724

March 3: Emperor Shōmu becomes the new ruler of Japan upon the abdication of his aunt.

Year 724 (DCCXXIV) was a leap year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar, the 724th year of the Common Era (CE) and Anno Domini (AD)

Events

By date

• January 26 – (24 Sha'ban 105 AH) Hisham ibn Abd al-Malik, becomes the new Caliph of the Umayyad Caliphate, which covers most of the Middle East, North Africa and Spain, after his brother Yazid II dies of tuberculosis following a 4-year reign.<ref>Template:EI2</ref> Hisham reigns for 19 years, during which he appoints Khalid al-Qasri as of Governor of Iraq<ref>.Template:Cite thesis</ref>
• February – Al-Jarrah ibn Abdallah of the Umayyad Caliphate inflicts a crushing defeat on the Khazars of what is now Russia in a battle fought between the Cyrus and Araxes Rivers.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
• March 3 – Empress Genshō abdicates the throne, in favor of her 23-year-old nephew, Prince Obiot, who becomes the 45th monarch of Japan as the Emperor Shōmu. He is the son of the late Emperor Monmu.<ref>Ponsonby-Fane, Richard (1959). The Imperial House of Japan, p. 57</ref>
• March 6 – Muhammad ibn Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan, the son of the Caliph Abd al-Malik, is appointed as the Umayyad Governor of Egypt after Hanzala ibn Safwan al-Kalbi resigns. He serves for only two months.
• April – Athanasius III becomes the new Patriarch of the Syriac Orthodox Church, six months after the death of Elias I.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
• May 2 – Muhammand ibn Marwan resigns as Governor of Egypt after a difference of opinion on policy, and is replaced by Al-Hurr ibn Yusuf.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
• July 11 – Prince Æthelbert of the Kingdom of Kent issues a charter that is approved by his father, King Wihtred.<ref>Anglo-Saxons.net, "S1180"</ref>
• August 15 – China's Emperor Xuanzong deposes his wife, the Empress consort Wang.<ref>Old Book of Tang, vol. 51.</ref>
• December 29 – K'ak' Tiliw Chan Yopaat becomes king (ajaw) of the Maya city-state of Quiriguá, now in Guatemala), and serves for more than 60 years until his death in 785.

By place

Europe

• Ragenfrid, ex-mayor of the palace of Neustria, revolts against Charles Martel. He is easily defeated, and Ragenfrid gives up his sons as hostages, in return for being allowed to keep his lands in Anjou.<ref>David Nicolle (2008). Poitiers AD 732, Charles Martel turns the Islamic tide (p. 18). Template:ISBN</ref>
• Cináed mac Írgalaig, also known as "the one-eyed", becomes High King of Ireland.<ref>Fragmentary Annals of Ireland, FA 178</ref>

Arabian Empire

• The Turgesh Khaganate scores a major victory over the Arabs, in the "Day of Thirst" near Khujand (modern Tajikistan).
• A Muslim fleet raids the Byzantine-ruled Balearic Islands, as well as Byzantine Sardinia and Lombard Corsica.<ref>David Nicolle (2008). Poitiers AD 732, Charles Martel turns the Islamic tide (p. 41). Template:ISBN</ref>

By topic

Architecture

• Shōmu orders that houses of the Japanese nobility be roofed with green tiles, as in China, and have white walls with red roof poles (approximate date).

Religion

• Pirmin, Visigothic monk, is appointed abbot of Mittelzell Abbey at Reichenau Island, which he has founded.<ref>Old, Hughes Oliphant (1998). The reading and preaching of the scriptures in the worship of the Christian church. Wm. Eerdmans, pp. 137–40. Template:ISBN</ref>
• Hugh of Champagne, grandson of Pepin of Herstal, is appointed bishop of Bayeux.

Births

• Dong Jin, Chinese official and general
• Fujiwara no Hamanari, Japanese noble and poet

Deaths

• January 26 – Yazid II, Muslim caliph (b. 687)
• Felix, archbishop of Ravenna
• Fogartach mac Néill, High King of Ireland
• Hababah, concubine singer of Caliph Yazid II.
• Rotrude of Treves, wife of Charles Martel
• Tonyukuk, military leader of the Göktürks (approximate date)