Gordon Kerr - Timeline of Kings and Queens

8001399

Holy Roman Empire Pope Leo IIIs coronation of Charles I the Great (Charlemagne), king of the Franks, founding father of both the French and German monarchies, as Imperator Romanorum (Emperor of the Romans), in St Peters church, Rome, marks the beginning of the Holy Roman Empire.

England Egbert, driven into exile by Offa of Mercia, returns from Charlemagnes court to become king of Wessex; he maintains the independence of Wessex against Mercia. Bulgaria Around this time, Krum becomes khan and embarks upon expansion of his territory. Byzantine Empire Finance minister Nikephoros I deposes and exiles Empress Irene to become emperor; he reorganizes the empire.

Denmark Godfred becomes king. Venice Giovanni Galbaio, according to tradition, the eighth doge chief magistrate and leader of the Most Serene Republic of Venice flees, with his family, to Mantua, in the face of opposition from the pro-Frankish Obelerio degli Antenori, who becomes doge; he accepts Frankish protection and war with Byzantium ensues.

Denmark King Godfred is murdered by a servant; his nephew, Hemming, becomes king. Italy Pepin, son of Charlemagne and king of the Frankish Kingdom of Italy (north Italy), dies; his son, Bernard, succeeds him.

Venice Obelerio degli Antenori goes into exile in Constantinople; Agnello Participazio becomes doge, and during his reign he reclaims land and refortifies the city; the Venice we know today emerges, a city of canals centred on the Rialto. Bulgaria Khan Krum defeats the Byzantines and kills Emperor Nikephoros I. Byzantine Empire On the death of Nikephoros, Staurakios I, who has been co-emperor with his father, becomes emperor, but abdicates in favour of his brother, Michael I Rangabe, another co-ruler since 803.

Denmark On the death of King Hemming, Sigfred and Anulo dispute the crown; Anulo dies in battle; the throne is fought over until the 10th century, when Denmark is unified.

Holy Roman Empire Louis the Pious is crowned co-emperor of the Franks with his father, Charlemagne. Byzantine Empire Michael I Rangabe is heavily defeated by the Bulgarians and abdicates in favour of the general, Leo V the Armenian; Michael II the Amorian becomes emperor.

Holy Roman Empire The death of Charlemagne; Louis the Pious succeeds him as Holy Roman Emperor and king of the Franks. Bulgaria On the death of Krum, Omurtag becomes ruler and concludes a 30-year peace treaty with the Byzantine Empire.

Rome Stephen IV is elected pope.

Bavaria Holy Roman Emperor Louis the German becomes king. Rome Paschal I is elected pope; he tries to curb the increasing power of the Roman nobility.

Italy Holy Roman Emperor Louis the Pious makes King Bernard of Italy a vassal of his cousin, Louis son, Lothair; Bernard plots against him and is discovered and blinded, as a result of which he dies; Lothair becomes king of Italy.

Byzantine Empire Supporters of Michael II the Stammerer, assassinate Emperor Leo V during Christmas mass in Hagia Sophia, to become the first emperor of the Phrygian dynasty; his direct descendants will rule the Byzantine Empire for more than 200 years.

Rome Eugene II is elected pope. Holy Roman Empire The nine articles of the Constitutio Romana establish the authority of the Holy Roman Emperors in Rome, advancing imperial pretensions there. Pamplona igo Arista revolts against the Franks and establishes the Kingdom of Navarre.

England Egbert defeats Beornwulf of Mercia at the battle of Ellendun, and takes control of the Mercian dependencies in south-eastern England; Kent, Surrey, Sussex, East Anglia and Essex submit to Wessex.