The 830s decade ran from January 1, 830, to December 31, 839.

Events

830

By place

Britain
Byzantine Empire
Europe
North Africa
South Asia
  • About 830 an Arabian dhow sinks on its journey from China to Arabia near the Indonesian island of Belitung, carrying some 60,000 trade items, the largest collection of Tang dynasty artifacts outside of China (Belitung shipwreck).

By topic

Religion

831

By place

Abbasid Empire and Byzantine Empire
Europe
China
  • An Uyghur Turk sues the son of a Chinese general, who had failed to repay a debt of 11 million government-issued copper coins. Emperor Wenzong hears the news, and is so upset that he not only banishes the general, but attempts to ban all trade between Chinese and foreigners except for goods and livestock. This ban is unsuccessful, and trade with foreigners resumes, especially in maritime affairs overseas.

By topic

Religion

832

By place

Byzantine Empire
Europe
Britain and Ireland

By topic

Religion

833

By place

Byzantine Empire
Europe
Abbasid Caliphate
Caliph al-Mamun (r. 813–833) of the Abbasid dynasty
Japan

834

By place

Europe
Britain

By topic

Religion

835

By place

Europe
Britain
China

By topic

Religion

836

By place

Abbasid Caliphate
  • Driven by tensions between his favoured Turkish guard and the populace of Baghdad, Abbasid caliph al-Mu'tasim moves his residence to the new city of Samarra, 130 km north of Baghdad. With brief interruptions, the city will remain the seat of the Abbasid caliphs until 892.
Britain
Europe

By topic

Religion

837

By place

Byzantine Empire
Europe
Britain

By topic

Astronomy

838

By place

Byzantine Empire
  • July 22Battle of Dazimon: Caliph Al-Mu'tasim launches a major punitive expedition against the Byzantine Empire, targeting the two major Byzantine fortress cities of central Anatolia (Ancyra and Amorium). He mobilises a vast army (80,000 men) at Tarsus, which is divided into two main forces. The northern force, under commander Al-Afshin, invades the Armeniac Theme from the region of Melitene, joining up with the forces of the city's emir, Umar al-Aqta. The southern, main force, under Al-Mu'tasim, passes the Cilician Gates into Cappadocia. Emperor Theophilos attacks the Abbasids, inflicting 3,000 casualties, but is later heavily defeated by a counter-attack of 10,000 Turkish horse archers. Theophilos and his guard are encircled, and barely manage to break through and escape.[14][15][16]
  • AugustSiege of Amorium: The Abbasids besiege the Byzantine fortress city of Amorium, which is protected by 44 towers, according to the contemporary geographer Ibn Khordadbeh. Both besiegers and besieged have many siege engines, and for several days both sides exchange missile fire. However, a Muslim prisoner defects to Al-Mu'tasim, and informs him about a place in the wall which has been badly damaged by heavy rainfall. The Abbasids concentrate their hits on this section, and after two days manage to breach the city wall. After two weeks of repeated attacks, the Byzantine defenders surrender. The city is sacked and plundered, 70,000 inhabitants are slaughtered, and the survivors are sold as slaves.
Miniature from the Madrid Skylitzes depicting the Arab siege of Amorium in 838
Europe
Britain
Abbasid Caliphate
  • A conspiracy is discovered, led by General 'Ujayf ibn 'Anbasa, to assassinate Al-Mu'tasim while he is campaigning, and place his nephew Al-Abbas ibn al-Ma'mun on the throne. A widespread purge of the army follows, which cements the leading role of the Turkish slave-soldiers (ghilman) in the Abbasid military establishment.
  • Babak Khorramdin, an Iranian military leader, is executed by order of al-Mu'tasim.[19]
  • The Yezidi rise up against the Abbasids (approximate date).[20]

By topic

Religion

839

By place

Europe
Britain

By topic

Religion

Significant people

Births

830

831

832

833

834

835

836

837

838

839

Deaths

830

831

832

833

834

835

836

837

838

839

References

Sources