930 CE

Sack of Mecca: The Qarmatians, led by Abu Tahir al-Jannabi, sack Mecca, desecrating the Zamzam Well and carrying off the Black Stone to their homeland in Eastern Arabia. Emperor Daigo of Japan, being fatally ill, abdicates in favor of his 7-year-old son Suzaku, after a 33-year reign. He enters the Buddhist priesthood, but dies shortly after. Former Emperor Uda (Daigo's father), remains the power behind the Japanese throne (until 931). Mardavij ibn Ziyar is sent by Asfar ibn Shiruya along with his brother Shirzad, to capture the fortress of Shamiran in Tarom (Northern Iran), the capital of the Sallarid ruler Muhammad ibn Musafir. During the siege Mardavij is persuaded to revolt against Asfar, by letters from Makan ibn Kaki. With the help of the sons of the Sallarid, he kills other members of his tribe, including Shirzad. Mardavij founds the Ziyarid Dynasty and becomes the ruler of Asfar's former territories, which include Rey, Qazvin, Zanjan, Abhar, Qom and Karaj.

In the 930s, the 10th century.

Geopolitics & Diplomacy

  • October 16 – Emperor Daigo of Japan, being fatally ill, abdicates in favor of his 7-year-old son Suzaku, after a 33-year reign. He enters the Buddhist priesthood, but dies shortly after. Former Emperor Uda (Daigo's father), remains the power behind the Japanese throne (until 931).source
  • The independent Korean island state of Usan-guk becomes a protectorate of Goryeo.source
  • The Althing, the parliament of Iceland, is established at þingvellir ("Thing Fields"). Chieftains from various tribes gather for 2 weeks at a thing (assembly) to settle disputes, arrange marriages, etc.; it continues in existence into the 21st century, as the world's oldest parliament of the Icelandic Commonwealth.source

Conflict & Security

  • January 11 – Sack of Mecca: The Qarmatians, led by Abu Tahir al-Jannabi, sack Mecca, desecrating the Zamzam Well and carrying off the Black Stone to their homeland in Eastern Arabia.source
  • Gilbert, Duke of Lorraine, besieges Douai in West Francia.source
  • Mardavij ibn Ziyar is sent by Asfar ibn Shiruya along with his brother Shirzad, to capture the fortress of Shamiran in Tarom (Northern Iran), the capital of the Sallarid ruler Muhammad ibn Musafir. During the siege Mardavij is persuaded to revolt against Asfar, by letters from Makan ibn Kaki. With the help of the sons of the Sallarid, he kills other members of his tribe, including Shirzad. Mardavij founds the Ziyarid Dynasty and becomes the ruler of Asfar's former territories, which include Rey, Qazvin, Zanjan, Abhar, Qom and Karaj.source

Religion & Belief

  • Bishopwearmouth is formed and settled in the north-east of England, after Æthelstan grants the lands to the Bishop of Durham.source

Science & Discovery

  • Yelü Bei, prince and elder brother of the Liao dynasty (Khitan) Emperor Taizong, leaves for China.source

Births

  • Alferius, Italian abbot and saint (died 1050)source
  • Nikon the Metanoeite, Byzantine monk (died 998)source
  • Odo I, German nobleman (approximate date) (died 993)source
  • Liudolf, Swabia (approximate date) (died 957)source
  • Zhang Mi, Chinese Ci lyric poet (died unknown)source
  • Mieszko I, prince of Poland (approximate date) (died 992)source
  • Boleslaus II, duke of Bohemia (died 999)source
  • Gisulf I, prince of Salerno (died 977)source
  • Lambert of Chalon, Frankish nobleman (died 978)source
  • Herbert of Wetterau, German nobleman (died 992)source
  • Ya'qub ibn Killis, Fatimid vizier (died 991)source

Deaths

  • May 31 – Liu Hua, princess of Southern Han (born 896)source
  • June 19 – Xiao Qing, chancellor of Later Liang (born 862)source
  • June 20 – Hucbald, Frankish monk and music theoristsource
  • October 26 – Li Qi, chancellor of Later Liang (born 871)source
  • November 19 – Yan Keqiu, Chinese chief strategistsource
  • December 2 – Ma Yin, Chinese warlord and king (born 853)source
  • Sharwin II, ruler of the Bavand Dynasty (Iran)source
  • Abū Kāmil Shujāʿ ibn Aslam, Egyptian mathematician (born c. 850)source
  • Amoghavarsha II, ruler of Rashtrakuta (India)source
  • Óengus mac Óengusa, Irish poet and Chief Ollam of Irelandsource
  • Xia Luqi, general of Later Tang (born 882)source
  • García II Sánchez, duke of Gascony (approximate date)source