900s (6 events)
900
ID: 3951
Benedict IV becomes hundred-seventeenth pope - crowns Louis III as Emperor
ID: 3951
900
ID: 5543
Magyar horsemen begin devastating raids across Europe reaching as far as Spain and Southern Italy
ID: 5543
900
ID: 5830
Ealdorman role formalized - high nobleman governing one or more shires for king, leads shire fyrd, presides at shire-moot with bishop
ID: 5830
903
ID: 3952
Leo V becomes hundred-eighteenth pope - overthrown by Christopher after two months, both murdered
ID: 3952
904
ID: 3953
Sergius III becomes hundred-nineteenth pope - begins 'pornocracy', lover of Marozia, murders predecessors
ID: 3953
907
ID: 3708
Rus' Vikings attack Constantinople - Oleg's fleet threatens Byzantine capital, secures favorable trade treaty
ID: 3708
910s (11 events)
910
ID: 5443
September 11, 910
Abbey of Cluny founded by William I, Duke of Aquitaine, who donates land for a monastery to be placed directly under papal authority, free from local secular and ecclesiastical control
ID: 5443
911
ID: 2953
Treaty of Saint-Clair-sur-Epte - Charles the Simple grants Normandy to Viking Rollo, creates Duchy of Normandy
ID: 2953
911
ID: 2954
Death of Louis the Child - last East Frankish Carolingian dies childless at 17, nobles elect Conrad I
ID: 2954
911
ID: 2955
Conrad I elected German king - Duke of Franconia, first non-Carolingian German king, struggles with dukes
ID: 2955
911
ID: 3954
Anastasius III becomes hundred-twentieth pope - obscure figure under influence of Theodora
ID: 3954
912
ID: 3723
Rollo baptized as Robert I - Viking leader converts to Christianity as part of treaty, takes Christian name Robert
ID: 3723
913
ID: 3955
Lando becomes hundred-twenty-first pope - last pope to use original name until Francis, dies after six months
ID: 3955
914
ID: 3956
John X becomes hundred-twenty-second pope - defeats Saracens at Garigliano, murdered by Marozia
ID: 3956
917
ID: 2559
Edward the Elder conquers East Anglia and Mercia - son of Alfred extends Wessex control over most of England
ID: 2559
918
ID: 5523
Wang Geon (Taejo) founds Goryeo Dynasty with capital at Kaesong, source of name 'Korea'
ID: 5523
919
ID: 2956
Henry the Fowler elected - Saxon duke becomes German king, founds Ottonian dynasty
ID: 2956
920s (9 events)
920
ID: 5815
Edward the Elder codifies shire court system - ealdormen preside with shire reeves, but reeves protect royal fiscal interests
ID: 5815
922
ID: 2957
Charles the Simple deposed - Robert I (Odo's brother) rebels, becomes king, Carolingian authority collapses
ID: 2957
924
ID: 3724
Rollo expands Normandy westward - granted additional territories including Bayeux and Maine by King Raoul
ID: 3724
927
ID: 2560
Athelstan receives submission of Scottish and Welsh kings - first king to rule all England
ID: 2560
927
ID: 3725
William Longsword becomes Duke - Rollo's son takes control while father still alive, continues Christianization
ID: 3725
927
ID: 5444
Odo becomes second abbot of Cluny, begins major expansion of Cluniac reform movement throughout Europe
ID: 5444
928
ID: 3957
Leo VI becomes hundred-twenty-third pope - appointed by Marozia, dies after seven months
ID: 3957
928
ID: 4866
Saadia Gaon leads Sura - Fights Karaites, translates Bible to Arabic, writes philosophy
ID: 4866
929
ID: 3958
Stephen VII becomes hundred-twenty-fourth pope - Marozia's puppet, rules two years
ID: 3958
930s (8 events)
930
ID: 3709
Althing established in Iceland - world's oldest parliament founded at Thingvellir, Viking democracy
ID: 3709
931
ID: 3959
John XI becomes hundred-twenty-fifth pope - son of Marozia and Pope Sergius III, imprisoned by brother
ID: 3959
933
ID: 3726
Normandy gains Cotentin and Avranchin - William Longsword receives western territories, doubles size of duchy
ID: 3726
936
ID: 3743
Gorm the Old becomes first historical King of Denmark - unifies Danish kingdom, establishes Jelling dynasty
ID: 3743
936
ID: 3960
Leo VII becomes hundred-twenty-sixth pope - supports Odo of Cluny's monastic reforms
ID: 3960
936
ID: 5524
Goryeo reunifies Korea after defeating rivals, ending Later Three Kingdoms period
ID: 5524
937
ID: 2561
Battle of Brunanburh - Athelstan crushes coalition of Scots, Vikings, and Strathclyde, greatest Anglo-Saxon victory
ID: 2561
939
ID: 3961
Stephen VIII becomes hundred-twenty-seventh pope - puppet of Alberic II, mediates between Germany and France
ID: 3961
940s (9 events)
941
ID: 3710
Igor of Kiev attacks Constantinople - Rus' fleet destroyed by Greek fire, major Viking defeat
ID: 3710
942
ID: 3962
Marinus II becomes hundred-twenty-eighth pope - under complete control of Alberic II of Spoleto
ID: 3962
942
ID: 5454
November 18, 942
Saint Odo of Cluny dies; as second abbot he spread Cluniac reform to monasteries throughout France and Italy, establishing Cluny's network of dependent priories
ID: 5454
942
ID: 3727
December 17, 942
William Longsword assassinated - killed by Arnulf of Flanders at peace meeting, leaves child heir Richard
ID: 3727
943
ID: 3728
Richard I becomes Duke at age 10 - Louis IV tries to annex Normandy, holds young duke captive at Laon
ID: 3728
945
ID: 3729
Richard I escapes captivity - Bernard the Dane helps young duke escape, Norse allies restore him to power
ID: 3729
946
ID: 3963
Agapetus II becomes hundred-twenty-ninth pope - supports monastic reform but controlled by Alberic
ID: 3963
946
ID: 2562
May 26, 946
Murder of Edmund I - killed by exiled thief Leofa at feast in Pucklechurch, defending his steward
ID: 2562
948
ID: 5445
Mayeul becomes fourth abbot of Cluny, continues expansion and increases monastery's influence
ID: 5445
950s (6 events)
950
ID: 5831
Thegnship becomes hereditary - shift from service-based to land-based nobility, 'bookland' (chartered land) can be inherited
ID: 5831
951
ID: 4985
Birth of St. Gregory of Narek in Armenia - future Doctor of the Church and mystical poet
ID: 4985
954
ID: 2958
Death of Louis IV - Carolingian king dies from fall from horse, son Lothair succeeds
ID: 2958
955
ID: 3964
John XII becomes hundred-thirtieth pope - Octavian of Tusculum, age 18, notoriously immoral
ID: 3964
955
ID: 5544
Battle of Lechfeld - Otto I decisively defeats Magyars, ending their raids and forcing settlement
ID: 5544
958
ID: 3711
Harald Bluetooth becomes King of Denmark - later converts to Christianity, unites Denmark and Norway
ID: 3711
960s (14 events)
960
ID: 2633
Dunstan becomes Archbishop of Canterbury - reforms English church, advises kings, promotes learning
ID: 2633
960
ID: 4714
Song Dynasty founded - cultural zenith, invention of gunpowder weapons, compass, paper money
ID: 4714
960
ID: 5849
Benedictine Reform begins - Dunstan as Archbishop, backed by Edgar, starts replacing secular clergy with monks
ID: 5849
962
ID: 2634
Edgar's law codes issued - uniform laws for all England, blend of Anglo-Saxon and Danish customs
ID: 2634
962
ID: 3730
Pagan revolt in Normandy - Richard I suppresses Viking pagan uprising, enforces Christianity
ID: 3730
962
ID: 3965
John XII crowns Otto I Holy Roman Emperor - immediately regrets it, conspires against him
ID: 3965
963
ID: 3966
Leo VIII becomes hundred-thirty-first pope - installed by Otto I after deposing John XII, considered antipope
ID: 3966
964
ID: 3967
Benedict V becomes hundred-thirty-second pope - deposed by Otto I after one month, exiled to Hamburg
ID: 3967
964
ID: 5850
Aethelwold expels secular clergy from Winchester - forcibly replaces married priests with celibate monks, seizes property
ID: 5850
965
ID: 3744
Harald Bluetooth converts Denmark to Christianity - erects Jelling stone declaring he 'made the Danes Christian'
ID: 3744
965
ID: 3968
John XIII becomes hundred-thirty-third pope - exiled by Romans, restored by Otto I
ID: 3968
965
ID: 5851
Oswald reforms Worcester more gradually - uses persuasion rather than force to replace secular clergy with monks
ID: 5851
968
ID: 3745
Harald Bluetooth strengthens Danevirke - massive earthwork fortification against German expansion
ID: 3745
968
ID: 5838
Rammelsberg silver discovered at Goslar - massive silver vein found in Harz Mountains, transforms Ottonian economy
ID: 5838
970s (19 events)
970
ID: 5839
Otto I develops Rammelsberg mines - imperial control of silver enables strong central government, funds Italian campaigns
ID: 5839
970
ID: 5852
Council of Winchester establishes Regularis Concordia - unified rule for English monasteries, monks control major churches
ID: 5852
972
ID: 5455
Saint Mayeul of Cluny captured by Saracens in Alps, miraculously freed after ransom; event leads to expulsion of Saracen stronghold at Fraxinetum
ID: 5455
973
ID: 2635
Eight kings row Edgar on River Dee - after coronation, symbolic submission of British rulers to English king
ID: 2635
973
ID: 3969
Benedict VI becomes hundred-thirty-fourth pope - strangled in Castel Sant'Angelo by Crescentius faction
ID: 3969
973
ID: 5842
Edgar reforms English coinage - standardizes silver penny weight using new German silver, establishes 70+ mints
ID: 5842
973
ID: 5853
Edgar grants vast estates to reformed monasteries - transfers perhaps 1/3 of royal lands to monastic control
ID: 5853
973
ID: 2563
May 11, 973
Edgar crowned at Bath - first coronation using order still used today, rowed by eight kings on River Dee
ID: 2563
974
ID: 3970
Benedict VII becomes hundred-thirty-fifth pope - supported by Otto II, promotes Cluniac reform
ID: 3970
975
ID: 5840
German silver floods Europe - Rammelsberg output triggers economic revival, new coinages, expanded trade networks
ID: 5840
975
ID: 5855
Aelfhere of Mercia leads anti-monastic reaction - restores expelled secular clergy, seizes monastic lands, violent confrontations
ID: 5855
975
ID: 5854
July 8, 975
Death of Edgar triggers succession crisis - pro-monastic party backs Edward, anti-monastic nobles back Aethelred
ID: 5854
976
ID: 5100
St. Mark's Basilica burns - popular uprising against Doge Pietro IV Candiano, palace and church destroyed in fire
ID: 5100
976
ID: 5856
Edward the Martyr backs monks despite opposition - teenage king supports Dunstan and Aethelwold against powerful nobles
ID: 5856
978
ID: 2564
March 18, 978
Murder of Edward the Martyr - killed at Corfe Castle visiting stepmother, Ethelred becomes king
ID: 2564
978
ID: 5857
March 18, 978
Edward murdered at Corfe - anti-monastic faction likely involved, Aethelred becomes king, monks lose royal protection
ID: 5857
978
ID: 5864
March 18, 978
Aelfthryth implicated in Edward's murder - Aethelred's mother allegedly orchestrated killing at Corfe Castle to secure throne for her son
ID: 5864
979
ID: 5858
Aethelred initially favors anti-monastic party - restores some secular clergy, reduces monastic privileges
ID: 5858
979
ID: 5865
Aelfthryth withdraws from court - queen mother absent from witness lists, possibly in disgrace or religious retreat
ID: 5865
980s (18 events)
980
ID: 3712
Battle of Tara - Irish High King Mael Sechnaill defeats Dublin Vikings, breaks Norse power in Ireland
ID: 3712
980
ID: 3746
Harald builds ring fortresses - Trelleborg-type circular fortresses demonstrate royal power and military organization
ID: 3746
980
ID: 5841
Islamic silver reaches Europe via Vikings - millions of Arabic dirhams flow through Russia/Scandinavia from Central Asian mines
ID: 5841
983
ID: 3971
John XIV becomes hundred-thirty-sixth pope - murdered by antipope Boniface VII, dies in dungeon
ID: 3971
984
ID: 5859
Death of Aethelwold weakens reform movement - last of the three great reformers, monastic influence wanes
ID: 5859
984
ID: 5866
Aelfthryth returns to prominence - reappears on charters as 'the king's mother', rehabilitation complete
ID: 5866
985
ID: 3972
John XV becomes hundred-thirty-seventh pope - first formal papal canonization (St. Ulrich)
ID: 3972
985
ID: 5860
Aethelred reconciles with Dunstan - performs penance for brother's murder, restores some monastic privileges
ID: 5860
986
ID: 2959
Death of Lothair of France - last effective Carolingian king, son Louis V succeeds
ID: 2959
986
ID: 3713
Erik the Red settles Greenland - establishes Norse colonies after exile from Iceland for murder
ID: 3713
986
ID: 3747
Sweyn Forkbeard rebels against father Harald - civil war ends with Harald's death, Sweyn becomes king
ID: 3747
986
ID: 5867
Aelfthryth founds Wherwell Abbey - queen mother becomes major monastic patron, possibly as penance for Edward's murder
ID: 5867
987
ID: 2960
May 987
Death of Louis V - dies in hunting accident after one year reign, last Carolingian king of France
ID: 2960
987
ID: 2961
July 987
Hugh Capet elected King of France - Count of Paris founds Capetian dynasty, Carolingians extinct in France, new dynasty will rule until 1792
ID: 2961
987
ID: 5176
December 25, 987
Robert II crowned co-king - Hugh Capet associates son to ensure Capetian succession, establishing precedent
ID: 5176
988
ID: 3714
Vladimir I converts Kievan Rus' to Christianity - mass baptism in Dnieper River, end of Viking paganism in Russia
ID: 3714
988
ID: 4772
Vladimir I of Kiev converts to Orthodoxy - marries Byzantine princess, Russia becomes Orthodox
ID: 4772
988
ID: 2636
May 19, 988
Death of St. Dunstan - dies after seeing vision of angels, Ascension Day, greatest Anglo-Saxon churchman
ID: 2636
990s (18 events)
990
ID: 5868
Aelfthryth regularly witnesses charters - appears as chief witness on royal documents, exercises significant influence
ID: 5868
991
ID: 2631
First Danegeld payment - Ethelred pays 10,000 pounds of silver to Vikings after Battle of Maldon defeat
ID: 2631
991
ID: 2632
August 10, 991
Battle of Maldon - Byrhtnoth allows Vikings to cross causeway for fair fight, heroic defeat immortalized in poem
ID: 2632
991
ID: 5804
August 10, 991
Battle of Maldon - Byrhtnoth's heroic defeat by Viking army, triggers England's Danegeld policy
ID: 5804
992
ID: 5101
Golden Bull of 992 - Byzantine Emperor Basil II grants Venice extensive trading privileges in Constantinople
ID: 5101
993
ID: 5869
Aethelred's charter of repentance - acknowledges wrongdoing against monasteries, restores seized lands, admits 'youthful ignorance'
ID: 5869
994
ID: 5446
Odilo becomes fifth abbot of Cluny, introduces All Souls' Day (November 2) for commemoration of all faithful departed
ID: 5446
994
ID: 5805
Second Danegeld payment - 16,000 pounds paid to Olaf Tryggvason and Sweyn Forkbeard after siege of London
ID: 5805
995
ID: 5861
Aelfric of Eynsham criticizes monastic corruption - even reformist monk admits monasteries have become too wealthy and worldly
ID: 5861
995
ID: 5870
Aethelred becomes generous monastic patron - grants extensive privileges to Abingdon Abbey, reverses anti-monastic stance
ID: 5870
996
ID: 3731
Richard II the Good becomes Duke - peaceful succession, promotes church reform and monastic revival
ID: 3731
996
ID: 3973
Gregory V becomes hundred-thirty-eighth pope - first German pope, cousin of Otto III, age 24
ID: 3973
996
ID: 5177
October 24, 996
Death of Hugh Capet - Robert II the Pious becomes sole king, Capetian dynasty survives first succession
ID: 5177
997
ID: 5871
Aethelred's law codes protect monasteries - establishes penalties for violating monastic sanctuary and property
ID: 5871
998
ID: 5178
Robert II excommunicated for marrying cousin Bertha of Burgundy - Pope Gregory V enforces Church marriage laws
ID: 5178
998
ID: 5460
Pope Gregory V confirms Cluny's complete exemption from all authority except the Pope, making it independent of bishops and secular rulers
ID: 5460
998
ID: 5843
Rammelsberg funds Otto III's Roman renovatio - silver wealth enables imperial ambitions, 'renewal of Roman Empire'
ID: 5843
999
ID: 3974
Sylvester II becomes hundred-thirty-ninth pope - Gerbert of Aurillac, greatest scholar of his age, first French pope
ID: 3974