Constantinople, after several years of combining diplomacy…

Henry I, on his accession as king of Eastern Francia, had quickly fortified Magdeburg against the Magyars and Slavs.

Constantinople, unhappy with Simeon’s intervention in Serbia, sends Zaharije Prvoslavljevic in 920 to oust his cousin Pavle, but he fails and is sent to Bulgaria as prisoner.

Waltharius, a Latin poem founded on German popular tradition, relates the exploits of the west Gothic hero Walter of Aquitaine.

A secular work, it introduces classical hexameter into German literature.

Our knowledge of the author, Ekkehard, a monk of St. Gall, is due to a later Ekkehard, known as Ekkehard IV (d. 1060), who gives some account of him in the Casus Sancti Galli (ch. 80).

If Ekkehart IV's account, much discussed among scholars, is true, which seems to be confirmed by another monk of St. Gall, Herimannus, the author of the later (ca 1075) life of St. Wiborada of St. Gall where he cites verse 51 of the Waltharius, the poem was written by Ekkehard, generally distinguished as Ekkehard I, for his master Geraldus in his schooldays, probably therefore not later than 920, since he is probably no longer young when he becomes deacon (in charge of ten monks) in 957.

He will die in 973.

Abd ar-Rahman III’s Counteroffensive and the Battle of Valdejunquera (920 CE)

Having underestimated the power of Ordoño II, Emir Abd ar-Rahman III launches a major campaign in 920 CE to reclaim lost territories and reassert Cordoban dominance over the Christian kingdoms of the north.

Marching north, his forces successfully retake Osma and San Esteban de Gormaz, two key Christian frontier strongholds. After securing these towns, Abd ar-Rahman crosses into Navarre, where he inflicts a crushing defeat on the Christian armies at the Battle of Valdejunquera.

Aftermath: Christian Defeat and the Capture of Bishops

In the aftermath of the battle, the bishops of Tuy and ...

...Salamanca are taken captive, delivering a significant blow to the Christian leadership.

Though Abd ar-Rahman initially plans to march on Pamplona to further devastate the Christian resistance, he ultimately turns back to manage the immense spoils of war, consolidating his victory and reinforcing Muslim authority over the contested frontier.

Ordoño II’s Response to the Defeat at Valdejunquera and the Christian Counteroffensive

Following the defeat at the Battle of Valdejunquera (920 CE)—where Ordoño II of León had come to aid King Sancho I of Pamplona—he blames the loss on the absence of the Castilian counts, who had failed to answer his call to battle.

Determined to punish their disloyalty, Ordoño summons the Castilian counts to Tejares, where he has them executed, ensuring that future military campaigns will not suffer from the same lack of unity.

The Christian Counteroffensive and the Conquest of La Rioja

Despite the setback at Valdejunquera, the Christian kingdoms respond swiftly. A counteroffensive follows, leading to the occupation of La Rioja and the incorporation of Nájera and ...

...Viguera into the Kingdom of Navarre.

This campaign strengthens Christian control over the Ebro Valley, securing vital strategic positions against future Muslim incursions and expanding Navarre’s influence in the region.

The West Frankish king Charles the Simple invades Germany in 920 and marches as far as Pfeddersheim near Worms, but he retires on hearing that Henry is arming against him.

Edward receives the formal submissions, all in the year 920, of Raegnald, the Irish-Norse king of York; Ealdred, ruler of English Northumbria; the Welsh king of Strathclyde; and (possibly) Constantine II of Scotland.