953 CE

Caliph al-Mansur bi-Nasr Allah dies after a severe illness. He is succeeded by his 21-year-old son al-Mu'izz li-Din Allah as ruler of the Fatimid Caliphate. His authority is recognized over most of what later will be Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia. Battle of Marash: Emir Sayf al-Dawla marches north into the Byzantine Empire and ravages the countryside of Malatya (modern Turkey). On his way back, he crosses the Euphrates and intercepts a Byzantine army led by Bardas Phokas (the Elder), near Marash. The Byzantines are defeated; Bardas himself barely escapes through the intervention of his attendants. His son Constantine Phokas, governor of Seleucia, is captured and held prisoner in Aleppo, until his death from an illness some time later. The town of Póvoa de Varzim is first mentioned during the rule of Mumadona Dias, countess of Portugal, under the name Villa Euracini.

In the 950s, the 10th century.

Conflict & Security

  • Summer – Liudolf, duke of Swabia, and his brother-in-law Conrad the Red rebel against King Otto I. Otto and his army fail to capture the cities of Mainz and Augsburg. He declares Liudolf and Conrad as outlaws in absentia. His brother Bruno I, archbishop of Cologne, restores royal authority in Lorraine, but some of the rebellious dukes receive support from the Hungarians. They seize the opportunity to invade Bavaria.source
  • Battle of Marash: Emir Sayf al-Dawla marches north into the Byzantine Empire and ravages the countryside of Malatya (modern Turkey). On his way back, he crosses the Euphrates and intercepts a Byzantine army led by Bardas Phokas (the Elder), near Marash. The Byzantines are defeated; Bardas himself barely escapes through the intervention of his attendants. His son Constantine Phokas, governor of Seleucia, is captured and held prisoner in Aleppo, until his death from an illness some time later.source

Technology & Infrastructure

  • The town of Póvoa de Varzim is first mentioned during the rule of Mumadona Dias, countess of Portugal, under the name Villa Euracini.source

Births

  • September 14 – Guo Zongxun, Chinese emperor (died 973)source
  • September 21 – Abu Ishaq Ibrahim, Buyid princesource
  • Herbert III, count of Vermandois (died 1015)source
  • Al-Karaji, Persian mathematiciansource
  • Watanabe no Tsuna, Japanese samurai (died 1025)source
  • Bermudo II, king of León and Galiciasource
  • Kisai Marvazi, Persian author and poet (died 1002)source
  • Xiao Yanyan, Chinese Khitan empress (died 1009)source
  • Fujiwara no Michitaka, Japanese nobleman (died 995)source
  • Ælfheah, archbishop of Canterbury (died 1012)source
  • Fujiwara no Korenari, Japanese courtier (died 989)source
  • Charles, duke of Lower Lorraine (died 993)source

Deaths

  • March 19 – al-Mansur bi-Nasr Allah, Fatimid caliph (born 913)source
  • March 19 – Caliph al-Mansur bi-Nasr Allah dies after a severe illness. He is succeeded by his 21-year-old son al-Mu'izz li-Din Allah as ruler of the Fatimid Caliphate. His authority is recognized over most of what later will be Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia.source
  • August 1 – Yingtian, Chinese Khitan empress (born 879)source
  • November 18 – Liutgard, duchess of Lorraine (born 931)source
  • Abas I, king of the Bagratuni dynasty (Armenia)source
  • Rasso, Frankish military leader, pilgrim and saintsource
  • Rhodri ap Hywel, king of Deheubarth (Wales)source
  • Wang Jun, Chinese singer and chancellorsource
  • Mastalus I, penultimate patricius of Amalfi (Italy)source
  • Ma Yinsun, Chinese official and chancellorsource
  • Muhammad bin Musafir, Sallarid ruler (approximate date)source