485 CE

Peter the Fuller, patriarch of Antioch, is condemned and excommunicated by a synod of Western bishops at Rome. Prince Kenzō succeeds his adoptive father Seinei, and becomes the 23rd emperor of Japan. Emperor Xiaowen institutes an "equal-field" system of agriculture (juntian), assigning each peasant family about 19 acres (140 mu) of land. The land will be part minority divided by the farmer to be kept indefinitely and rest will revert to the state if the farmer dies or retires. The population is then divided by each other with the role of supervising one another. The result of this reform is that farmers mostly did not sell their holdings to large landowners. This provided the fiscal basis for the formation of the Sui and Tang dynasties.

In the 480s, the 5th century.

Geopolitics & Diplomacy

  • Fearing of a war with the Southern Qi, Jiaozhou governor Lý Thúc Hiến surrendered, officially marking the end of nearly 20 years of Lý clan rule in the region.source
  • Prince Kenzō succeeds his adoptive father Seinei, and becomes the 23rd emperor of Japan.source
  • Emperor Xiaowen institutes an "equal-field" system of agriculture (juntian), assigning each peasant family about 19 acres (140 mu) of land. The land will be part minority divided by the farmer to be kept indefinitely and rest will revert to the state if the farmer dies or retires. The population is then divided by each other with the role of supervising one another. The result of this reform is that farmers mostly did not sell their holdings to large landowners. This provided the fiscal basis for the formation of the Sui and Tang dynasties.source

Conflict & Security

  • Period of Arthur's "twelve battles", during which he gains reputation for invincibility (approximate date).source
  • Aelle of Sussex, king of the South Saxons, fights the Britons at the stream of Mercredesburne. The battle ends in a draw (according to the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle).source

Religion & Belief

  • Peter the Fuller, patriarch of Antioch, is condemned and excommunicated by a synod of Western bishops at Rome.source

Births

  • Samson of Dol, bishop and saint (approximate date)source
  • Cassiodorus, Roman statesman and writer (approximate date)source

Deaths

  • April 17 – Proclus, Greek Neoplatonist philosopher (born 412)source
  • Asclepigenia, Athenian philosopher and mystic (born 430)source
  • Fincath mac Garrchu, king of Leinstersource