Category: 9th Century
Ninth Century CE, i.e. 801 to 900
Britain
Britain continued to endure a great Viking influx during the 9th century, extending from the previous century. The kingdoms of the Heptarchy were gradually conquered by Danes, who installed and puppeteered Anglo-Saxon rulers in each kingdom. Invasion was carried by a huge military known as the Great Heathen Army, supposedly led by:
- Ivar the Boneless,
- Halfdan Ragnarsson
- and Guthrum.
In 865, the Great Heathen Army first arrived in East Anglia. After conquering that kingdom, they captured York (Jorvik), and set up the kingdom of Jorvik. The Danes went on to subjugate the kingdom of Northumbria, and take all but the western portion of Mercia. Heptarchy was the only remaining kingdom of Wessex.
Alfred the Great maintained Wessex. He pushed back the Viking incursions, and relieved neighboring kingdoms from the Danish threat, following his victory at the Battle of Ethandun in 878. He re-established Anglo-Saxon rule over the western half of Mercia. The introduction of Danelaw divided Mercia in half, giving control of the eastern portion to the Danes.
Ireland
Affected by Viking expansion across the North Sea, extensive raids were carried out along the Iris coast. This resulted in permanent settlements, like Dublin in 841. West coast monasteries were targeted for their rich loot. During these raids, Vikings set up temporary camps, the Irish called longphorts. As such, this period of coastal raids is known as the longphort phase. after these particular types of settlements.
In the 9th century, Ireland was organized by tuatha, an amalgam of small kingdoms. At times, they grouped and ruled by a sole, provincial ruler. If a ruler's authority was maintained over a portion of these tuatha, he was sometimes granted the title of High King (see High King of Ireland).
Scotland
Scotland also endured significant Viking incursions during this period. Vikings established themselves in coastal regions, usually in northern Scotland, and northern islands such as Orkney and Shetland.
Viking invasion and settlement contributed to collapse of Pictish kingdoms inhabiting most of Scotland. Not only were Pict realms destroyed or severely weakened, the Viking agenda may have caused the movement of Kenneth MacAlpin, king of Dál Riata.
The kingdom of Dál Riata was on the western coast of Scotland. According to the Annals of Ulster, it was destroyed by Viking incursions after the death of its previous king, Áed mac Boanta in 839. This may have led to Kenneth MacAlpin's eastern move to conquer remnants of the Pictish domain. In 843, MacAlpin became king of the Picts. Later kings were titled: King of Alba or King of Scots. (1)
Significant people
- Adi Sankara
- Alfonso III of Asturias, king of Asturias, Galicia and León.
- Al-Jahiz
- Alfred the Great
- Arnulf of Carinthia
- Árpád, Grand Prince of the Magyars
- Basil I the Macedonian (Βασίλειος Α') (811–886), ruled (867)–(886)
- Boris I of Bulgaria
- Empress Irene of Athens
- Charlemagne
- Clement of Ohrid
- Harald I of Norway
- Harun al-Rashid
- Krum, Khan of Bulgaria
- Kenneth I of Scotland
- Louis the Pious
- Ordoño I of Asturias, King of Asturias
- Pope Johanna
- Rurik
- Simeon I of Bulgaria
- Saints Cyril and Methodius
Person Profiles (37)
B
C
D
D cont.
F
G
M
N
P
R
S
T
W
Z
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