Directory

684 CE

Zhong Zong succeeds his father Gao Zong, and becomes emperor of the Tang dynasty. His mother Wu Zetian remains the power behind the throne in China. Battle of Marj Rahit: Muslim partisans under Marwan I defeat the supporters of Abd Allah ibn al-Zubayr near Damascus, and cement Umayyad control of Syria. 684 Hakuho earthquake. A great earthquake strikes Japan. The people, houses, temples, shrines and domestic animals are greatly damaged.

Geopolitics & Diplomacy

  • January 3 – Zhong Zong succeeds his father Gao Zong, and becomes emperor of the Tang dynasty. His mother Wu Zetian remains the power behind the throne in China.source
  • February 10 – Kʼinich Kan Bahlam II accedes to the rulership of the Maya polity of Palenque (modern Mexico).source

Conflict & Security

  • August 18 – Battle of Marj Rahit: Muslim partisans under Marwan I defeat the supporters of Abd Allah ibn al-Zubayr near Damascus, and cement Umayyad control of Syria.source
  • Summer – The Pallava Empire (modern India) invades the kingdom of Ceylon. A Pallavan naval expedition employing Tamil mercenaries ends the Moriya dynasty.source

Exploration & Expansion

  • King Ecgfrith of Northumbria sends a punitive expedition to Ireland under his ealdorman Berht, laying waste to the territory of Meath, ruled by High King Fínsnechta Fledach.source

Religion & Belief

  • June 26 – Pope Benedict II succeeds Leo II as the 81st pope of Rome, after a period of sede vacante ("vacant seat") of 1 year.source
  • Cuthbert is elected Bishop of Hexham, and receives a visit from a large group under Ecgfrith. He agrees to return to Lindisfarne (Northumbria) to take up duties.source

Science & Discovery

  • September 7 – A large comet is observed in Japan (it's Japan's oldest observation record of Halley's Comet).source

Crime & Justice

  • February 27 – Wu Zetian replaces Zhong Zong in favor of his younger brother Rui Zong. He becomes a puppet ruler, and Zhong Zong is placed under house arrest.source

Climate & Environment

  • November 26 – 684 Hakuho earthquake. A great earthquake strikes Japan. The people, houses, temples, shrines and domestic animals are greatly damaged.source

Culture & Society

  • November 13 – Emperor Tenmu institutes eight titles of eight classes (Yakusa-no-kabane) in Japan.source

Births

  • Tachibana no Moroe, Japanese prince and minister (d. 757)source
  • Nagaya, Japanese prince and politician (d. 729)source
  • Li Guo'er, princess of the Tang dynasty (approximate date)source
  • Gao Lishi, official and eunuch of the Tang dynasty (d. 762)source

Deaths

  • August 24 – Audoin, bishop of Rouen (b. 609)source
  • Aldegund, Frankish Benedictine abbesssource
  • Mu'awiya II, Muslim caliph (b. 661)source
  • Caliph Mu'awiya II dies at Damascus, after a brief reign that ends Sufyanid rule. A new caliph is proclaimed in Syria amidst tribal wars, but Marwan I will reign until next year.source
  • Adarnase II, king of Iberia (approximate date)source
  • Ghislemar, mayor of the palace in Neustria and Burgundysource
  • Luo Binwang, Chinese poet and officialsource
  • Cædmon, Northumbrian poet (approximate date; b. ca. 657)source
  • Philibert of Jumièges, Frankish abbotsource
  • Ghislemar, mayor of the palace in Neustria and Burgundy, dies after a 2-year reign, and is succeeded by his father Waratto. He makes peace between the three Frankish kingdoms.source
  • Pei Yan, chancellor of the Tang dynastysource
  • Li Xian, prince of the Tang dynasty (b. 653)source
  • Constantine of Mananali, founder of the Paulicianssource
  • Severus II bar Masqeh, Syriac Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch.source