Explore 21 historical events from 870–879.
Æthelred I was King of Wessex from 865 until his death in 871. He was the fourth of five sons of King Æthelwulf of Wessex, four of whom in turn became king. Æthelred succeeded his …
Æthelred of Wessex (born 837)
Abū Isḥāq Muḥammad ibn Hārūn ibn Muḥammad ibn Hārūn al-Muhtadī bi-ʾLlāh, better known by his regnal name al-Muhtadī bi-ʾLlāh, was the Caliph of the Abbasid Caliphate from July 869 …
Al-Muhtadi, Muslim caliph
Meng Zhixiang, courtesy name Baoyin (保胤), also known by his temple name as the Emperor Gaozu of Later Shu (後蜀高祖), was the founding emperor of the Chinese Later Shu dynasty during t…
Meng Zhixiang, Chinese general and emperor (died 934)
The Arab–Byzantine wars or Muslim–Byzantine wars were a series of wars from the 7th to 11th centuries between the successive Islamic caliphates and the Byzantine Empire. Following …
Arab–Byzantine wars: The city of Syracuse was captured by the Aghlabids (pictured) as part of the Muslim conquest of Sic
Louis II, sometimes called the Younger, was the king of Italy and emperor of the Carolingian Empire from 844, co-ruling with his father Lothair I until 855, after which he ruled al…
Louis II of Italy is crowned for the second time as Holy Roman Emperor at Rome, at the age of 47
Syracuse is a city and municipality, capital of the free municipal consortium of the same name, located in the autonomous region of Sicily in Southern Italy. As of 2025, with a pop…
Syracuse, Sicily, is captured by the Muslim Aghlabids after a nine-month siege
Pope John VIII was the bishop of Rome and ruler of the Papal States from 14 December 872 to his death. He is often considered one of the most able popes of the 9th century.
Pope John VIII gives blessings to Branimir of Croatia and to the Croatian people, considered to be international recogni
Odo I was the Count of Troyes from 852 to 859 and Count of Châteaudun through 871.
Odo I, Frankish nobleman
Pope John VIII was the bishop of Rome and ruler of the Papal States from 14 December 872 to his death. He is often considered one of the most able popes of the 9th century.
Pope John VIII officially recognised Croatia as an independent state, and Branimir (monument pictured) as its duke
Gunther or Gunthar was Archbishop of Cologne in Germany from 850 until he was excommunicated and deposed in 863.
Gunther, archbishop of Cologne
Pope John VIII was the bishop of Rome and ruler of the Papal States from 14 December 872 to his death. He is often considered one of the most able popes of the 9th century.
Pope John VIII gives blessings to Branimir of Croatia and to the Croatian people, considered to be international recogni
Pope John VIII was the bishop of Rome and ruler of the Papal States from 14 December 872 to his death. He is often considered one of the most able popes of the 9th century.
Pope John VIII recognises the Duchy of Croatia under Duke Branimir as an independent state
Ya'qub ibn al-Layth Saffar was a coppersmith and the founder of the Saffarid dynasty of Sistan, with its capital at Zarang. Under his military leadership, he conquered much of the …
Ya'qub ibn al-Layth, Persian emir (born 840)
Pope John VIII was the bishop of Rome and ruler of the Papal States from 14 December 872 to his death. He is often considered one of the most able popes of the 9th century.
Pope John VIII officially recognised Croatia as an independent state, and Branimir (monument pictured) as its duke
Syracuse is a city and municipality, capital of the free municipal consortium of the same name, located in the autonomous region of Sicily in Southern Italy. As of 2025, with a pop…
Syracuse, Sicily, is captured by the Muslim Aghlabids after a nine-month siege
The Arab–Byzantine wars or Muslim–Byzantine wars were a series of wars from the 7th to 11th centuries between the successive Islamic caliphates and the Byzantine Empire. Following …
Arab–Byzantine wars: The city of Syracuse was captured by the Aghlabids (pictured) as part of the Muslim conquest of Sic
Abū al-Ḥasan ʿUbayd Allāh ibn Yaḥyā ibn Khāqān was an Abbasid official who served twice as vizier, under caliphs al-Mutawakkil and al-Mu'tamid.
Ubayd Allah ibn Yahya ibn Khaqan, Abbasid vizier
Louis the German, also known as Louis II of Germany, was the first king of East Francia, and ruled from 843 to 876 AD. Grandson of emperor Charlemagne and the third son of Louis th…
Louis the German, Frankish king (born 804)
Louis II, sometimes called the Younger, was the king of Italy and emperor of the Carolingian Empire from 844, co-ruling with his father Lothair I until 855, after which he ruled al…
Louis II, Holy Roman Emperor (born 825)
Meng Zhixiang, courtesy name Baoyin (保胤), also known by his temple name as the Emperor Gaozu of Later Shu (後蜀高祖), was the founding emperor of the Chinese Later Shu dynasty during t…
Meng Zhixiang, Chinese general and emperor (died 934)
Saint Altfrid was a leading figure in Germany in the ninth century. A Benedictine monk, he became Bishop of Hildesheim, and founded Essen Abbey. He was also a close adviser to the …
Altfrid, bishop of Hildesheim
Gunther or Gunthar was Archbishop of Cologne in Germany from 850 until he was excommunicated and deposed in 863.
Gunther, archbishop of Cologne
Thacholf, Thachulf, Thaculf, or Thakulf was the Duke of Thuringia from 849 until his death. He held the titles of comes (count) and dux (duke) and he ruled over a marca (march). H…
Thachulf, duke of Thuringia
Emperor Yizong of Tang, né Li Wen, later changed to Li Cui, was an emperor of the Tang dynasty of China. He reigned from 859 to 873. Emperor Yizong was the eldest son of Emperor Xu…
Yi Zong, Chinese emperor (born 833)
Louis II, sometimes called the Younger, was the king of Italy and emperor of the Carolingian Empire from 844, co-ruling with his father Lothair I until 855, after which he ruled al…
Louis II of Italy is crowned for the second time as Holy Roman Emperor at Rome, at the age of 47
Louis II, sometimes called the Younger, was the king of Italy and emperor of the Carolingian Empire from 844, co-ruling with his father Lothair I until 855, after which he ruled al…
Emperor Louis II of Italy and Empress Engelberga are captured by Prince Adelchis of Benevento.
Æthelred I was King of Wessex from 865 until his death in 871. He was the fourth of five sons of King Æthelwulf of Wessex, four of whom in turn became king. Æthelred succeeded his …
Æthelred of Wessex (born 837)
Odo I was the Count of Troyes from 852 to 859 and Count of Châteaudun through 871.
Odo I, Frankish nobleman
Abū Isḥāq Muḥammad ibn Hārūn ibn Muḥammad ibn Hārūn al-Muhtadī bi-ʾLlāh, better known by his regnal name al-Muhtadī bi-ʾLlāh, was the Caliph of the Abbasid Caliphate from July 869 …
Caliph al-Muhtadi is killed by rebellious troops and is succeeded by his cousin Al-Mu'tamid
The Treaty of Mersen or Meerssen, concluded on 8 August 870, was a treaty to partition the realm of Lothair II, known as Lotharingia, by his uncles Louis the German of East Francia…
Treaty of Meerssen: King Louis the German and his half-brother Charles the Bald partition the Middle Frankish Kingdom…
Abū Isḥāq Muḥammad ibn Hārūn ibn Muḥammad ibn Hārūn al-Muhtadī bi-ʾLlāh, better known by his regnal name al-Muhtadī bi-ʾLlāh, was the Caliph of the Abbasid Caliphate from July 869 …
Al-Muhtadi, Muslim caliph