Middle Ages
Tomb of St James Found (c. 820–830): The Origins of Santiago
A tomb was identified as that of the apostle James; a church was built over it, and the site grew into the city and pilgrimage centre of Santiago de Compostela.
Region
Europe
Middle Ages
Muslim Conquest of Sicily (827–902): The Emirate of Sicily
Sicily passed from Byzantine to Muslim rule and became an emirate centred on Palermo until the Norman conquest of the 11th century.
Middle Ages
Great Moravia: The First Major Slavic State in Central Europe
A powerful Slavic realm that hosted the Cyrillo-Methodian mission before collapsing under Magyar attacks in the early 10th century.
Middle Ages
Oseberg Ship Burial (834): Norway's Finest Viking Ship Grave
The richest known Viking Age grave was excavated in 1904; its ship and finds are among the best-preserved objects of the period.
Middle Ages
Viking Dublin (841): The Norse Longphort on the Liffey
A Norse fortified base was established at Dublin; it grew into Ireland's leading town and a centre of the Viking trade in slaves and silver.
Middle Ages
Battle of Fontenoy (841): Charlemagne's Heirs at War
Victory for Louis the German and Charles the Bald; Lothar retreated, leading to the Oaths of Strasbourg and the Treaty of Verdun.
Middle Ages
Oaths of Strasbourg (842): The Earliest Text in Old French
Louis and Charles sealed their alliance against Lothar; the oaths survive as the oldest text in early French and an early text in Old High German.
Middle Ages
Kenneth MacAlpin (c. 843): Picts, Scots and the Birth of Alba
Kenneth became king of the Picts; his descendants ruled the kingdom later called Alba, the core of medieval Scotland.
Middle Ages
Treaty of Verdun (843): How Charlemagne's Empire Was Divided
The empire was split into West Francia, Middle Francia and East Francia; Lothar kept the imperial title but lost overall authority.
Middle Ages
Viking Sack of Paris (845): Reginherus and the Danegeld
The Vikings plundered Paris and left after Charles the Bald paid them 7,000 pounds of silver and gold.
Middle Ages
Arab Raid on Rome (846) and the Building of the Leonine Wall
The raiders plundered the basilicas outside Rome's walls; Pope Leo IV then enclosed the Vatican with the Leonine Wall (848-852).
Middle Ages
Rus Attack on Constantinople (860): First Clash With Byzantium
The Rus plundered the suburbs and islands around Constantinople and withdrew; the city itself was not taken.