Umayyad troops under Abdallah al-Battal and Mu'awiya ibn Hisham raze Gangra and …

…besiege Nicaea, the capital of the Opsikian Theme.

After forty days of siege, the Arab army abandons the attempt and returns to the Caliphate.

The successful repulsion of the attack is a major boost for Leo III’s recently initiated campaign to abolish the veneration of icons in the Empire; Leo claims it as evidence of divine favor for his policy.

Venice emerges as an independent city-state in the first half of the eighth century.

Venetian authority becomes concentrated in the city-state’s first doge, whose title derives from the Latin “dux” ("leader").

Orso Ipato, the third traditional Doge of Venice, is the first historically known.

Elected leader of Venice around 726, will eventually be appointed Roman consul by Emperor Leo III.

According to John Julius Norwich (A History of Venice. Alfred A. Knopf: New York, 1982), Paolo Lucio Anafesto, the reputed first doge of Venice, was actually Exarch Paul.

Moreover, Paul's magister militum had the same first name as Paoluccio's reputed successor, Marcellus Tegallianus, casting doubt on the authenticity of that doge as well.

As popular revolts against iconoclasm break out in the late 720s in Venice, ...

…Naples, …

…Rome, and elsewhere, …

…the Lombards, under their king Liutprand (reigned 712–744), are able to extend their influence despite attempts by Pope Gregory II, who is friendly with Liutprand, to restrain Lombard expansion in Italy.

Liutprand, choosing this time of division to strike the imperial possessions in Emilia, crosses the Po in 727 and takes Bologna, …

…Osimo, …

…Rimini and …

…Ancona, …