866

Updated on Oct 11, 2024

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Year 866 (DCCCLXVI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar.

Byzantine Empire

Spring – Bardas, the regent of the Byzantine Empire, is murdered by Basil the Macedonian at Miletus, while conducting a large-scale expedition against the Saracen stronghold of Crete.

May 26 – Basil the Macedonian is crowned co-emperor of the Byzantine Empire, and is adopted by the much younger Michael III.

Europe

May 27 – King Ordoño I dies after a 16-year reign. He is succeeded by his son Alfonso III ("the Great"), as ruler of Asturias.

July 2 – Battle of Brissarthe: Frankish forces, led by Robert the Strong, are defeated by a joint Breton-Viking army.

Harald Fairhair wins a decisive battle, in his quest to become king of all of Norway.

Louis II, Holy Roman Emperor, defeats the Saracen invaders who are ravaging southern Italy.

Britain

The Great Heathen Army of the Vikings rides north to Northumbria. The Northumbrians are preoccupied with a civil war, and the Danes enter York unopposed.

Abbasid Caliphate

October 17 – Caliph al-Musta'in is put to death, after a 4-year reign. He is succeeded by al-Mu'tazz, who becomes the youngest Abbasid caliph to assume power.

The Kharijite revolt against the Abbasid Caliphate begins in Al-Jazira (Upper Mesopotamia), which will last for 30 years.

Japan

Fujiwara no Yoshifusa becomes regent (sesshō) to assist the child emperor Seiwa, starting the Fujiwara regency.

Religion

Boris I, ruler (knyaz) of the Bulgarian Empire, sends a diplomatic mission, led by the Bulgarian nobleman Peter, to Rome, in an effort to renew ties with the West.

Pope Nicholas I forbids the use of torture, in prosecutions for witchcraft (approximate date).