Editing 877 (section)

==== Europe ====
* Summer &ndash; King [[Charles the Bald|Charles II]] ("the Bald") sets out for [[Italy]], accompanied by his wife [[Richilde of Provence|Richilde]] and a number of his chief [[vassal]]s. He gives orders for an expedition, but Duke [[Boso of Provence|Boso]] (his brother-in-law) refuses to join the army. At the same time [[Carloman of Bavaria|Carloman]], son of [[Louis the German]], has crossed the [[Alps]] into eastern [[Lombardy]] at the head of a Frankish army. Charles sends Richilde back to [[Gaul]], for the [[coronation]] as empress of the [[Holy Roman Empire]], and with orders for reinforcements. However, the Frankish [[aristocracy]] is more concerned with the attacks by the [[Vikings]] in their country, than the war with the [[Saracens]] in southern Italy. [[Pope John VIII]] receives Charles at [[Vercelli]], where he requests help against the attacks by the Saracens in southern Italy. He forms an [[alliance]] with the Italian states at [[Minturno|Traetto]].
* [[August]] &ndash; [[Siege of Syracuse (877–878)|Siege of Syracuse]]: The [[Aghlabids]] begin raiding the [[Byzantine Empire|Byzantine]] territories, in the east of the island of [[Sicily]]. They besiege [[Syracuse, Sicily|Syracuse]], and [[blockade]] the fortress city by sea and land.<ref>{{cite book |last=Vasiliev |first=A. A. |author-link=Alexander Vasiliev (historian) |others=French ed.: [[Henri Grégoire (historian)|Henri Grégoire]], [[Marius Canard]] |title=Byzance et les Arabes, Tome II, 1ére partie: Les relations politiques de Byzance et des Arabes à l'époque de la dynastie macédonienne (867–959) |year=1968 |location=Brussels |publisher=Éditions de l'Institut de Philologie et d'Histoire Orientales |language=fr |page=71}}</ref> 
* [[October 6]] &ndash; Charles II dies while crossing the pass of [[Mont Cenis]] at [[Brides-les-Bains]], en route back to Gaul. He is succeeded by his son [[Louis the Stammerer]], king of [[Duchy of Aquitaine|Aquitaine]], who becomes ruler of the [[West Francia|West Frankish Kingdom]]. Carloman, forced by an [[epidemic]] which breaks out in his army, returns to [[Germany]]. After the death of his father, Louis makes plans to receive the [[Loyalty oath|oath of fidelity]] from his subjects, but he learns that the [[magnate]]s are refusing him obedience and rallying around Boso. The rebels are supported by his stepmother Richilda, and, as a sign of their displeasure, ravage the country. [[Hincmar]], archbishop of [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Reims|Reims]], intercedes and the rebels agree to a settlement. The magnates, whose rights Louis promises to recognize, all make their submissions. 
* [[December 8]] &ndash; [[Louis the Stammerer]] is crowned by Hincmar as king (not emperor) of the West Frankish Kingdom, in the church of [[Compiègne]]. The imperial [[throne]] will remain vacant until [[881]].