730s

This is a list of events occurring in the 730s, ordered by year.

730

By place

Europe

• Charles Martel defeats the last independent dukedom of the Alamanni, and launches raids on the Saxons beyond the Rhine.

Asia

• Chinese Emperor Xuanzong of Tang has four palace walls in the northeast sector of the capital city Chang'an torn down and reassembled to construct a new Daoist abbey, the grounds of which were formerly a large garden for the governmental Bureau of Agriculture.
• September/October – Umayyad troops sack the Byzantine fortress of Charsianon
• December 9 – Battle of Marj Ardabil: the Khazars defeat and destroy an Umayyad army of some 25,000 men under al-Jarrah ibn Abdallah al-Hakami.

By topic

Religion

• Emperor Leo III of the Byzantine Empire orders the destruction of all icons, beginning the First Iconoclastic Period.

731

By place

Asia

• Battle of the Defile between the Umayyads and the Turgesh results in heavy casualties for the Umayyad army, halting Muslim expansion in Central Asia for almost two decades.

Europe

• Bede completes his Historia ecclesiastica gentis Anglorum.

By topic

Religion

• Pope Gregory III elected by acclamation as the 90th pope during the funeral procession for Pope Gregory II; he is consecrated bishop a month later.^[1]
• Pope Gregory III condemns Iconoclasm.

732

By place

Europe

• October 10 – Battle of Tours: Near Poitiers, France, leader of the Franks, Charles Martel, and his men defeat a large army of Moors under the governor of Cordoba, Abdul Rahman Al Ghafiqi, who is killed during the battle. The Battle of Tours halts the advance of Islam into Western Europe and establishes a balance of power between Western Europe, Islam and the Byzantine Empire.

By topic

Astronomy

• June 26 – Venus occults Jupiter.

Religion

• Egbert becomes bishop of York. He founds a library and makes the city a renowned centre of learning.

733

By place

Europe

• Leo III the Isaurian withdraws the Balkans, Sicily and Calabria from the jurisdiction of the pope, in response to Gregory III's support of a revolt in Italy against iconoclasm. The break between the papacy and the Byzantine Empire is almost complete.

734

By place

Europe

• The Franks defeat the Frisians in the Battle of the Boarn.

735

By place

Asia

• A smallpox epidemic starts in Ancient Japan, which reduces the population by 30%.
• In Tang Dynasty China, by this year there is 149,685,400 kg (165,000 short tons) of grain shipped annually along the Grand Canal of China.
• Khöshöö Tsaidam Monuments of Bilge Khan of Turkish Khanate and his brother Kül Tigin. (Bilge's has already erected Kül Tigin's monument and Bilge's son erects Bilge's monument.)

736

By place

Asia

• The scholar-priest Rōben invites Shinshō to give lectures on the Avatamsaka Sutra at Kinshōsen-ji (later Tōdai-ji); this event is considered to be the roots of the Kegon school of Buddhism founded in Japan.

Europe

• The first instance is documented of hop cultivation in the Hallertau region of present-day Germany (which is today the most important production centre with about 25% of the worldwide production).^{[citation needed]}

Mesoamerica

• Yik'in Chan K'awiil, ruler of the leading Maya city state of Tikal, conquers rival power Calakmul.

737

By place

Europe

• Battle of Avignon – The Frankish army under Charles Martel expels Umayyad forces from the city.
• Battle of Narbonne – The Frankish army under Charles Martel defeats the Umayyad forces but fails to retake the city.
• Battle of Nîmes – The Frankish army under Charles Martel expels Umayyad forces from the city and destroys it.
• Favila becomes King of Asturias after the death of Pelagius.
• Following the death of Theuderic IV, Merovingian King of the Franks, the throne is left vacant for seven years, with Charles Martel, Mayor of the Palace, continuing as effective ruler.
• The Danevirke fortification system is started in Denmark.
• Domenico Leone appointed Doge of Venice and Hypatos.

Africa

• Egypt: Christians invade from the south with the aim of protecting the Patriarch of Alexandria.

Asia

• In Ancient China, Emperor Xuanzong of Tang discards the policy of conscripting men into the army to be replaced every three years, replacing them with long-service soldiers who are more battle-hardened and efficient.
• The smallpox epidemic ends in Ancient Japan, after reducing the population by 30%.
• Muslim conquest of Transoxiana: The Turgesh drive back an Umayyad invasion of Khuttal, pursue them south of the Oxus and, in the Battle of the Baggage (September 30), capture their baggage train. In the winter, the Turgesh and their Transoxianan allies launch a major invasion of the lands south of the Oxus, but are stopped at the Battle of Kharistan.

738

By place

Europe

• Felice Cornicola appointed Roman consul and magister militum.

America

• The powerful Mayan city-state Xukpi (Copán) is defeated by a rival city-state, Quiriguá. Xukpi leader Uaxaclajuun Ub'aah K'awiil (Eighteen Rabbit) is deposed thereafter.

By topic

Religion

• Saint Boniface visits Rome, and goes on to establish bishoprics in Bavaria.

739

By place

Europe

• Charles Martel drives the Moorish invaders out of Gauls.
• The reign of the House of Ukil starts in Bulgaria with King Kormisosh.
• Alfonso I becomes king of Asturias.
• Theodatus Ursus appointed Consul of the Roman Empire and Magister militum.

Africa

• Thawra revolt in Tanger against the Umayyad rulers. The movement is led by a humble water carrier, Maysara, against the decision to levy the same taxes upon the newly converted Muslims and the non-Muslims. Maysara declares himself caliph and rules the city brutally. He is soon replaced by a rival, Khâlid al-Zanâti. The revolt spreads rapidly to the region and the rebellious areas adopt the Kharijite movement of Islam against the Umeyyad Sunnis.^[2]

By topic

Religion

• Boniface founds the Bishopric of Regensburg.
• Pope Gregory III appeals in vain to Charles Martel for help against the expansionist policies of Liutprand, King of the Lombards.

Significant people

• Anglo-Saxon poet Caedmon active

Births

Deaths

References