870s

Centuries: 8th century - 9th century - 10th century

Decades: 820s - 830s - 840s - 850s - 860s - 870s - 880s - 890s - 900s - 910s - 920s

Years: 870 871 872 873 874 875 876 877 878 879

Events and trends

• The Danes invade England (870) and conquer East Anglia. Several battles are fought with Wessex, but then peace is made (871). The Danes go on to establish the Danelaw in other parts of England. In 876, the Danes attack Wessex again, and in 878 king Alfred the Great of Wessex has to retreat to a single fort in the marshes of Somerset, but later that year he defeats the Danes, and England is divided in a Danish part in the northeast and a Wessex part in the south and west.
• 872: Battle of Hafrsfjord. Harald Fairhair unites Norway.

Important people

• Alfred the Great
• Harald I of Norway
• Rhodri Mawr (the Great)
• Charles the Bald
• Rurik