Year by year · 7th century

642 CE

642 CE in world history: 8 events and 5 deaths. 248 recorded states existed that year.

Events

  1. 5 August · Battle

    Battle of Maserfield

    The Battle of Maserfield was fought on 5 August 642 between Penda of Mercia and Oswald of Northumbria, probably at Oswestry in Shropshire.

  2. Battle

    Battle of Nihawand

    The Battle of Nihawand was fought in 642 CE in western Iran between the armies of the Rashidun Caliphate and the forces of the Sasanian Empire.

  3. Battle

    Battle of Strathcarron

    The Battle of Strathcarron was fought in 642 in the valley of the River Carron near Falkirk, Scotland.

ProfileState172 states with a known seat in 642 CEOpen the atlas at 642 CE →

In the profiles

  • Rashidun CaliphateVictory at Nihawand breaks the last organised Sasanian field army
  • MakuriaMakurian archers repel an Arab raid sent from newly conquered Egypt
  • Pallava dynastyNarasimhavarman I sacks Vatapi; the Chalukya king Pulakeshin II dies
  • Chalukyas of BadamiPallava king Narasimhavarman I takes Vatapi; Pulakeshin II dies

Wars and longer events

Died in 642 CE 5

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Cite this page
APA
The Epoch Institute. (2026). 642 CE. In The Epoch Institute, Year by Year. https://the-epoch-institute.org/years/642
MLA
“642 CE.” The Epoch Institute, Year by Year, The Epoch Institute, 2026, https://the-epoch-institute.org/years/642. Accessed .
Chicago
The Epoch Institute. “642 CE.” The Epoch Institute, Year by Year. 2026. https://the-epoch-institute.org/years/642.
Harvard
The Epoch Institute (2026) ‘642 CE’, The Epoch Institute, Year by Year. Available at: https://the-epoch-institute.org/years/642 (Accessed: ).