Extreme solar events

We trace the evolution of research on extreme solar and solar-terrestrial events from 1859 Carrington event to rapid development last twenty years. Our focus is largest observed/inferred/theoretical cases sunspot groups, flares Sun Sun-like stars, coronal mass ejections, proton events, geomagnetic storms. The reviewed studies are based modern observations, historical or long-term data including auroral cosmogenic radionuclide record, Kepler observations stars. compile a table 100- 1000-year occurrence frequency distributions for space weather phenomena listed above. Questions considered include nature superflare stars existence impactful but unpredictable "black swans" "dragon king" that can involve different physics operating in which merely large.