The world in 785 AD — what happened that year

9 events the sources record for this year, grouped by region.

What happened

Niu Mingjun, the Shuofang general, beheaded Li Huaiguang and sent his head to court; Ma Shou recovered Puzhou. (Old Book of Tang (Jiu Tangshu), Annals 舊唐書卷12 貞元1年)
At Chaoyi, south of the Changchun Palace, Ma Sui and Hun Jian defeat the army of Li Huaiguang. (Zizhi Tongjian (Comprehensive Mirror) 資治通鑑卷231)
Ma Sui arrives beneath the walls of Hezhong, and Xu Tingguang opens the gate and surrenders. (Zizhi Tongjian (Comprehensive Mirror) 資治通鑑卷232)

When King Seondeok died, Ichan Kim Juwon could not cross because the Alcheon river had swelled; meanwhile Gyeongsin, who was not in the line of succession, entered the palace first and ascended the throne. (Samguk Yusa (Memorabilia of the Three Kingdoms) 紀異第二元聖大王)

Chūnagon Fujiwara no Tanetsugu is struck by a bandit's arrow and dies. (Shoku Nihongi (Continued Chronicles of Japan) 續日本紀卷第38 「乙夘。中納言正三位兼」)

Having summoned his wife and children to Eresburg and posted a garrison, Charles, with a swift army, stirs up Saxon villages all winter long, plundering them and inflicting great damage on Saxony (Royal Frankish Annals ARF(Einhard판) a.785, Kurze 1895 p.69)
When winter ends and supplies arrive, Charles holds the regular assembly at Paderborn and then goes to Bardengau (Royal Frankish Annals ARF(Einhard판) a.785, Kurze 1895 p.69)
Hearing at Bardengau that Widukind and Abbio are across the Elbe, Charles persuades them; after receiving guarantees of safety, the two come with the king's envoy Amalwinus to the palace of Attigny and are baptized (Royal Frankish Annals ARF(Einhard판) a.785, Kurze 1895 p.71)
In the same year, across the Rhine in East Francia, a great conspiracy led by Count Hardrad breaks out, but is soon discovered, and the ringleaders are blinded or sentenced to exile (Royal Frankish Annals ARF(Einhard판) a.785, Kurze 1895 p.71)