Yazdegard the Cruel - as he was known late in his life, held the growing Persian domain in an iron grip. While his personal life was shroud in mystery of the highest order, it was suspected he colluded with the dark powers, ensuring his rule met no opposition.
Earlier years of his kingship saw renewed hostilities with weakened Abbasid Caliphate, but also expansion to the East. Persian troops established foothold on the Indian side of Indus and a Zoroastrian kingdom of Zunbil followed Taid's example, waging war on their Hindu neighbour.
In the year 873 he formed a proto-empire emulating former Sassanid dynasty and calling himself Shahanshah - meaning, King of Kings.
Yazdegard perished in 890, when the kingdom fell to the hands of his oldest son - Kavadh 'The Wise'.
Kavadh faced rebellion in early years of his rule, lead by nobles to afraid of his father to raise against him, only with greatest difficulty new Shah managed to restore order in his realm.
His years as a ruler saw decline of Zunbil kingdom, which exhausted itself by means of invading India, and was slowly incorporated into Persian domain as a result.
Muslim World:
Only under stern control of Hussayn I grandson - Hussayn II - Abbasid Caliphate managed to stop their rapid decline. Hussayn became new leader of the Caliphate soon after his birth, with his father - Mukhatar, being murdered at the age of 27. Led by a wise council, young Badshah reached maturity and saw his domain restored to some order.
Damage however, was already done - African provinces were in separation from the Caliphate for many years now, some claiming independence ( Muhallabi Sultanate in Egipt) or falling under influence of Umayyad Caliphate (African provinces).
Hussayn II managed to stop creeping Persian conquest and defeat Roman invasion of Muslim territories.
Umayyad Caliphate failed to spread Islam in Francia, but managed to secure their Iberian and African holds over the years.
Roman Empire:
Stability of the Roman domain was in question for most of the century, with Basileus Leon V (810-872) Basilissa Eudoxia (843-885) and Leon VI (874-) fighting within the borders of Roman Empire more, than outside of it. Poorly prepared invasion of Middle East was completely unsuccessful, fully showing the lack of capability of projecting power.
Western Europe:
Francia continued to divide into smaller and less powerful states. Only thanks to Charles the Hammer of Middle Francia, the Islamic faith didn't spread into heartlands of France.
Italy kept strong involvement in French affairs, as sons of Desiderius II split his father's domain into two kingdoms - Gislari formed kingdom of France, while Aimeric kept control over Italia.
Italian influence stopped spread of Germanic warlords across Eastern Germania, however Kingdom of Bavaria took great losses keeping Pagans out of their land.
British Isles:
Little difference in status quo - despite often wars between Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of Wessex, Mercia and Northumbria.
Pagan Faiths:
Germanic pagans, stopped by the Catholic alliance, lost their momentum of conquest, dealing with heavy fighting with their Slavic subjects and neighbours, who in turn, struggle with their Tengri rivals across eastern and southern Europe.
While still powerful, pagan faiths seem to slowly fall behind more advanced and organised states.
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