520 CE

Epiphanius is elected patriarch of Constantinople by Byzantine Emperor Justin I. Byzantine general Vitalian becomes consul, and is shortly later murdered, probably on the orders of Justinian, the nephew and heir-apparent of Emperor Justin I. Priscian, Latin grammarian, writes the Institutiones Grammaticae ("Grammatical Foundations"). In Constantinople, he codifies this manuscript in 18 volumes, which will be widely used through the Middle Ages. It provides the raw material for the field of speculative grammar.

In the 520s, the 6th century.

Geopolitics & Diplomacy

  • The Kingdom of East Anglia is formed, by the merging of the English counties of Norfolk and Suffolk, and perhaps the eastern part of The Fens (approximate date).source
  • King Pabo Post Prydain of the Pennines (Northern England) abdicates his throne, and divides the kingdom between his two sons. He retires, as a hermit, to Anglesey.source

Religion & Belief

  • February 25 – Epiphanius is elected patriarch of Constantinople by Byzantine Emperor Justin I.source
  • Bodhidharma, Buddhist monk, arrives in Luoyang. He spreads Buddhism and travels to the northern Chinese kingdom of Wei, to the Shaolin Monastery.source
  • The construction of the Basilica of San Vitale in Ravenna, is started (approximate date).source
  • The monastery of Seridus, where Barsanuphius and John the Prophet lived as hermits, is founded in the region of Gaza.source

Crime & Justice

  • July – Byzantine general Vitalian becomes consul, and is shortly later murdered, probably on the orders of Justinian, the nephew and heir-apparent of Emperor Justin I.source

Culture & Society

  • King Budic II returns to Cornouaille (Brittany), to claim the Breton throne (approximate date).source
  • Priscian, Latin grammarian, writes the Institutiones Grammaticae ("Grammatical Foundations"). In Constantinople, he codifies this manuscript in 18 volumes, which will be widely used through the Middle Ages. It provides the raw material for the field of speculative grammar.source
  • Ostrogothic ruler Theodoric the Great builds the Mausoleum of Theodoric as his future tomb in Ravenna (Italy).source

Births

  • Justin II, emperor of the Byzantine Empire (died 578)source
  • Zuhayr bin Abi Sulma, Arabian poet (approx.)source
  • Martin of Braga, missionary and archbishop (died 580)source
  • Hou Andu, general of the Chen dynasty (died 563)source
  • Radegund, Frankish princess (approx.)source
  • Pope Pelagius II of Rome (died 589)source
  • Malo, Welsh bishop (approximate date)source

Deaths

  • January 19 – John of Cappadocia, patriarch of Constantinoplesource
  • July – Vitalian, Byzantine general, consulsource
  • Maximinus, Frankish abbot and saint (approximate date)source
  • Isidore of Alexandria, Neoplatonist philosopher (approximate date)source
  • Abbán, Irish cult leader and saint (approx.)source
  • Ardgal mac Conaill, king of Uisneach (Ireland)source
  • Zu Gengzhi, Chinese mathematician (approx.)source