Editing 871 (section)

== Events ==
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=== By place ===

==== Europe ====
* The English retreat onto the [[Berkshire Downs]]. The [[Great Heathen Army]], led by the Danish Viking kings [[Halfdan Ragnarsson|Halfdan]] and [[Bagsecg]], march out after the Saxons. Six pitched battles are fought between the [[Denmark|Danes]] and [[Wessex]]. Of two of them the place and date are not recorded, the others are:
** [[January 4]] &ndash; [[Battle of Reading (871)|Battle of Reading]]: A West Saxon force, under the command of King [[Æthelred of Wessex|Æthelred I]] and his brother [[Alfred the Great|Alfred]], is defeated by the Danes at [[Reading, Berkshire|Reading]]. Among the many dead on both sides is [[Æthelwulf of Berkshire|Æthelwulf]]. The Saxon troops are forced to retreat, allowing the [[Vikings]] to continue their advance into Wessex.<ref>Philips, Daphne (1980). ''The Story of Reading''. Countryside Books, pp. 14–15. {{ISBN|0-905392-07-8}}.</ref>
** [[January 8]] &ndash; [[Battle of Ashdown]]: The West Saxons, led by Æthelred I and Alfred, gather at the Berkshire Downs. The Danes under the command of Halfdan and Bagsecg occupy the high ground, but are successfully attacked by Alfred's men. During the battle Alfred breaches the [[shield wall]] formation.<ref>Paul Hill (2009). ''The Viking Wars of Alfred the Great'', p. 45. {{ISBN|978-1-59416-087-5}}.</ref>
** [[January 22]] &ndash; [[Battle of Basing]]: The West Saxon army, under the command of Æthelred I, is defeated at [[Old Basing|Basing]]. The Danes, led by Halfdan, are victorious; Æthelred is forced to flee and regroup, leaving behind precious [[winter]] supplies.<ref>Paul Hill (2009). ''The Viking Wars of Alfred the Great'', pp. 46–47. {{ISBN|978-1-59416-087-5}}.</ref>
** [[March 22]] &ndash; [[Battle of Marton|Battle of Meretum]]: The West Saxons, led by Æthelred I and Alfred, are defeated by the Danes. Among the many dead is [[Heahmund]], bishop of [[Diocese of Salisbury|Salisbury]].<ref>Paul Hill (2009). ''The Viking Wars of Alfred the Great'', p. 49. {{ISBN|978-1-59416-087-5}}.</ref>
** [[May]] &ndash; [[Wilton, Wiltshire#History|Battle of Wilton]]: Alfred the Great is defeated by the Danes at Wilton (along the southern side of the [[River Wylye]]), leaving him in retreat for several years.<ref name="wch">{{cite web |title=Wilton |url=https://apps.wiltshire.gov.uk/communityhistory/Community/Index/246 |access-date=20 July 2015 |website=Wiltshire Community History |publisher=Wiltshire Council}}</ref>
* [[February 2]] &ndash; [[Francia|Franco]]-[[Lombards|Lombard]] forces, aided by a [[Croatia]]n fleet (of ''[[Sclaveni]]''), led by Emperor [[Louis II of Italy|Louis II]], capture [[Bari]], capital of the [[Emirate of Bari]] in [[Southern Italy]].<ref>Pierre Riche, ''The Carolingians: A Family who forged Europe'', p. 182. Transl. Michael Idomir Allen, (University of Pennsylvania Press, 1993).</ref>
* [[April 23]] &ndash; Alfred succeeds as king of Wessex after Æthelred's death. He makes peace with the Danes, and pays them [[Danegeld]], each ruling parts of [[England]].
* Alfred makes [[Winchester]] his [[Home|residence]]. The Danish armies colonize areas of north, central and eastern England, which become known as the [[Danelaw]].
* The Danes sail down the [[River Thames]], to raid the [[Mercia]]n port of [[Anglo-Saxon London#Lundenwic|Lundenwic]] (in the [[London]] area). Here, over the winter, they divide their spoils.<ref>Paul Hill (2009). ''The Viking Wars of Alfred the Great'', p. 54. {{ISBN|978-1-59416-087-5}}.</ref>
* King [[Rhodri the Great|Rhodri ''Mawr'']] ("the Great") of [[Kingdom of Gwynedd|Gwynedd]] annexes [[Seisyllwg]], uniting most of [[Wales]] under his rule (approximate date).
* [[Tønsberg]], the oldest surviving town in the [[Nordic countries]], is founded.

==== Arabian Empire ====
[[File:Dinar of Al-Muwaffaq 271.jpg|150px|thumb|Abbasid [[Gold dinar]] under [[al-Mu'tamid]], caliph]]
* [[September]] &ndash; [[Battle of Basra (871)|Battle of Basra]]: [[Zanj]] rebels in [[Mesopotamia]] sack and capture [[Basra]] (see [[Zanj Rebellion]]).

=== By topic ===

==== Literature ====
* The [[Cairo Geniza]]h, a collection of Jewish [[manuscript]] fragments, is written (approximate date).
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