Middle Ages Warning: You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you log in or create an account, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits.Anti-spam check. Do not fill this in! ===New kingdoms and Byzantine revival=== {{see also|Byzantine Empire under the Macedonian dynasty|Byzantine–Arab wars (780–1180)|Byzantine–Bulgarian wars|Christianisation of Bulgaria|Christianisation of Kievan Rus'}} [[File:Christ Magdeburg Cathedral Met 41.100.157.jpg|thumb|right|alt=A carved ivory plate showing a bearded man with a halo around his head receiving the scale model of a church from a crowned man|10th-century [[Ottonian art|Ottonian]] plaque from the [[Magdeburg Ivories]] with Christ receiving a church from {{nowrap|[[Otto I]]}}]] The Vikings' settlement in the British Isles led to the formation of new political entities, including the small but militant [[Kingdom of Dublin]] in Ireland.{{sfn|Collins|2010|pp=350, 365}} The Anglo-Saxon king [[Alfred the Great]] (r. 871–99) came to an agreement with [[Great Heathen Army|Danish invaders]] in 879, acknowledging the existence of an independent [[Danelaw|Viking realm]] in Britain.{{sfn|Backman|2022|p=196}}{{sfn|Collins|2010|pp=362–363}} By the middle of the 10th century, Alfred's successors had restored Anglo-Saxon control over the territory.{{sfn|Collins|2010|p=368}} In northern Britain, [[Kenneth MacAlpin]] (d. {{circa|860}}) united the Picts and the [[Scottish people|Scots]] into the [[Kingdom of Alba]].{{sfn|Wickham|2009|p=169}} In the early {{nowrap|10th century}}, the [[Ottonian dynasty]] established itself in [[Kingdom of Germany|Germany]], and was engaged in driving back the Magyars and fighting the [[Stem duchy|disobedient dukes]]. After an appeal by the widowed Queen [[Adelaide of Italy]] (d. 999) for protection, {{nowrap|[[Otto I, Holy Roman Emperor|Otto I]]}} (r. 936–73) crossed the Alps into Italy, married the young widow and had himself crowned king in [[Pavia]] in 951. His coronation as [[Holy Roman Emperor]] in Rome in 962 demonstrated his claim to Charlemagne's legacy.{{sfn|Collins|2010|pp=394–411}} Otto's successors remained keenly interested in Italian affairs but the absent German kings were unable to assert permanent authority over the local aristocracy.{{sfn|Backman|2022|pp=255–257}} In the Iberian Peninsula, the [[Basques]]' [[Battle of Roncevaux Pass (824)|fight for independence]] led to the formation of the [[Kingdom of Navarre]], and the [[counts of Barcelona]] gained autonomy in the Carolingian border province. Asturias expanded slowly south, and continued as the [[Kingdom of León]] in the {{nowrap|10th century}}.{{sfn|Collins|2010|pp=376–386}}{{sfn|Wickham|2009|p=500}} The Eastern European trade routes towards Asia were controlled by the [[Khazars]]. Their multiethnic empire [[Arab–Khazar wars|resisted]] the Muslim expansion, and their leaders converted to Judaism.{{sfn|Curta|2019|pp=131–134, 141–142}} At the end of the {{nowrap|9th century}}, a new trade route developed, bypassing Khazar territory and connecting Central Asia with Europe across [[Volga Bulgaria]]; here the local inhabitants converted to Islam.{{sfn|Curta|2019|pp=143–151}} Swedish traders and slave hunters ranged down the rivers of the [[East European Plain]], captured [[Kyiv]] from the Khazars, and even attempted to seize Constantinople in [[Rus'–Byzantine War (860)|860]] and [[Rus'–Byzantine War (907)|907]]. In Scandinavia, contacts with Francia paved the way for missionary efforts by Christian clergy, and [[Christianization of Scandinavia|Christianisation]] was closely associated with the growth of centralised kingdoms in [[History of Denmark|Denmark]], [[History of Norway|Norway]], and [[History of Sweden (800–1521)|Sweden]].{{sfn|Collins|2010|pp=366–370}} Norse colonists [[Settlement of Iceland|settled in Iceland]] and created a [[Icelandic Commonwealth|political system]] that hindered the accumulation of power by ambitious [[Gothi|chieftains]].{{sfn|Wickham|2009|pp=476–477}} Byzantium revived its fortunes under Emperor [[Basil I]] (r. 867–86) and his successors [[Leo VI the Wise|Leo VI]] (r. 886–912) and [[Constantine VII]] (r. 913–59), members of the [[Macedonian dynasty]]. The imperial court was the centre of a revival of classical learning, a process known as the [[Macedonian Renaissance]]. The military was reorganised, which allowed the emperors [[John I Tzimiskes|John I]] (r. 969–76) and [[Basil II]] (r. 976–1025) to expand the frontiers of the empire.{{sfn|Davies|1996|pp=318–320}} Missionary efforts by both Eastern and Western clergy resulted in the conversion of the [[Moravians (tribe)|Moravians]], Danubian Bulgars, [[Czechs]], [[Polish people|Poles]], Magyars, and the inhabitants of the [[Kievan Rus']].{{sfn|Davies|1996|pp=321–326}} After Moravia fell victim to [[Hungarian conquest of the Carpathian Basin|Magyar invasions]] around 900, dukes of the Czech [[Přemyslid dynasty]] consolidated authority in Bohemia.{{sfn|Curta|2019|pp=391–400}} In [[History of Poland during the Piast dynasty|Poland]], the destruction of old power centres accompanied the formation of state under the [[Piast dynasty|Piast dukes]].{{sfn|Curta|2019|pp=343–347}} In [[Principality of Hungary|Hungary]], the princes of the [[Árpád dynasty]] applied extensive violence to crush opposition by rival Magyar chieftains.{{sfn|Barber|2004|p=334}} The [[Rurik dynasty|Rurikid princes]] of Kievan Rus' emerged as the hegemon power of East Europe's vast forest zones after [[Rus' people|Rus']] raiders sacked the Khazar capital [[Atil]] in 965.{{sfn|Curta|2019|pp=289–300}} Bulgaria was [[Byzantine conquest of Bulgaria|annexed by]] the Byzantines between 971 and 1018.{{sfn|Wickham|2009|pp=488–489}}{{sfn|Curta|2019|pp=239–248}} Summary: Please note that all contributions to Christianpedia may be edited, altered, or removed by other contributors. If you do not want your writing to be edited mercilessly, then do not submit it here. You are also promising us that you wrote this yourself, or copied it from a public domain or similar free resource (see Christianpedia:Copyrights for details). Do not submit copyrighted work without permission! Cancel Editing help (opens in new window) Discuss this page