upright=1.35|thumb|[[Charles the Fat is crowned Holy Roman Emperor (881)]]
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Year 881 (DCCCLXXXI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar.
Events
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By place
Europe
- February 12 – King Charles the Fat, the third son of the late Louis the German, is crowned as Holy Roman Emperor by Pope John VIII at Rome.
- August 3 – Battle of Saucourt-en-Vimeu: The West Frankish kings Louis III, and his brother Carloman II, rout Viking raiders (near Abbeville).
Britain
- Battle of the Conwy: King Anarawd of Gwynedd (Wales) initiates a revenge attack on the Mercian armies, and defeats them on the River Conwy.
- Anarawd, and his brothers Cadell and Merfyn, begin extensive military campaigns to quell resistance in Powys and Seisyllwg (approximate date).
Arabian Empire
- Zanj Rebellion: Abbasid general Al-Muwaffaq lays siege to the Zanj capital of Mukhtara, using his base on the opposite side of the River Tigris.
Asia
- Bakong, the first temple mountain of sandstone, is constructed by rulers of the Khmer Empire (modern Cambodia) at Angkor.
- 881 Acre earthquake: It takes place in the vicinity of Acre. Alexandria is reportedly affected by the same earthquake.
By topic
Religion
- St. Cecilia's Church (Cäcilienkirche) is founded as a college for women. It is now home of the Schnütgen Museum in Cologne.
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Births
- Conrad I, king of the East Frankish Kingdom (approximate date)
- Hugh of Arles, king of Italy and Lower Burgundy (or 880)
- Liu Churang, Chinese general (d. 943)
Deaths
- December 7 – Anspert, archbishop of Milan
- Bárid mac Ímair, king of Dublin
- Cui Hang, chancellor of the Tang Dynasty
- David I, prince of Iberia (Georgia)
- Gabriel, prince of Kakheti (Georgia)
- Guaifer, duke of Benevento
- John I, Frankish abbot (approximate date)
- Liu Ye, chancellor of the Tang Dynasty
- Lu Guimeng, Chinese poet
- Odo I, bishop of Beauvais
- Orso I, doge of Venice
- Radi Abdullah, Muslim tenth Imam
- Zhang Zhifang, Chinese general