856

__NOTOC__

Events

By Place

Asia

* The Year of the Fire Rat (Chinese Zodiac) begins in January.
* December 22 — Another deadly earthquake strikes Damghan, Iran, killing 200,000 people.

Europe

* November — An earthquake in Corinth, Greece, kills an estimated 45,000.
* Ethelbald usurps the throne of Wessex from his father Ethelwulf.
* Ordono I of Asturias is said to have begun the repopulation of the town of León.

Byzantine Empire

* Bardas becomes regent for the Byzantine Emperor Michael III.

Births

* Li Keyong, ethnic Shatuo Turk who became a prominent jiedushi of the Chinese Tang Dynasty (d. 908)
* Li Maozhen

Deaths

* January 7 — Saint Aldric, Bishop of Le Mans (b. c. 800; died at Le Mans)
* February 4 — Rabanus Maurus, Bishop of Mainz