Editing 754 (section)

=== By place ===

==== Europe ====
* [[July]] &ndash; Stephen II anoints Pepin's sons, Charles (later known as [[Charlemagne]]) and [[Carloman I|Carloman]], consecrating them as patricians. At [[Quierzy]] he proclaims the [[Carolingian dynasty]] holy, and appeals for help against the [[Kingdom of the Lombards|Lombards]]. Finally, the [[Francia|Frankish]] nobles give their consent to a campaign in [[Lombardy]].
* [[July 28]] &ndash; [[Pope Stephen II]] re-consecrates [[Pepin the short|Pepin III (the Short)]] as [[List of Frankish kings#Later Kings of the Franks (679–751)|king of the Franks]], at the [[Basilica of St Denis|Basilica of Saint-Denis]] outside [[Paris]], bestowing upon him the additional title of [[Patrician (ancient Rome)#Late Roman and Byzantine period|Patricius of the Romans]]. This marks the first recorded [[Coronation|crowning]] of a civil ruler by a [[pope]].<ref>Kazhdan (1991), p. 1600</ref><ref>{{Cite encyclopedia |title=Pope Stephen II |editor-last=Kazhdan|editor-first=Alexander|editor-link=Alexander Kazhdan|encyclopedia=The Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium|year=1991|volume=1|location=New York|publisher=Oxford University Press}}</ref> Pepin assumes the role of ordained protector of the [[Catholic Church]].

* Summer &ndash; The [[Franks]] under Pepin III invade [[Italy]], and defeat the Lombards under King [[Aistulf]], in the [[Susa Valley]] ([[Piedmont]]). He enforces the terms, including cession of the [[Exarchate of Ravenna]] to [[Rome]].
* The oldest document mentioning the city of [[Ferrara]] ([[Northern Italy]]) is from this year (approximate date).

==== Abbasid Caliphate ====
* [[June 10]] &ndash; Caliph [[as-Saffah]] dies of [[smallpox]] after a 4-year reign. He is succeeded by his nominated heir and brother [[al-Mansur]], as ruler of the [[Abbasid Caliphate]]. 
[[File:Abu Ja'far al-Mansur, Sayr mulhimah min al-Sharq wa-al-Gharb.png|thumb|[[Abbasid]] caliph [[al-Mansur]] (r. 754–775)]]
* [[November]] &ndash; [[Abdallah ibn Ali]], governor of [[Bilad al-Sham|Syria]] and uncle of [[as-Saffah]], launches a claim for the [[caliphate]], but is defeated by forces loyal to [[al-Mansur]], under [[Abu Muslim]], at [[Nusaybin|Nisibis]] (modern [[Turkey]]).

==== Asia ====
* [[Jianzhen]], Chinese [[Chinese Buddhism|Buddhist]] monk, arrives in [[Nara, Nara|Nara]], where he is welcomed by former emperor [[Emperor Shōmu|Shōmu]] and empress [[Empress Kōmyō|Kōmyō]]. During his visit Jianzhen introduces [[sugar]] to the Japanese court, using it to mask the flavors of foul-tasting [[herbal tea]]. 
* A [[Tang dynasty|Tang]] census shows that 75% of the Chinese live north of the [[Chang Jiang|Chang Jiang (Yangtze) River]]. The capital of [[Chang'an]] has a population of 2 million and more than 25 other cities have well over 500,000 citizens (approximate date).