950s

Millennium:	1st millennium
Centuries:	9th century – 10th century – 11th century
Decades:	920s 930s 940s – 950s – 960s 970s 980s
Years:	950 951 952 953 954 955 956 957 958 959
Categories:	Births – Deaths – Architecture; Establishments – Disestablishments

The 950s was a decade that started on 1 January 950 and ended on 31 December 959. It is distinct from the decade known as the 96th decade which began on January 1, 961. and ended on December 31, 960.

950

World population is thought to be 250 million.
Duke Boleslav I of Bohemia makes peace with Otto I.
The Later Han Dynasty in China falls.

Births

June 12 – Emperor Reizei of Japan
Erik the Red

Deaths

Hywel Dda ("the Good") of Wales
Al-Farabi, philosopher

951

Allat the Maharana of Mewar comes to power.
The Later Zhou Dynasty is founded by Guo Wei in China.
The Northern Han Kingdom is founded by Liu Min in northern China.

Births

Gregory of Narek, Armenian monk, poet, and theologian
Saint Romuald

Deaths

Emperor Shizong of the Liao Dynasty
2 January – Liu Chengyou, Emperor Yin of the Later Han Dynasty

952

Kalbid forces defeat the Byzantines in Calabria.

Births

Emperor Gongdi of Later Zhou

Deaths

Emperor Suzaku of Japan
Hugh, Duke of Burgundy

953

Liudolf, Duke of Swabia and Conrad the Red rebel against German King Otto I.

Births

Charles, Duke of Lower Lorraine
Herbert III, Count of Vermandois
Al-Karaji, Persian mathematician and engineer
Kisai Marvazi, Persian poet

Deaths

Abas I of Armenia, King of Armenia
Ismail al-Mansur. third Fatimid Caliph
Empress Dowager Yingtian of the Liao Dynasty
Muhammad bin Musafir, Sallarid ruler of Tarum and Iranian Azerbaijan
Rasso, Bavarian count, military leader, pilgrim, and saint.
Rhodri ap Hywel, king of Deheubarth

954

King Máel Coluim I of Scotland is killed in battle against the Highlanders. He is succeeded by Indulf I of Scotland.
Chateau Chinon is built by Theobald I of Blois.
Edred becomes king of all England.

Births

Deaths

955

August 10 – Otto I the Great defeats Magyars in the Battle of Lechfeld.
Eadwig becomes King of England.
December 16 – Pope John XII succeeds Pope Agapetus II as the 130th pope.

Births

Ælfric of Eynsham, English abbot

Deaths

November 23 – Eadred, King of England

956

An earthquake badly damages the Lighthouse of Alexandria.

Deaths

April 8 – Gilbert of Chalon, Duke of Burgundy
Ali al-Masudi, Arab historian, geographer and philosopher

957

Japan: The Tenryaku Era ends, and the Tentoku Era begins.
The Chandra Hindu Dynasty ends. This starts a time of chaos in areas belonging to modern-day India.
Olga of Kiev converts to the Eastern Orthodox Church

Births

Gormlaith of Lienster, wife of Olaf Cuarran, Malachy II and Brian Boru

Deaths

September 6 – Liudolf, Duke of Swabia

958

Probable date of the start of the Marche dynasty.
King Kshemgupta of Kashmir dies. He is succeeded by his young son Abhimanyu. Didda, his mother, becomes de facto ruler.
The Later Zhou Dynasty goes against Liao Dynasty positions in the Sixteen Prefectures. They are defeated.
Battle of Raban: Byzantines under John Tzimiskes defeat Sayf al-Dawla

Births

Deaths

King Gorm the Old of Denmark
Masudi, Arab geographer, historian, and physicist
Tuathal mac Augaire, King of Leinster, Ireland

959

October 1 – Edgar becomes King of England.
Dunstan becomes bishop of Worcester, England and London.
Bruno I, Archbishop of Cologne divides the Duchy of Lorraine with his nephew Frederic.

Births

Emperor En'yū of Japan

Deaths

October 1 – King Eadwig of England
November 9 – Constantine VII, Byzantine Emperor
Ælfsige, Archbishop of Canterbury
Chai Rong

Millennium:	1st millennium
Centuries:	9th century – 10th century – 11th century
Decades:	920s 930s 940s – 950s – 960s 970s 980s
Years:	950 951 952 953 954 955 956 957 958 959
Categories:	Births – Deaths – Architecture Establishments – Disestablishments