Directory

621 CE

Battle of Hulao: Li Shimin defeats the numerically superior army of Dou Jiande near the Hulao Pass. Wang Shichong, self-declared emperor, surrenders to Li Shimin at Luoyang following Dou Jiande's defeat. Gaozu spares his life, but he is later assassinated. The Chinese establish an imperial bureau for the manufacture of porcelain. Their technology will advance further under the Tang dynasty (approximate date).

Geopolitics & Diplomacy

  • The Chinese establish an imperial bureau for the manufacture of porcelain. Their technology will advance further under the Tang dynasty (approximate date).source

Conflict & Security

  • May 28 – Battle of Hulao: Li Shimin defeats the numerically superior army of Dou Jiande near the Hulao Pass.source
  • June 4 – Wang Shichong, self-declared emperor, surrenders to Li Shimin at Luoyang following Dou Jiande's defeat. Gaozu spares his life, but he is later assassinated.source
  • The city of Málaga, in southern Spain in the province of Spania, is conquered by the Visigoths.source
  • Emperor Heraclius concludes a peace agreement (in exchange for an annual tribute) with the Avars on the Balkan Peninsula, giving him a free hand to assemble Byzantine forces in Asia Minor, for non-military expenditure against the Persian Empire.source

Exploration & Expansion

  • Islamic tradition says Muhammad visited heaven aboard the winged mount Buraq, in the Isra wal-Miraj, (the Night Journey), from Mecca to Jerusalem, then to heaven from Jerusalem's Temple Mount, then back to Mecca.source

Economy & Finance

  • Emperor Gaozu delegates control of his military and civil administration in the east to his second son, Li Shimin. He concentrates on reforming coinage (→ Kaiyuan Tongbao) and taxation.source

Births

  • Ardashir III, king of the Persian Empire (d. 629)source
  • Suraqah al-Bariqi, Arab poet (d. 698)source
  • Gertrude of Nivelles, Frankish abbess (d. 659)source

Deaths

  • Reccared II, king of the Visigothssource
  • Xiao Xian, prince of the Liang dynasty (b. 583)source
  • King Sisebut dies after a 9-year reign and is succeeded by his son Reccared II (just a child). Reccared is placed on the throne by the Visigothic nobility, but dies after two months. Suintila, his half-uncle and regent, becomes king of the Visigothic Kingdom.source
  • Dou Kang, general of the Sui dynastysource
  • Dou Jiande, general of the Sui dynasty (b. 573)source
  • Zhu Can, rebel leader during the Sui dynastysource
  • Sisebut, king of the Visigothssource
  • Wang Shichong, general of the Sui dynastysource