873

By place

Europe

• Carloman, son of King Charles the Bald, is hailed before a secular court and condemned to death – for plotting against his father. He is blinded, but avoids imprisonment by escaping to the East Frankish Kingdom, where his uncle, Louis the German, gives him protection.
• Al-Andalus: The city of Toledo rises up for a second time against Umayyad rule, due to ethnic tensions over two years.

  Britain

• The Danish Great Heathen Army, led by the Viking leaders Halfdan and Guthrum, attack Mercia and capture the royal centre at Repton. The Vikings establish an encampment with a U-shape ditch, on the south bank of the River Trent and spend the winter there.

  Persian Empire

• Muhammad ibn Tahir, Muslim governor of Khorasan, is overthrown by the Saffarids, led by Ya'qub ibn al-Layth, who conquer the capital, Nishapur. Khorasan is annexed to their own empire in eastern Persia. The Tahirid Dynasty falls.

  China

• August 15 - Emperor Yi Zong dies after a 13-year reign. He is succeeded by his 11-year-old son Xi Zong, as ruler of the Tang Dynasty. During his reign, a widespread failure of the agricultural harvest leads to famine and agrarian rebellions.