year reign. He is succeeded by John XI (at the age of 20) as the 125th pope of the Catholic Church. His mother Marozia is the powerful senatrix and patricia of Rome. Emir Mardavij ibn Ziyar defeats and kills his rival Asfar ibn Shiruya. He conquers in rapid succession the Abbasid cities of Hamadan, Dinavar, and Kashan, and finally the entire region of Isfahan, which becomes his capital. Mardavij appoints his brother Vushmgir as the governor of Amol (modern Iran). Ramiro II expands the border eastwards (nearly to the Pyrenees) and captures Burgos and the surrounding land. This land would soon be known as the County of Castile (approximate date).

Geopolitics & Diplomacy

  • Ramiro II forces the abdication of his brother Alfonso IV and becomes king of León (Northern Spain). He has Alfonso and Fruela's three sons blinded in order to make them incapable of ruling.source
  • Spring – Hugh of Provence, king of Italy, cedes Lower Burgundy to Rudolph II, in return for Rudolf's renunciation of all claims to the Italian crown. He receives the imperial crown, and induces the Italian nobility to recognize his son Lothair II as the co-ruler of Lombardia (Regnum Italiae).source
  • King Morgan Hen of Glywysing and Gwent (Wales) submits to the overlordship of King Æthelstan, and attends his court with Kings Hywel Dda of Deheubarth and Idwal Foel of Gwynedd.source
  • Ramiro II expands the border eastwards (nearly to the Pyrenees) and captures Burgos and the surrounding land. This land would soon be known as the County of Castile (approximate date).source

Conflict & Security

  • The Umayyad Caliphate of Córdoba invades and conquers the city of Ceuta, which was ruled by the Berber dynasty Banu Isam.source
  • Emir Mardavij ibn Ziyar defeats and kills his rival Asfar ibn Shiruya. He conquers in rapid succession the Abbasid cities of Hamadan, Dinavar, and Kashan, and finally the entire region of Isfahan, which becomes his capital. Mardavij appoints his brother Vushmgir as the governor of Amol (modern Iran).source

Culture & Society

  • Nómina Leonesa, an account of the kings of Asturias and León, is published (approximate date).source

Births

  • March 28 – Liu Chengyou, emperor of Later Han (d. 951)source
  • September 19 – Mu Zong, emperor of the Liao dynasty (d. 969)source
  • Li Congyi (Prince of Xu), prince of Later Tang (d. 947)source
  • Yang Guangmei, Chinese general (approximate date)source
  • Fu (the Elder), empress consort of Later Zhou (d. 956)source
  • Cao Bin, general of the Song dynasty (d. 999)source
  • Taksony, Grand Prince of Hungary (approximate date)source
  • Boris II, ruler (tsar) of the Bulgarian Empire (d. 977)source
  • Liutgard of Saxony, duchess consort of Lorraine (d. 953)source
  • Adelaide, empress regent of the Holy Roman Empire (d. 999)source

Deaths

  • January 27 – Ruotger, archbishop of Triersource
  • March – Pope Stephen VII dies after a three-year reign. He is succeeded by John XI (at the age of 20) as the 125th pope of the Catholic Church. His mother Marozia is the powerful senatrix and patricia of Rome.source
  • April 4 – Kong Xun, Chinese governor (b. 884)source
  • May 29 – Jimeno Garcés, king of Pamplonasource
  • June 25 – An Chonghui, general of Later Tangsource
  • Robert II, bishop of Tours (approximate date)source
  • Rollo, Viking leader and count (approximate date)source
  • Wang Yanbing, prince of Min (Ten Kingdoms)source
  • Rollo, duke of Normandy, dies at Rouen after an 11-year reign. He is the first leader of the Viking settlers to establish an independent dukedom (a vassal of the West Frankish Kingdom). His eldest son, William Longsword, becomes the second ruler of Normandy (approximate date).source
  • Gu Quanwu, general of the Tang dynasty (b. 864)source
  • King Harald Fairhair of Norway dies after a 59-year reign as the Scandinavian nation's first ruler. He divides the kingdom among his many sons (about 25 years ago) to bring peace. Unable to travel through the country - and perform his royal duties, Harald hands over power to his favorite son Eric Bloodaxe, who allegedly kills at least two of his brothers to gain the Norwegian throne that he will hold (approximate date).source
  • Ibn Masarra, Muslim ascetic and scholar (b. 883)source
  • Stephen VII, pope of the Catholic Churchsource
  • Christopher Lekapenos, Byzantine co-emperorsource