Pavia taken by Charlemagne, which ends the kingdom of the Lombards, after a duration of 206 years 774 Leo IV. son of Constantine succeeds, and, five years after, is succeeded by his wife Irene and his son Constantine VI. 775 Irene murders her son and reigns alone. The only men of learning in this century were Johannes Damascenus, Fredegaire, Alcuinus, Paulus Diaconus, and George the monk 797 Charlemagne is crowned emperor of Rome and of the western empire. About this time the popes separate themselves from the princes of Constantinople 800 Egbert ascends the throne of England, but the total reduction of the Saxon heptarchy is not effected till 26 years after 801 Nicephorus I., great treasurer of the empire, succeeds 802 Stauracius son of Nicephorus, and Michael I., surnamed Rhangabe, the husband of Procopia sister of Stauracius, assume the purple 811 Leo V. the Armenian, though but an officer of the palace, ascends the throne of Constantinople 813 Learning encouraged among the Saracens by Almanon, who made observations on the sun, &c. 816 Michael II. the Thracian, surnamed the Stammerer, succeeds, after the murder of Leo 821 The Saracens of Spain take Crete, which they call Candia 823 The Almagest of Ptolemy translated into Arabic by order of Almanon 827 Theophilus succeeds his father Michael 829 Origin of the Russian monarchy 839 Michael III. succeeds his father Theophilus with his mother Theodora 842 The Normans get possession of some cities in France 853 Michael is murdered, and succeeded by Basil I. the Macedonian 867 Clocks first brought to Constantinople from Venice 872 Basil is succeeded by his son Leo VI. the philosopher. In this century flourished Mesué, the Arabian physician Eginhard, Rabanus, Albumasar, Godescalchus, Hincmarus, Odo, Photius, John Scotus, Anastasius the librarian, Alfraganus, Albategni, Reginon, John Asser 886 Paris besieged by the Normans, and bravely defended by bishop Goslin 887 Death of Alfred king of England, after a reign of 30 years 900 Alexander brother of Leo succeeds, with his nephew Constantine VII., surnamed Porphyrogenitus 911 The Normans establish themselves in France under Rollo 912