840sVikings raid Scotland, Ireland, England and France, in particular, and establish rule over the Earldom of Orkney and the English Danelaw.

844 The Kingdom of Scotland absorbs the Kingdom of the Picts.

849 Salerno splits from Benevento.

860 Capua splits from Salerno.

860s The Varangians found fortified towns among the Slavs at Izborsk, Beloozero, and Novgorod, from which they push south, establishing bases at various places, including Kiev.

868 Egypt becomes independent from the Abassid Caliphate under the Tulunid emirs.

870-ish The Norse discover Iceland, and begin populating it.

871 Answering a Papal request, Louis II takes back Bari from the Aghlabids.

873 Uncomfortable with Carolingian suzerainty, the Lombards call in the Byzantines, who recover the heel and toe of Italy, but are not strong enough to expand further.

885 The Abassid caliph restores the monarchy of Armenia.

887-8 After many changes to the Frankish kingdom as successive rulers came and went, the final disintegration took place in this period. The main kingdoms were France, Germany and Italy, with minor kingdoms in Provence and Burgundy.

888 The Abassid caliph restores the monarchy of Iberia.

by 888 In Spain, Barcelona and Aragon became independent states, and the Basques reclaimed their independence. In the east, the Czechs created the Kingdom of Great Moravia, and the Croats recovered their freedom.

The Ablaghids conquer nearly all of Sicily, and their fleets range largely at will along the Mediterranean coasts.

The Patzinaks contest with the Magyars and Khazars for control of the steppes.