720s

Millennium:	1st millennium
Centuries:	7th century – 8th century – 9th century
Decades:	690s 700s 710s – 720s – 730s 740s 750s
Years:	720 721 722 723 724 725 726 727 728 729
Categories:	Births – Deaths – Architecture Establishments – Disestablishments

This is a list of events occurring in the 720s, ordered by year.

By place

Asia

• The Nihon Shoki (日本書紀), one of the oldest history books in Japan, is completed.
• Umayyad caliph Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz is succeeded by Yazid II ibn Abd al-Malik.
• July 30 – In the Tang Dynasty Chinese capital of Chang'an, the walls of a gated city ward collapse during the night, which unexpectedly form a large pool out in the open. This is most likely caused by a sinkhole created when ground water eroded the limestone bedrock beneath. As a consequence of this, more than 500 homes are destroyed (Benn, 50).
• The former governor of Iraq, Yazid ibn al-Muhallab, rebels and is defeated and killed by the Caliph's forces under Al-Abbas ibn al-Walid and Maslamah ibn Abd al-Malik.

Byzantine Empire

• The Byzantine emperor Leo III the Isaurian orders the execution of the ex-emperor Anastasius II.

By place

Byzantine Empire

• Former Byzantine emperor Anastasius II leads a revolt against emperor Leo III.

Europe

• Theuderic IV succeeds Chilperic II as king of the Franks.
• June 9 – Battle of Toulouse: after besieging Toulouse for three months, Al-Samh ibn Malik al-Khawlani, the governor of Muslim Spain (al-Andalus), is defeated by Duke Odo of Aquitaine, preventing an Arab invasion of Gaul.
• Anbasa ibn Suhaim Al Kalbi is appointed governor of Al-Andalus.
• Prague is founded (according to legend) by the Princess Libuše and her husband Přemysl, founder of the dynasty with the same name.

China

• Rains and heavy storms around the southern seaport of Yangzhou reportedly destroy over 1,000 ships and boats, in the usual congested canal and river traffic of the Tang Dynasty era.

By place

Americas

• January 3 – K'inich Ahkal Mo' Naab III takes the throne of the Maya state of Palenque.

Europe

• The Battle of Covadonga marks the first victory of a Christian army over a Muslim army in Spain (probable date).
• War breaks out between Wessex and Sussex.
• A combined Viking and Cornish army defeat an army of Wessex at the Battle of Hehil.
• The Battle of Allen was fought in close proximity to the Hill of Allen, between the Laigin, led by Murchad mac Brain Mut, and the forces of Fergal mac Máele Dúin.

By topic

Religion

• November 30 – Boniface is ordained as bishop of Germany by the pope.

By topic

Religion

• Saint Boniface fells Thor's Oak near Fritzlar, marking the decisive event in the Christianization of the northern Germanic tribes.

Technology

• The world's first mechanical clock is allegedly built in China (See celestial globe).

By place

Asia

• Emperor Shōmu succeeds Empress Genshō on the throne of Japan.
• Umayyad caliph Yazid II ibn Abd al-Malik (720–724) is succeeded by Hisham ibn Abd al-Malik (724–743).

Mesoamerica

• K'ak' Tiliw Chan Yopaat becomes king of the Maya city of Quiriguá.

By place

Europe

• Bede writes On the reckoning of time (De temporum ratione) explaining how to calculate medieval Easter.

Africa

• In Egypt, resentment of the Copts against taxation leads to a revolt.

Asia

• In China, the Tang Dynasty Buddhist monk, astronomer, and mechanical engineer Yi Xing applies a clockwork escapement mechanism to provide rotating motion to his astronomical armillary sphere.

By place

Europe

• Seismic activity in the Mediterranean: The volcanic island of Thera erupts, while the city of Jerash (in present-day Jordan) suffers a major earthquake.
• King Ine of Wessex resigns his crown and leaves for Rome. He is succeeded by Æthelheard.
• King Æthelbald becomes King of Mercia.
• Orso Ipato is elected Doge of Venice and appointed Roman consul by Emperor Leo III the Isaurian.
• Dúngal mac Selbaig is deposed as king of Dál Riata; Eochaid mac Echdach becomes king.

Asia

• The first annual Sumo tournament in Japan is held by Emperor Seibu.
• Umayyad forces under Maslamah ibn Abd al-Malik sack the Byzantine city of Caesarea.

By topic

Religion

• Leo III the Isaurian bans the worship of religious images, beginning the iconoclastic controversies.

By place

Byzantine Empire

• Umayyad troops under Abdallah al-Battal and Mu'awiyah ibn Hisham raze Gangra and unsuccessfully besiege Nicaea.

By topic

Religion

• Pope Gregory II condemns iconoclasm, causing Byzantine Italy to break with the Empire.

By place

Europe

• Liutprand, King of the Lombards occupies all of the exarchate.

By place

Europe

• The Battle of Ravenna is fought between the troops of Byzantine Emperor Leo III the Isaurian, and a force of Italians, raised by Pope Gregory II in defence of image worship, which Leo had outlawed. After a severe struggle, the Greeks are routed; thousands are killed in flight to their ships. The waters of the Po River are so infected with blood, it is said, that for six years the inhabitants of Ravenna will not eat fish from the river.