642
| Years: 638 639 640 641 - 642 - 643 644 645 646 | |
| Decades: 610s 620s 630s - 640s - 650s 660s 670s | |
| Centuries: 6th century - 7th century - 8th century | |
Events
- August 5 - In the Battle of Maserfield, Penda king of Mercia defeats and kills Oswald, king of Bernicia.
- November 24 - Theodore succeeds John IV as Pope.
- Battle of Nehaward: Arabs conquer Persia.
- Empress Kogyoku ascends to the throne of Japan.
- Batbayan succeeds Kubrat as ruler of the Bulgars (approximate date).
- Monastic settlement founded in Hampshire, England, which later becomes Winchester Cathedral.
- Yeon Gaesomun seizes power over the Goguryeo kingdom and places King Bojang on the throne.
Births
Deaths
- August 5 - Oswald, king of Bernicia and Bretwalda
- October 12 - Pope John IV
- Khalid bin Walid, Muslim general, conqueror of Damascus and Syria
- King Yeongnyu of Goguryeo