957 CE

Liudolf, the eldest son of King Otto I, dies of a violent fever near Pombia (it is rumored from a latent poison administered somehow by Berengar II's agents). The German armies return home, leaving Berengar of Ivrea in control of Italy. Liudolf is succeeded by his 3-year-old son Otto, who will be adopted and raised by his grandfather Otto, as the later duke of Swabia and Bavaria. Olga of Kiev, ruler and regent of Kievan Rus', converts to the Eastern Orthodox Church, from paganism (approximate date). 957 Caspian Sea earthquake. It took place in the Caspian Sea and its vicinity. The earthquake is mentioned by several Arab and Syriac chronicle writers, who claimed that it mainly affected the region of Persian Iraq. The initial shocks lasted 40 days, but ceased for a while. The main earthquake then occurred, damaging the cities of Ray, Talikan, and Hulwan. A reported number of 150 villages were supposedly destroyed by the earthquake.

In the 950s, the 10th century.

Geopolitics & Diplomacy

  • Mercia and Northumbria rebel against King Eadwig and switch their allegiance to his brother Edgar. The English nobles (in support of the church) agree to divide the kingdom along the Thames River, with Eadwig keeping Wessex and Kent in the south and Edgar ruling in the north. Edgar's advisers recall Dunstan from Flanders (see 956).source

Conflict & Security

  • The Tenryaku era under the reign of Emperor Murakami ends. The Tentoku era begins (until 961).source

Religion & Belief

  • Olga of Kiev, ruler and regent of Kievan Rus', converts to the Eastern Orthodox Church, from paganism (approximate date).source
  • In China the Longquan Monastery is founded during the Liao Dynasty.source

Climate & Environment

  • 957 Caspian Sea earthquake. It took place in the Caspian Sea and its vicinity. The earthquake is mentioned by several Arab and Syriac chronicle writers, who claimed that it mainly affected the region of Persian Iraq. The initial shocks lasted 40 days, but ceased for a while. The main earthquake then occurred, damaging the cities of Ray, Talikan, and Hulwan. A reported number of 150 villages were supposedly destroyed by the earthquake.source

Births

  • Fujiwara no Yoshikane, Japanese nobleman (died 1021)source
  • Wang Dan, Chinese politician and Grand Chancellor (died 1017)source
  • Fujiwara no Kinsue, Japanese statesman (died 1029)source
  • Fujiwara no Junshi, Japanese empress consort (died 1017)source
  • Lu Zhen, Chinese scholar-official (approximate date)source
  • Fujiwara no Sanesuke, Japanese nobleman (died 1046)source

Deaths

  • January 16 – Abu Bakr Muhammad ibn Ali al-Madhara'i, Tulunid vizier (born 871)source
  • June 14 – Guadamir, bishop of Vic (Spain)source
  • September 6 – Liudolf, duke of Swabiasource
  • September 6 – Liudolf, the eldest son of King Otto I, dies of a violent fever near Pombia (it is rumored from a latent poison administered somehow by Berengar II's agents). The German armies return home, leaving Berengar of Ivrea in control of Italy. Liudolf is succeeded by his 3-year-old son Otto, who will be adopted and raised by his grandfather Otto, as the later duke of Swabia and Bavaria.source
  • Wilfred II, count of Besalú of the House of Barcelona, is killed by rebellious vassals. He is succeeded by his brother Sunifred II.source
  • Wilfred II, count of Besalú (Spain)source
  • Ruzbahan, Buyid tax collector and generalsource
  • Istakhri, Persian traveler and geographersource
  • Arinjaya, king of the Chola Kingdom (India)source
  • Marzuban ibn Muhammad, Sallarid rulersource