612 Explained

Year 612 (DCXII) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. The denomination 612 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

• August 13  - Empress Eudokia, wife of Heraclius, dies of epilepsy. She leaves two children, and is buried in the Church of the Holy Apostles in Constantinople.

Europe

• King Theudebert II is defeated by his brother Theuderic II at Toul (northeastern France). He is captured in battle and, after having his royal paraphernalia taken, is handed over to his grandmother Brunhilda. He is put in a monastery, and assassinated with his son Merovech. Theuderic, age 25, becomes sole ruler of Austrasia and Burgundy.
• Sisebut succeeds Gundemar as king of the Visigoths. He begins a campaign against the remains of Byzantine power in Spania.Roger Collins, "Visigothic Spain 409–711", (Blackwell Publishing, 2004), p. 75

Asia

• Goguryeo–Sui War: Emperor Yángdi invades Goguryeo (Korea) with an expeditionary force of over one million men, named the "24 Armies".^[1]
• Battle of Salsu: A Sui force of 305,000 men is defeated by the Korean general Eulji Mundeok at the Yalu River; only 2,700 troops survive.^[2]

Mesoamerica

• October 22  - Sak K'uk' succeeds her father Aj Ne' Yohl Mat, as queen of the Maya state of Palenque (modern Mexico).

By topic

Religion

• Columbanus moves to Italy and establishes the monastery of Bobbio (approximate date).
• The Holy Sponge is brought to Constantinople from Palestine.
• Arnulf, counselor of Theudebert II, becomes bishop of Metz.
• Gallus founds the monastery of St. Gallen (Switzerland).

Births

• May 3  - Constantine III, Byzantine emperor (d. 641)
• Germanus of Granfelden, Frankish abbot (approximate date)
• Oswiu, king of Northumbria (approximate date)

Deaths

• c. February–March  - Gundemar, king of the Visigoths
• March 6  - Janaab' Pakal, king of Palenque
• August 13  - Fabia Eudokia, Byzantine empress consort
• Áed Uaridnach, High King of Ireland
• Aj Ne' Yohl Mat, king of Palenque
• Conall Laeg Breg, king of Brega (Ireland)
• Theudebert II, king of Austrasia (b. 586)

Notes and References

1. Web site: KBS World . March 27, 2013 . May 25, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130525174524/http://rki.kbs.co.kr/english/korea/korea_history_con22.htm . dead .
2. Web site: Association for Asia Research- The forgotten glory of Koguryo . March 27, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090228103748/http://www.asianresearch.org/articles/1613.html . February 28, 2009 . dead .