- Source: 720s
The 720s decade ran from January 1, 720, to December 31, 729.
Events
= 720
=By place
Byzantine Empire
Summer – Emperor Leo III secures the Byzantine frontier, by inviting Slavic settlers into the depopulated districts of the Thracesian Theme (western Asia Minor). He undertakes a set of civil reforms, and reorganizes the theme structure in the Aegean region. Leo's 2-year-old son Constantine V is associated on the throne, and married to Tzitzak, daughter of the Khazar ruler (khagan) Bihar.
Europe
Umayyad conquest of Gaul: Governor Al-Samh continues his campaign; he makes Narbonne the capital city of Muslim Septimania (Southern France), and uses it as a base for razzias. King Ardo is killed, and becomes the last ruler of the Visigothic Kingdom of Hispania. Some Visigoths refuse to adopt the Muslim faith, and flee north to Aquitaine. This marks the end of the Visigothic Kingdom.
Muslim forces under Al-Samh begin the prolonged siege of Carcassonne, a fortified Visigothic town located in the Languedoc-Roussillon.
Britain
King Ine of Wessex builds a stone church at Glastonbury Abbey in Somerset (approximate date).
Arabian Empire
Umayyad conquest of Transoxiana: The first Turgesh attack on Muslim-Arabs in Transoxiana leads to the siege and relief of the Umayyad garrison at the fortress of Qasr al-Bahili, near Samarkand (or 721).
Yazid ibn al-Muhallab, former governor of Iraq, revolts and is defeated at Basra, by Umayyad forces under Al-Abbas ibn al-Walid and Maslama ibn Abd al-Malik. He is arrested and later executed.
February 10 – Caliph Umar II is poisoned by a servant, and dies in Aleppo (Syria) after a 3-year reign. He is succeeded by his cousin Yazid II.
The Umayyad Caliphate reaches its greatest extent in Spain, controlling all of it except a small region in the north controlled by the Kingdom of Asturias.
Asia
In the Chinese capital of Chang'an, the walls of a gated city ward collapse during the night, which unexpectedly forms a large pool out in the open. This is most likely caused by a sinkhole created when ground water eroded the limestone bedrock beneath. As a consequence of this, more than 500 homes are destroyed (approximate date).
Americas
The Third Tikal-Calakmul War begins.
By topic
Literature
The Nihon Shoki (日本書紀), one of the oldest history books in Japan, is completed under the editorial supervision of Prince Toneri, and with the assistance of Ō no Yasumaro.
Religion
Contact between the Welsh Church and Yvi of Brittany is the last known link between two Celtic countries. After this, each nation goes its own separate way (approximate date).
Astronomy
A second series of gravitational interactions with Saturn, the second since 1664 BC, once again force the Centaur (minor planet) Chiron into a new orbit, shifting it from orbiting in the edges of the Solar System to orbiting near the inner regions.
= 721
=By place
Europe
February 13 – King Chilperic II dies at Attigny (Ardennes), after a five-year reign. He is succeeded by Theuderic IV, infant son of Dagobert III, as Merovingian ruler of the Franks, under the control of the mayor of the palace, Charles Martel.
Summer – Charles Martel restores the authority of the Austrasian palace throughout the Frankish Kingdom, including against Frankish-claimed Aquitaine and Provence (Southern France). He exiles Rigobert, bishop of Reims, to Gascony.
June 9 – Battle of Toulouse: After besieging Toulouse for three months, Muslim forces under governor (wali) Al-Samh ibn Malik al-Khawlani are defeated by Eudes, duke of Aquitaine, preventing the extension of Umayyad control over Gaul.
Anbasa ibn Suhaym Al-Kalbi is appointed governor of Al-Andalus, after the death of Al-Samh. The Muslims under Abdul Rahman al-Ghafiqi withdraw to Narbonne. The Visigothic duke Amrus of the Lerida area recognises Umayyad rule.
Tervel, ruler (khagan) of the Bulgarian Empire, dies after a 21-year reign. He is succeeded by Kormesiy, possibly a son of Tervel, who is co-ruler and a descendant of the royal Dulo clan.
Prague is founded (according to legend) by Princess Libuše and her husband Přemysl, founder of the Přemyslid dynasty (approximate date).
Britain
King Ine of Wessex defeats Prince Cynewulf, an unknown relation making a push for the throne of Wessex.
Central America
May 31 – Wak Chanil Ajaw (Lady Six Sky), who had been the regent for her son Kʼakʼ Tiliw Chan Chaak from 693 until his attainment of majority, becomes the new queen of the Mayan city state of Naranjo in Guatemala when K'ak Tiliw dies from unknown causes. She reigns until her death in 741.
China
Rains and heavy storms around the southern seaport of Yangzhou destroy over 1,000 ships and boats in the Grand Canal, during the Tang dynasty (approximate date).
By topic
Religion
Prüm Abbey is founded by Bertrada, daughter of former king Theuderic III, and her son Charibert, count of Laon (approximate date).
= 722
=By place
Europe
Summer – Battle of Covadonga: Visigothic nobleman Pelagius (Don Pelayo) defeats the Umayyad forces under Munuza, provincial governor of Asturias, at Picos de Europa (near Covadonga). This marks the beginning of the Reconquista, the Christian reconquest of the Iberian Peninsula. He founds the Kingdom of Asturias, and establishes a military base at Cangas de Onís (northwest of Spain) (or 718).
Britain
King Ine of Wessex attempts a takeover of Dumnonia, but his armies are crushed, and he is forced to withdraw. Queen Æthelburg, wife of Ine, destroys the royal castle of Taunton, to prevent its seizure by rebels under Ealdbert.
The Battle of Allen is fought close by the Hill of Allen (Ireland) between the Laigin, led by King Murchad mac Brain Mut, and the forces of Fergal mac Máele Dúin (High King of Ireland).
Battle of Hehil: The West Saxons are defeated by a combined Viking and Cornish army, at Cornovii in Cornwall (approximate date).
Mesoamerica
January 3 – King Kʼinich Ahkal Moʼ Nahb III takes the throne of the Maya city-state of Palenque (southern Mexico).
By topic
Religion
November 30 – Wessex-born Boniface is ordained as bishop of Germany by Pope Gregory II. Under the protection of Charles Martel (mayor of the palace), he concentrates his religious work in Hessia and Thuringia.
Emperor Leo III enforces the baptism of all Jews and Montanists in the Byzantine Empire.
= 723
=By place
Asia
Gunakamadeva, Lichhavi ruler (rajah), founds the city of Kathmandu (modern Nepal). During his reign, he transforms the agrarian society to an industrial city trading between India and Tibet.
By topic
Religion
Boniface, Anglo-Saxon missionary, fells Thor's Oak (a sacred tree) near Fritzlar in Hesse, marking the decisive event in the Christianization of the northern Germanic tribes (approximate date).
Boniface makes Büraburg, a fortified Frankish settlement, his temporary religious base.
= 724
== 725
=By place
Europe
Umayyad conquest of Gaul: Muslim forces under Anbasa ibn Suhaym al-Kalbi (governor of Al-Andalus) capture the fortified town of Carcassonne, which has been under siege (see 720), as well as Nîmes in Septimania (the latter without resistance).
Summer – Anbasa leads a raiding force up the Rhône and Saône Valleys into Burgundy, taking Autun. Muslim raiders reach Sens, Luxeuil and Langres; the cities are devastated. Some Muslims might also have reached the Vosges Mountains.
Duke Eudes of Aquitaine seeks an alliance with Munuza, governor of Cerdagne (eastern Pyrenees), currently in rebellion against the central Umayyad government at Córdoba in Andalusia (probably not cemented until 729).
Charles Martel invades Bavaria, and kills Duke Grimoald in battle. His son Hugbert submits to Frankish suzerainty, and Charles brings back the Agilolfing princess Swanachild, who becomes his concubine (later his wife).
King Liutprand puts Corsica, nominally under Byzantine authority, under Lombard government, defending it from Muslim raids (approximate date).
Britain
The exiled prince Ealdbert, possibly a nephew of King Ine of Wessex looking for recognition as his heir, seeks sanctuary in Sussex. Ine attacks the South Saxons and kills Ealdbert.
April 23 – King Wihtred of Kent dies after a 35-year reign. The kingdom is divided between his three sons: Æthelbert II as overking, Eadbert I in West Kent and Alric.
China
Yi Xing, Chinese Buddhist monk and astronomer, applies a clockwork escapement mechanism, to provide rotating motion to his astronomical armillary sphere.
By topic
Literature
Bede, Northumbrian monk-historian, writes The Reckoning of Time (De temporum ratione), explaining how to calculate medieval Easter.
Religion
In Egypt, resentment of the Copts against Umayyad taxation (called jizya) leads to a revolt (approximate date).
= 726
=By place
Byzantine Empire
Emperor Leo III issues a series of edicts banning the veneration of images (726–729), and launching the iconoclastic controversies. Most of the clergy – particularly in Italy and Greece – are opposed to these edicts with uncompromising hostility, and in the western parts of the Byzantine Empire the people refuse to obey his religious reforms.
Arab–Byzantine War: Muslim forces under Maslama ibn Abd al-Malik resume their expedition against Anatolia (modern Turkey). In a large-scale raid they plunder the fortress city of Caesarea.
Europe
Umayyad conquest of Gaul: Muslim raiders under Abdul Rahman al-Ghafiqi, current governor of Septimania, devastate Avignon, Viviers, Valence, Vienne and Lyon (approximate date).
Marcello Tegalliano dies after a 9-year reign.
Uprising in Venice against Byzantium: The cause of mass unrest is the iconoclastic decrees of Emperor Leo III. A few days later, political demands are put forward for wide autonomy within the Byzantine Empire and the right to appoint the ruler of the region (Doge). The rebels elect Orso Ipato the Doge of Venice. Desiring to preserve the proceeds of the treasury from the second most important port of the Byzantine Empire, and not having the resources to cope with a well-fortified and armed region, Byzantium agrees with all the requirements put forward. Orso Ipato is recognised by Leo III, who gives him the title hypatos. The Venetian fleet, led by Orso Ipato, frees Ravenna from the Lombards and restores the power of the Byzantine governor there.
Seismic activity in the Mediterranean Sea: The volcanic island of Thera erupts, while the city of Jerash (in present-day Jordan) suffers a major earthquake.
Britain
King Ine of Wessex resigns his crown, and travels on a pilgrimage to Rome. He is succeeded by his brother-in-law (and probably distant cousin) Æthelheard.
Dúngal mac Selbaig is deposed as king of Dál Riata (Scotland). He is succeeded by Eochaid mac Echdach (a son of former king Eochaid mac Domangairt).
Asia
The first annual Sumo tournament in Japan is held by Emperor Shōmu (approximate date).
Central America
October 22 – Itzamnaaj K'awiil, the ruler of the Mayan city state at Dos Pilas in Guatemala since 698, dies after a 28-year reign.
By topic
Religion
Abbo of Provence, Frankish nobleman, founds Novalesa Abbey in Piedmont (Northern Italy).
= 727
=By place
Byzantine Empire
A revolt breaks out in Greece against the religious policies of Emperor Leo III (see 726). A rebel fleet under Agallianos Kontoskeles sets out for Constantinople with Kosmas, an anti-emperor, but is destroyed by the Byzantine fleet through the use of Greek fire.
Siege of Nicaea: Muslim forces under Mu'awiya ibn Hisham (son of Umayyad caliph Hisham ibn Abd al-Malik) penetrate deep into Asia Minor, and sack the fortress city of Gangra, but unsuccessfully lay siege to Nicaea (northwestern Anatolia).
Europe
A revolt breaks out in Italy against Leo's Iconoclasm; this results in the independence of the Exarchate of Ravenna, after part of a Byzantine invasion force is lost in a storm in the Adriatic Sea, and the remainder of Byzantine troops are repulsed.
King Liutprand takes advantage of the anti-imperial turmoil. He conquers Bologna and other cities beyond the Po River (Northern Italy). The Lombards take "Classis", the strategic seaport of Ravenna, and overrun the Pentapolis.
Asia
Arab–Khazar War: The Khazars drive back the Muslim invasion, led by Maslama ibn Abd al-Malik, into Mesopotamia. Reinforced with Syrian troops, Maslama counterattacks and takes Georgia, establishing the northern frontier on the Caucasus.
Central America
January 6 – Ucha'an K'in B'alam becomes the new ruler of the Mayan city state at Dos Pilas in Guatemala after the death of Itzamnaaj K'awiil and reigns until 741.
By topic
Religion
July – Pope Gregory II condemns iconoclasm at Rome, causing Italy to break with the Byzantine Empire. He becomes the virtual temporal ruler of most Byzantine possessions.
= 728
=By place
Europe
King Liutprand of the Lombards occupies all of the Exarchate of Ravenna. He advances towards Rome along the Via Cassia, and is met at the city of Sutri by Pope Gregory II, near the borders of the Duchy of Rome. Liutprand signs the Donation of Sutri, by which parts of Latium are given to the papacy (the first extension of papal territory in Italy). This marks the historical foundation of the Papal States.
= 729
=By place
Europe
Battle of Ravenna: Byzantine troops under Eutychius, exarch of Ravenna, are defeated by an Italian force, raised by Gregory II, in opposition to iconoclasm.
An alliance between Duke Eudes of Aquitaine and Munuza, the Moorish governor of Cerdanya, is cemented by marriage to Eudes' illegitimate daughter Lampégia.
In Denmark, construction of the Kanhave Canal across the island of Samsø is completed. Although the canal is only about 500 metres long, it is one of the largest engineering projects undertaken in Denmark during the Early Middle Ages.
Britain
King Osric of Northumbria nominates Ceolwulf, a distant cousin and brother of Coenred, as his successor. After Osric's death, Ceolwulf takes the throne.
Asia
Battle of Baykand: The Umayyad Arabs narrowly escape disaster when cut off from water by the Turgesh, and push through to reach Bukhara in Transoxiana.
Siege of Kamarja: A small Arab garrison defends the fortress of Kamarja against the Turgesh for 58 days, ending with a negotiated withdrawal to Samarkand.
By topic
Food and drink
Chinese eating sticks are introduced in the next 20 years in Japan, where people heretofore have used one-piece pincers. The Japanese call them hashi.
Significant people
Yazid II
Hisham
Leo III the Isaurian
Pope Gregory II
Births
720
Baizhang Huaihai, Chinese Zen Buddhist monk (d. 814)
Bernard, Frankish nobleman (approximate date)
Bertrada of Laon, wife of Pippin the Short (d. 783)
Modestus, Irish missionary (approximate date)
Thierry IV, Frankish nobleman (approximate date)
721
Abul Abbas al-Saffah, Muslim caliph (approximate date)
Fujiwara no Uona, Japanese minister (d. 783)
Jābir ibn Hayyān, Muslim alchemist (approximate date)
Tachibana no Naramaro, Japanese statesman (d. 757)
722
Fruela I, king of Asturias (approximate date)
Isma'il ibn Ja'far, Shī‘ah Imām and scholar (or 719)
723
Arbeo, bishop of Freising (approximate date)
Isonokami no Yakatsugu, Japanese nobleman (d. 781)
724
Dong Jin, Chinese official and general
Fujiwara no Hamanari, Japanese noble and poet
725
Paul the Deacon, Lombard monk (approximate date)
Stephen the Hymnographer, Syrian monk (d. 807)
726
Grifo, Frankish duke and son of Charles Martel (d. 753)
Paulinus II, patriarch of Aquileia (approximate date)
727
January 9 – Dai Zong, emperor of the Tang Dynasty (d. 779)
Fujiwara no Tsuginawa, Japanese statesman (d. 796)
Liu Peng, general of the Tang Dynasty (d. 785)
Sakanoue no Karitamaro, Japanese general (d. 786)
Yang Yan, chancellor of the Tang Dynasty (d. 781)
728
Abu Ubaidah, Muslim scholar of Arabic philology (d. 825)
Du Huangchang, chancellor of the Tang Dynasty (or 729)
729
Du Huangchang, chancellor of the Tang Dynasty (or 728)
Li Huaiguang, general of the Tang Dynasty (d. 785)
Deaths
720
Ardo, king of the Visigoths (or 721)
Aubert of Avranches, Frankish bishop
Fujiwara no Fuhito, Japanese statesman (b. 659)
Muhammad ibn Marwan, Muslim general (or 719)
Odile of Alsace, Frankish abbess (approximate date)
Tariq ibn Ziyad, Muslim general (b. 670)
Umar II, Muslim caliph (b. 682)
Xue Ne, general of the Tang dynasty (b. 649)
Yazid ibn al-Muhallab, Muslim governor (b. 672)
Yeh Fa-shan, Daoist wonder-worker (b. 631)
Jamila, Arabian qiyan-courtesan singer
721
February 13 – Chilperic II, king of the Franks
May 7 – John of Beverley, bishop of York
December 29 – Genmei, empress of Japan (b. 660)
Al-Samh ibn Malik al-Khawlani, Muslim general (approximate date)
Ardo, king of the Visigoths (or 720)
Eadfrith, bishop of Lindisfarne
Headda, bishop of Lichfield (approximate date)
Liu Zhiji, Chinese historian (b. 661)
Tervel, ruler (khagan) of the Bulgarian Empire
Yao Chong, chancellor of the Tang dynasty (b. 650)
722
September 29 – Leudwinus, Frankish bishop
Beli II, king of Strathclyde (approximate date)
Fergal mac Máele Dúin, High King of Ireland
Máel Ruba, Irish abbot (b. 642)
Mujahid ibn Jabr, Muslim scholar
723
October 3 – Elias I of Antioch, Syriac Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch.
Adalbert, duke of Alsace
Fachtna mac Folachtan, Irish abbot
Ō no Yasumaro, Japanese nobleman
724
January 26 – Yazid II, Muslim caliph (b. 687)
Felix, archbishop of Ravenna
Fogartach mac Néill, High King of Ireland
Hababah, concubine singer of Caliph Yazid II.
Rotrude of Treves, wife of Charles Martel
Tonyukuk, military leader of the Göktürks (approximate date)
725
April 23 – Wihtred, king of Kent
Ealdbert, prince of Wessex
Grimoald, duke of Bavaria
Gwylog ap Beli, king of Powys
Nothhelm, king of Sussex
Ruben of Dairinis, Irish scholar
726
October 22 – Itzamnaaj K'awiil, a Maya ruler of Dos Pilas
Anbasa ibn Suhaym al-Kalbi, Muslim governor
Marcello Tegalliano, doge of Venice
Oda of Scotland, Christian saint (approximate date)
Smbat VI, Armenian prince
Tobias, bishop of Rochester
727
April 18 – Agallianos Kontoskeles, Byzantine commander and rebel leader
May 30 – Hubertus, bishop of Liège
October 19 – Frithuswith or Frideswide, Anglo-Saxon princess and abbess
Murchad mac Brain Mut, king of Leinster (Ireland)
Paul, exarch of Ravenna
Yi Xing, Chinese astronomer and mechanical engineer (b. 683)
728
Domnall mac Cellaig, king of Connacht (Ireland)
Dúnchad mac Murchado, king of Leinster (Ireland)
Hasan al-Basri, Arab theologian
Jarir ibn Atiyah, Arab poet and satirist
729
May 9 – Osric, king of Northumbria
Ecgberht of Ripon, bishop of Lindisfarne (b. 639)
Nagaya, Japanese prince and politician (b. 684)
Shen Quanqi, Chinese poet and official (b. 650)
References
Kata Kunci Pencarian:
- Segi lima
- McLaren Automotive
- 720-an
- Orang Khazar
- McLaren
- McLaren Senna
- World Car of the Year
- Blancpain GT World Challenge Asia 2019
- Seri Le Mans Asia musim 2023
- Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters
- McLaren 720S
- 720s
- 720s BC
- McLaren M840T engine
- McLaren Automotive
- Boeing 720
- Rob Melville
- 700 (number)
- British Rail Class 720
- McLaren GT
