857 CE

Erispoe, ruler (duke) of Brittany, is assassinated by his cousin Salomon and followers, in the church at Talensac. King Charles the Bald acknowledges Salomon as the rightful 'king' of Brittany. The first recorded major outbreak of ergotism kills thousands of people in the Rhine Valley. They have eaten bread made from rye infected with the ergot fungus parasite Claviceps purpurea (approximate date). Viking chieftain Rorik, with the agreement of King Lothair II, leaves Dorestad with a fleet and forces his rival Horik II to recognise him as ruler over Denmark (approximate date).

In the 850s, the 9th century.

Conflict & Security

  • Viking chieftain Rorik, with the agreement of King Lothair II, leaves Dorestad with a fleet and forces his rival Horik II to recognise him as ruler over Denmark (approximate date).source

Religion & Belief

  • Emperor Michael III, under the influence of his uncle Bardas, banishes his mother Theodora to the Gastria Monastery. Bardas, the de facto regent, becomes the most powerful person in the Byzantine Empire.source
  • A Danish Viking fleet raids the cities of Dorestad, Paris and Orléans. Others sail up the Oise River, ravaging Beauvais and the abbey of Saint-Germer-de-Fly (approximate date).source

Health & Medicine

  • The first recorded major outbreak of ergotism kills thousands of people in the Rhine Valley. They have eaten bread made from rye infected with the ergot fungus parasite Claviceps purpurea (approximate date).source

Births

  • Li Cunjin, general of the Tang dynasty (died 922)source
  • Ch'oe Ch'i-wŏn, Korean philosopher and poetsource

Deaths

  • March 11 – Eulogius, Spanish priest and martyrsource
  • November – Erispoe, ruler (duke) of Brittany, is assassinated by his cousin Salomon and followers, in the church at Talensac. King Charles the Bald acknowledges Salomon as the rightful 'king' of Brittany.source
  • Zheng Lang, chancellor of the Tang dynastysource
  • Ziryab, Muslim poet and musician (born 789)source
  • Ma Zhi, chancellor of the Tang dynastysource
  • Kim Yang, viceroy of Silla (Korea) (born 808)source
  • Matudán mac Muiredaig, king of Ulaid (Ireland)source
  • Harith al-Muhasibi, Muslim teacher (born 781)source
  • Roderick, Spanish priest and saintsource
  • Yuhanna ibn Masawaiyh, Assyrian physiciansource
  • Erispoe, king (duke) of Brittanysource
  • Wang Shaoding, Chinese governor (jiedushi)source
  • Yahya ibn Aktham, Muslim juristsource
  • Munseong, king of Silla (Korea)source