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Year 718 (Roman numerals, DCCXVIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. The denomination 718 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

By place

Byzantine Empire

* Spring – A Muslim supply fleet of 760 ships under Sufyan arrives from Egypt and Ifriqiya, North Africa, concealing itself along the Asia Minor, Asiatic shore. The Byzantine Empire, Byzantines learn of the fleet's location from defecting Copts, Christian Egyptian sailors. Emperor Leo III the Isaurian, Leo III sends the Byzantine navy again; his Greek fire ships destroy the enemy vessels in the Sea of Marmara and seize their supplies on shore, denying the sieging army vital provisions. On land the Byzantine troops ambush an advancing Arab army, and destroy it in the hills around Sapanca, Sophon, south of Nicomedia (modern Turkey). The Arab besiegers are still suffering from hunger and pestilence.
* August 15 – Siege of Constantinople (717–718), Siege of Constantinople: A Bulgarian Empire, Bulgar relief force attacks the Investment (military), siege lines at Constantinople, on the west side of the Bosphorus, Bosporus. Contemporary chroniclers report that at least 22,000–32,000 Arabs are killed during the Bulgarian attacks. Caliph Umar II is forced to lift the siege after 13 months; the Muslim army attempts to withdraw back through Anatolia, while the rest escapes by sea in the remaining vessels. The Arab fleet suffers further casualties to storms, and an Types of volcanic eruptions, eruption of the volcano of Santorini, Thera. According to Arab sources 150,000 Muslims perish during the campaign.

Western Europe

* Battle of Soissons (718), Battle of Soissons: King Chilperic II of Neustria and his mayor of the palace Ragenfrid, allied with Odo the Great, Eudes, independent duke of Aquitaine, march on Soissons in Picardy (northern France). Unfortunately, an army of Francia, Frankish veterans under Charles Martel defeat the Neustrian allies, who sue for peace. Chilperic flees to the land south of the River Loire and Ragenfrid escapes to Angers. Charles diplomatically chooses not to execute the enemy leaders, and becomes undisputed ''Duke of the Franks, dux Francorum'', ending the Frankish civil war.
* Summer – Battle of Covadonga: Pelagius of Asturias, Pelagius (Don Pelayo) is proclaimed king (''caudillo''), and defeats the Umayyad Caliphate, Umayyad forces under Munuza, provincial governor of Asturias, at Picos de Europa (near Covadonga). This marks the beginning of the ''Reconquista'', the Christian reconquest of the Iberian Peninsula. He founds the Kingdom of Asturias, and establishes a military base at Cangas de Onís (northwest of Spain)David Nicolle (2008). Poitiers AD 732, Charles Martel turns the Islamic tide (p. 17). (or 722).
* King Liutprand, King of the Lombards, Liutprand of the Lombards builds a close Military alliance, alliance with Charles Martel, and attacks the Bavarian castles on the Adige, River Adige, maintaining strategic control of the Alpine Mountain pass, passes in the Italian Alps (approximate date).

Britain

* King Coenred of Northumbria dies after a 2-year reign. The throne is seized by Osric of Northumbria, Osric, probably a younger brother, or half-brother, of the late king Osred I of Northumbria, Osred I.
* Former queen Cuthburh of Northumbria, abbess of Wimborne Minster (church), Wimborne, dies at her abbey and is buried there (approximate date).

By topic

Religion

* The Wessex-born missionary Saint Boniface, Boniface sets out for Frisia a second time. He travels to Rome, where Pope Gregory II sends him on a mission to convert the Saxons in Lower Saxony (modern-day Germany).
* Hugh of Champagne, cousin of Charles Martel, enters the monastery of Jumièges Abbey, Jumièges (Normandy), and embraces the religious life as abbot.

Births

* Constantine V, Byzantine emperor (d. 775)
* Empress Kōken, Kōken, empress of Japan (d. 770)
* Niall Frossach, High King of Ireland (d. 778)
* Ōtomo no Yakamochi, Japanese statesman and poet, List of shōguns, Shōgun (d. 785)

Deaths

* Coenred of Northumbria, Coenred, king of Northumbria
* Cuthburh, Anglo-Saxon abbess (approximate date)
* Plectrude, Neustrian regent

References

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