Editing 626

{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2011}}
{{About year|626|the car previously called the Mazda 626|Mazda Capella|the fictional character also known as Experiment 626|Stitch (Lilo & Stitch)}}
{{Year nav|626}}
{{M1 year in topic}}
[[File:TangTaizong.jpg|upright=1.35|thumb|Emperor [[Emperor Taizong of Tang|Tai Zong]] of the [[Tang dynasty]]]]
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Year '''626''' ('''[[Roman numerals|DCXXVI]]''') was a [[common year starting on Wednesday]] of the [[Julian calendar]]. The denomination 626 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 ====
* [[Siege of Constantinople (626)|Siege of Constantinople]]: A horde of [[Avar Khaganate|Avars]], consisting of about 80,000 men (including large contingents of [[Slavs]], [[Bulgars]], and other "barbarians"), attack the walls of [[Constantinople]]. A small Persian army arrives on the [[Bosphorus]], on the [[Asia Minor|Asiatic]] side. The [[Walls of Constantinople#Theodosian Walls|Theodosian Walls]] are stormed with the most up-to-date [[siege]] equipment, in the form of traction [[trebuchet]]s. The Avars also have mobile armoured shelters (medieval 'sows') and [[Siege tower#Medieval and later use|siege towers]]; the latter are covered in [[Hide (skin)|hide]]s for fire protection.<ref>The Walls of Constantinople AD 324–1453, p. 47. Stephen Turnbull, 2004. {{ISBN|978-1-84176-759-8}}</ref> The defense of the capital (12,000 well-trained Byzantine troops) is in the hands of Patriarch [[Sergius I of Constantinople|Sergius I]] and [[Bonus (patrician)|Bonus]] (''[[magister militum]]'').
* [[July 31]] &ndash; The Avars and Persian allies under [[Shahrbaraz]] launch an attack along the entire length of the Theodosian Walls (about 5.7 kilometres); the main effort is concentrated against the central section, particularly the low-lying ''mesoteichion''. After a fierce infantry battle on the walls, the [[Byzantine army]] holds off many assaults on the city. Emperor [[Heraclius]] makes arrangements for a new army under his brother [[Theodore (brother of Heraclius)|Theodore]] to operate against the Persians in western [[Anatolia]], while he returns to his own army in [[Pontus (region)|Pontus]].
* [[August 7]] &ndash; In the waters of the [[Golden Horn]], the Persian fleet is destroyed while ferrying reinforcements. The Avars, having suffered terrible losses, running short of [[food]] and supplies, burn their [[siege engine]]s. They abandon the siege and retreat to the [[Balkans|Balkan Peninsula]]. The [[Byzantine Greeks|Byzantines]] achieve a decisive victory at [[Blachernae]], under the protection of the [[Church of St. Mary of Blachernae (Istanbul)|Church of the Virgin Mary]].
* [[Byzantine–Sasanian War of 602–628#Siege of Constantinople (626)|Byzantine–Persian War]]: Heraclius, his army reduced by campaigning to less than 30,000 men, is on the defensive in Pontus. Apparently he leaves a strong Byzantine [[garrison]] in [[Trabzon|Trapezus]], and withdraws north-eastward along the [[Black Sea]] into [[Colchis]], where he halts the Persians by aggressive defensive-offensive operations along the [[Rioni River|Phasis River]]. By attracting the Persian army under [[Shahin Vahmanzadegan]] in Anatolia, he provides Theodore with the opportunity to defeat them. By the end of the summer he threatens the communication of the Persians at [[Chalcedon]] (modern [[Turkey]]). 
* Heraclius invites the [[Croats]], a Slavic tribe living in [[Galicia (Eastern Europe)|Galicia]], [[Silesia]], and [[Bohemia]], to settle in [[Illyricum (Roman province)|Illyricum]]. They are given the land between the [[Drava|Drava River]] and the [[Adriatic Sea]] for ridding of Avars. The [[Serbs]] are allowed to move from their homeland north of the [[Carpathian Mountains|Carpathians]] to a territory east of the Croats. Heraclius asks [[Pope Honorius I]] to send [[Missionary|missionaries]] to both groups.
* Winter &ndash; Heraclius makes an alliance with [[Tong Yabghu Qaghan]], ruler (''[[khagan]]'') of the [[Western Turkic Khaganate]], for a joint invasion of the [[Sasanian Empire|Persian Empire]] the following spring. He promises his daughter [[Eudoxia Epiphania]], age 15, in marriage to Tong Yabghu and sends her under escort with wondrous gifts.

==== Europe ====
* [[Arioald]] succeeds his brother-in-law [[Adaloald]] as king of the [[Lombards]], and afterwards goes [[Insanity|insane]]. Arioald has his wife locked up in a [[monastery]], accusing her of plotting against him with [[Grasulf II of Friuli|Grasulf II, duke of Friuli]] (northern Italy).

==== Britain ====
* King [[Edwin of Northumbria]] defeats the [[Wessex|West Saxons]] under [[Cynegils of Wessex|Cynegils]], who has tried to thwart the growing strength of Edwin by having him assassinated. Edwin obliges Cynegils to acknowledge [[Northumbria]]'s supremacy.
* [[April 19]] &ndash; [[Eanflæd]], daughter of Edwin of Northumbria, is born at a royal residence by the [[River Derwent, Yorkshire|River Derwent]]. She is [[Baptism|baptised]] by [[Paulinus of York|Paulinus]], bishop of  [[Diocese of York|York]].  
* Edwin of Northumbria invades the [[Isle of Man]] and then [[Anglesey]]. King [[Cadwallon ap Cadfan|Cadwallon]] is defeated in battle, and is besieged on [[Puffin Island (Anglesey)|Puffin Island]].{{sfn|Bede Book II|loc=[http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/basis/bede-book2.html Chapter&nbsp;IX]}}
* [[Edinburgh]] (Scotland) is founded by Edwin of Northumbria (approximate date).
* [[Penda]] becomes king of [[Mercia]] (approximate date).<ref>''Anglo-Saxon Chronicle'', Manuscript A (ASC A), 626</ref>

==== Persia ====
* Summer &ndash; King [[Khosrau II]] plans an all-out effort against Constantinople. He returns to Anatolia with two armies of unknown size, presumably more than 50,000 men each. One of these (possibly commanded by Khosrau himself) is to contain Heraclius in Pontus; another under Shahin Vahmanzadegan is defeated by Theodore.

==== Asia ====
* [[July 2]] &ndash; [[Emperor Taizong of Tang|Li Shimin]] travels to the [[Tang dynasty|Tang]] capital [[Chang'an]] to bid farewell to his younger brother [[Li Yuanji]], who has been given command of a Chinese expedition against the [[Eastern Turkic Khaganate]]. Hearing of a plot to murder him, he and a few supporters seize the northern entrance to the emperor's palace. Li Shimin ambushes and eliminates his rival brothers Li Yuanji and [[Li Jiancheng]], in the [[Xuanwu Gate Incident]].
* [[September 4]] &ndash; Emperor [[Emperor Gaozu of Tang|Gao Zu]] abdicates in favor of his son Li Shimin after an 8-year reign. He passes the throne to him (as [[Emperor Taizong of Tang|Emperor Tai Zong]]).
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== Births ==
* [[April 19]] &ndash; [[Eanflæd]], queen of [[Northumbria]]
* [[Balthild]], queen of the [[Franks]] (approximate date)
* [[Heraklonas]], Byzantine emperor (d. [[641]])
* [[Husayn ibn Ali]], grandson of [[Muhammad]] and the third Shi'a Imam (d. [[680]])
* [[Munmu of Silla|Munmu]], king of [[Silla]] (d. [[681]])
* [[Emperor Tenji|Tenji]], emperor of Japan (d. [[672]])
* [[Zaynab bint Ali]], granddaughter of [[Muhammad]] and member of [[Ahl al-Bayt]]
* [[Abdallah ibn Amir]]

== Deaths ==
* [[June 19]] &ndash; [[Soga no Umako]], leader of the [[Soga clan]] 
* [[July 2]] &ndash; [[Li Jiancheng]], prince of the [[Tang dynasty]] (b. [[589]])
* July 2 &ndash; [[Li Yuanji]], prince of the Tang dynasty (b. [[603]])
* [[Adaloald]], king of the [[Lombards]] (approximate date)
* [[Cearl of Mercia|Cearl]], king of [[Mercia]] (approximate date)
* [[Fatimah bint Asad]], mother of [[Ali ibn Abi Talib]] (b. [[555]])
* [[Fiachnae mac Báetáin]], king of [[Dál nAraidi]] (Ireland) 
* [[Gaugericus]], [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cambrai|bishop of Cambrai]] (approximate date)
* [[Sexred]], king of [[Kingdom of Essex|Essex]] (approximate date)
* [[Shahin Vahmanzadegan]], Persian general (approximate date)
* [[Warnachar II]], [[Mayor of the Palace]] (approximate date)

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

===Sources===
{{refbegin}}
* {{cite web |last=Bede |author-link=Bede |title=Book II |work=[[Ecclesiastical History of the English People]] |publisher=Internet History Sourcebooks Project |url=http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/basis/bede-book2.html |ref={{harvid|Bede Book&nbsp;II}}}}
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