Famous 10th Century Emperors & Kings

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 1 
Raja Raja Chola I
(Chola Emperor Who was the Most Powerful King in South India During His Reign)
Raja Raja Chola I
11
Birthdate: 0947 AD
Died: 1014 AD

Raja Raja Chola I was an emperor who reigned over south India from 985 to 1014. Also known as Rajaraja the Great, the emperor was deemed the most powerful southern king. He is remembered for resuscitating the Chola power and controlling south India and Indian Ocean. He is also credited with building the Brihadisvara Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

 2 
David
(King of Israel from 1010 to 970 BCE)
David
16
Birthdate: 1040 BC
Birthplace: Bethlehem, Israel
Died: 0970 BC

King David of Israel remains a significant figure not just in Christianity, but also in Judaism and Islam. The Books of Samuel describe him as a shepherd. Legends also mention how he killed the giant Goliath and had an affair with Bathsheba. He was also a poet and a psalmist.

 3 
Mahmud of Ghazni
(Sultan of the Ghaznavid Empire from 998 to 1030)
Mahmud of Ghazni
19
Birthdate: November 2, 0971
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Ghazni, Afghanistan
Died: April 30, 1030

Mahmud of Ghazni was the sultan of the Ghaznavid Empire on two separate occasions. He first ascended the throne upon the death of his father, Mahmud, in 1030. However, he was soon overthrown by his twin brother Ma'sud I. Years later, he was reinstated as sultan but was soon executed by his nephew Maw'dud. His entire family was also killed. 

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 4 
Athelstan
(King of England)
Athelstan
14
Birthdate: 0894 AD
Birthplace: Wessex
Died: October 27, 0939
Æthelstan, or Athelstan, son of Edward the Elder, was an Anglo-Saxon king who ruled from 924 to 927. He was also the King of the English from 927 to 939. Æthelstan is known for his victory at the Battle of Brunanburh and for his significant contribution to European politics. 
 5 
Harald I of Norway
(King of Norway)
Harald I of Norway
9
Birthdate: 0850 AD
Birthplace: Norway
Died: 0932 AD
 6 
Edmund Ironside
(King of the English from 23 April to 30 November 1016)
Edmund Ironside
7
Birthdate: 0990 AD
Birthplace: England
Died: November 30, 1016

Edmund Ironside was King of the English who reigned from 23 April to 30 November 1016. He earned his cognomen Ironside after displaying valor while resisting the Danish invasion, which was led by Cnut the Great. His life and work inspired the Elizabethan play Edmund Ironside and the 1970 TV film The Ceremony of Innocence.

 7 
Edgar the Peaceful
(King of England)
Edgar the Peaceful
7
Birthdate: August 7, 0942
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Wessex
Died: July 8, 0975

Edgar the Peaceful reigned as the King of the English for more than 17 years. His reign was noted for its stability as he consolidated his predecessors' work. His coronation at Bath in 973, which was the pinnacle of his reign, forms the basis for the present-day coronation ceremony.

 8 
Harald Bluetooth
(King)
Harald Bluetooth
9
Birthdate: 0910 AD
Birthplace: Jelling, Denmark
Died: 0986 AD
 9 
Edward the Martyr
(King of England)
Edward the Martyr
5
Birthdate: 0962 AD
Birthplace: Wessex
Died: March 18, 0978

Edward the Martyr reigned as the King of the English from 975 to 978. The oldest son of King Edgar the Peaceful, Edward was selected as king after his father's death. However, he was killed in 978 at Corfe Castle and was succeeded by his half-brother Æthelred the Unready. Edward is recognized as a saint in the Catholic Church.

 10 
Sweyn Forkbeard
(King of Denmark)
Sweyn Forkbeard
6
Birthdate: April 17, 0963
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Denmark
Died: February 10, 1014
 11 
Cnut the Great
(King of Denmark)
Cnut the Great
20
Birthdate: 0990 AD
Birthplace: Denmark
Died: November 12, 1035
 12 
Edwy of England
(King of England (955-959))
Edwy of England
5
Birthdate: 0941 AD
Birthplace: Wessex, England
Died: October 1, 0959
 13 
Otto I, Holy Roman Emperor
(Holy Roman Emperor (962 - 973))
Otto I, Holy Roman Emperor
6
Birthdate: November 23, 0912
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Wallhausen, Germany
Died: May 7, 0973

Otto I, Holy Roman Emperor, known for his ruthlessness, not only united the German empire by crushing all rebellious vassals, but also put an end to the attacks by the Magyars of Hungary. His strategy of making the German bishops feudal lords helped his cause of stabilizing his empire.

 14 
Edward the Elder
(King of Wessex)
Edward the Elder
13
Birthdate: 0874 AD
Birthplace: Wessex
Died: July 17, 0924

Edward the Elder, the Anglo-Saxon ruler of Wessex from circa 899 to 924, is known as the king who extended his authority over almost all of England by conquering the areas previously held by the Danish invaders. Though he is said to have been largely ignored by historians until the late 20th century, he is held in high regard now.

 15 
Ethelred the Unready
(King of England from 978 to 1013)
Ethelred the Unready
9
Birthdate: 0968 AD
Birthplace: Wessex
Died: April 23, 1016
 16 
Olaf II of Norway
(King of Norway)
Olaf II of Norway
3
Birthdate: 0995 AD
Birthplace: Ringerike, Norway
Died: July 29, 1030
 17 
Oleg of Novgorod
(Grand Prince of Kiev From 882 to 912)
Oleg of Novgorod
4
Birthdate: 0845 AD
Birthplace: Russia
Died: 0912 AD
Oleg of Novgorod, or Oleg the Prophet, was a Varangian prince who reigned over the Rus' people in late 9th and 10th centuries. He established the rule of Kievan Rus' and attacked Constantinople, the capital of the Byzantine Empire. He finds mention in Scandinavian legends and in many historical films.
 18 
Edmund I
(King of the English (939–946))
Edmund I
6
Birthdate: 0921 AD
Birthplace: Wessex, England
Died: May 26, 0946
 19 
Eadred
(King of the English (946 until his death))
Eadred
5
Birthdate: 0923 AD
Birthplace: Wessex, England
Died: November 23, 0955
 20 
Eric Bloodaxe
(King of Norway from 931 to 933)
Eric Bloodaxe
6
Birthplace: Svanoya, Norway
Died: 0954 AD

While some believe Eric Bloodaxe was the son of Norwegian king Harald Fairhair, others believe Danish king Harald Bluetooth was his father. True to his nickname, he was a barbarian Viking tyrant who slaughtered his four brothers for the Norwegian throne. Icelandic sagas mention he married a witch named Gunnhild. 

 21 
Yaroslav the Wise
(Prince)
Yaroslav the Wise
3
Birthdate: 0978 AD
Birthplace: Ukraine
Died: February 20, 1054
 22 
Hugh Capet
(King of the Franks from 987 to 996)
Hugh Capet
3
Birthdate: 0939 AD
Birthplace: Paris, France
Died: October 14, 0996
 23 
Wenceslaus I, Duke of Bohemia
(Duke of Bohemia (921-935))
Wenceslaus I, Duke of Bohemia
3
Birthdate: 0911 AD
Birthplace: Stochov, Czech Republic
Died: September 28, 0935
 24 
Brian Boru
(King)
Brian Boru
3
Birthdate: 0941 AD
Birthplace: Killaloe, Ireland
Died: April 23, 1014
 25 
Basil II
(Byzantine Emperor)
Basil II
7
Birthdate: 0958 AD
Birthplace: Constantinople, Byzantine Empire
Died: December 15, 1025

Basil II reigned as the emperor of the Byzantine Empire from 976 until his death in 1025. He supervised the expansion of the empire's eastern frontier. He was also instrumental in annexing part of Crimea and conducted several victorious campaigns against the Kingdom of Georgia. His work as emperor ensured that the Empire flourished several years after his death.

 26 
Rehoboam
(King of Israel)
Rehoboam
5
Birthdate: 0972 BC
Birthplace: Jerusalem, Israel
Died: 0913 BC

Rehoboam reigned as the King of Judah from 931 to 913 BCE. Since Judah and Israel remained in a state of war during his 17-year reign, Rehoboam built many strongholds and elaborate defenses, including fortified cities, thus playing a major role in shaping the Kingdom of Judah.

 27 
Æthelwold of Wessex
(Monarch)
Æthelwold of Wessex
3
Birthplace: Great Britain
Died: December 13, 0902
 28 
Louis IV of France
(King of West Francia)
Louis IV of France
3
Birthdate: September 10, 0920
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Laon, France
Died: September 10, 0954
 29 
Igor of Kiev
(Ruler)
Igor of Kiev
3
Birthdate: 0877 AD
Birthplace: Russia
Died: 0945 AD
 30 
Constantine VII
(Emperor)
Constantine VII
4
Birthdate: May 18, 0905
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Constantinople, Turkey
Died: November 9, 0959
 31 
Ælfweard of Wessex
(King)
Ælfweard of Wessex
2
Birthdate: 0902 AD
Birthplace: Wessex, England
Died: August 2, 0924
 32 
Harald II of Denmark
(King of Denmark from 1014 to 1018)
Harald II of Denmark
2
Birthdate: 0980 AD
Birthplace: Unknown
Died: 1018 AD
 33 
Olaf Tryggvason
(King)
Olaf Tryggvason
2
Birthdate: 0963 AD
Birthplace: Norway
Died: September 9, 1000
 34 
Henry II, Holy Roman Emperor
(Emperor)
Henry II, Holy Roman Emperor
3
Birthdate: May 6, 0973
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Bad Abbach, Germany
Died: July 13, 1024
 35 
Otto III, Holy Roman Emperor
(Emperor)
Otto III, Holy Roman Emperor
2
Birthdate: 0980
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Kessel, Germany
Died: January 23, 1002
 36 
Hugh the Great
(Duke)
Hugh the Great
3
Birthdate: 0898 AD
Birthplace: Paris, France
Died: June 16, 0956
 37 
Simeon I of Bulgaria
(Ruled over Bulgaria from 893 to 927)
Simeon I of Bulgaria
2
Birthdate: 0864 AD
Birthplace: Bulgaria
Died: May 27, 0927
 38 
Louis V of France
(King)
Louis V of France
2
Birthdate: 0967 AD
Birthplace: France
Died: May 21, 0987
 39 
Shoshenq I
(Pharaoh)
Shoshenq I
2
Birthplace: Unknown
Died: 0922 BC

Ancient Egyptian pharaoh Shoshenq I founded the 22nd dynasty. Probably of Libyan tribal descent, he was initially a general of king Psusennes II, whom he succeeded later, without any resistance. Known for his successful campaigns in Palestine, he was also mentioned as Shishak in the Hebrew Bible.

 40 
Conrad II, Holy Roman Emperor
(Holy Roman emperor)
Conrad II, Holy Roman Emperor
2
Birthdate: 0990 AD
Birthplace: Speyer, Germany
Died: June 4, 1039
 41 
Kenneth II of Scotland
(King)
Kenneth II of Scotland
3
Birthdate: 0932 AD
Birthplace: Scotland
Died: 0995 AD
 42 
Sabuktigin
(The Founder of the Ghaznavid Dynasty)
Sabuktigin
4
Birthdate: 0942 AD
Birthplace: Barskhan, Afghanistan
Died: August 5, 0997
Sebüktigin reigned as the Emir of Ghazna from 20 April 977 to 5 August 997 after founding the Ghaznavid dynasty in 977. He expanded his kingdom as far as the Indus River in Pakistan and the Neelum River in Kashmir. Sebüktigin is considered the architect of the Ghaznavid Empire.
 43 
Nikephoros II Phokas
(Emperor)
Nikephoros II Phokas
2
Birthdate: 0912 AD
Birthplace: Cappadocia, Turkey
Died: December 11, 0969
 44 
Ashurnasirpal II
(King)
Ashurnasirpal II
2
Birthplace: Neo-Assyrian Empire
Died: 0859 BC
 45 
John I Tzimisces
(Emperor)
John I Tzimisces
2
Birthdate: 0925 AD
Birthplace: Constantinople
Died: January 10, 0976
 46 
Bolesław I the Brave
(Duke of Poland)
Bolesław I the Brave
2
Birthdate: 0967 AD
Birthplace: Poznań, Poland
Died: June 11, 1025
 47 
Haakon the Good
(King)
Haakon the Good
2
Birthdate: 0920 AD
Birthplace: Hordaland, Norway
Died: 0961 AD
 48 
Malcolm I of Scotland
(King of Alba)
Malcolm I of Scotland
3
Birthdate: 0900 AD
Birthplace: Scotland
Died: 0954 AD
 49 
Hywel Dda
(Welsh ruler)
Hywel Dda
2
Birthdate: 0880 AD
Birthplace: United Kingdom
Died: 0948 AD
 50 
Abijah of Judah
(King of Judah)
Abijah of Judah
2
Birthdate: 0950 BC
Birthplace: Jerusalem, Israel
Died: 0911 BC

Abijam was the second King of Judah who reigned from 913 BCE until his death in 911 BCE. One of the most popular kings of the House of David, Abijam aimed at winning back Israel to the Davidic kingdom. As a result, he fought in the Battle of Mount Zemaraim and emerged victorious. Subsequently, he captured Bethel, Ephron, and Jeshanah.