Summer – King
Arnulf of Carinthia enlists the support of the
Magyars, to raid northern
Italy. They overrun the Lombard plain all the way to
Pavia. King
Berengar I assembles a large army against the Magyars, and confronts them near the
Adda River. Daunted at the strong force,
Árpád (head of the confederation of the
Hungarian tribes) offers to make peace and restore much of what they've taken, if they are permitted to leave Italy unmolested. Berengar refuses, and the Magyars withdraw to the
Brenta River. Árpád renews his offer, offering to leave all his booty and even some hostages. Again Berengar refuses, and awaits their crossing of the Brenta River for a final battle.
September 24 –
Battle of the Brenta: The Magyar forces, consisting of 5,000 men, take a circuitous route through the mountains, crossing the Brenta River and proceed south to fall upon the encamped Lombard army (15,000 men) at
Cartigliano. The Magyars massacre much of Berengar's unprepared army. He himself manages to escape to
Pavia, changing his dress with the clothing of one of his soldiers. Árpád renews the offensive and heads across
Lombardy, pillaging the countryside around
Treviso,
Vicenza,
Bergamo and other towns all the way to
Vercelli. He turns south and heads down the
Aemilian Road, sacking
Reggio Emilia,
Modena and
Bologna.[1]
Winter – The Magyars turn back north towards the shores of the
Venetian Lagoon. They pillage
Chioggia and
Pellestrina, and advance towards
Malamocco. Their advance into the lagoon is checked by the assembly of the
Venetian fleet under doge
Pietro Tribuno, which defeats the Magyar's river crossing vessels at Albiola, causing them to pull back. This close call with the Magyars prompts the Venetians to initiate the fortification of the
Rialto and the building of protective chains over the
Grand Canal.
Britain
October 26 – King
Alfred the Great dies after a 28-year reign in which he has forced invading Danish
Vikings to withdraw, consolidated
England around
Wessex, divided parts of
Mercia into shires, compiled the best laws of earlier kings, encouraged learning by bringing famous
scholars to Wessex and made his own translations of
Latin works. He is succeeded by his eldest son,
Edward the Elder as king of Wessex.
Winter –
Æthelwold's Revolt: Following the death of Alfred the Great,
Æthelwold (youngest son of the late king
Æthelred I) disputes the succession of Edward the Elder. He seizes the royal estates at
Wimborne, the ancient symbolic burial place of West Saxon kings, and
Christchurch. Edward set up his
army camp at
Badbury Rings. Æthelwold first declares that he will 'live or die' at Wimborne, but then flees to
Northumbria.[2]