What is 870s?
The '''870s''' was a [[Decade]] that began on 1 January 870 and ended on 31 December 879. It is distinct from the decade known as the '''88th ''decade''''' which began on January 1, 871. and ended on December 31, 880.{{decadebox|87}} == Events == * The Danes invade [[England]] ([[870]]) and conquer [[East Anglia]]. Several battles are fought with [[Wessex]], but then peace is made ([[871]]). The Danes start 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 [[marsh]]es of [[Somerset]], but later that year he defeats the Danes, and England is [[wikt:divide|divided]] in a Danish part in the northeast and a Wessex part in the south and west. * In the southwest of England, the [[History of Cornwall|Cornish]] continue to be driven back, with their King Dungarth (or Doniert or Dumgarth) drowning in battle around the middle of the decade. * [[872]] — [[Battle of Hafrsfjord]]. [[Harald Fairhair]] unites [[Norway]]. == Important people == * [[Alfred the Great]] * [[Harald I of Norway]] * [[Rhodri Mawr ap Merfyn|Rhodri ''Mawr'' (the Great)]] * [[Charles the Bald]] * [[Rurik]] [[Category:870s| ]]