649

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Pope Martin I (649–655)

Year 649 (DCXLIX) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. The denomination 649 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.

Events

By place

Byzantine Empire

• Arab–Byzantine War: Arab naval forces under Abdullah ibn Sa'ad conquer Cyprus, sacking the capital Constantia after a short siege and pillaging the rest of the island. The Cypriots agree to pay the same revenue as they have done to emperor Constans II.^[1]
• Constans II orders Olympius, exarch of the Exarchate of Ravenna, to arrest pope Martin I on the grounds that he has condemned Monothelitism. Olympius attempts to gain support of the citizens of Rome and the bishops. Ordering the assassination of Martin.

Europe

• January 20 – King Chindasuinth, at the urging of bishop Braulio of Zaragoza, crowns 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).
• July 10 – Emperor Tai Zong dies after a 23-year reign in which he has restored the civil administration in the Chinese Empire. He is succeeded by his son Gao Zong, 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 by Martin I as the 74th pope.
• The Lateran Council, convoked by Martin I, strongly condemns Monothelitism and the Typosn order by Constans II.

Births

• Wang Bo, Chinese poet (approximate date)
• Xue Ne, general of the Tang Dynasty (d. 720)

Deaths

• December 3 – Birinus, bishop of Dorchester
• July 6 – Goar of Aquitaine, priest and hermit
• John Climacus, Syrian monk and writer
• July 2 – Li Jing, chancellor of the Tang Dynasty (b. 571)
• Marutha of Tikrit, Persian theologian (b. 565)
• May 14 – Pope Theodore I
• Rogallach mac Uatach, king of Connacht (Ireland)
• Soga no Kurayamada, statesman of Japan
• Songtsän Gampo, emperor of the Tibetan Empire
• July 10 – Tai Zong, emperor of the Tang Dynasty (b. 598)

References