700s (6 events)
700
ID: 4211
Susanoo slays eight-headed dragon - Japanese chronicles record storm god killing Yamata-no-Orochi to save princess
ID: 4211
700
ID: 5665
Tomatoes cultivated by Aztecs - called 'xitomatl', grown in many varieties including yellow ones
ID: 5665
701
ID: 3919
John VI becomes eighty-fifth pope - ransoms prisoners from Lombard duke Gisulf
ID: 3919
705
ID: 3920
John VII becomes eighty-sixth pope - Greek pope, great patron of arts and church building
ID: 3920
708
ID: 3921
Sisinnius becomes eighty-seventh pope - crippled by gout, dies after twenty days
ID: 3921
708
ID: 3922
Constantine becomes eighty-eighth pope - last pope to visit Constantinople until Paul VI
ID: 3922
710s (10 events)
710
ID: 4162
St. Giles dies in France - hermit and abbot, only non-martyr of Fourteen Holy Helpers, patron of disabled
ID: 4162
710
ID: 5488
Nara established as Japan's first permanent capital, modeled on Chinese capital Chang'an
ID: 5488
712
ID: 5489
Kojiki (Record of Ancient Matters) completed - Japan's oldest chronicle mixing history and mythology
ID: 5489
714
ID: 2860
Death of Pepin of Herstal - legitimate heirs are children, illegitimate son Charles Martel must fight for power
ID: 2860
715
ID: 2861
Charles Martel escapes imprisonment - Pepin's widow Plectrude imprisons him, he escapes and raises army in Austrasia
ID: 2861
715
ID: 3923
St. Gregory II becomes eighty-ninth pope - resists Byzantine iconoclasm, begins turn to Franks
ID: 3923
716
ID: 2862
Battle of Amblève - Charles Martel defeated by Neustrians, learns from defeat, reforms Frankish military
ID: 2862
717
ID: 2863
Battle of Vincy - Charles Martel decisively defeats Neustrians, becomes undisputed mayor of palace
ID: 2863
718
ID: 2864
Charles Martel invades Saxony - forces pagan Saxons to pay tribute, begins Frankish expansion into Germany
ID: 2864
718
ID: 4768
Second Arab siege of Constantinople fails - Leo III saves Europe from Islamic conquest
ID: 4768
720s (6 events)
720
ID: 2865
Muslim forces cross Pyrenees - conquer Septimania (Narbonne), raid into Aquitaine, threaten Frankish lands
ID: 2865
720
ID: 4161
St. Giles born in Athens - becomes hermit in France, fed by doe's milk, wounded by arrow meant for doe
ID: 4161
721
ID: 2866
Battle of Toulouse - Duke Odo of Aquitaine defeats Muslim army, temporary halt to Islamic advance
ID: 2866
725
ID: 5826
Bede describes shire system - 'scir' means share or division, originally divisions of kingdoms, each with own folk-moot court
ID: 5826
726
ID: 4769
Leo III begins Iconoclasm - bans religious images, century of theological civil war begins
ID: 4769
728
ID: 4818
Donation of Sutri - Lombard king gives lands to Pope, beginning of Papal States territorial power
ID: 4818
730s (13 events)
730
ID: 4888
John of Damascus writes On Heresies - First to include Islam as Christian heresy, Eastern perspective
ID: 4888
730
ID: 4920
St. John Damascene writes defense of holy images against iconoclasm - enters monastery at Mar Saba
ID: 4920
731
ID: 2620
Bede completes Ecclesiastical History - first great history of English people, written at Jarrow monastery
ID: 2620
731
ID: 3924
St. Gregory III becomes ninetieth pope - last pope to seek Byzantine approval, appeals to Charles Martel
ID: 3924
731
ID: 4923
St. Bede completes 'Ecclesiastical History of the English People' - preserves early Church history in Britain
ID: 4923
732
ID: 2867
Abd al-Rahman invades with huge army - defeats Duke Odo, sacks Bordeaux, advances toward Tours and its rich abbey
ID: 2867
732
ID: 2868
October 10, 732
Battle of Tours/Poitiers - Charles Martel defeats Abd al-Rahman (killed), stops Islamic conquest of Europe, earns name 'The Hammer'
ID: 2868
733
ID: 2869
Charles Martel conquers Burgundy - deposes last independent duke, all Francia under his control
ID: 2869
735
ID: 4073
Alcuin born in Northumbria - near York, will become greatest scholar of his age
ID: 4073
735
ID: 4924
May 26, 735
Death of St. Bede the Venerable - Doctor of the Church, died after finishing translation of Gospel of John
ID: 4924
737
ID: 2870
Charles Martel conquers Provence - drives Arabs from southern France, recovers Mediterranean coast
ID: 2870
737
ID: 2871
Merovingian throne left vacant - after Theuderic IV dies, Charles Martel doesn't bother appointing new puppet king
ID: 2871
738
ID: 2872
Charles Martel confiscates Church lands - uses to fund military reforms and heavy cavalry, angers clergy
ID: 2872
740s (7 events)
740
ID: 2873
Charles establishes military benefices - grants land in exchange for military service, foundation of feudalism
ID: 2873
741
ID: 3925
St. Zachary becomes ninety-first pope - legitimizes Pepin's coup, last Greek pope
ID: 3925
741
ID: 5032
Constantine V Copronymus becomes emperor - even more violent iconoclast than his father Leo III, called 'dung-named'
ID: 5032
741
ID: 2874
October 22, 741
Death of Charles Martel - divides realm between sons Carloman and Pepin the Short, buried at Saint-Denis like a king
ID: 2874
743
ID: 2875
Childeric III placed on throne - Pepin and Carloman install last Merovingian to legitimize their rule
ID: 2875
747
ID: 2876
Carloman retires to monastery - leaves Francia to brother Pepin, becomes monk at Monte Cassino
ID: 2876
749
ID: 4921
December 4, 749
Death of St. John Damascene - Doctor of the Church, wrote 'Fountain of Knowledge' and hymns still used in Eastern liturgy
ID: 4921
750s (19 events)
750
ID: 2877
Pepin asks Pope Zachary about kingship - 'Who should be king, he who has the title or he who has the power?' Pope supports Pepin
ID: 2877
750
ID: 2884
Era of 'do-nothing kings' ends - last century of Merovingians were puppets, real power held by Carolingian mayors
ID: 2884
750
ID: 4074
Alcuin enters York cathedral school - studies under Aelbert, accesses finest library in Western Europe
ID: 4074
750
ID: 4188
Wawel Dragon slain by Krak - dragon under Wawel Hill killed with sheep stuffed with sulfur (Polish chronicles)
ID: 4188
750
ID: 5837
Silver shortage across Europe - Roman mines exhausted, coins increasingly debased, barter economy expands
ID: 5837
751
ID: 2878
Childeric III deposed - last Merovingian king tonsured and sent to monastery, Merovingian dynasty ends after 275 years
ID: 2878
751
ID: 2879
Pepin crowned King of the Franks - anointed by bishops at Soissons, Carolingian dynasty officially begins
ID: 2879
751
ID: 2885
Merovingian legacy - established Francia, made it Catholic, created basis for France and Holy Roman Empire, legendary long-haired kings
ID: 2885
751
ID: 5521
Construction begins on Bulguksa Temple and Seokguram Grotto, masterpieces of Buddhist art
ID: 5521
751
ID: 5522
Pure Light Dharani Sutra printed in Korea - world's oldest surviving woodblock print
ID: 5522
752
ID: 3926
Stephen II becomes ninety-second pope - receives Donation of Pepin, creates Papal States
ID: 3926
752
ID: 5490
Great Buddha (Daibutsu) of Todaiji Temple consecrated in Nara - largest bronze Buddha statue
ID: 5490
754
ID: 2880
Pope Stephen II anoints Pepin - papal consecration at Saint-Denis, creates alliance between Papacy and Franks
ID: 2880
754
ID: 5033
Iconoclast Council of Hieria - Constantine V convenes council declaring images idolatrous, no patriarchs attend
ID: 5033
755
ID: 4712
An Lushan Rebellion begins - kills 36 million (1/6 of world population), weakens Tang
ID: 4712
756
ID: 2881
Donation of Pepin - defeats Lombards, gives conquered lands to Pope, creates Papal States
ID: 2881
757
ID: 2621
Offa becomes King of Mercia - begins 39-year reign, most powerful English king before Wessex supremacy
ID: 2621
757
ID: 3927
St. Paul I becomes ninety-third pope - brother of Stephen II, strengthens Frankish alliance
ID: 3927
758
ID: 4697
Parsis reach India - Zoroastrian refugees establish community in Gujarat, preserve religion
ID: 4697
760s (11 events)
760
ID: 4075
Alcuin becomes deacon and teacher at York - never becomes priest, builds York library into best in Europe
ID: 4075
760
ID: 4865
Anan ben David founds Karaism - Rejects Talmud, accepts only Hebrew Bible, major schism
ID: 4865
761
ID: 5034
Martyrdom of St. Stephen the Younger - monk dragged through streets and torn to pieces for defending icons
ID: 5034
762
ID: 5068
Uighur Khaganate adopts Manichaeism - becomes only state to make Manichaeism official religion
ID: 5068
767
ID: 4076
Alcuin becomes master of York school - under Archbishop Eanbald, reputation spreads across Europe
ID: 4076
767
ID: 5035
Mass persecution of iconodules - Constantine V forces monks to marry in hippodrome, many martyred
ID: 5035
767
ID: 5758
Caliph al-Mansur closes canal permanently - prevents rival supplies reaching Mecca rebels, ends ancient waterway forever
ID: 5758
768
ID: 2882
Pepin conquers Aquitaine - after eight-year war, Duke Waifer killed, Aquitaine fully incorporated
ID: 2882
768
ID: 2886
Charlemagne and Carloman inherit - kingdom divided, Charles gets Austrasia and northern Aquitaine, Carloman gets Burgundy and southern regions
ID: 2886
768
ID: 3928
Stephen III becomes ninety-fourth pope - condemns iconoclasm at Lateran Council
ID: 3928
768
ID: 2883
September 24, 768
Death of Pepin the Short - kingdom divided between sons Charles (Charlemagne) and Carloman, buried at Saint-Denis
ID: 2883
770s (12 events)
770
ID: 2887
Charlemagne marries Lombard princess - Desiderata, daughter of King Desiderius, political alliance angers Pope
ID: 2887
771
ID: 2889
Charlemagne divorces Desiderata - repudiates Lombard wife, marries 13-year-old Swabian Hildegard, breaks with Lombards
ID: 2889
771
ID: 2888
December 771
Death of Carloman I - dies suddenly at 20, Charlemagne seizes his lands, Carloman's widow and sons flee to Lombardy
ID: 2888
772
ID: 2890
First Saxon War begins - Charlemagne invades Saxony, destroys Irminsul (sacred tree), begins 30-year struggle
ID: 2890
772
ID: 3929
Adrian I becomes ninety-fifth pope - allies with Charlemagne, longest reign until Pius IX
ID: 3929
773
ID: 2891
Charlemagne invades Lombardy - Pope Adrian I appeals for help, Charlemagne crosses Alps with army
ID: 2891
774
ID: 2892
Fall of Pavia - Charlemagne captures Lombard capital, deposes Desiderius, crowns himself King of Lombards, visits Rome at Easter
ID: 2892
775
ID: 2893
Saxon rebellion under Widukind - while Charlemagne in Italy, Saxons revolt, begin guerrilla warfare
ID: 2893
775
ID: 5036
Death of Constantine V Copronymus - dies on campaign, body later exhumed and burned by iconodules
ID: 5036
778
ID: 2894
Spanish campaign - Charlemagne crosses Pyrenees, besieges Zaragoza unsuccessfully, retreats
ID: 2894
778
ID: 2896
Birth of Louis the Pious - twin son (brother dies), Charlemagne's third son but will be sole surviving legitimate heir
ID: 2896
778
ID: 2895
August 15, 778
Battle of Roncesvalles Pass - Basques ambush Frankish rearguard, Roland killed, becomes legend of Song of Roland
ID: 2895
780s (17 events)
780
ID: 4077
Alcuin travels to Rome for pallium - sent by Archbishop Eanbald, collects manuscripts on journey
ID: 4077
781
ID: 2907
Louis crowned King of Aquitaine - three-year-old son made sub-king by Pope Adrian, establishing succession
ID: 2907
781
ID: 4078
Alcuin meets Charlemagne at Parma - emperor recruits him to lead educational reform, pivotal moment
ID: 4078
782
ID: 2897
Massacre of Verden - Charlemagne executes 4,500 Saxon nobles in one day for rebellion, brutality shocks contemporaries
ID: 2897
782
ID: 2898
Capitulatio de partibus Saxoniae - harsh laws for Saxony, death for refusing baptism or eating meat during Lent
ID: 2898
782
ID: 4079
Alcuin arrives at Aachen - becomes head of palace school, begins transforming Frankish education
ID: 4079
783
ID: 4080
Alcuin establishes curriculum - introduces seven liberal arts (trivium and quadrivium) to Frankish education
ID: 4080
784
ID: 2622
Offa's Dyke construction - massive earthwork marking Welsh border, 150 miles long, 20 feet high
ID: 2622
784
ID: 4081
Alcuin creates palace academy - gives classical nicknames: Charlemagne is 'David', himself 'Flaccus' (Horace)
ID: 4081
785
ID: 2899
Widukind submits - Saxon leader baptized at Attigny, Charlemagne as godfather, major victory for Christianization
ID: 2899
785
ID: 4082
Alcuin develops Caroline minuscule - clear lowercase script revolutionizes writing, basis of modern type
ID: 4082
786
ID: 4083
Alcuin writes educational textbooks - creates dialogues on grammar, rhetoric, dialectic for teaching
ID: 4083
787
ID: 4084
Alcuin begins Bible revision - works to produce accurate Vulgate text, corrects scribal errors
ID: 4084
787
ID: 4770
Second Council of Nicaea - Empress Irene restores icon veneration temporarily
ID: 4770
788
ID: 2900
Charlemagne deposes Tassilo III of Bavaria - forces him into monastery, Bavaria fully incorporated into Frankish realm
ID: 2900
789
ID: 2623
First Viking raid on England - three ships land at Portland, reeve killed trying to collect taxes
ID: 2623
789
ID: 2901
Admonitio Generalis - Charlemagne orders schools in every monastery and bishopric, Alcuin leads palace school
ID: 2901
790s (20 events)
790
ID: 2902
Palace complex at Aachen begun - modeled on Ravenna, octagonal chapel, becomes Charlemagne's favorite residence
ID: 2902
792
ID: 4085
Alcuin combats Adoptionist heresy - writes against Spanish bishops Felix and Elipandus
ID: 4085
793
ID: 2903
Fossa Carolina attempted - Charlemagne tries to build Rhine-Danube canal, project abandoned due to engineering difficulties
ID: 2903
793
ID: 2918
Viking Age begins - raid on Lindisfarne shocks Christian Europe, Charlemagne strengthens coastal defenses
ID: 2918
793
ID: 2548
June 8, 793
Vikings raid Lindisfarne - 'dragons' seen in sky, monastery destroyed, beginning of Viking Age in England
ID: 2548
794
ID: 2904
Monetary reform - Charlemagne establishes silver pound standard, 1 pound = 20 shillings = 240 pennies, basis for £sd system
ID: 2904
794
ID: 2905
Council of Frankfurt - condemns Adoptionism heresy and Byzantine iconoclasm, asserts Frankish theological independence
ID: 2905
794
ID: 3696
Vikings raid Jarrow monastery - sister monastery to Lindisfarne attacked, but Vikings suffer heavy losses in storm
ID: 3696
794
ID: 4086
Alcuin at Council of Frankfurt - helps condemn Adoptionism and Byzantine iconoclasm
ID: 4086
794
ID: 5491
Capital moved from Nara to Heian-kyo (Kyoto), beginning Heian period lasting until 1185
ID: 5491
795
ID: 2624
Vikings sack Iona - Columba's monastery destroyed, 68 monks killed, treasures stolen
ID: 2624
795
ID: 3930
St. Leo III becomes ninety-sixth pope - crowns Charlemagne Emperor on Christmas 800
ID: 3930
796
ID: 2906
Destruction of Avar Ring - Charlemagne's son Pepin destroys Avar capital, immense treasure taken, Avars cease to exist
ID: 2906
796
ID: 4087
Alcuin becomes Abbot of Tours - retires from court to St. Martin's, establishes great scriptorium
ID: 4087
797
ID: 2908
Embassy to Harun al-Rashid - Charlemagne sends delegation to Abbasid Caliph, alliance against Byzantium
ID: 2908
797
ID: 4088
Alcuin's Tours scriptorium flourishes - produces magnificent Bibles, becomes Europe's publishing center
ID: 4088
798
ID: 4089
Alcuin introduces punctuation - develops question mark and other marks to clarify meaning in texts
ID: 4089
799
ID: 2909
Attack on Pope Leo III - Roman nobles try to blind and depose Pope, he flees to Charlemagne for protection
ID: 2909
799
ID: 3697
Vikings raid Aquitaine - first recorded Viking raid on continental Francia, beginning expansion beyond British Isles
ID: 3697
799
ID: 4090
Alcuin writes to Charlemagne about imperium - influences thinking before imperial coronation
ID: 4090