950 - 979 A.D. - Edgar & Otto

Intro 

Intro

Music

(Feature Photo: The Volga River in Russia; Credit: Wikimedia Commons)

 

950

RULERS & ROYALTY: Eadred is king of the English – Agapetus II is pope/bishop of Rome

Viking raids extend down the river Volga, the longest river in Europe, which flows from central to southern Russia; Eventually the Vikings reach Arab-ruled Azerbaijan (History of the World, Map by Map, Pg. 99)

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"In the 10th century, semi-nomadic peoples, such as the Slavs, Avars, and Bulgars, invaded the Balkans--the region between the Greek Peloponnese and the Danube River."

(History of the World, Map by Map, Pg. 93) 

 

951

RULERS & ROYALTY: Eadred is king of the English – Agapetus II is pope/bishop of Rome

 

952

RULERS & ROYALTY: Eadred is king of the English – Agapetus II is pope/bishop of Rome

 

953

RULERS & ROYALTY: Eadred is king of the English – Agapetus II is pope/bishop of Rome

 

954

RULERS & ROYALTY: Eadred is king of the English – Agapetus II is pope/bishop of Rome

 

955

 

 

956

 

 

957

 

 

958

 

 

959

 

 

960

RULERS & ROYALTY: Edgar the Peaceable is king of the English, Mercia and Northumbria (both in present-day England) – García Sánchez I is king of Pamplona (later called Navarre, in the present-day Basque region of Spain) – Lothair (Carolingian line) is the king of West Francia (will become the Kingdom of France) – Otto I "The Great" is king of Germany (was originally called East Francia) – Romanos II is emperor of the Byzantine Empire – John XII is pope/bishop of Rome

Edgar "The Peaceable," king of the English, turns 17

 

961

RULERS & ROYALTY: Edgar the Peaceable is king of the English, Mercia and Northumbria (both in present-day England) – García Sánchez I is king of Pamplona (later called Navarre, in the present-day Basque region of Spain) – Lothair (Carolingian line) is the king of West Francia (the medieval German state) – Otto I "The Great" is king of Germany, and this year becomes king of Italy  Romanos II is emperor of the Byzantine Empire – John XII is pope/bishop of Rome

May 26, Otto II (son of Otto I "The Great) succeeds his father as king of Germany (his father becomes Holy Roman Emperor next year, which will include the kingdom of Germany in its empire)

 

Edgar "The Peaceable," king of the English, turns 18

 

962

RULERS & ROYALTY: Edgar the Peaceable is king of the English, Mercia and Northumbria (both in present-day England) – García Sánchez I is king of Pamplona (later called Navarre, in the present-day Basque region of Spain) – Lothair (Carolingian line) is the king of West Francia (the medieval German state) – Otto I "The Great," king of Italy, becomes the first Holy Roman Emperor  Otto II (Otto I's son) is king of Germany (part of the Holy Roman Empire) – Romanos II is emperor of the Byzantine Empire – John XII is pope/bishop of Rome

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Otto Becomes the First Genuine Holy Roman Emperor (in addition to all his other titles)

February 2, Otto I "The Great" is crowned in Rome by pope John XII as the first Holy Roman Emperor; He has been king of Germany and duke of Saxony since 936 when his father passed away, Germany is now under his son's kingship, though her is still it's ultimate ruler as Holy Roman Emperor; He has also been king of Italy since last year; With Otto's ascension as the first genuine Holy Roman Emperor, he founds the Ottonian dynasty

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Edgar "The Peaceable," king of the English turns, 19

 

963

RULERS & ROYALTY: Edgar the Peaceable is king of the English, Mercia and Northumbria (both in present-day England) – García Sánchez I is king of Pamplona (later called Navarre, in the present-day Basque region of Spain) – Lothair (Carolingian line) is the king of West Francia – Otto I "The Great," king of Italy, is the first Holy Roman Emperor – Otto II (Otto I's son) is king of Germany (part of the Holy Roman Empire)  Romanos II, the emperor of the Byzantine Empire, Nikephoros II, succeeds him – John XII is pope/bishop of Rome

March 15, Romanos II, Byzantine emperor, dies, aged 25-26 and Nikephoros II succeeds him

Edgar "The Peaceable," king of the English, turns 20

 

964

RULERS & ROYALTY: Edgar the Peaceable is king of the English, Mercia and Northumbria (both in present-day England) – García Sánchez I is king of Pamplona (later called Navarre, in the present-day Basque region of Spain) – Lothair (Carolingian line) is the king of West Francia – Otto I "The Great," king of Italy, is the first Holy Roman Emperor – Otto II (Otto I's son) is king of Germany (part of the Holy Roman Empire)  Nikephoros II is emperor of the Byzantine Empire – John XII, pope/bishop of Rome, Leo VIII succeeds him

May 14, Pope John XII is deposed by Otto I, the first Holy Roman Emperor

June 23, Leo VIII becomes pope/bishop of Rome 

Edgar "The Peaceable," king of the English, turns 21

 

965

RULERS & ROYALTY: Edgar the Peaceable is king of the English, Mercia and Northumbria (both in present-day England) – García Sánchez I is king of Pamplona (later called Navarre, in the present-day Basque region of Spain) – Lothair is the (Carolingian line) king of West Francia – Otto I "The Great," king of Italy, is the first Holy Roman Emperor – Otto II (Otto I's son) is king of Germany (part of the Holy Roman Empire) Nikephoros II is emperor of the Byzantine Empire – Leo VIII, pope/bishop of Rome, and John XIII succeeds him

March 1, Pope Leo VIII dies, aged 50

October 1, John XIII becomes pope/bishop of Rome

Edgar "The Peaceable," king of the English, turns 22

 

966

RULERS & ROYALTY: Edgar the Peaceable is king of the English, Mercia and Northumbria (both in present-day England) – García Sánchez I is king of Pamplona (later called Navarre, in the present-day Basque region of Spain) – Lothair is the (Carolingian line) king of West Francia – Otto I "The Great," king of Italy, is the first Holy Roman Emperor – Otto II (Otto I's son) is king of Germany (part of the Holy Roman Empire)  Nikephoros II is emperor of the Byzantine Empire – John XIII is pope/bishop of Rome

Edgar "The Peaceable," king of the English, turns 23

 

967

RULERS & ROYALTY: Edgar the Peaceable is king of the English, Mercia and Northumbria (both in present-day England) – García Sánchez I is king of Pamplona (later called Navarre, in the present-day Basque region of Spain) – Lothair is the (Carolingian line) king of West Francia – Otto I "The Great," king of Italy, is the first Holy Roman Emperor – Otto II (Otto I's son) is king of Germany (part of the Holy Roman Empire)  Nikephoros II is emperor of the Byzantine Empire – John XIII is pope/bishop of Rome

Edgar "The Peaceable," king of the English, turns 24

 

968

RULERS & ROYALTY: Edgar the Peaceable is king of the English, Mercia and Northumbria (both in present-day England) – García Sánchez I is king of Pamplona (later called Navarre, in the present-day Basque region of Spain) – Lothair is the (Carolingian line) king of West Francia – Otto I "The Great," king of Italy, is the first Holy Roman Emperor – Otto II (Otto I's son) is king of Germany (part of the Holy Roman Empire)  Nikephoros II is emperor of the Byzantine Empire – John XIII is pope/bishop of Rome

Edgar "The Peaceable," king of the English turns, 25

 

969

RULERS & ROYALTY: Edgar the Peaceable is king of the English, Mercia and Northumbria (both in present-day England) – García Sánchez I is king of Pamplona (later called Navarre, in present-day Basque region of Spain) – Lothair is the (Carolingian line) king of West Francia – Otto I "The Great," king of Italy, is the first Holy Roman Emperor – Otto II (Otto I's son) is king of Germany (part of the Holy Roman Empire)  Nikephoros II, emperor of the Byzantine Empire, dies and John I succeeds him – John XIII is pope/bishop of Rome

December 11, Nikephoros II, the Byzantine emperor dies, aged 57 and John I succeeds him

Edgar "The Peaceable," king of the English turns 26

The Shia Fatimids capture Cairo, Egypt, and establish a new caliphate (History of the World, Map by Map, Pg. 97)

 

970

RULERS & ROYALTY: Edgar the Peaceable is king of the English, Mercia and Northumbria (both in present-day England) – García Sánchez I, king of Pamplona (later called Navarre, in present-day Basque region of Spain), dies, and his son Sancho II succeeds him – Lothair is the (Carolingian line) king of West Francia – Otto I "The Great," king of Italy, is the first Holy Roman Emperor – Otto II (Otto I's son) is king of Germany (part of the Holy Roman Empire)  John I is emperor of the Byzantine Empire – John XIII is pope/bishop of Rome

Edgar "The Peaceable," king of the English turns 27

 

971

RULERS & ROYALTY: Edgar the Peaceable is king of the English, Mercia and Northumbria (both in present-day England) – Sancho II is king of Pamplona (later called Navarre, in present-day Basque region of Spain) – Lothair is the (Carolingian line) king of West Francia – Otto I "The Great," king of Italy, is the first Holy Roman Emperor – Otto II (Otto I's son) is king of Germany (part of the Holy Roman Empire) John I is emperor of the Byzantine Empire – John XIII is pope/bishop of Rome

Edgar "The Peaceable," king of the English turns 28

 

972

RULERS & ROYALTY: Edgar the Peaceable is king of the English, Mercia and Northumbria (both in present-day England) – Sancho II is king of Pamplona (later called Navarre, in present-day Basque region of Spain) – Lothair is the (Carolingian line) king of West Francia – Otto I "The Great," king of Italy, is the first Holy Roman Emperor – Otto II (Otto I's son) is king of Germany (part of the Holy Roman Empire)  John I is emperor of the Byzantine Empire – John XIII is pope/bishop of Rome until he dies in September

September 6, Pope John XIII dies, aged 42 

Edgar "The Peaceable," king of the English turns 29

 

973 

RULERS & ROYALTY: Edgar the Peaceable is king of the English, Mercia and Northumbria (both in present-day England) – Sancho II is king of Pamplona (later called Navarre, in present-day Basque region of Spain) – Lothair is the (Carolingian line) king of West Francia – Otto I, king of Italy and the first Holy Roman Emperor, dies, and his son Otto II succeeds him  John I is emperor of the Byzantine Empire – Benedict VI becomes pope/bishop of Rome

January 19, Benedict VI becomes pope/bishop of Rome

May 7, Otto I "The Great," the first Holy Roman Emperor, dies, aged 60, and his son, Otto II, becomes the second Holy Roman Emperor

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The First Genuine King of England

May 11, Edgar "The Peaceable," king of the English since '59, is crowned in Bath Abbey, in Bath, England; He turns 30 this year

Though Edgar has been king since 959, he hasn't been officially crowned until now; This crowning is significant, because it is the first time a...

"...Saxon king is crowned as king of all the English, a title used by previous monarchs, but never as part of their coronation."

"Following the coronation, Edgar put on a display of force. His army marched from Bath to Chester along the Welsh border, showing his authority over the Welsh, while his fleet sailed through the Irish sea, also demonstrating his subjugation of the Norse who still held power in that area at Dublin and on Man...

...at the same time, Elfrida was also crowned, the first queen of the English. This ceremony has remained essentially the same in content ever since."

(British Kings & Queens, Pg. 34-35)

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The Fatimid Caliphate court and capital move to the newly-founded Cairo by Ma’ad the current Fatimid Caliphate of North Africa, including Egypt

The first mention of there being a castle where Schwerin Castle now stands in eastern Germany is written down, it is the fort of the Polabian Slav tribe of the Obotrites (a medieval confederation of West Slavic tribes within the territory of modern Mecklenburg and Holstein in northern Germany) on an island in the large lake of Schwerin

 

974

RULERS & ROYALTY: Edgar the Peaceable is king of the English, Mercia and Northumbria (both in present-day England) – Sancho II is king of Pamplona (later called Navarre, in present-day Basque region of Spain) – Lothair is the (Carolingian line) king of West Francia – Otto II is the second Holy Roman Emperor and king of Germany  John I is emperor of the Byzantine Empire – Benedict VI, pope/bishop of Rome, dies and Benedict VII succeeds him

June, Pope Benedict VI dies

October, Benedict VII becomes pope/bishop of Rome

Edgar "The Peaceable," king of the English turns 31

 

975   

RULERS & ROYALTY: Edgar the Peaceable, king of the English, Mercia and Northumbria (both in present-day England), dies, no king succeeds him until 978 – Sancho II is king of Pamplona (later called Navarre, in present-day Basque region of Spain) – Lothair is the (Carolingian line) king of West Francia – Otto II is the second Holy Roman Emperor  John I is emperor of the Byzantine Empire – Benedict VII is pope/bishop of Rome

July 8, Edgar the Peaceable dies, aged 32, and is buried Glastonbury Abbey

 

976

RULERS & ROYALTY: No king of the English right now – Sancho II is king of Pamplona (later called Navarre, in present-day Basque region of Spain) – Lothair is the (Carolingian line) king of West Francia – Otto II is the second Holy Roman Emperor – John I, the Byzantine emperor, dies and Basil II succeeds him – Benedict VII is pope/bishop of Rome

January 10, John I, the Byzantine emperor, dies, aged 50, and Basil II succeeds him

 

977

RULERS & ROYALTY: No king of the English right now – Sancho II is king of Pamplona (later called Navarre, in present-day Basque region of Spain) – Lothair is the (Carolingian line) king of West Francia – Otto II is the second Holy Roman Emperor  Basil II is emperor of the Byzantine Empire – Benedict VII is pope/bishop of Rome

The Ghaznavids, a dynasty of Turkic origin, establishes themselves in Ghazni, in Khorasan from this year until taking over the western portion of the former Sambaing Empire by 1005 (History of the World, Map by Map, Pg. 97)

The Persian national epic, Shahnameh, is written around this year by the poet Ferdowsi

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1,000 Years From Now 

May 25, The movie Star Wars: A New Hope releases in theaters; It becomes a box office hit and makes $775.8 million dollars

 

978    

RULERS & ROYALTY: Athelred II "The Unready" becomes king of the English  Sancho II is king of Pamplona (later called Navarre, in present-day Basque region of Spain) – Lothair is the (Carolingian line) king of West Francia – Otto II is the second Holy Roman Emperor  Basil II is emperor of the Byzantine Empire – Benedict VII is pope/bishop of Rome

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He's Just Never Prepared

April 4, Athelred II "The Unready" is crowned as king of the English in Kingston-upon-Thames

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979

RULERS & ROYALTY: Athelred II "The Unready" becomes king of the English  Sancho II is king of Pamplona (later called Navarre, in present-day Basque region of Spain) – Lothair is the (Carolingian line) king of West Francia – Otto II is the second Holy Roman Emperor  Basil II is emperor of the Byzantine Empire – Benedict VII is pope/bishop of Rome