647 CE

Jindeok becomes queen of the Korean kingdom of Silla after the death of Queen Seondeok. Self-proclaimed emperor Gregory the Patrician is killed during the Arab invasion at Sufetula. Africa returns to imperial allegiance after his death, but the foundation of Byzantine rule is fatally undermined. A stone tower astronomical observatory (named Cheomseongdae) at Gyeongju is constructed in Silla (South Korea) around this time.

In the 640s, the 7th century.

Geopolitics & Diplomacy

  • Taizong establishes a Chinese military government to pacify the former territory of Xueyantuo, which extends to the Altai Mountains in the west.source

Conflict & Security

  • Arab–Byzantine War: An Arab army (20,000 men) under Abdullah ibn Sa'ad invades the Byzantine Exarchate of Africa. It conquers Tripolitania and the city of Sufetula, 150 miles (240 km) south of Carthage.source
  • Jindeok becomes queen of the Korean kingdom of Silla after the death of Queen Seondeok.source

Exploration & Expansion

  • Emperor Taizong of the Tang dynasty sends a Chinese mission to study Indian techniques of sugar manufacturing, at Bihar in the Ganges Valley.source

Religion & Belief

  • Hilda of Whitby, age 33, is persuaded by Aidan, bishop of Lindisfarne, to enter the monastic life at Hartlepool Abbey (Northumbria).source

Science & Discovery

  • A stone tower astronomical observatory (named Cheomseongdae) at Gyeongju is constructed in Silla (South Korea) around this time.source

Births

  • Itzamnaaj B'alam II, ruler of Yaxchilan (died 742)source
  • Al-Abbas ibn Ali, Muslim martyr (died 680)source

Deaths

  • Emperor Harsha, ruler of northern India, dies after a 41-year reign. His kingdom disintegrates into smaller states.source
  • Felix of Burgundy, bishop of Dunwich (or 648)source
  • Gregory the Patrician, Exarch of Africasource
  • Li Baiyao, Chinese official and historian (born 564)source
  • Self-proclaimed emperor Gregory the Patrician is killed during the Arab invasion at Sufetula. Africa returns to imperial allegiance after his death, but the foundation of Byzantine rule is fatally undermined.source
  • Seondeok, queen of Silla (Korea)source
  • Yang Shidao, chancellor of the Tang dynastysource
  • Harsha, emperor of Harsha (India)source
  • Æthelburh of Kent, queen of Northumbriasource
  • Xiao Yu, prince of the Liang dynasty (born 574)source
  • Gao Shilian, chancellor of the Tang dynasty (born 576)source