Directory

758 CE

Abbasid Arabs and Uyghur Turks arrive simultaneously at the Tang capital of Chang'an, in order to offer tribute to the imperial court. The Arabs and Turks bicker and fight over diplomatic prominence at the gate, to present tribute before the other. A settlement is reached when both are allowed to enter at the same time, but through different gates to the palace. A group of four Basra-educated missionaries, including 'Abd al-Rahman Iban Rustam, proclaim the Ibadi imamate. Followers conquer the city of Kairouan (modern Tunisia), and massacre the Kharijites. King Beorna of East Anglia dies. Prince Æthelred, descendant of the late king Rædwald, apparently succeeds as king (approximate date).

Geopolitics & Diplomacy

  • Empress Kōken abdicates the throne, after a 9-year reign. She is succeeded by her adopted son Junnin, grandson of the late emperor Tenmu. He becomes the 47th emperor (tennō) of Japan.source
  • Desiderius deposes Alboin, duke of Spoleto (Central Italy), and exercises ducal authority himself, tying the duchy more closely to the Lombard capital of Pavia.source

Conflict & Security

  • June – Abbasid Arabs and Uyghur Turks arrive simultaneously at the Tang capital of Chang'an, in order to offer tribute to the imperial court. The Arabs and Turks bicker and fight over diplomatic prominence at the gate, to present tribute before the other. A settlement is reached when both are allowed to enter at the same time, but through different gates to the palace.source
  • An Lushan Rebellion: The Chinese seaport of Guangzhou is sacked by Muslim and Persian raiders. The port is shut down for the next 5 decades, while foreign vessels dock at Hanoi (modern Vietnam) instead. Guangzhou thrives again, once it is reopened to foreign trade in the early 9th century.source
  • A group of four Basra-educated missionaries, including 'Abd al-Rahman Iban Rustam, proclaim the Ibadi imamate. Followers conquer the city of Kairouan (modern Tunisia), and massacre the Kharijites.source
  • Summer – Duke Liutprand of Benevento attains majority, and rebels against Lombard rule. King Desiderius defeats him, and grants his duchy to Arechis II (son of Liutprand). He marries Adelperga, daughter of Desiderius, and establishes friendly (but largely independent) relations with the Lombard Kingdom.source
  • King Cynewulf of Wessex retakes Berkshire from the Mercians, and begins a war with the Welsh (approximate date).source

Religion & Belief

  • King Eadberht of Northumbria abdicates the throne in favour of his son, Oswulf. He enters the monastery attached to the cathedral of York.source

Births

  • Nikephoros, son of Constantine V (or 756)source
  • Li Jifu, chancellor of the Tang Dynasty (d. 814)source
  • Sico of Benevento, Lombard prince (approximate date)source
  • Li Fengji, chancellor of the Tang Dynasty (d. 835)source
  • Nikephoros I, patriarch of Constantinople (approximate date)source
  • Theophanes the Confessor, Byzantine monk (or 760)source
  • Sakanoue no Tamuramaro, Japanese shōgun (d. 811)source
  • Hyegong, king of Silla (Korea) (d. 780)source
  • Adrian, Count of Orléans, brother in law of Charlemagne and uncle of Louis the Pious (d. c. 821)source
  • Wang Zhixing, general of the Tang Dynasty (d. 836)source
  • Wu Yuanheng, chancellor of the Tang Dynasty (d. 815)source

Deaths

  • Beorna, king of East Anglia (approximate date)source
  • King Beorna of East Anglia dies. Prince Æthelred, descendant of the late king Rædwald, apparently succeeds as king (approximate date).source
  • Chen Xilie, chancellor of the Tang Dynastysource
  • King Swithred of Essex dies after a 12-year reign. He is succeeded by Sigeric, son of the late king Saelred (see 709).source