Editing 718

{{short description|Calendar year}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2011}}
{{About year|718}}
{{Year nav|718}}
{{M1 year in topic}}
[[File:Estatua de Don Pelayo en Covadonga, Asturias.jpg|upright=1.35|thumb|King [[Pelagius of Asturias|Pelagius (Don Pelayo)]] (c. 685–737)]]
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Year '''718''' ('''[[Roman numerals|DCCXVIII]]''') was a [[common year starting on Saturday]] of the [[Julian calendar]], the 718th year of the [[Common Era]] (CE) and [[Anno Domini]] (AD) designations, the 718th year of the [[1st millennium]], the 18th year of the [[8th century]], and the 9th year of the [[710s]] decade. 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 ==
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=== By place ===
==== Byzantine Empire ====
* Spring &ndash; 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.<ref>John Cairns, "Road to Manzikert" (2012). Byzantine Warfare in an Age of Crisis and Recovery (Chapter 3), p. 70. {{ISBN|978-1-84884-215-1}}</ref> On land the Byzantine troops ambush an advancing Arab army, and destroy it in the hills around [[Sapanca|Sophon]], south of [[Nicomedia]] (modern [[Turkey]]).<ref>{{cite journal | first=Rodolphe | last=Guilland | author-link=Rodolphe Guilland | title=L'Expedition de Maslama contre Constantinople (717–718) | journal=Études byzantines | year=1959 | language=fr | publisher=Publications de la Faculté des Lettres et Sciences Humaines de Paris | location=Paris | oclc=603552986|page=122}}</ref><ref>{{cite book | last1=Mango | first1=Cyril | author1-link=Cyril Mango | last2=Scott | first2=Roger | title=The Chronicle of Theophanes Confessor. Byzantine and Near Eastern History, AD 284–813 | location=Oxford | publisher=Oxford University Press | year=1997 | isbn=0-19-822568-7|page=546}}</ref><ref>{{cite book | last=Lilie | first=Ralph-Johannes | authorlink = Ralph-Johannes Lilie | title=Die byzantinische Reaktion auf die Ausbreitung der Araber. Studien zur Strukturwandlung des byzantinischen Staates im 7. und 8. Jhd. | language=de | location=Munich | publisher=Institut für Byzantinistik und Neugriechische Philologie der Universität München | year=1976 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7mUbAAAAYAAJ |pages=130–131}}</ref><ref>{{A History of the Byzantine State and Society|page=348}}</ref> The Arab besiegers are still suffering from [[hunger]] and pestilence.
* [[August 15]] &ndash; [[Siege of Constantinople (717–718)|Siege of Constantinople]]: A [[First Bulgarian Empire|Bulgar]] relief force attacks the [[Investment (military)|siege line]]s at [[Constantinople]], on the west side of the [[Bosphorus|Bosporus]]. Contemporary [[chronicle]]rs 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 [[storm]]s, and an [[Types of volcanic eruptions|eruption]] of the [[volcano]] of [[Santorini|Thera]].<ref>{{A History of the Byzantine State and Society|pages= 347–349}}</ref> According to Arab sources 150,000 Muslims perish during the campaign.<ref>{{cite book | first = John F. | last = Haldon | title = Byzantium in the Seventh Century: The Transformation of a Culture. Revised Edition | year = 1990 | publisher = [[Cambridge University Press]] | location=Cambridge | isbn = 978-0-521-31917-1 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pSHmT1G_5T0C |page=83}}</ref>

==== Western Europe ====
{{Anchor|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) but 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 &ndash; [[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)<ref>David Nicolle (2008). Poitiers AD 732, Charles Martel turns the Islamic tide (p. 17). {{ISBN|978-184603-230-1}}</ref> (or 722).
* King [[Liutprand, King of the Lombards|Liutprand]] of the [[Lombards]] builds a close [[Military alliance|alliance]] with Charles Martel, and attacks the [[Bavaria]]n 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 Rouen (died 730)|Hugh of Champagne]], cousin of Charles Martel, enters the [[monastery]] of [[Jumièges Abbey|Jumièges]] ([[Normandy]]), and embraces the religious life as [[abbot]]. 
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== 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 ==
{{Reflist}}

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