950s

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.

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.

952

• Kalbid forces defeat the Byzantines in Calabria.

953

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

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.

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.

956

• An earthquake badly damages the Lighthouse of Alexandria.

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

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

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.