Editing 616

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[[File:Saint King Edwin of Northumbria.jpg|upright=1.35|thumb|King [[Edwin of Northumbria]] (616–633)]]
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Year '''616''' ('''[[Roman numerals|DCXVI]]''') was a [[leap year starting on Thursday]] of the [[Julian calendar]]. The denomination 616 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the [[Anno Domini]] [[calendar era]] became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.

== Events ==
<onlyinclude>

=== By place ===

==== Byzantine Empire ====
* [[Byzantine–Sassanid War of 602–628]]: The [[Jews]] of [[Jerusalem]] gain complete control over the city; much of [[Judea]] and [[Galilee]] becomes an autonomous Jewish province of the [[Sassanid Empire|Persian Empire]]. The [[Second Temple|Jewish Temple]] is rebuilt by [[Nehemiah ben Hushiel]] ([[exilarch]] of Jerusalem), who establishes a High Priesthood.
* The Persian army under [[Shahin Vahmanzadegan]] destroys the city of [[Sardis]], including its [[synagogue]]. Its importance is due to a highway, leading from the interior to the [[Aegean Sea|Aegean]] coast. Shahin marches through [[Anatolia]], defeating the [[Byzantine Greeks|Byzantines]] numerous times.

==== Europe ====
* [[Adaloald]], age 14, succeeds his father [[Agilulf]] as [[Lombards|Lombard]] king of Italy. He reigns under his mother [[Theodelinda]] as [[Regency (government)|regent]]. The [[Kingdom of the Lombards|Lombard Kingdom]] gradually begins to convert to [[Catholicism]], and establishes peace with the [[Exarchate of Ravenna|Exarchate]] of the [[Byzantine Empire]].
* King [[Sisebut]] orders in the [[Councils of Toledo|Council of Toledo]] that Jews are to convert to [[Christianity]]. Children are taken from their parents and put in [[Monastery|monasteries]], where they learn the teaching of [[evangelism]] in the [[Visigothic Kingdom]].

==== Britain ====
* King [[Rædwald of East Anglia]] conquers [[Northumbria]] ([[Northern England]]) at the [[Battle of the River Idle]]. King [[Æthelfrith of Northumbria|Æthelfrith]] is killed during the fighting and his children are forced to flee north. His heir, prince [[Eanfrith of Bernicia|Eanfrith]] (age 26), seeks refuge with his mother's family, probably in [[Gododdin]] (modern [[Scotland]]), and moves further north into [[Picts|Pictland]]. Princes [[Oswald of Northumbria|Oswald]] (age 12), [[Oswiu of Northumbria|Oswiu]] (age 4) and others escape to the court of King [[Eochaid Buide]] of [[Dál Riata]], where they are converted to Christianity by the [[monk]]s of [[Iona]].<ref>Bede, "Ecclesiastical History", Book II, Chapter 12</ref>
* Rædwald installs [[Edwin of Northumbria|Edwin]] as king of Northumbria, effectively confirming him as ''[[bretwalda]]''. He takes power in his native [[Deira]] and in [[Bernicia]]. His reign marks the domination of Northumbria as leading [[Anglo-Saxons|Anglo-Saxon]] state of the [[British Isles]]. 
* [[February 24]] &ndash; [[Æthelberht of Kent|Æthelberht]], the first Christian Anglo-Saxon king, dies in [[Kingdom of Kent|Kent]] after a 26-year reign. He is succeeded by his [[Paganism|pagan]] son, [[Eadbald of Kent|Eadbald]], who promptly marries his stepmother [[Emma of Austrasia|Emma]], in accordance with pre-Christian custom.
* King [[Sæberht of Essex]] dies after a 12-year reign, and is succeeded by his son [[Sexred]]. He rules conjointly with his two brothers [[Sæward of Essex|Sæward]] and Sigeberht; they throw out the Christian [[Missionary|missionaries]] and return to paganism. 
* The [[Battle of Chester]] ([[Old Welsh]]: '''Guaith Caer Legion'''; [[Welsh language|Welsh]]: '''Brwydr Caer'''), which separates the (West) Welsh from the 'North' Welsh of [[Cumbria]] - marking the formation of [[Wales]], is fought (approximate date).
* [[Cadfan ap Iago]] succeeds his father [[Iago ap Beli]], as king of [[Kingdom of Gwynedd|Gwynedd]] (Wales) (approximate date).

=== By topic ===

==== Religion ====
* [[Mellitus]], bishop of [[London]], is [[exile]]d by Sexred and his pagan brothers (Sæward and Sigeberht). He is forced to take refuge in [[Gaul]], and returns to [[England]] the following year.
* The [[Quraish]] clans begins to boycott [[Muhammad]] and Banu Hashem, in order to put pressure on his [[Muslim]] followers and his [[Islam]]ic preachings.
* A [[shrine]] on the site of the future [[Westminster Abbey]] (London) is founded (approximate date).</onlyinclude>

== Births ==
* [[September 28]] &ndash; [[Javanshir]], king of [[Caucasian Albania]] (d. [[680]])
* [[Grimoald the Elder]], [[Mayor of the Palace]] of [[Austrasia]] (d. [[657]])

== Deaths ==
* [[February 24]] &ndash; [[Æthelberht of Kent|Æthelberht]], king (''[[bretwalda]]'') of [[Kingdom of Kent|Kent]]
* [[Æthelfrith of Northumbria|Æthelfrith]], king of [[Northumbria]] (approximate date)
* [[Agilulf]], king of the [[Lombards]] (approximate date)
* [[Pope Anastasius of Alexandria|Anastasius]], [[Pope of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria|Coptic Patriarch of Alexandria]]
* [[Gundoald, Duke of Asti|Gundoald]], Bavarian nobleman
* [[Iago ap Beli]], king of [[Kingdom of Gwynedd|Gwynedd]] (approximate date)
* [[John the Merciful]], [[Patriarch of Alexandria]]
* [[Empress Liu (Chen dynasty)|Liu Jingyan]], empress of the [[Chen dynasty]] (b. [[534]])
* [[Nechtan nepos Uerb|Nechtan II]], king of the [[Picts]] (approximate date)
* [[Sæbert of Essex|Sæbert]], king of [[Kingdom of Essex|Essex]] (approximate date)
* [[Secundus of Non]], Lombard [[abbot]]
* [[Selyf ap Cynan]], king of [[Kingdom of Powys|Powys]]
* [[Yeon Taejo]], prime minister of [[Goguryeo]] (approximate date)
* [[Empress Yuan Humo|Yuan Humo]], empress of [[Northern Zhou]]
* [[Yuwen Shu]], general of the [[Sui dynasty]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

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