__NOTOC__ Year 877 ( DCCCLXXVII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar) of the

Julian calendar The Julian calendar, proposed by Roman consul Julius Caesar in 46 BC, was a reform of the Roman calendar. It took effect on , by edict. It was designed with the aid of Greek mathematicians and astronomers such as Sosigenes of Alexandr ...

Events

By place

Europe

* Summer – King Charles II ("the Bald") sets out for

Italy Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical ...

, accompanied by his wife Richilde and a number of his chief

vassal A vassal or liege subject is a person regarded as having a mutual obligation to a lord or monarch, in the context of the feudal system in medieval Europe. While the subordinate party is called a vassal, the dominant party is called a suzerain ...

s. He gives orders for an expedition, but Duke Boso (his brother-in-law) refuses to join the army. At the same time Carloman, son of

Louis the German Louis the German (c. 806/810 – 28 August 876), also known as Louis II of Germany and Louis II of East Francia, was the first king of East Francia, and ruled from 843 to 876 AD. Grandson of emperor Charlemagne and the third son of Louis the P ...

, has crossed the

Alps The Alps () ; german: Alpen ; it, Alpi ; rm, Alps ; sl, Alpe . are the highest and most extensive mountain range system that lies entirely in Europe, stretching approximately across seven Alpine countries (from west to east): France, Swi ...

into eastern Lombardy at the head of a Frankish army. Charles sends Richilde back to

Gaul Gaul ( la, Gallia) was a region of Western Europe first described by the Romans. It was inhabited by Celtic and Aquitani tribes, encompassing present-day France, Belgium, Luxembourg, most of Switzerland, parts of Northern Italy (only during ...

, for the

coronation A coronation is the act of placement or bestowal of a crown upon a monarch's head. The term also generally refers not only to the physical crowning but to the whole ceremony wherein the act of crowning occurs, along with the presentation of ot ...

as empress of the

Holy Roman Empire The Holy Roman Empire was a political entity in Western, Central, and Southern Europe that developed during the Early Middle Ages and continued until its dissolution in 1806 during the Napoleonic Wars. From the accession of Otto I in 962 ...

, and with orders for reinforcements. However, the Frankish aristocracy is more concerned with the attacks by the

Vikings Vikings ; non, víkingr is the modern name given to seafaring people originally from Scandinavia (present-day Denmark, Norway and Sweden), who from the late 8th to the late 11th centuries raided, pirated, traded and ...

in their country, than the war with the Saracens in southern Italy.

Pope John VIII Pope John VIII ( la, Ioannes VIII; died 16 December 882) was the bishop of Rome and ruler of the Papal States from 14 December 872 to his death. He is often considered one of the ablest popes of the 9th century. John devoted much of his papacy ...

receives Charles at

Vercelli Vercelli (; pms, Vërsèj ), is a city and ''comune'' of 46,552 inhabitants (January 1, 2017) in the Province of Vercelli, Piedmont, northern Italy. One of the oldest urban sites in northern Italy, it was founded, according to most historians, ...

, where he requests help against the attacks by the Saracens in southern Italy. He forms an

alliance An alliance is a relationship among people, groups, or states that have joined together for mutual benefit or to achieve some common purpose, whether or not explicit agreement has been worked out among them. Members of an alliance are called ...

with the Italian states at

Traetto Minturno is a city and ''comune'' in the southern Lazio, Italy, situated on the north west bank of the Garigliano (known in antiquity as the Liris), with a suburb on the opposite bank about from its mouth, at the point where the Via Appia crosse ...

. *

August August is the eighth month of the year in the Julian and Gregorian calendars, and the fifth of seven months to have a length of 31 days. Its zodiac sign is Leo and was originally named ''Sextilis'' in Latin because it was the 6th month in ...

– Siege of Syracuse: The

Aghlabids The Aghlabids ( ar, الأغالبة) were an Arab dynasty of emirs from the Najdi tribe of Banu Tamim, who ruled Ifriqiya and parts of Southern Italy, Sicily, and possibly Sardinia, nominally on behalf of the Abbasid Caliph, for about a c ...

begin raiding the

Byzantine The Byzantine Empire, also referred to as the Eastern Roman Empire or Byzantium, was the continuation of the Roman Empire primarily in its eastern provinces during Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, when its capital city was Constantinopl ...

territories, in the east of the island of

Sicily (man) it, Siciliana (woman) , population_note = , population_blank1_title = , population_blank1 = , demographics_type1 = Ethnicity , demographics1_footnotes = , demographi ...

. They besiege Syracuse, and

blockade A blockade is the act of actively preventing a country or region from receiving or sending out food, supplies, weapons, or communications, and sometimes people, by military force. A blockade differs from an embargo or sanction, which are leg ...

the fortress city by sea and land. *

October 6 Events Pre-1600 * 105 BC – Cimbrian War: Defeat at the Battle of Arausio accelerates the Marian reforms of the Roman army of the mid-Republic. * 69 BC – Third Mithridatic War: The military of the Roman Republic subdue Armenia. *A ...

– Charles II dies while crossing the pass of

Mont Cenis Mont Cenis ( it, Moncenisio) is a massif (el. 3,612 m / 11,850 ft at Pointe de Ronce) and a pass (el. 2,085 m / 6,840 ft) in Savoie (France), which forms the limit between the Cottian and Graian Alps. Route The term "Mont Cenis" cou ...

Brides-les-Bains Brides-les-Bains () is a commune in the Savoie department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France. It was an Olympic Village for the 1992 Winter Olympics, based in Albertville, France. There is easy accessibility via Euros ...

, en route back to Gaul. He is succeeded by his son

Louis the Stammerer Louis II, known as Louis the Stammerer (french: Louis le Bègue; 1 November 846 – 10 April 879), was the king of Aquitaine and later the king of West Francia. He was the eldest son of Emperor Charles the Bald and Ermentrude of Orléans. Louis ...

, king of

Aquitaine Aquitaine ( , , ; oc, Aquitània ; eu, Akitania; Poitevin-Saintongeais: ''Aguiéne''), archaic Guyenne or Guienne ( oc, Guiana), is a historical region of southwestern France and a former administrative region of the country. Since 1 Janu ...

, who becomes ruler of the

West Frankish Kingdom In medieval history, West Francia (Medieval Latin: ) or the Kingdom of the West Franks () refers to the western part of the Francia, Frankish Empire established by Charlemagne. It represents the earliest stage of the Kingdom of France, lasting fr ...

. Carloman, forced by an

epidemic An epidemic (from Greek ἐπί ''epi'' "upon or above" and δῆμος ''demos'' "people") is the rapid spread of disease to a large number of patients among a given population within an area in a short period of time. Epidemics of infectious ...

which breaks out in his army, returns to

Germany Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwe ...

. After the death of his father, Louis makes plans to receive the

oath of fidelity A loyalty oath is a pledge of allegiance to an organization, institution, or state of which an individual is a member. In the United States, such an oath has often indicated that the affiant has not been a member of a particular organization or ...

from his subjects, but he learns that the magnates are refusing him obedience and rallying around Boso. The rebels are supported by his stepmother Richilda, and, as a sign of their displeasure, ravage the country.

Hincmar Hincmar (; ; la, Hincmarus; 806 – 21 December 882), archbishop of Reims, was a Frankish jurist and theologian, as well as the friend, advisor and propagandist of Charles the Bald. He belonged to a noble family of northern Francia. Biography Ea ...

, archbishop of Reims, intercedes and the rebels agree to a settlement. The magnates, whose rights Louis promises to recognize, all make their submissions. *

December 8 Events Pre-1600 * 395 – Later Yan is defeated by its former vassal Northern Wei at the Battle of Canhe Slope. * 757 – The poet Du Fu returns to Chang'an as a member of Emperor Xuanzong's court, after having escaped the city durin ...

–

is crowned by Hincmar as king (not emperor) of the West Frankish Kingdom, in the church of

Compiègne Compiègne (; pcd, Compiène) is a commune in the Oise department in northern France. It is located on the river Oise. Its inhabitants are called ''Compiégnois''. Administration Compiègne is the seat of two cantons: * Compiègne-1 (with 19 ...

. The imperial

throne A throne is the seat of state of a potentate or dignitary, especially the seat occupied by a sovereign on state occasions; or the seat occupied by a pope or bishop on ceremonial occasions. "Throne" in an abstract sense can also refer to the mona ...

will remain vacant until 881.

Britain

* Autumn – King Alfred the Great raises a large force, and marches on the Viking camp at the city of Exeter. His army

besiege A siege is a military blockade of a city, or fortress, with the intent of conquering by attrition, or a well-prepared assault. This derives from la, sedere, lit=to sit. Siege warfare is a form of constant, low-intensity conflict characterize ...

s the

Great Summer Army The Great Heathen Army,; da, Store Hedenske Hær also known as the Viking Great Army,Hadley. "The Winter Camp of the Viking Great Army, AD 872–3, Torksey, Lincolnshire", ''Antiquaries Journal''. 96, pp. 23–67 was a coalition of Scandin ...

, led by

Guthrum Guthrum ( ang, Guðrum, c. 835 – c. 890) was King of East Anglia in the late 9th century. Originally a native of what is now Denmark, he was one of the leaders of the "Great Summer Army" that arrived in Reading during April 871 to join forces ...

, and forces the Vikings to surrender. They flee north to

Gloucester Gloucester ( ) is a cathedral city and the county town of Gloucestershire in the South West of England. Gloucester lies on the River Severn, between the Cotswolds to the east and the Forest of Dean to the west, east of Monmouth and east ...

, and settle in the Five Boroughs of the Danelaw, Five Boroughs (modern East Midlands). * Battle of Strangford Lough: King Halfdan Ragnarsson, Halfdan I leaves for Ireland, in an attempt to claim the Kingdom of Dublin from his rival Bárid mac Ímair. He is killed in battle at Strangford Lough, and a probable interregnum follows in York. * Ceolwulf II of Mercia, Ceolwulf II is installed as Puppet monarch, puppet king of Mercia. The west of the kingdom comes under Ceolwulf's rule, while in the east the Five Boroughs begin as fortified Danish burhs. * The Vikings invade Wales once more, and King Rhodri the Great, Rhodri ap Merfyn ("the Great") of Kingdom of Gwynedd, Gwynedd, Kingdom of Powys, Powys and Seisyllwg is forced to flee to Ireland (approximate date). * King Causantín mac Cináeda, Constantin I is killed fighting Viking raiders, at the "Black Cave" in Fife. He is succeeded by his brother Áed mac Cináeda as ruler of Alba (Kingdom of Scotland, Scotland).

Asia

* King Jayavarman III dies after a 42-year reign. He is succeeded by his cousin Indravarman I, as ruler of the Khmer Empire (modern Cambodia).

By topic

Religion

* October 23 – Photios I of Constantinople, Photius I is reinstated as Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, patriarch of Constantinople, after the death of Ignatios of Constantinople, Ignatius.

Births

* January 31 – Taejo of Goryeo, Wang Kon, founder of Goryeo (d. 943) * September 10 – Eutychius of Alexandria, Eutychius, Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria and all Africa, patriarch of Alexandria (d. 940) * Ælfthryth, Countess of Flanders, Ælfthryth, English princess and countess of County of Flanders, Flanders (d. 929) * Fujiwara no Kanesuke, Japanese Nobility, nobleman (d. 933) * Empress Liu (Li Maozhen's wife), Liu, Chinese empress of Qi (Li Maozhen's state), Qi (d. 943) * Luo Shaowei, Chinese warlord (d. 910) * Pi Guangye, Chinese chancellor (d. 943) * Rudesind I, bishop of Roman Catholic Diocese of Mondoñedo-Ferrol, Mondoñedo (d. 907) * Wang Rong (warlord), Wang Rong, Chinese warlord (d. 921)

Deaths

* August 5 – Ubayd Allah ibn Yahya ibn Khaqan, Abbasid vizier *

– Charles the Bald, Holy Roman emperor (b. 823) * October 23 – Ignatios of Constantinople, Ignatius, Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, patriarch of Constantinople * Andrew the Scot, Irish archdeacon (approximate date) * Bernard II, Count of Toulouse, Bernard II, Frankish nobleman (approximate date) * Carloman, son of Charles the Bald, Carloman, Frankish abbot (approximate date) * Causantín mac Cináeda, Constantine I, king of Alba (Kingdom of Scotland, Scotland) * Engelram, Chamberlain of France, Engelram, Frankish Chamberlain (office), chamberlain * Girart de Roussillon, Gérard II, Frankish nobleman (or 879) * Halfdan Ragnarsson, Viking leader and 'king' of Scandinavian York, Northumbria * Jayavarman III, king of the Khmer Empire (Cambodia) * John Scotus Eriugena, Johannes Scotus Eriugena, Irish Theology, theologian (approximate date) * Musa ibn Bugha al-Kabir, Abbasid general * Ōe no Otondo, Japanese scholar (b. 811) * Savaric I (bishop of Mondoñedo), Savaric I, bishop of Mondoñedo (b. 866) * Wang Ying (Tang dynasty), Wang Ying, Chinese rebel leader

References

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