838

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Map of the Byzantine–Arab War (837–838)

Year 838 (DCCCXXXVIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar.

Events

By place

Byzantine Empire

• July 22 – Battle of Dazimon: Caliph Al-Mu'tasim launches a major punitive expedition against the Byzantine Empire, targeting the two major Byzantine fortress cities of central Anatolia (Ancyra and Amorium). He mobilises a vast army (80,000 men) at Tarsus, which is divided into two main forces. The northern force, under commander Al-Afshin, invades the Armeniac Theme from the region of Melitene, joining up with the forces of the city's emir, Umar al-Aqta. The southern, main force, under Al-Mu'tasim, passes the Cilician Gates into Cappadocia. Emperor Theophilos attacks the Abbasids, inflicting 3,000 casualties, but is later heavily defeated by a counter-attack of 10,000 Turkish horse archers. Theophilos and his guard are encircled, and barely manage to break through and escape.^[1][2][3]
• August – Siege of Amorium: The Abbasids besiege the Byzantine fortress city of Amorium, which is protected by 44 towers, according to the contemporary geographer Ibn Khordadbeh. Both besiegers and besieged have many siege engines, and for several days both sides exchange missile fire. However, a Muslim prisoner defects to Al-Mu'tasim, and informs him about a place in the wall which has been badly damaged by heavy rainfall. The Abbasids concentrate their hits on this section, and after two days manage to breach the city wall. After two weeks of repeated attacks, the Byzantine defenders surrender. The city is sacked and plundered, 70,000 inhabitants are slaughtered, and the surviving population is sold as slaves.

Europe

• King Pepin I of Aquitaine dies after a 21-year reign. Emperor Louis the Pious appoints his youngest son Charles the Bald as his successor. The Aquitainian nobility, however, elects Pepin's son Pepin II as the new Frankish ruler.

Britain

• Battle of Hingston Down: The West Saxons, led by King Egbert of Wessex, defeat a combined force of Cornish and Danish Vikings, at Hingston Down in Cornwall.^[4]
• King Fedelmid mac Crimthainn of Munster calls for a great royal meeting at Cluain-Conaire-Tommain, between him and King Niall Caille mac Áeda of Uí Néill.^[5]
• Approximate date – The Stone of Destiny, an oblong block of red sandstone, is placed at Scone Palace for the coronation of the first monarchs of Scotland.

Abbasid Caliphate

• A conspiracy is discovered, led by General 'Ujayf ibn 'Anbasa, to assassinate Al-Mu'tasim while he is campaigning, and place his nephew Al-Abbas ibn al-Ma'mun on the throne. A widespread purge of the army follows, which cements the leading role of the Turkish slave-soldiers (ghilman) in the Abbasid military establishment.
• Babak Khorramdin, a Persian military leader, is cruelly executed by order of Al-Mu'tasim.^[6]
• The Yezidi rise up against the Abbasids (approximate date).^[7]

By topic

Religion

• The oldest known mention is made of the city of Rheine, on the Ems River (modern Germany).
• The Khazars are converted to Judaism (approximate date).

Births

• Æthelswith, Anglo-Saxon queen (approximate date)
• Fujiwara no Takafuji, Japanese nobleman (d. 900)
• Ubaydallah ibn Abdallah, Muslim governor (approximate date)

Deaths

• November 6 – Li Yong, prince of the Tang Dynasty
• Al-Abbas ibn al-Ma'mun, Muslim prince and general
• Babak Khorramdin, Persian military leader
• Banu Khorramdin, Persian resistance heroine
• Boniface II, margrave of Tuscany (approximate date)
• Bran mac Fáeláin, king of Leinster (Ireland)
• Eadhun, bishop of Winchester
• Frederick of Utrecht, Frisian bishop (approximate date)
• Pepin I of Aquitaine, king of Aquitaine (b. 797)
• Ralpacan, king of Tibet (approximate date)
• Ratimir, duke of Pannonian Croatia
• 'Ujayf ibn 'Anbasa, Muslim general
• Willerich, bishop of Bremen
• Ziyadat Allah I, Muslim emir

References