605. Phocas begins his cruelties; Constantina, the widow of Maurice, is tortured and afterward beheaded with her daughters; Narses is decoyed to Constantinople and there burned alive. The hippodrome is defaced by the heads and mangled remains of the tyrant's victims.
607. Phocas concedes to Boniface III the supremacy of Rome over all Christian churches.
608. Boniface IV consecrates the Pantheon—built by Agrippa to the memory of his divine ancestors B.C. 27—as the Church of Santa Maria Rotunda.
Khusrau II, King of Persia, invades Asia Minor.
610. Phocas is given up to Heraclius and beheaded; Heraclius declared emperor of the East.
Venetia has an incursion of the Avars.
612. Cæsarea, Cappadocia, taken by the Persians.
Syria is invaded by the Saracens.
613. Clotaire unites under his rule all the territories of the Franks.
The youthful Ali becomes Mahomet's vizier.