Battle of Berzitia: The
Bulgarian ruler (khagan)
Telerig sends a small raiding army (12,000 men) to strike into the southwest of
Macedonia, and capture
Berzitia. Emperor
Constantine V is informed about this raid by his
spies in
Pliska, and assembles an enormous force (80,000 men). He surprises the
Bulgarians, who did not expect to find a Byzantine army there, and defeats them decisively. The Bulgars suffer heavy losses.
Telerig sends a message to Constantine V, stating that he is going to flee in
exile to
Constantinople. In exchange, he asks the emperor to reveal the spies to his associates in Pliska for their own safety. Constantine sends the Bulgarian government a list of the spies; however, Telerig executes them all, and eliminates the
Byzantine spy network within his government.[1]
Saxon Wars: Saxon raiders ravage much of northern
Hesse (modern
Germany), and burn the abbey at
Fritzlar, putting the
abbot and
monks to the sword. Charlemagne hurriedly returns to
Austrasia, assembles local troops, and recaptures
Eresburg, before the approach of
winter halts further operations.[2]
King
Aurelius dies after a 6-year reign, and is succeeded by his cousin-in-law
Silo, as ruler of
Asturias (Northern
Spain).
Britain
Unrest in the
Northumbrian Church appears to lead to the expulsion of King
Alhred, who is driven from his capital
York. He sails from
Bamburgh into exile amongst the
Picts, where he is received by King
Ciniod I. He is replaced by
Æthelred I, the 11-year-old son of the late king
Æthelwald Moll.