855. Death of Lothair, Emperor of the Franks; civil war between his sons.
A band of Danes keep the Isle of Sheppey through the winter; their first foothold in England.
860. Iceland discovered by the Northmen.
862. Rurik, the Varangian chief, conquers Novgorod and Kiov and lays the foundation of the Russian empire.
863. Cyril and Methodius, the "apostles of the Slavs," undertake the conversion of the Moravians.
Pope Nicholas deposes Photius and declares Ignatius to be the patriarch of Constantinople; Photius in turn excommunicates the Pope.
Charles the Bald founds the County of Flanders.
864. Pope Nicholas asserts his exclusive right to appoint and depose bishops; the sovereigns and prelates of France and Germany resist his claim.
Christianity first introduced into Russia; it makes little progress.
865. First naval expedition of the Varangians or Russians against Constantinople; their fleet is dispersed by a storm.