900

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Alfonso III begins reconquest of Spain, slowly defeating Moorish overlords.

901

Edward the Elder takes the title, "King of Angles and Saxons."

906

Magyars invade Germany.

907

Chinese Empire ends in civil war as T'ang Dynasty collapses. Chaos continues until 960.
Mongols begin conquest of Inner Mongolia and parts of northern China. By 1123 they will have successfully conquered the entire region.

910

Abbey of Cluny established in France.

911

The Franks are unable to dislodge the Viking chieftain Hrolf the Ganger (Rollo) from the region of Normandy.

913

Edward the Elder conquers Essex from the Danelaw.

918

State of Korgo founded (modern day Korea)

919

Henry I (known as "the Fowler" for his love of hawking) becomes ruler of Germany.

920

The Kingdom of Ghana in Africa reaches a cultural golden age.

924

Aethelstan becomes king of Wessex, the most powerful Anglo-Saxon kingdom. He becomes effectively the ruler of the unconquered sections of England.

926

Aethelstan annexes Northumbria. He forces the Princes of Wales, the kings of Strathclyde, and the Picts and Scots to submit to him.

929

King Wenceslas of Bohemia murdered.

932

Chinese printers adapt Wood-block printing to mass produce classical books.

934

935

The state of Koryo dominates Korea, beginning the Koryo period of history.

936

Otto I (often called Otto the Great) reigns over Germany until 973. His rise to power marks the beginning of the "Ottonian Renaissance."

937

Scots, Celts, Danes, and Vikings form alliance against Anglo-Saxon England. King Aethelstan leads Anglo-Saxons to decisive victory at the Battle of Brunanburh.He wins the title "King of all Britain."

c. 937 "Battle of Brunanburh" (heroic poem)

939

Series of civil wars in Japan.
Aethelstan's brother Edmund becomes king of England. He rules until 946.

942

Malcolm I becomes King of Scots. He rules until 953.

945

Scottish forces seize Cumberland and Westmorland from Anglo-Saxon control.
Saint Dunstan becomes Abbot of Glastonbury--he will later become a major monastic reformer.

946

Edred, younger brother of Edmund, inherits throne of England.

950

c. 950 Junius Manuscript written, a major source of the earlier "School of Caedmon" poems.

Otto I conquers Bohemia.

New Zealand discovered by Maori.

951

Monastic revival under Dunstan, Aethelwold, and Aelfric.

955

Otto I beats the Magyars at the Battle of Lechfeld.This victory stops their westward advance into Europe.

Edwy becomes king of Anglo-Saxon England.

956

Edwy sends Saint Dunstan into exile.

957

Mercians and Northumbrians rebel against Edwy.

959

Edgar the Peaceful becomes ruler of England. He recalls Saint Dunstan from exile and appoints him Archbishop of Canterbury.

960

Sung Dynasty founded in China.

961

962

Saint Bernard's Hospice founded in Switzerland.

Pope John XII crowns Otto as Holy Roman Emperor.

966

Otto II crowned as heir presumptive to the throne. This political maneuver serves as a preemptive strike against other contenders to Otto I's throne.

971

Kenneth II becomes King of the Scots.

The "Blickling Homilies" written--prose texts especially interesting as a window into colloquial Anglo-Saxon.

972

973

Otto II, King and Emperor until 983.

975

c. 975 St. Aethelwold's Regularis Concordia written--earliest evidence of dramatic activity in England.

975

Edward the Martyr, son of Edgar, rules as King of England until his murder in 978.

978

The Chinese compile a one-thousand volume encyclopedia.

Edward the Martyr killed at Corfe Castle. His brother Fathered II inherits the throne. Fathered II is so incompetent, he is nicknamed "Fathered Unraed," or "Aethelred the Un-counseled" by his contemporaries, a name often rendered as "Aethelred the Unready" by modern historians.

979-980

Vikings from Denmark renew their raids on England, attacking Chester and Southampton. This period of invasions will continue through 1016.

981

985

Sweyn Forkbeard claims the throne of Denmark. He rules the Danes until 1014.

Abbo of Fleury writes the Life of Saint Edmund.

986

987

Hugh Capet elected King of France, founding the Capetian Dynasty.

991

The Battle of Maldon takes place. Aging Byrhtnoth of Essex leads band of untrained commoners to confront the Danish invaders. He and his men are slaughtered. The heroic poem "The Battle of Maldon" probably written shortly after this event.

Aethelred II pays the the Danish warlord Olaf 10,000 pounds of silver as Danegeld.

992

Aethelred forms truce with Duke Richard I of Normandy.

993

Olaf Skutkonung first Swedish king to accept Christianity.

994

Danes led by Sweyn and Norwegians led by Olaf Trygvesson sail up the river Thames and besiege London. King Aethelred pays them Danegeld to buy peace.

995

Olaf Trygvesson sails to Norway, deposes King Haakon the Great, and becomes new king.

The rule of Fujiwara Michinaga brings Japan to a literary and artistic golden age.

996

Richard II becomes Duke of Normandy. Robert II (Robert the Pious) becomes King of France.

998

Stephen I (Saint Stephen) rules as first King of Hungary.

999

Bagauda rules as first King of Kano (modern day Northern Nigeria).

1000

The Viking Biarni Heriulfsson sights North America after being blown off course.

Battle of Svolder--Sweyn kills Olaf of Norway and annexes Norway to Denmark.

King Aethelred II ("the Unready" or "Poorly Counseled") ravages Cumberland and southwestern Scotland.

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