By place Byzantine Empire •
Arab–Byzantine War: Emperor
Heraclius assembles a large army consisting of contingents of
Byzantines,
Slavs,
Franks,
Georgians,
Armenians, and
Christian Arabs. He establishes a base at Yaqusah (near
Gadara), close to the edge of the
Golan Heights, protecting the vital main road from
Egypt to
Damascus. The base is protected by deep valleys and precipitous cliffs, well supplied with water and
grazing. • Summer – Heraclius summons a church assembly at
Antioch, and scrutinises the situation. He accepts the argument that Byzantine disobedience to God is to blame for the Christian disaster in
Syria. Heraclius leaves for
Constantinople with the words,
Peace be with you Syria — what a beautiful land you will be for your enemy.
Central America •
April 28 –
Yuknoom Chʼeen II becomes the
ruler of the Mayan city state of
Calakmul in southern
Mexico and reigns for 50 years until his death in 686.
Europe •
Chintila is elected by a convention of
bishops and
nobles (in accordance with the 75th canon of the
Fourth Council of Toledo) as ruler of the
Visigoths, after the death of King
Sisenand. •
Rothari (formerly
duke of
Brescia) marries widowed Queen
Gundeberga, and succeeds
Arioald as king of the
Lombards. During his reign, he puts many insubordinate nobles to death.
Arabia •
August 15–
20 –
Battle of Yarmouk: In engagements along the
Yarmouk River, Muslim forces (25,000 men) of the
Rashidun Caliphate, led by
Khalid ibn al-Walid, decisively defeat the armies of the
Byzantine Empire, effectively completing the
Muslim conquest of Syria. It will be regarded as one of the most decisive battles in military history, marking the first great wave of
Muslim conquests, after the death of
Muhammad. • The city of
Basra (modern
Iraq) is founded on the
Shatt al-Arab, at the head of the
Persian Gulf. The port will become a major trading center for commodities from
Arabia, India, and
Persia. •
November 16–
19 –
Battle of al-Qādisiyyah: The Muslim Arab army defeats the Persian forces under
Rostam Farrokhzād, at
Al-Qādisiyyah (Southern
Mesopotamia).
Asia • The
Xumi Pagoda of
Zhengding (China) is built, during the reign of
Emperor Taizong of Tang.
By topic Literature • The historical texts of the
Book of Northern Qi,
Book of Chen, and
Book of Sui are compiled in China, during the
Tang dynasty.
Religion •
Birinus,
Bishop of Dorchester, converts
Cwichelm (son of king
Cynegils of Wessex) to Christianity. He dies soon afterward, and is supposedly buried at
Scutchamer Knob, in
East Hendred (
South East England). •
June 30 –
Fifth Council of Toledo: Chintila orders a meeting in the church of
St. Leocadia; the bishops accept a
decree that only
Gothic nobility (with military functions) may be king of the
Visigothic Kingdom. == Births ==