640s

The640sdecade ran from January 1, 640, to December 31, 649.

Events

640

By place

Europe

• February 27–Pepin the Elder,Mayor of the PalaceofAustrasia,dies and is succeeded by his sonGrimoald.He becomes the head of theFrankishhousehold, and the most powerful man in theFrankish Kingdom(approximate date).
• KingChintiladies of natural causes after a 3-year reign, in which he permitted thebishopswide authority inHispania,SeptimaniaandGalicia.He is succeeded by his sonTulga,who becomes ruler of theVisigothic Kingdom(approximate date).
• At the request ofPorga of Croatia,one of the first dukes or princes (Croatian:knez) ofDalmatian Croatia,theByzantineemperorHeracliussends Christianmissionariesto theCroatian Provinces(approximate date).
• TheFrenchcity ofLille(according to thelegend) is founded byLydéric.He kills Phinaert in aduelto avenge his parents' deaths (approximate date).

Britain

• KingEadbald of Kentdies after a 24-year reign. He is succeeded by his sons,EorcenberhtandEormenred,who jointly rule theKingdom of Kent(nowSouth East England).
• Hartlepool AbbeyinNorthumbria(Northern England) is founded. Woodenhutssurrounding achurchare built inSaxonstyle.

Africa

• May –Siege of Babylon Fortress:TheRashidun armylayssiegetoBabylon Fortressin theNile Delta(nearCairo). The next two months' fighting remain inconclusive, theByzantineshaving the upper hand by repulsing everyMuslimassault.
• July 6–Battle of Heliopolis:TheMuslim Arabarmy (15,000 men) under'Amr ibn al-'Asdefeats the Byzantine forces nearHeliopolis(Egypt). Amr divides his troops into three parts, surrounding the Byzantines.
• December 21– Muslim Arabs capture Babylon after a seven-month siege; during a night assault Arab warriors open thecity gates.TheThebaidregion (Upper Egypt) is annexed by theRashidun Caliphate.
• December 22– On orders of the Saracen leader, Amar, theSerapeum of Alexandria,containing works that had survived the destruction of theLibrary of Alexandria,is burned down, along with its collection of 500,000 manuscripts.This story may be apocryphal.

Asia

Emperor Taizong's campaign against the Western Regions states

• Emperor Taizong of Tangbegins themilitary campaigns against the Western Regions statesin theTarim Basin.GeneralHou Junjicaptures the kingdomofGaochang,tosolidify Tang ruleinCentral Asia.
• Nestorianmissionaries build theDaqin PagodainChang'an(Shaanxi).Daqinis the name for theRoman Empireor theNear East.

By topic

Religion

• Disibod,Irishmonkandhermit,arrives as a missionary inFrancia.He begins hisreligiouswork in theVosgesandArdennes.
• May 28–Pope SeverinussucceedsHonorius Ias the 71stpope.He dies inRomeonly two months after beingconsecrated.
• December 24–Pope John IVsucceeds Severinus as the 72nd pope. Hiselectionis accepted by theExarchate of Ravenna.

Economy

• A surge in atmospheric lead in ice core drilled in the Colle Gnifetti Glacier in theSwiss Alpssignals an increase in silver mining because of economic recovery, after natural disasters in530sand540s.

641

By place

Byzantine Empire

• February 11– EmperorHeraclius,age 65, dies ofdropsyatConstantinopleafter a 31-year reign. He reorganized the imperial administration, but lostArmenia,parts ofEgypt,Palestine,Syriaand much ofMesopotamiato theMuslimArabs. Heraclius is succeeded by his sonsConstantine IIIandHeraklonas.
• TheMuslim conquest of Egyptcontinues, with thesiege of Alexandria.
• May– Constantine III, age 29, dies oftuberculosisafter a four-month reign, leaving his half-brother Heraklonas sole emperor. Rumors spread that Constantine has beenpoisonedby Heraclius's second wife (and niece)Martina.
• September– TheByzantine Senateturns against Martina and her son Heraklonas, who are bothmutilated,andexiledtoRhodes.Supported by generalValentinus,Constantine's sonConstans II,age 10, succeeds to thethrone.
• Constans II establishes a new civil-military defensive organisation, based upongeographicalmilitary districts. Byzantine forces maintain the frontier, along the line of theTaurus Mountains(SouthernTurkey).

Europe

• Aega,Mayor of the Palaceandregent(alongside ofqueen motherNanthild) ofNeustriaandBurgundy,dies during the reign of KingClovis II.He is replaced byErchinoald,a relative ofDagobert I's mother.
• TheLombardsunder KingRothariconquerGenoa(Liguria), and all remainingByzantineterritories in the lowerPo Valley,includingOderzo(Opitergium).
• Arechis I,duke ofBenevento(northeast ofNaples), dies after a 50-year reign and is succeeded by his sonAiulf I.

Britain

• PrinceOswiuofBerniciaconquersGododdin(or "The Old North" ) as far north asManau(modernScotland), on behalf of his half-brother, KingOswald(approximate date).
• KingBridei IIdies after a 5-year reign, and is succeeded by his brotherTalorc IIIas ruler of thePicts.

Africa

• November 8–Siege of Alexandria:Muslim Arabs under'Amr ibn al-'AscaptureAlexandriaafter a six-monthsiege.Byzantine officials formally capitulate to Amr, turning the city over to Arab hands.
• The city ofFustat(laterCairo) is founded inEgypt.It becomes the firstcapital of Egyptunder Muslim rule.

Asia

• EmperorTaizongof theTang dynasty(China) instigates acivil warin theWestern Turkic Khaganate,by supporting Isbara Yabghu Qaghan.
• November 17– EmperorJomeiofJapan,age 48, dies after a 12-year reign.
• Uijabecomes the last king of the Korean kingdom ofBaekje.

642

By place

Byzantine Empire

• EmperorConstans IImarriesFausta.

Europe

• April 30–Chindasuinth,aGothicwarlord (already 79 years old), commences a rebellion and deposes KingTulgainToledo, Spain.He is proclaimed king by theVisigothicnobility and anointed by thebishops.Tulga istonsuredand sent out to live his days in amonastery.
• Radulf,aFrankisharistocrat, revolts against KingSigebert IIIofAustrasiaand defeats his army, taking the title ofrexor king ofThuringia.

Britain

• August 5–Battle of Maserfield:KingPenda of Merciadefeats and kills KingOswald of Northumbria,age 38, atOswestry(West Midlands). He commands a unitedBritishandMercianforce, which includes the Welsh army of KingsCadafael Cadomedd of GwyneddandCynddylan of Pengwern.The Mercians become dominant in theEnglish Midlands.
• Oswiusucceeds his half-brother Oswald as king ofBernicia.He strengthens his position by marryingEanflæd,daughter of KingEdwin of Northumbria,then in exile in theKingdom of Kent.This marriage takes place between 642 and644.

Persia

• Battle of Nahāvand:TheRashidun army(30,000 men) underSa`d ibn Abi Waqqasdefeats the Persians atNahāvand(modernIran). The Persian cavalry, full of confidence, mounts an ill-prepared attack. TheArabsretreat to a safe area, where they outmanoeuvre and destroy the Persians in a narrow mountain valley.

Africa

• Battle of Dongola:'Amr ibn al-'Assends an Arab expedition of 20,000 horsemen, under his cousinUqba ibn Nafi,toMakuria(SouthernEgypt). The Nubians strike hard against theMuslimsnearDongolawithhit-and-runattacks. The Arab incursions intoNubiaare temporarily halted.

Asia

• EmperorTaizongof theTang dynastyissues adecreethroughout China, that increases the punishment for men who deliberately inflict injuries upon themselves (most commonly breaking their own legs) in order to avoid militaryconscription.This decree is an effort to eradicate this practice that has grown as a trend since the time of the rebellion against theSui dynasty.
• Taizongsupports a revoltby Turkic tribes against the rebelliousTu-lu Qaghanof theWestern Turkic Khaganate.
• EmpressKōgyokuascends to the throne of Japan, after her husband (and uncle) EmperorJomei's death in641.
• Winter –Yeon Gaesomunseizes power overGoguryeo(Korea), and places KingBojangon the throne.

By topic

Arts and sciences

• The earliest surviving dated Arabic-languagepapyrus(PERF 558), found inHeracleopolis(Egypt), and the earliest known Arabic text withdiacriticalmarks is written.

Architecture

• Arabs begin construction of theMosque of AmratCairo,the firstmosquebuilt in Egypt and in all of Africa.

Religion

• October 12–Pope John IVdies after a 2-year reign. He is succeeded by aJerusalem-bornclericof Greek descent,Theodore I,as the 73rdpopeof Rome.
• Amonasticsettlement is founded inHampshire(England) which later becomesWinchester Cathedral.

643

By place

Byzantine Empire

• EmperorConstans IIrecognisesTheodore Rshtunias ruler ofArmenia,after his successful campaign against theMuslims.He names him commander (nakharar) of the Armenian army.
• Maurikiosnames himselfdux of Rome,and revolts against exarchIsaac(Exarchate of Ravenna). He declaresRome's independence from the Exarchate and from theByzantine Empire.

Europe

• KingRothariof theLombardsissues theEdictum Rothari,which is the first codification of Lombard law (written inLatin). Theedictguarantees rights only for Lombard subjects.
• DukeLeuthari IIhasOtto,mayor of the palaceofAustrasia,murdered. He is succeeded byGrimoald the Elder,the eldest son ofPepin of Landen.

Britain

• KingCynegils of Wessexdies after a 32-year reign, and is succeeded by his sonCenwalh(who is stillpagan); he marries the sister of KingPenda of Mercia(approximate date).

Persia

• Peroz III,son ofYazdegerd III,the lastSassanidking ofPersia,flees to territory under the control of theTang dynastyinChina(approximate date).

Africa

• Arab–Byzantine War:Arabarmies continue their military expansion intoNorth Africaand laysiegetoTripoli.The city is captured after one month.
• 'Amr ibn al-'Assends a detachment toSabratha(modernLibya). The city puts up feeble resistance, but soon surrenders and agrees to payJizya.

Asia

• Chineseprefecturalgovernment officials travel to the capital ofChang'an,to give the annual report of the affairs in their districts. EmperorTaizongdiscovers that many have no proper quarters to rest in, and are renting rooms withmerchants.Therefore, Taizong orders the government agencies in charge ofmunicipalconstruction to build every visiting official his own privatemansionin the capital.
• A Chineseembassyis sent to the NorthIndian Empire.They are invited by EmperorHarsha,who holds aBuddhistconvocation at the capitalKannauj,which is attended by 20 kings and thousands ofpilgrims.
• Taizong commissions artistYan Libento paint the life-size portraits of 24 government officials in theLingyan Pavilion,to commemorate their service and contributions to the founding of the Tang dynasty.

By topic

Religion

• Æbbeestablishes amonasteryatEbchester,known as Kirk Hill atSt Abb's HeadnearColdingham(Scotland).

644

By place

Asia

• EmperorTaizongof theTang dynastysends a Chinese expeditionary force, toinvade and annextheTarim Basinkingdom ofKarasahrinXinjiang,a vassal of theWestern Turkic Khaganate.Theoasisstate is conquered, and Western Turks sent to assist Karasahr are defeated by the Tang forces.
• Zenkoji,aBuddhist templeand landmark spot inNagano,Japan, is officially built byEmpress Kogyoku.

Britain

• Oswine,son of the late kingOsric of Deira,manages to establish himself as king ofDeira(Northern England) despite armed objections from KingOswiu of Bernicia.His succession, probably the choice of the people of Deira, splits theKingdom of Northumbria.

Byzantine Empire

• Valentinus,Byzantine general, attempts to usurp thethroneof his son-in-lawConstans II.He appears at the gates ofConstantinoplewith a contingent of Byzantine troops, and demands to be crowned emperor. His claim is rejected, and Valentinus islynchedby the populace.

Islamic Empire

• November 3– The second caliphUmar,r. 634–644,dies of wounds inflicted by the Persian slaveAbu Lu'lu'a FiruzatMedina.On his death bed he appoints a committee to determine his successor. They selectUthman ibn Affan,who becomes the thirdcaliphof theRashidun Caliphate.

645

By place

Byzantine Empire

• Alexandriarevolts againstArabrule, at the appearance of aByzantinefleet of 300 ships,and Byzantine forces recapture the city.Abdullah ibn Sa'ad,Arab governor ofEgypt,mounts an assault and retakes it. He begins building aMuslimfleet.

Europe

• Plato,exarch (imperial governor) ofRavenna,invades the southernPo Valley.TheLombardsunder KingRotharidefeat him on the banks of thePanaro River(nearModena); 8,000 imperial troops are killed.

Britain

• KingCenwalh of Wessexis driven from his kingdom by his brother-in-law, KingPenda of Mercia(according toBede). He flees to the court of kingAnna of East Anglia,and isbaptisedwhile inexile.Penda overrunsWessex.
• Gwyneddand much ofWalesis in the grasp offamine.Would-be kingCadwaladr Fendigaidflees toBrittany.Civil war continues in his kingdom (approximate date).

Japan

• July 10–Isshi Incident:PrinceNaka-no-ŌeandFujiwara no KamatariassassinateSoga no Iruka,during acoup d'étatat the imperial palace.
• EmpressKōgyokuis forced to abdicate the throne in favor of her younger brotherKōtoku,age 49, who becomes the 36th emperor ofJapan.
• Naka-no-Ōe becomescrown princeand prime minister. Supporters of the semi-legendaryregentPrinceShōtokugain supremacy in Japan.
• Kōtoku creates a new city atNaniwa,and moves the capital fromYamato Province.The capital has asea port,establishing foreigntradeanddiplomaticrelations.
• Emperor Kōtoku establishes theTaika Reform:a land reform based onConfucianideas andphilosophiesfromChina(approximate date)
• The firstnengō,derived from theChinese system of eras(nianhao) begins with theTaika era.

China

• May 1–First conflict of the Goguryeo–Tang War:A Chinese expeditionary army underEmperor Taizong of Tangcrosses theLiao RiverintoGoguryeo(one of theThree kingdoms of Korea).
• July 18– Tang forces underLi Shijiheading southeast toward theYalu Riverput the strategic fortress ofAnsi City(in the province ofLiaoning) undersiege.
• September – Taizong is unable to capture the Ansi fortress defended by Korean generalYang Manchun.Food supplies running low, he withdraws his forces, ending theSiege of Ansi.
• October 13– Emperor Taizong is compelled to order a withdrawal from Goguryeo.

By topic

Religion

• Xuanzang,ChineseBuddhist monk,returns toChinaafter a 16-yearpilgrimagetoIndia.He is greeted with much honor by EmperorTaizong.
• TheGiant Wild Goose Pagodaat Ci'en Temple,Xi'an(Shanxi) is first erected during theTang dynasty(approximate date).

646

By place

Byzantine Empire

• Arab-Byzantine War:Alexandriais recaptured by theMuslim Arabs,after aByzantineattempt (see645) to retakeEgyptfails, ending nearly 1,000 years of rule byGreco-Romanstates in the city.
• Gregory the Patrician,Byzantineexarch of Africa,begins a rebellion againstConstans II,and proclaims himself emperor; therevoltfinds broad support among the populace.

Arabian Empire

• CaliphUthman ibn Affanfounds the city ofJeddah(Saudi Arabia) on the coast of theRed Sea.He establishes aportfor Muslimpilgrimsmaking the requiredHajjtoMecca.

Africa

• Battle of Nikiou:TheRashidun army(15,000 men) underAmr ibn al-'Asdefeats a smaller Byzantine force, near the fortified town of Nikiou (Egypt).
• Amr ibn al-'As buildsfortificationsin Alexandria and quarters a stronggarrisonin the vicinity, which twice a year is relieved fromUpper Egypt.

China

• Summer – EmperorTaizongof theTang dynastydestroys theXueyantuostate, during thecampaign against the Xueyantuo(Central Asia).

Japan

• EmperorKōtokumakes adecreeabout the policies of buildingtombs.He discontinues the old customs ofsacrificingpeople in honor of a dead man, and forbids ill-consideredritualsabout purgation.
• AGreat Reformedict changesJapan's political order. It will lead to the establishment of a centralized government with Kōtoku ruling from his palace,Naniwa Nagara-Toyosaki Palace,inOsaka.

By topic

Religion

• Xuanzangcompletes his bookGreat Tang Records on the Western Regions,which later becomes one of the primary sources for the study ofmedievalCentral AsiaandIndia.

647

By place

Byzantine Empire

• Arab–Byzantine War:AnArab army(20,000 men) underAbdullah ibn Sa'adinvades the ByzantineExarchate of Africa.It conquersTripolitaniaand the city ofSufetula,150 miles (240 km) south ofCarthage.
• Self-proclaimed emperorGregory the Patricianis killed during the Arab invasion at Sufetula.Africareturns to imperial allegiance after his death, but the foundation ofByzantinerule is fatally undermined.

Asia

• EmperorTaizongof theTang dynastysends a Chinese mission to study Indian techniques ofsugarmanufacturing, atBiharin theGanges Valley.
• Taizong establishes a Chinesemilitary governmenttopacify the former territory of Xueyantuo,which extends to theAltai Mountainsin the west.
• EmperorHarsha,ruler of northernIndia,dies after a 41-year reign. His kingdom disintegrates into smaller states.
• Jindeokbecomes queen of the Korean kingdom ofSillaafter the death ofQueen Seondeok.

By topic

Astronomy and science

• A stone towerastronomicalobservatory(namedCheomseongdae) atGyeongjuis constructed inSilla(South Korea) around this time.

Religion

• Hilda of Whitby,age 33, is persuaded byAidan,bishop ofLindisfarne,to enter themonasticlife atHartlepool Abbey(Northumbria).

648

By place

Byzantine Empire

• EmperorConstans IIissues an imperialedictforbiddingMonothelitismto be discussed, to quiet the intense controversy caused by the Monothelete doctrine. This edict, distributed by patriarchPaul IIin Constans' name, is known as theTypos.

Europe

• KingSigebert IIofAustrasiais advised byRemaclusto establish adouble-monastery,atStavelotandMalmedy.As a missionarybishop,he founds anabbeyon theRiver Amblève(modernBelgium).

Britain

• KingCenwalh of Wessexreturns from a 3-yearexileinEast Anglia,to reclaim his kingdom. He gives 3,000hidesof land aroundAshdownto his nephewCuthred,possibly sub-king ofBerkshire(England).
• Cenwahl invites bishopBirinusto establish under his direction theOld MinsterinWinchester.Together they have a small stonechurchbuilt.

Asia

• Tanggeneral Ashina She'er re-establishesTang control of Karasahr,and leads amilitary campaignagainst theTarim Basinkingdom ofKuchainXinjiang,a vassal of theWestern Turkic Khaganate.

Americas

• In an early skirmish in the run up to theSecond Tikal-Calakmul War,B'alaj Chan K'awiilscores a military victory, apparently over his half-brother, who had galled him by using the sameroyal emblem(oremblem glyph) as he did.
• Dos Pilasbreaks away fromTikaland becomes a vassal state ofCalakmul.

By topic

Literature

• TheBook of Jinis compiled inChinaduring theTang dynasty.Its chief editor is the chancellorFang Xuanling,who dies in this year as well.

Religion

• Pope Theodore Iexcommunicates Paul II ofConstantinople.

649

By place

Byzantine Empire

• Arab–Byzantine War:Arab naval forces underAbdullah ibn SaadconquerCyprus,sacking the capitalConstantiaafter a shortsiege,andlootingthe rest of the island. The Cypriots agree to pay the samerevenueas they have done to EmperorConstans II.
• Constans II ordersOlympius,exarch of theExarchate of Ravenna,to arrestPope Martin Ion the ostensible grounds that the pope's election has not been submitted to the emperor for approval, but in fact because of theLateran Council of 649's condemnation ofMonothelitismand theType of Constans.Olympius attempts to gain the support of the citizens ofRomeand thebishops,with little success, and perhaps considers the assassination of the Pope.

Europe

• January –Chindasuinth,at the urging of bishopBraulio of Zaragoza,confirms his sonRecceswinthas co-ruler of theVisigothic Kingdom.

Arabian Empire

• Muawiyah ibn Abi Sufyan,governor ofSyria,develops an Arab navy in theLevantand uses it to confront theByzantine Empirein theAegean Sea.It is manned byMonophysitise Christian,CopticandSyrian Christiansailors.

China

• January 19– TheTang campaign against Kuchaends after the forces ofKuchasurrender, following a 40-day siege led by general Ashina She'er, establishing Chinese control over the northernTarim Basin(Xinjiang).
• June 16– GeneralWang Xuancecommands a combined Chinese,Nepalese,andTibetanexpedition intoIndia.He ends up winning the battle and acquiring a Buddhist relic.
• July 10– EmperorTaizongdies after a 23-year reign, in which he has restored the civil administration in China. He is succeeded by his sonGaozong,age 20, who becomes ruler of theTang dynasty.

Japan

• EmperorKōtokuhasSoga no Kurayamadaaccused oftreason.He strangles himself at the temple ofYamada-dera.Other relatives of theSoga clanare captured and executed.

By topic

Religion

• May 14–Pope Theodore Idies after a 7-year reign, in which he has showngenerosityto thepoor.He is succeeded on July 5 byMartin Ias the 74thpope.
• October 5– TheLateran Council of 649,summoned by Theodore and carried forward by Martin, opens. It strongly condemnsMonothelitismand theType of Constans.

Births

640

• Al-Akhtal,Arabpoet(approximate date)
• Arikesari Maravarman,king of thePandyan Empire(approximate date)
• Asparukh,ruler of theBulgarian Empire(approximate date)
• Godeberta,Frankishabbess(approximate date)
• Isonokami no Maro,Japanese statesman (d.717)
• Kilian,Irishbishop(approximate date)
• Luo Binwang,Chinese poet (d.684)
• Musa ibn Nusayr,Arab general (d.716)
• Winnoc,Welshabbot(approximate date)
• Wulfhere,king ofMercia(approximate date)
• Wulfram,archbishop of Sens(approximate date)

641

• Asparukh,ruler (khan) of theFirst Bulgarian Empire(d.701)

642

• Ceolfrith,Anglo-Saxonabbot(approximate date)
• Hasan al-Basri,Arabtheologian(d.728)
• Julian,archbishop ofToledo(d.690)
• Máel Ruba,Irish abbot (d.722)
• Mujahid ibn Jabr,Muslim scholar (or645)

643

• Fazang,ChineseBuddhistpatriarch (d.712)
• Li Zhong,prince of theTang dynasty(d.665)

644

• K'inich K'an Joy Chitam II,ruler ofPalenque
• Li Jiao,chancellor of theTang dynasty(d.713)

645

• Æthelred,king ofMercia(approximate date)
• Ecgfrith,king ofNorthumbria(approximate date)
• Jitō,empress ofJapan(d.703)
• John of Damascus,Syrianchurch father(or676)
• Mujahid ibn Jabr,Arabic scholar (or642)
• Yazid I,MuslimCaliph(d.683)

646

• Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan,MuslimCaliph(d.705)
• Gudula,Frankish saint
• Li Sujie,prince of theTang dynasty(d.690)
• Sun Guoting,Chinesecalligrapher(d.691)
• Tonyukuk,military leader of theGöktürks(approximate date)

647

• Al-Abbas ibn Ali,Muslimmartyr(d.680)
• Itzamnaaj B'alam II,ruler ofYaxchilan(d.742)

648

• Kōbun,emperor ofJapan(d.672)
• Redbad,king ofFrisia(d.719)
• Tōchi,Japanese princess (d.678)

649

• Approximate date –Wang Bo,Chinesepoet(d.676)
• Xue Ne,Chinese general andchancellor of the Tang dynasty(d.720)

Deaths

640

• February 27–Pepin the Elder,Mayor of the Palace
• August 2–Pope Severinus
• September 12–Sak K'uk',queen ofPalenque
• Alena,Frankishmartyr(approximate date)
• Arnulf of Metz,Frankish bishop andsaint
• Bilal ibn Rabah al-Habashi,companion ofMuhammed
• Chintila,king of theVisigoths(approximate date)
• Dushun,Chinese (Buddhist) patriarch (b.557)
• Eadbald,king ofKent(approximate date)
• Eanswith,Anglo-Saxon princess (approximate date)
• Li Xiaogong,prince of theTang dynasty(b.591)
• Romanus,bishop of Rouen(approximate date)
• Tysilio,Welsh prince and bishop
• Yazid ibn Abi Sufyan,Arab general

641

• February 11–Heraclius,Byzantine emperor
• November 17–Emperor JomeiofJapan(b.593)
• Aega,Mayor of the Palace(NeustriaandBurgundy)
• Arechis I,duke ofBenevento(Italy)
• Bridei II,king of thePicts
• EmperorConstantine IIIof theByzantine Empire
• Mu,king ofBaekje(one of theThree Kingdoms of Korea)
• Ouyang Xun,Confucianscholar andcalligrapher(b.557)
• Zaynab bint Jahsh,wife ofMuhammad

642

• August 5or641–Oswald,king ofNorthumbria
• October 12–Pope John IV
• Emma,Anglo-Saxon queen
• Eowa,king ofMercia(English Midlands)
• Domnall Brecc,king ofDál Riata
• Domnall mac Áedo,high king of Ireland
• Flaochad,Mayor of the Palace(Burgundy)
• Heraklonas,Byzantine emperor (approximate date)
• Khalid ibn al-Walid,Arab general (b.592)
• Mardanshah,Persian general
• Nanthild,Frankish queen
• Pulakeshin II,king ofChalukya(India)
• Willibad,patrician (ofduke) ofBurgundy
• Yeongnyu,king ofGoguryeo(Korea)
• Yuwen Shiji,chancellorof theTang dynasty

643

• April 29–Hou Junji,chancellor of the Tang dynasty
• September 19–Goeric,bishop of Metz
• Cynegils,king ofWessex(approximate date)
• Maurikios Chartoularios,Byzantine rebel leader
• Otto,mayor of the palace(Austrasia)
• Wei Zheng,chancellor of the Tang dynasty (b.580)

644

• January 17–Sulpitius the Pious,French bishop and saint
• October 10–Paulinus,Archbishop of York
• Otto,mayor of the palace(Austrasia)
• Radulf,king ofThuringia(approximate date)
• Trudpert,Irishmissionary(or607)
• Abu Lu'lu'a Firuz,assassin of Umar I
• Umar I,Muslimcaliph(r. 634–644)
• Valentinus,Byzantine general andusurper

645

• April 26–Richarius,Frankishhermitandmonk
• July 10–Soga no Iruka,statesman of Japan
• October 21–Zhenzhu Khan,khan ofXueyantuo
• unknown dates
  • Al-Khansa,Arabicpoet(b.575)
  • Cen Wenben,chancellorand editor of theBook of Zhou(b.595)
  • Li Chengqian,crown prince of theTang dynasty
  • Soga no Emishi,statesman of Japan (b.587)
  • Yan Shigu,Chineseauthorof the Tang dynasty (b.581)

646

• January 17–Sulpitius the Pious,bishop of Bourges
• January 19–Liu Ji,chancellor of the Tang dynasty
• unknown dates
  • Gallus,Irishmissionary(approximate date)
  • Zhang Liang,general of the Tang dynasty

647

• Æthelburh of Kent,queen ofNorthumbria
• Felix of Burgundy,bishop ofDunwich(or648)
• Gao Shilian,chancellor of theTang dynasty(b.576)
• Gregory the Patrician,Exarch of Africa
• Harsha,emperor ofHarsha(India)
• Li Baiyao,Chinese official andhistorian(b.564)
• Seondeok,queen ofSilla(Korea)
• Xiao Yu,prince of theLiang dynasty(b.574)
• Yang Shidao,chancellor of the Tang dynasty

648

• Fang Xuanling,chancellor of the Tang dynasty(b.579)
• John III of the Sedre,Syriac Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch.
• Ma Zhou,chancellor of the Tang dynasty (b.601)
• Xiao,empress of theSui dynasty

649

• March –John Climacus,Syrianmonkand writer (b. c.579)
• May 2–Marutha of Tikrit,PersiantheologianandMaphrianof theSyriac Orthodox Church(b.565)
• May 14–Pope Theodore I,Jerusalem-born Greek pontiff
• July 2–Li Jing,Chinese general andchancellor of the Tang dynasty(b.571)
• July 6–Goar of Aquitaine,Catholic priestandhermit(b. c.585)
• July 10–Taizong,ChineseTang dynastyemperor (b.598)
• December 3–Birinus,French-bornBishop of Dorchesterin Wessex (b. c.600)
• Rogallach mac Uatach,Irishking ofConnacht(murdered)
• Soga no Kurayamada,Japaneseudaijin
• Songtsen Gampo,founder of theTibetan Empire

References

Sources

• Bede."Book III".Ecclesiastical History of the English People.Internet History Sourcebooks Project.
• Graff, David (2002).Medieval Chinese Warfare 300–900.London: Routledge. pp. 197–198.ISBN0-415-23955-9.Retrieved2016-11-03.
• Kirby, D. P. (2000).The Earliest English Kings(revised ed.). Routledge.ISBN0-415-24211-8.
• Muir, William(1898).The Caliphate: Its Rise, Decline, and Fall, from Original Sources(3rd ed.). London: Smith, Elder.