Editing 634

{{short description|Calendar year}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2011}}
{{About year|634}}
{{Year nav|634}}
{{M1 year in topic}}
[[File:Mohammad adil-Muslims Invasion of Syria.PNG|upright=1.35|thumb|The [[Rashidun Caliphate]] invade the [[Levant]]]]
[[File:Mohammad adil-Muslim invasion of Syria-2.PNG|upright=1.35|thumb|[[Muslim]] invasion of [[Khalid ibn al-Walid]] in [[Syria]]]]
__NOTOC__
Year '''634''' ('''[[Roman numerals|DCXXXIV]]''') was a [[common year starting on Saturday]] of the [[Julian calendar]]. The denomination 634 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 ====
* [[Arab–Byzantine wars#Arab conquest of Roman Syria: 634–638|Arab–Byzantine War]]: Emperor [[Heraclius]], ill, infirm, and unpopular with the [[Eastern Orthodox Church]], is unable to personally lead the [[Byzantine army]] to resist the [[Muslim conquest of the Levant]]. He sends his brother [[Theodore (brother of Heraclius)|Theodore]] to assemble forces to retake the newly won Muslim territories. [[Monophysitism|Monophysites]] and Jews throughout Syria welcome the Arab invaders, as they are discontented with Byzantine rule.
* [[July 30]] &ndash; [[Battle of Ajnadayn]]: Byzantine forces (90,000 men according to Muslim sources) under Theodore are defeated by the [[Rashidun Caliphate]] near [[Beit Shemesh]] (modern-day [[Israel]]). Heraclius, who is in [[Homs|Emesa]], flees to [[Antioch]] upon hearing news of the battle's outcome.

==== Europe ====
* King [[Dagobert I]] is forced by the Austrasian [[Nobility|nobles]] to put his 3-year-old son [[Sigebert III]] on the throne, ceding royal power in [[Austrasia]]. He frees himself from dependence on [[Pepin of Landen]], and extends his rule over the [[Bretons]] (approximate date).

==== Britain ====
* [[Eanfrith of Bernicia]] and his bodyguard are killed by King [[Cadwallon ap Cadfan|Cadwallon of Gwynedd]], in an attempt to negotiate peace.{{sfn|Bede Book III|loc=[http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/basis/bede-book3.html Chapter&nbsp;I]}} Eanfrith's brother [[Oswald of Northumbria|Oswald]] returns from 18 years exile in [[Dál Riata]] (modern Scotland), to claim the crown of [[Northumbria]]. 
* [[Battle of Heavenfield]]: Oswald, possibly accompanied by a force of [[Scottish people|Scots]] (or [[Picts]]), defeats and kills Cadwallon with a [[Celtic Britons|Welsh]] army near [[Hexham]] (northern England). He reunites [[Deira]] with [[Bernicia]], and becomes king of Northumbria.

==== Persia ====
* [[Battle of the Bridge]]: Persian forces (10,000 men) under [[Bahman Jadhuyih]] defeat the Muslim Arabs at the [[Euphrates]] (near [[Kufa]]). The sight of [[Persian war elephants|elephant]]s panics the Muslims, and many are killed. Bahman does not pursue the fleeing Arab army.<ref>Richard Nelson Frye, ''The Cambridge History of Iran: The periode from the Arab invasion to the Saljuqs'', p. 9. Cambridge University Press (1975)</ref>

==== Arabia ====
* [[Battle of Firaz]]: The Rashidun Arabs (15,000 men) under [[Khalid ibn al-Walid]] defeat the combined forces of the [[Byzantine Empire]], [[Sasanian Empire|Persian Empire]] and [[Arab Christians]] (at least 10 times larger than Khalid's army) in [[Mesopotamia]] ([[Iraq]]).{{sfn|Akram|1969}}{{full citation needed|date=July 2021|reason=loc param with link to archived web site missing}}
* [[February 4]] &ndash; [[Battle of Dathin]]: Rashidun forces under [[Yazid ibn Abi Sufyan]] defeat the Christian Arabs around [[Gaza City|Gaza]]. The Muslim victory is celebrated by the local Jews, who have been a persecuted minority within the Byzantine Empire.<ref>Walter E. Kaegi, ''Byzantium and the Early Islamic Conquests''. Cambridge University Press (1992)</ref> 
* The [[Rashidun Caliphate]] starts the Islamic conquest of the Byzantine Empire, when Muslim forces under [[Abu Ubaidah ibn al-Jarrah]] [[Muslim conquest of the Levant|invade the Levant]]. Khalid sets out for Syria from [[Al-Hirah]], taking with him half his army, about 8,000 strong.{{sfn|Akram|1970|p=576}}
* [[Battle of al-Qaryatayn]]: The Muslim Arabs under Khalid defeat the [[Ghassanids]] at [[Al-Qaryatayn]], after the inhabitants resist his proposals. His army conquers and [[Looting|plunders]] the city, before proceeding to capture other towns in the area.<ref>Blankinship, 1993, p. 110</ref>
* [[Battle of Marj Rahit (634)|Battle of Marj Rahit]]: A Muslim Arab army under Khalid defeats the Byzantine forces (15,000 men) and their Ghassanid allies. After the battle he sends a mounted column to the outskirts of [[Damascus]], to plunder the region.{{sfn|Akram|1970}}{{page needed|date=July 2021}}
* [[Battle of Bosra]]: Muslim forces under Khalid [[Siege|besiege]] the Byzantine and Christian Arab garrison (12,000 men) at [[Bosra]]. After a few days the fortress city surrenders; Khalid imposes a payment of [[tribute]] on the inhabitants.
* [[August 23]] &ndash; [[Abu Bakr]] dies at [[Medina]] and is succeeded by [[Umar|Umar I]], who becomes the second [[caliph]] (''khalifah'') of the Rashidun Caliphate. During his rule, Umar conquers Syria, [[Iran|Persia]], and [[Diocese of Egypt|Egypt]] in a [[Spread of Islam|"Holy War"]].
* [[September 19]] &ndash; [[Siege of Damascus (634)|Siege of Damascus]]: Muslim Arabs under Khalid conquer Damascus as the first major city of the Byzantine Empire. Damascan refugees are given a guarantee of safety to retreat to Antioch.
* [[Battle of Maraj-al-Debaj]]: A Byzantine convoy of Damascan refugees (10,000 men) is slaughtered by a Muslim army near Antioch. The [[Mobile guard|Mobile Guard]] (elite [[light cavalry]]) captures a great amount of [[brocade]].

==== Asia ====

* The [[Tuyuhun Kingdom]] is invaded by Chinese forces under [[Li Jing (Tang dynasty)|Li Jing]] ([[Tang dynasty]]) during [[Emperor Taizong's campaign against Tuyuhun]], resulting in the murder of their leader (''[[Khan (title)|khan]]'') [[Murong Fuyun]] in [[635]].
* Tai Zong orders the construction of the [[Daming Palace]] in [[Chang'an]]. He builds the summer palace for his retired father, Emperor [[Emperor Gaozu of Tang|Gao Zu]], as an act of [[filial piety]].

=== By topic ===

==== Religion ====
* [[Aidan of Lindisfarne]], Irish [[missionary]], is summoned by King Oswald from [[Iona]] ([[Inner Hebrides]]) to establish a [[Episcopal see|bishopric]] on the holy island of [[Lindisfarne]], and reestablish Christianity in Northumbria (approximate date).
* [[Birinus]], Frankish missionary, lands at the port of "Hamwic" (now in the [[St Mary's, Southampton|St. Mary's]] area of [[Southampton]]), on his mission to reconvert the [[Wessex|West Saxons]] in England.<ref>Coles, R.J. (1981). ''Southampton's Historic Buildings''. City of Southampton Society, p. 6</ref> About this time, the [[St Mary's Church, Southampton|St Mary's Church]] is founded.<ref>''A Brief History of St. Mary's Church''. Retrieved 30 October 2009</ref> 
* [[Sophronius of Jerusalem|Sophronius]] becomes [[Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem|patriarch of Jerusalem]]. He sends [[synod]]ical letters to [[Pope Honorius I]] and the Eastern patriarchs, explaining the [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Orthodox]] belief, by renouncing [[Monothelitism]].
</onlyinclude>

== Births ==
* [[Athanasius II Baldoyo]], [[patriarch of Antioch]] (d. [[686]])
* [[Chad of Mercia]], Anglo-Saxon [[abbot]] (d. [[672]])
* [[Cuthbert]], Anglo-Saxon [[bishop]] (approximate date)
* [[En no Gyōja|En no Ozunu]], Japanese [[Asceticism|ascetic]] (approximate date)

== Deaths ==
* [[August 23]] &ndash; [[Abu Bakr]], Muslim [[Caliph]]
* [[Cadwallon ap Cadfan|Cadwallon]], king of [[Kingdom of Gwynedd|Gwynedd]] (Wales)
* [[Eanfrith of Bernicia|Eanfrith]], king of [[Bernicia]] (northern England)
* [[Sigeberht of East Anglia|Sigeberht]], king of [[Kingdom of East Anglia|East Anglia]] (approximate date)

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

=== Sources ===
{{refbegin}}
* [[Agha Ibrahim Akram|Akram, Agha Ibrahim]] ''The Sword of Allah'':
** {{cite web |last=Akram |first=A. I. |date=1969 |title=The Sword of Allah: Khalid bin al-Waleed, His Life and Campaigns |location=Lahore |publisher=Feroze Sons |url=http://www.swordofallah.com/html/bookhome.htm |url-status=dead |access-date=June 8, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020224232028/http://www.swordofallah.com/html/bookhome.htm |archive-date=February 24, 2002}}
** {{cite book |last=Akram |first=Agha Ibrahim |date=1970 |title=The Sword of Allah: Khalid bin al-Waleed, His Life and Campaigns |location=Rawalpindi |publisher=National Publishing House |isbn=978-07101-0104-4}}
* {{cite web |last=Bede |author-link=Bede |title=Book III |work=[[Ecclesiastical History of the English People]] |publisher=Internet History Sourcebooks Project |url=http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/basis/bede-book3.html |ref={{harvid|Bede Book&nbsp;III}}}}
{{refend}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:634}}
[[Category:634| ]]