698

By place

Byzantine Empire

• Spring-summer - Arab forces under Hasan ibn al-Nu'man capture Carthage, ending Byzantine rule in North Africa. The defeated Byzantine fleet revolts and proclaims Tiberios III, who deposes Leontios after a brief siege of Constantinople, Byzantine Emperor.
• Autumn-winter - The Byzantine general Heraclius, brother of Tiberios III, crosses the mountain passes of the Taurus Mountains into Cilicia with an army. He launches a campaign in Syria, defeats an Arab force from Antioch, and raids as far as Samosata.
• Outbreak of bubonic plague in Constantinople, Syria and Mesopotamia. Theophanes the Confessor reports that the plague lasted four months and describes a large number of deaths in Constantinople. Emperor Leontios orders to destroy a market in the Neorion cargo port of Constantinople, where animals are sold and which is considered to be the source of infected animals brought from Syria. The Arab army is forced to suspend its military operations. According to Syrian sources, the plague in Syria lasted another two years.

  Europe

• Wittiza, son of King Ergica, becomes co-ruler of the Visigoth Kingdom in Hispania.

  Britain

• Berhtred, Anglo-Saxon nobleman, is killed leading a Northumbrian army against the Picts. The kingdom of Cait in northern Scotland is absorbed.
• Fiannamail ua Dúnchado becomes king of Dál Riata, until his death around 700.

  Arabian Empire

• Berber forces led by Queen Kahina are crushed by Arab invaders at Aures. She has rallied the Berbers since the collapse of Byzantine power.

  Asia

• Dae Jo-young establishes the kingdom of Balhae in Manchuria.
• Khun Lo, a Thai prince, conquers Muang Sua, an early Laotian kingdom.
• Qapaghan Qaghan conquers parts of Transoxiana.
• The festival of first-fruits is held in Japan.

  By topic

Religion

• Council of Aquileia: The bishops of the diocese of Aquileia decide to end the Schism of the Three Chapters and return to communion with Rome.
• Willibrord, Anglo-Saxon missionary, establishes an abbey at Echternach, presented to him by Irmina, daughter of King Dagobert II.
• Probable date of Cuthbert's burial behind the altar at Lindisfarne.
• Princess Taki is sent to Saikū, as a Saiō of the Ise Shrine.