660s

Millennium:	1st millennium
Centuries:	6th century – 7th century – 8th century
Decades:	630s 640s 650s – 660s – 670s 680s 690s
Years:	660 661 662 663 664 665 666 667 668 669
Categories:	Births – Deaths – Architecture Establishments – Disestablishments

660s: events by year

Contents: 660 661 662 663 664 665 666 667 668 669

By place

Europe

• Slavic principality of Carantania is first mentioned in historical sources.
• Childeric II is proclaimed king of Austrasia.
• Swithelm succeeds Sigeberht II as king of Essex.
• Felix assumes the titles of Duke of Vasconia and Aquitaine.

Asia

• Baekje in southwestern Korea is overthrown by the alliance of the Tang and Silla, led by General Su Dingfang, General Kim Yu-shin and Kim Beopmin. The Japanese envoys detained in Tang are paroled.
• Empress Saimei of Japan makes an order to dispatch a force to the Korean Peninsula to save Baekje.
• Emperor Gaozong of Tang suffers a stroke; his wife Wu Zetian starts to rule.
• Naka no Ōe no Ōji of Japan for the first time makes a clepsydra at Asuka, by which he causes the people to know the hours.

By place

Europe

• The regent Grimuald usurps the kingship of the Lombards, driving Perctarit into exile and killing Godepert.

Asia

• The Emperor of Japan orders Abe no Hirafu to escort Buyeo Pung to Baekje, where he is made to take up the succession to the dignity.

By place

Byzantine Empire

• Byzantine Emperor Constans II invades south Italy.

Europe

• Part of the city wall of Benevento is reconstructed.
• A brief outbreak of plague hits Britain.

Asia

• Battle of Baekgang: Korean Baekje forces and their Japanese allies are defeated in this naval battle by Korean and Chinese armies in a joint Silla–Tang victory.
• An anonymous monk reaches the summit of mount Fuji.

By place

Asia

• Arab armies conquer Kabul.
• Kuo Wu Tsung of Tang comes to Japan and spends 7 months there.

By topic

Religion

• September – The Synod of Whitby is held in Northumbria.

By place

Europe

• Swithelm is succeeded by Sighere and Sebbi as kings of Essex.
• Batbayan succeeds Kubrat in Onoguria.

Asia

• The city of Seongnam is renamed Hansanju.

By topic

Religion

• According to the Annales Cambriae, the Anglo-Saxons convert to Christianity after the Second Battle of Badon.
• Sighere of Essex encourages his subjects to reject Christianity and return to their indigenous religion.

By place

Europe

• Chertsey Abbey is founded.
• Barking Abbey is founded.
• Wilfrid returns from France newly consecrated as Bishop of York.

China

• Chinese Buddhist monks Zhi Yu and Zhi You craft more South Pointing Chariot vehicles for Emperor Tenji of Japan, as recorded in the Nihon Shoki (the South Pointing Chariot is a non-magnetic, mechanical-driven directional-compass vehicle that incorporates the use of a differential gear).

By place

Europe

• The city of Oderzo is destroyed by the Lombards.

Asia

• The Daysan River floods Edessa in Asia.

By place

Europe

• Childeric II succeeds Clotaire III as King of the Franks.
• Kotrag leads Khazars in overthrowing his brother Batbayan who moves south into caucasus with his Balkars, Asparukh moves into Moesia, while the remaining two sons of Kubrat move into Pannonian and ultimately also Keramissian plains.

Byzantine Empire

• September 15 – Eastern Roman Emperor Constans II is assassinated in his bath at Syracuse, Italy.
• Mezezius is proclaimed Emperor by the army in Syracuse in the absence of the sons of Constans II.
• Constantine IV, son of Constans II, becomes Byzantine Emperor, succeeding Constans II. He organizes an expedition to kill the usurper Mezezius.

Africa

• Arab forces conquer the Garamantes.

Asia

• The ancient Korean kingdom of Goguryeo, in southern Manchuria and northern Korea, is overthrown by the alliance of Tang China and Silla. Unified Silla period starts.
• The Emperor of Japan hunts on the Moor of Ōmi-Gamōno. The letters exchanged between Prince Ōama and Princess Nukata are recorded in Man'yōshū.

By topic

Religion

• Theodore of Tarsus is made archbishop of Canterbury.