By place Byzantine Empire •
Arab–Byzantine War: Arab naval forces under
Abdullah ibn Saad conquer
Cyprus, sacking the capital
Constantia after a short
siege, and
looting the rest of the island. The Cypriots agree to pay the same
revenue as they have done to Emperor
Constans II. • Constans II orders
Olympius, exarch of the
Exarchate of Ravenna, to arrest
Pope Martin I on the ostensible grounds that the pope's election has not been submitted to the emperor for approval, but in fact because of the
Lateran Council of 649's condemnation of
Monothelitism and the
Type of Constans. Olympius attempts to gain the support of the citizens of
Rome and the
bishops, with little success, and perhaps considers the assassination of the Pope.
Europe •
January –
Chindasuinth, at the urging of bishop
Braulio of Zaragoza, confirms his son
Recceswinth as co-ruler of the
Visigothic Kingdom.
Arabian Empire •
Muawiyah ibn Abi Sufyan, governor of
Syria, develops an Arab navy in the
Levant and uses it to confront the
Byzantine Empire in the
Aegean Sea. It is manned by
Monophysitise Christian,
Coptic and
Syrian Christian sailors.
China •
January 19 – The
Tang campaign against Kucha ends after the forces of
Kucha surrender, following a 40-day siege led by general Ashina She'er, establishing Chinese control over the northern
Tarim Basin (
Xinjiang). •
June 16 –
Battle of Chabuheluo: General
Wang Xuance commands a combined Chinese,
Nepalese, and
Tibetan expedition into
India. He ends up winning the battle and acquiring a Buddhist relic. •
July 10 – Emperor
Taizong dies after a 23-year reign, in which he has restored the civil administration in China. He is succeeded by his son
Gaozong, age 20, who becomes ruler of the
Tang dynasty.
Japan • Emperor
Kōtoku has
Soga no Kurayamada accused of
treason. He strangles himself at the temple of
Yamada-dera. Other relatives of the
Soga clan are captured and executed.
By topic Religion •
May 14 –
Pope Theodore I dies after a 7-year reign, in which he has shown
generosity to the
poor. He is succeeded on July 5 by
Martin I as the 74th
pope. •
October 5 – The
Lateran Council of 649, summoned by Theodore and carried forward by Martin, opens. It strongly condemns
Monothelitism and the
Type of Constans. == Births ==