Editing 661

{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2011}}
{{distinguish|area code 661}}
{{About year|661}}
{{Year nav|661}}
{{M1 year in topic}}
[[File:Map of expansion of Caliphate.svg|thumb|305px|Expansion of the caliphate under the Umayyads: {{legend|#a1584e|Expansion under [[Muhammad]], 622–632}} {{legend|#ef9070|Expansion during the [[Rashidun Caliphate]], 632–661}} {{legend|#fad07d|Expansion during the [[Umayyad Caliphate]], 661–750}}]]
Year '''661''' ('''[[Roman numerals|DCLXI]]''') was a [[common year starting on Friday]] of the [[Julian calendar]]. The denomination 661 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 ===

==== Europe ====
* King [[Chlothar III]] of [[Neustria]] and queen regent [[Balthild]] found [[Corbie Abbey]] in [[Picardy]] (northern France), giving it immunity from [[tax]]ation, and visits from local [[bishop]]s in exchange for prayer.
* [[Perctarit]] and [[Godepert]] become co-rulers of the [[Lombards]], following the death of their father [[Aripert I]]. They split the kingdom, and establish their capitals in [[Milan]] and [[Pavia]] (northern Italy).

==== Britain ====
* Battle of [[Posbury]]: King [[Cenwalh of Wessex]] invades [[Dumnonia]] (south-west England). He is victorious over the native [[Celtic Britons|Briton]] tribes near [[Crediton]] in [[Devon]], and drives them to the coast.
* King [[Wulfhere of Mercia]] and his army harry the [[Berkshire Downs]] (south of [[Thame]]) and move south to conquer the [[Meonwara]] and the [[Isle of Wight]].
* Wulfhere appoints [[Æthelwealh of Sussex|Æthelwealh]] as king of [[Kingdom of Sussex|Sussex]], and Æthelwealh is [[Baptism|baptized]] in [[Mercia]]. He receives the recently-conquered territories in modern-day [[Hampshire]].

==== Arabian Empire (Islamic Caliphate) ====
[[File:Anonymous - Muawiya with Councillors, from a manuscript of Hafiz-i Abru’s Majma’ al-tawarikh - 1983.94.4 - Yale University Art Gallery.jpg|thumb|[[Muawiya I]] became [[Umayyad|caliph]] in mid 661, after the Abdication of caliph [[Hasan ibn Ali|al-Hasan]]. Muawiya established the [[Umayyad dynasty]] (Muawiya with Councillors, from the manuscript of ''Hafiz-i Abru’s Majma’ al-tawarikh'')]]
* [[January 26]] &ndash; [[Assassination of Ali]]: [[Ali|Ali ibn Abi Talib]], first [[Imamah (Shia doctrine)|Shia imam]] and fourth [[caliph]] of the [[Rashidun Caliphate]], is struck on the head with a poisoned sword by the [[Khawarij]] [[Abd-al-Rahman ibn Muljam]], while at prayer at a shrine at [[Kufa]] (modern-day), dying two days later. His son, [[Hasan ibn Ali]], is chosen by Muslims to succeed him as the next leader. According to the [[Umayyad dynasty|Umayyads]], he is succeeded by [[Muawiyah I]] as Caliph, age 59, who moves his seat of government to [[Damascus]], and founds the [[Umayyad Caliphate]], ending the [[Rashidun Caliphate]].{{sfn|Roberts|1994}}
* Approximate date &ndash; [[Muawiya I]] imprisons patriarch [[Giwargis I (Church of the East)|Giwargis I]], after his refusal to pay [[tribute]]. Christians are persecuted and their churches are destroyed.

==== Japan ====
* Approximate date &ndash; The imperial fleet of Japan invades [[Kyūshū]] by the order of [[Empress Saimei]]. On its way, [[princess Nukata]] composes a famous poem at Nikitatsu in [[Iyo Province]].
* c. May &ndash; Empress Saimei builds the palace of Asakura in Kyūshū, from trees cut down from the [[shrine]]s. Two months later she dies. People say it is because the gods are angry with her for destroying the shrines.
* [[July 24]] &ndash; [[Emperor Tenji]] ascends to the throne of Japan after his mother Empress Saimei’s death. He sends an expeditionary force under [[Abe no Hirafu]] to Korea, to help the allied kingdom of [[Baekje]].

==== Korea ====
* King [[Munmu of Silla|Munmu]] becomes the 30th ruler of the Korean kingdom of [[Silla]].<ref>{{cite web |title=List of Rulers of Korea |url=https://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/koru/hd_koru.htm |website=www.metmuseum.org |access-date=21 April 2019}}</ref>

=== By topic ===
==== Religion ====
* [[Maximus the Confessor]], Christian monk, is recalled from [[exile]] in [[Thrace]]. He is tried, and sentenced to mutilation. His tongue and his right hand are cut off to prevent his further opposition to the [[Monothelitism|Monothelites]]. 
* Approximate date &ndash; In [[Gaul]] all Roman bishops are replaced with Frankish bishops. They become increasingly common, as [[Franks|Frankish]] leaders control the [[Historical episcopate|episcopate]].</onlyinclude>

== Births ==
* [[February 12]] &ndash; [[Princess Ōku|Ōku]], Japanese princess (d. [[702]])
* Early June &ndash; [[Al-Hajjaj ibn Yusuf]], Arab governor (d. [[714]])
* Approximate date &ndash; [[Ælfwine of Deira|Ælfwine]], Northumbrian king of [[Deira]] (k. [[AD 679|679]])
* [[Chen Zi'ang]], Chinese poet and official (d. [[702]])
* [[Liu Zhiji]], Chinese historian (d. [[721]])

== Deaths ==
* [[January 3]] &ndash; [[Pope Benjamin I of Alexandria|Benjamin]], [[List of Coptic Orthodox Popes of Alexandria|Coptic Orthodox Patriarch of Alexandria]] (b. c.590)
* [[January 29]] &ndash; [[Ali]], first [[Shia Imam]] and Fourth [[Rashidun]] Caliph (b. [[601]]) (martyred)
* [[February 17]] &ndash; [[Finan of Lindisfarne]], Irish-born bishop
* [[July 24]] &ndash; [[Empress Kōgyoku|Kōgyoku]] (also Saimei), twice empress of Japan (b. [[594]])
* [[Aripert I]], king of the [[Lombards]]
* [[Cenberht]], West Saxon king in [[Wessex]]<ref name=ASC>''[[Anglo-Saxon Chronicle]]''.</ref>
* Cuthred, West Saxon prince in Wessex<ref name=ASC/>
* Approximate date &ndash; [[Landry of Paris|Landry]], [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Paris|bishop of Paris]]
* [[Al-Ash'ath ibn Qays]], [[Companions of the Prophet|companion]] of the [[Muhammad]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

=== Sources ===
{{refbegin}}
* {{cite book |last=Roberts |first=J.M. |author-link=John Roberts (historian) |date=1994 |title=History of the World |publisher=Penguin}}
{{refend}}

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