770 CE
Empress Kōken (also Shōtoku) of Japan dies. Caliph al-Mansur orders the closing of the Canal of the Pharaohs (Egypt). The only remaining land routes to transship camel caravans' goods are from Alexandria to ports on the Red Sea, or the northern Byzantine termini of the Silk Road. King Alhred of Northumbria takes an interest in continental missionary activities, and sends Willehad to Frisia in modern-day Netherlands (approximate date).
Exploration & Expansion
Religion & Belief
- King Charlemagne signs a peace treaty with Duke Tassilo III of Bavaria, and marries the Lombard princess Desiderata (daughter of King Desiderius). He travels to the Lombard court at Pavia to conclude arrangements. Pope Stephen III opposes the marriage, and protests about a Frankish-Lombard alliance.source
Technology & Infrastructure
- Caliph al-Mansur orders the closing of the Canal of the Pharaohs (Egypt). The only remaining land routes to transship camel caravans' goods are from Alexandria to ports on the Red Sea, or the northern Byzantine termini of the Silk Road.source
Births
- Jayavarman II, founder of the Khmer Empire (d. 835)source
- Stephen IV, pope of the Catholic Church (approximate date)source
- Sugawara no Kiyotomo, Japanese nobleman (d. 842)source
- Ansegisus, Frankish abbot (approximate date)source
- Prokopia, empress of the Byzantine Empire (approximate date)source
- Michael II, emperor of the Byzantine Empire (d. 829)source
- Pepin of Italy, son of Charlemagne (or 773)source
- Michael I, emperor of the Byzantine Empire (d. 844)source
Deaths
- August 28 – Kōken, empress of Japan (b. 718)source
- August 28 – Empress Kōken (also Shōtoku) of Japan dies.source
- Tóim Snáma mac Flainn, king of Osraige (Ireland)source
- Opportuna of Montreuil, Frankish abbesssource
- Modestus, Irish missionary (approximate date)source
- Ma'n ibn Za'ida al-Shaybani, Arab general (or 769)source
- Cennselach mac Brain, king of the Uí Ceinnselaig (Ireland)source