What happened in 677 AD.

COMET OF YEAR 677 AD IN ENGLISH MEDIEVAL

HISTORY.

R. R. Chau and A. A. Mardon. E-mail: aamardon@yahoo.ca.

Often in the Medieval ages, comets were interpreted as signs

and omens. Certain events were recorded after the documentation

of the comet with an intent to link them. However, 677 AD was

one of the many years that Medieval historians began to take notice

and record the appearance of comets without linking them to

specific events. This is specifically written in the Ethelwerds

Chronicle of the Flores Historiarum compiled by Matthew Paris

[1]. It writes: "In the year of grace 677, Donus sat in the Roman

chair one year, five months, and ten days, after which the see remained

vacant ten months and fifteen days. At this time flourished

St. Etheldrida, in the Isle of Ely. In these days also appeared

a comet for three months, and each day it shone in the

morning with a splendour equal to the sun" [2]. This is one of the

first documentations of comets that was not linked to any following

events.

References: [1] Mardon E.G. and Mardon A.A. 2008. English

Medieval Cometary References Over a Thousand Years [2]