830 CE

Emperor Theophilos, 16, marries the Armenian noblewoman Theodora, in the Hagia Sophia at Constantinople. He chooses her during a representation of a bride-show; she becomes empress (Augusta) of the Byzantine Empire. Byzantine–Arab War: Muslim reinforcements from Ifriqiya and Al-Andalus (modern Spain) defeat Byzantine forces under Theodotus in Sicily, but a plague once again compels them to retreat to Mazara del Vallo, and evacuate to North Africa. Ansgar, a Frankish missionary, visits the trade city Birka, located at Lake Mälaren in Sweden (approximate date).

In the 830s, the 9th century.

Geopolitics & Diplomacy

  • King Wiglaf of Mercia regains control from Wessex, and returns to the throne.source

Conflict & Security

  • Emperor Louis the Pious returns from a campaign in Brittany, and is captured by his son Pepin I, king of Aquitaine. He is put under house arrest at Compiegne, and his wife Judith is incarcerated at Poitiers.source

Religion & Belief

  • Nennius, Welsh abbot of Bangor Fawr, compiles the Historia Brittonum. He is also known for the Historia's list of the 12 battles of King Arthur (approximate date).source
  • Ansgar, a Frankish missionary, visits the trade city Birka, located at Lake Mälaren in Sweden (approximate date).source
  • Hirsau Abbey (modern Germany) is founded by the Rhenish Franconian count Erlafried of Calw (approximate date).source

Health & Medicine

  • Byzantine–Arab War: Muslim reinforcements from Ifriqiya and Al-Andalus (modern Spain) defeat Byzantine forces under Theodotus in Sicily, but a plague once again compels them to retreat to Mazara del Vallo, and evacuate to North Africa.source
  • The Ad-dimnah Hospital (bimaristan) is created in Kairouan (modern Tunisia), by the Aghlabid emir Ziyadat Allah I.source

Disasters & Accidents

  • About 830 an Arabian dhow sinks on its journey from China to Arabia near the Indonesian island of Belitung, carrying some 60,000 trade items, the largest collection of Tang dynasty artifacts outside of China (Belitung shipwreck).source

Culture & Society

  • June 5 – Emperor Theophilos, 16, marries the Armenian noblewoman Theodora, in the Hagia Sophia at Constantinople. He chooses her during a representation of a bride-show; she becomes empress (Augusta) of the Byzantine Empire.source

Births

  • Ishaq ibn Hunayn, Muslim physician (approximate date)source
  • Junayd of Baghdad, Muslim Sufi (died 910)source
  • Robert the Strong, Frankish nobleman (approximate date)source
  • Carloman of Bavaria, Frankish king (or 828)source
  • Wulgrin I, Frankish count (approximate date)source
  • Charles, Frankish bishop (or 825)source
  • Athanasius I, bishop of Naples (died 872)source
  • Kōkō, emperor of Japan (died 887)source
  • Naum of Preslav, Bulgarian writer (approximate date)source
  • Irmgard, Frankish abbess (or 833)source
  • Yunju Daoying, Chinese Buddhist teacher (died 902)source
  • Engelberga, Frankish empress (approximate date)source
  • Rurik, prince of Novgorod (approximate date)source
  • Rimbert, Frankish archbishop (died 888)source

Deaths

  • Li Jiang, chancellor of the Tang Dynasty (born 764)source
  • Ashot I, prince of Iberia (or 826)source
  • Wang Jian, Chinese poet (approximate date)source
  • Sa'id ibn Aws al-Ansari, Muslim linguistsource
  • Zhang Ji, Chinese scholar and poet (approximate date)source
  • Eardwulf, king of Northumbria (approximate date)source
  • Æthelwold, bishop of Lichfieldsource