769

File:Hersfeld stift suedwest.jpg

Hersfeld Abbey (modern Germany)

Year 769 (DCCLXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar. The denomination 769 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.

Events

By place

Europe

• King Charlemagne (Charles "the Great") begins a military campaign against the Duchy of Aquitaine and the Duchy of Gascony. He leads a Frankish army to the city of Bordeaux, where he sets up a fort at Fronsac. His younger brother Carloman I refuses to help his brother fight the rebels, and returns to Burgundy. Hunald, duke of Aquitaine, is forced to flee to the court of Gascony. Lupus II, fearing Charlemagne, turns Hunald over in exchange for peace, and is put in a monastery. Aquitaine and Gascony are subdued into the Frankish Kingdom.

By topic

Religion

• April 12–15 – Pope Stephen III holds a Lateran Council: the papal election procedure (abuse of which has led to the election of antipopes) is changed, and the iconoclasm of the Council of Hieria is anathematized.
• Tallaght Monastery is founded in Ireland by Máel Ruain; it becomes a centre of learning and piety, particularly associated with the Culdees' (Céli Dé) spiritual reform movement.
• Hersfeld Abbey (modern-day Hesse-Nassau), Germany, is founded by Lullus, archbishop of Mainz (approximate date).

Births

• Du Yuanying, chancellor of the Tang dynasty (d. 833)
• Egbert, king of Wessex (or 771)
• Pepin the Hunchback, the first child of Charlemagne

Deaths

• January 14 – Cui Huan, chancellor of the Tang dynasty
• March 9 – Alan of Farfa, Aquitanian scholar and hermit
• December 13 – Du Hongjian, chancellor of the Tang dynasty (b. 709)
• Conchubhar mac Cumasgach, king of Uí Fiachrach Aidhne (Ireland)
• Cuthfrith, bishop of Lichfield (approximate date)
• Dub Calgaid mac Laidcnén, king of the Uí Ceinnselaig (Ireland)
• Gülnar Hatun, legendary Turkish heroine
• Ma'n ibn Za'ida al-Shaybani, Arab general and governor (or 770)