697

Year 697 was a common year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar. The denomination 697 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

Paolo Lucio Anafesto is elected the first Doge of Venice, which begins its rise as a major power in the Mediterranean Sea. Built up from fishing villages settled by fugitives from the Huns, the city of Venice occupies some 60 marshy islands.
Radbod, king of the Frisians, retreats to the island of Heligoland in the North Sea.
Britain
Queen Osthryth of Mercia is murdered by her own noblemen. She is buried at Bardney Abbey, and later revered as a saint.
Arabian Empire
Syrian forces under Al-Hajjaj ibn Yusuf, governor of Iraq, defeat the Persian Kharijites, who have captured the city of Mosul and occupy large parts of Mesopotamia.
Asia
Empress Jitō abdicates the throne in favor of the 14-year-old Monmu. During her 11-year reign she has established the foundations of law in Japan.
Mesoamerica
The Mayan city of Bahlam Jol is destroyed by Naranjo as retaliation for rebelling against its suzerain.
By topic

Council of Birr: The northern part of Ireland accepts the Roman calculations for celebrating Easter. At this synod Adomnán, abbot of Iona, promulgates his Cáin Adomnáin.
A festival, for the opening of the eyes of Buddhist images, is held in Yakushi-ji Temple in Japan.