680 CE
Theodore of Tarsus, archbishop of Canterbury, convenes a synod at Hatfield that clears the English Church from any association with the heresy of monothelitism. Battle of Karbala: Forces under Yazid I kill Hussein ibn Ali and his closest supporters. This event leads to the civil war known as the Second Fitna. The Third Council of Constantinople (Sixth Ecumenical Council) opens in Constantinople to settle the theological controversies of monoenergism and monothelitism, ending September 16, 681.
Geopolitics & Diplomacy
- King Perctarit makes his son Cunipert co-ruler of the Lombard Kingdom. He signs a formal peace treaty with Constantine IV.source
Conflict & Security
- October 10 – Battle of Karbala: Forces under Yazid I kill Hussein ibn Ali and his closest supporters. This event leads to the civil war known as the Second Fitna.source
- Battle of Ongal: The Byzantine army (25,000 men) under Constantine IV is defeated by the Bulgars and their Slavic allies in the Danube Delta. Bulgar cavalry force the Byzantines into a rout, while Constantine (suffering from leg pain) travels to Nesebar to seek treatment.source
- Byzantine–Bulgarian War: The Bulgars under Asparukh subjugate the country of current-day Bulgaria, north of the Balkan Mountains. Emperor Constantine IV leads a combined land and sea operation against the invaders and besieges their fortified camp in Dobruja.source
- King Cædwalla of Wessex becomes overly ambitious in a power-struggle with his rival, King Centwine, for Wessex overlordship. He is banished into the forests of Chiltern and Andred.source
Exploration & Expansion
Religion & Belief
- September 17 – Theodore of Tarsus, archbishop of Canterbury, convenes a synod at Hatfield that clears the English Church from any association with the heresy of monothelitism.source
- November 7 – The Third Council of Constantinople (Sixth Ecumenical Council) opens in Constantinople to settle the theological controversies of monoenergism and monothelitism, ending September 16, 681.source
- Yazid I, son of Muawiyah I, becomes the sixth caliph (second Umayyad caliph) but Kufans in Mesopotamia rebel and invite Hussein ibn Ali (grandson of Muhammad) to take the throne.source
- Boniface begins his education at an English Celtic Christian monastery, probably in Exeter near his birthplace and one of many monasteriola built by local landowners and churchmen.source
- Wilfrid returns to Northumbria, with papal support, but is imprisoned by King Ecgfrith, and again exiled. He travels to the Kingdom of Sussex and begins to evangelise the people.source
- King Wamba is deposed after an 8-year reign, and forced to retire to a monastery. He is succeeded by Erwig who becomes ruler of the Visigothic Kingdom.source
- King Merewalh of Magonsæte founds the monastery of Wenlock Priory in Shropshire, England, appointing his daughter Milburga as Benedictine abbess.source
Health & Medicine
- In Japan, Princess Uno Sarara is unwell, and Emperor Tenmu begins the erection of the Temple of Yakushi-ji (Nara Prefecture). He makes 100 people enter religion as priests, wishing her to recover her health.source
Culture & Society
- Pippin of Herstal becomes Mayor of the Palace of Austrasia.source
Births
Deaths
- January 30 – Balthild, queen of the Frankssource
- October 9 – Ghislain, Frankish anchorite and saintsource
- October 10 – Ali al-Akbar ibn Husayn, son of Al-Husaynsource
- October 10 – Husayn ibn Ali, third Shia Imam and grandson of Muhammad (b. 626)Ksource
- October 10 – Ali al-Asghar ibn Husayn, son of Al-Husaynsource
- Agatho, pope of the Coptic Orthodox Churchsource
- Reineldis, Frankish saint (approximate date; b. ca. 630)source
- Ebroin, Mayor of the Palace of Neustria (or 681)source
- Wulfoald, Mayor of the Palace of Austrasiasource
- Vikramaditya I, king of Chalukya (India)source
- Muawiyah I, founder of the Umayyad Caliphate (b. 602)source
- Bhāskara I, Indian mathematician (approximate date)source
- Hilda of Whitby, Northumbrian abbess and saintsource