Year by year · 7th century

685 CE

685 CE in world history: 4 events and 2 deaths. 255 recorded states existed that year.

Events

  1. 20 May

    The Picts defeat and kill King Ecgfrith of Northumbria at Dun Nechtain

    The Picts under King Bridei son of Beli defeated the Northumbrians, and Ecgfrith, who had ruled Northumbria at the height of its power, lost his life. Bridei's reign saw a strong Pictish state form north of the Forth.

    Kingdom of the PictsBattle of Dun NechtainBridei son of BeliEcgfrith of Northumbria

  2. 23 July

    John V becomes pope without prior imperial consent

    John V became bishop of Rome, the first pope of the Byzantine Papacy consecrated without prior imperial consent and the first of ten consecutive popes of Eastern origin. His short papacy was marked by reconciliation between Rome and the Empire.

ProfileState179 states with a known seat in 685 CEOpen the atlas at 685 CE →

In the profiles

Died in 685 CE 2

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Cite this page
APA
The Epoch Institute. (2026). 685 CE. In The Epoch Institute, Year by Year. https://the-epoch-institute.org/years/685
MLA
“685 CE.” The Epoch Institute, Year by Year, The Epoch Institute, 2026, https://the-epoch-institute.org/years/685. Accessed .
Chicago
The Epoch Institute. “685 CE.” The Epoch Institute, Year by Year. 2026. https://the-epoch-institute.org/years/685.
Harvard
The Epoch Institute (2026) ‘685 CE’, The Epoch Institute, Year by Year. Available at: https://the-epoch-institute.org/years/685 (Accessed: ).