670 CE

King Oswiu of Northumbria dies during a pilgrimage to Rome in the company of bishop Wilfrid. He is succeeded by his son Ecgfrith, while his youngest son Ælfwine becomes king of Deira. Oswiu is buried at Whitby Abbey, alongside Edwin of Northumbria. Muslim Conquest: A 10,000-man Arab army under the command of general Uqba ibn Nafi invades the Byzantine Exarchate of Africa. He establishes a military base at Kairouan (Tunisia) for further invasions, and founds the Great Mosque, also known as the "Mosque of Uqba". Tarumanagara (modern Indonesia) is divided into two kingdoms (Sunda Kingdom and Galuh Kingdom), with the Citarum River as the boundary (approximate date).

In the 670s, the 7th century.

Geopolitics & Diplomacy

  • Tarumanagara (modern Indonesia) is divided into two kingdoms (Sunda Kingdom and Galuh Kingdom), with the Citarum River as the boundary (approximate date).source

Conflict & Security

  • Arab-Byzantine War: The Arab fleet dominates the Aegean Sea and conquers the strategic islands, Rhodes, Cos and Chios. The shore on the southern part of Sea of Marmara is taken, providing an excellent base at Cyzicus to begin the blockade of Constantinople by sea.source
  • Battle of Dafei River: Chinese forces (80,000 men), under general Xue Rengui of the Tang dynasty, are annihilated by the Tibetans, who take over control of the Tarim Basin.source
  • Muslim Conquest: A 10,000-man Arab army under the command of general Uqba ibn Nafi invades the Byzantine Exarchate of Africa. He establishes a military base at Kairouan (Tunisia) for further invasions, and founds the Great Mosque, also known as the "Mosque of Uqba".source

Religion & Belief

  • The diocese of Dorchester-on-Thames in England is replaced by the Diocese of Winchester (approximate date).source
  • Hōryū-ji, a Japanese Buddhist temple, burns to the ground after being hit by lightning; its reconstruction is immediately begun.source

Crime & Justice

  • A Goguryeo restoration movement, led by Geom Mojam in northern Korea, places Anseung on the throne. Geom is later murdered, and Anseung flees to neighboring Silla.source

Culture & Society

  • A family register, Kogo-nenjaku, is prepared in Japan (approximate date) [Significance of this event is unclear] .source

Births

  • Tariq ibn Ziyad, Muslim general (died 720)source
  • Smbat VI, Armenian prince (approximate date)source
  • Wihtred, king of Kent (approximate date)source
  • Tatwine, archbishop of Canterbury (approximate date)source
  • Bertrada of Prüm, Merovingian princess (approximate date)source
  • Tridu Songtsen, emperor of Tibet (died 704)source
  • Corbinian, Frankish bishop (approximate date)source
  • Petronax, Italian monk and abbot (approximate date)source
  • Drogo, Carolingian duke of Champagne (died 708)source
  • Childebert III, king of the Franks (approximate date)source

Deaths

  • February 15 – King Oswiu of Northumbria dies during a pilgrimage to Rome in the company of bishop Wilfrid. He is succeeded by his son Ecgfrith, while his youngest son Ælfwine becomes king of Deira. Oswiu is buried at Whitby Abbey, alongside Edwin of Northumbria.source
  • February 15 – Oswiu, king of Northumbriasource
  • August 18 – Fiacre, Irish hermitsource
  • Li Chunfeng, Chinese mathematician and historian (born 602)source
  • Hasan ibn Ali, grandson of Muhammad and second Shi'a Imam (born 625)source
  • Audomar, bishop of Thérouanne (approximate date)source
  • Javanshir, king of Caucasian Albaniasource
  • Merewalh, king of Magonsæte (approximate date)source
  • Geom Mojam, military leader of Goguryeosource
  • Godeberta, Frankish abbess (approximate date; b. ca. 640)source
  • Theodard, bishop of Maastricht (approximate date)source
  • Safiyya bint Huyayy, wife of Muhammad (approximate date)source