text: The captured Caratacus is exhibited in chains in Claudius' triumph in Rome, but his dignified demeanour persuades the emperor to spare his life and allow his family to live free in the capital for a short period of time.

source_section: Events › 51 AD › Britain


year_label: 51 CE

section: Deaths

text: Mithridates of Armenia, Roman client king

source_section: Deaths › 51 AD


text: Gotarzes II, king of the Parthian Empire


text: Vonones II dies a few months after he had ascended to the throne. His son Vologases I becomes the new Parthian king.

source_section: Events › 51 AD › Parthia


text: Vonones II, king of the Parthian Empire


text: Lucius Vitellius the Elder, Roman consul (b. 5 BC)


section: Geopolitics & Diplomacy

text: Theodoric the Great appoints his friend Anicius Manlius Severinus Boethius, Roman philosopher, to the rank of consul of the Ostrogothic Kingdom.

source_section: Events › By place › Europe


text: The Sasanian Persians conquer the independent kingdom of Caucasian Albania, a state converted to Christianity in the 4th century by Armenian missionaries (approximate date).

source_section: Events › By place › Persian Empire


section: Conflict & Security

text: Battle of Llongborth (possibly Langport or Portsmouth): King Budic II of Brittany seeks refuge at the court of Aergol Lawhir, in Dyfed (Wales) after the battle.

source_section: Events › By place › Britannia


text: King Theodoric the Great raises the Frankish siege at Arles; the city is heroically defended by its inhabitants, assisted by the Ostrogothic general Theudis. The Ostrogoths overrun Provence (Southern Gaul), and consolidate their gains in the region.


section: Births

text: Aredius, abbot and saint (approximate date)

source_section: Births


text: Gildas, Celtic monk (approximate date)


text: Xiao Wu Di, emperor of Northern Wei (d. 535)


text: Yifu, empress of Western Wei (d. 540)


text: Xiao Ming Di, emperor of Northern Wei (d. 528)


date: January 1

text: January 1 – Eugendus, abbot of Condat Abbey

source_section: Deaths


text: Tato, king of the Lombards (approximate date)


text: Hashim, great-grandfather of Muhammad (approximate date)


text: Drest II, king of the Picts (approximate date)


text: Ostrogothic King Theodoric the Great assumes the regency over Amalaric, his grandson and future king of the Visigothic Kingdom - Theodoric now rules over territory stretching from the Atlantic Ocean to the Adriatic Sea.


section: Religion & Belief

text: The convent of Saint-Césaire is built in Arles.

source_section: Events › By topic › Religion


text: Riots erupt in the streets of Antioch, between supporters of Patriarch Flavian II and Emperor Anastasius I, in sympathy with Non-Chalcedonianism.

source_section: Events › By place › Byzantine Empire


text: Macedonius II is deposed as patriarch of Constantinople, and replaced by Timothy I.


text: First Council of Orléans: Clovis I convenes a synod of Gallic bishops to reform the Church, and create a link between the Crown and the Catholic episcopate.


section: Science & Discovery

text: Aryabhata, Indian astronomer and mathematician, comes up with concepts of mathematical equations, one of which explains the rotation of the Earth on its axis. This concept is far ahead of its time and he is fairly accurate in his description of it. He also comes up with a lot of other ideas about the Solar System, but many of them are flawed because he considers the Earth to be the center of the universe. Aryabhata is often given credit for coming up with the number zero and using it as a placeholder.

source_section: Events › By topic › Inventions


text: Yang Yin, official of Northern Qi (d. 560)


date: November 27

text: November 27 – King Clovis I dies at Paris (Lutetia) at age 45, and is buried in the Abbey of St. Genevieve. The Merovingian dynasty is continued by his four sons (Theuderic I, Chlodomer, Childebert I and Chlothar I), who divide the Frankish Kingdom and rule from the capitals at Metz, Orléans, Paris and Soissons, respectively.


text: November 27 – Clovis I, king of the Franks


text: Gesalic, king of the Visigoths


text: Emperor Anastasius I ends a period of moderate eclectic policy, and starts strongly favoring his own monophysitist beliefs.


text: The Ostrogoths conquer the Frankish province Rouergue (Southern Gaul).


text: Areobindus, Byzantine general, is proclaimed emperor during a riot at Constantinople but refuses to take part in the usurpation.


text: The island nation of Usan-guk is conquered by the Silla dynasty (Korea), under general Kim Isabu.

source_section: Events › By place › Asia


section: Exploration & Expansion

text: Anastasius I constructs a wall from the Black Sea to the Sea of Marmara, to protect Constantinople from raiding Bulgars and Slavs.


section: Technology & Infrastructure

text: The first written text in the Arabic alphabet is recorded at Zabad (Syria).

source_section: Events › By topic › Literature


section: Climate & Environment

text: King Theodoric the Great grants citizens on Mount Vesuvius exemption from taxes, after a severe eruption in southeastern Italy.


text: Lady Xian, Chinese general (d. 602)


text: Wu Mingche, general of the Chen dynasty (d. 578)


text: David, Welsh bishop and saint (approximate date)


text: Eutychius, patriarch of Constantinople (approximate date)


text: Maurus, Roman abbot and saint (d. 584)


text: Areobindus, Byzantine general and politician


text: Wang Baoming, empress of Southern Qi (b. 455)


text: King Kavadh I adopts the doctrine of the Mazdakites, and breaks the influence of the magnates' (nobility).

source_section: Events › By place › Persia


text: The Jewish community revolts at Ctesiphon against Mazdakism, and establishes an independent Jewish kingdom that lasts for seven years.


text: Anastasius I sends an embassy under the former consul Patricius to start negotiations. Vitalian declares his aims: restoration of Chalcedonian Orthodoxy and the settling of the Thracian foederati.


text: Revolt of Vitalian: Byzantine general Vitalian revolts against Emperor Anastasius I, and conquers a large part of the Diocese of Thrace. He gains the support of the local people, and assembles an army of 50,000–60,000 men.


text: Vitalian defeats the Byzantines at Acris (Bulgaria), on the Black Sea coast. He attacks their fortified Laager in darkness, and in a crushing defeat kills a large part of the imperial army.


text: Vitalian accepts an agreement and returns with his army to Lower Moesia. After a few inconclusive skirmishes, Anastasius I sends a Byzantine army (80,000 men) under his nephew Hypatius.


text: Anastasius I reduces taxes in the provinces of Bithynia and Asia, to prevent them from joining the rebellion. Vitalian marches to Constantinople and encamps at the suburb of Hebdomon (modern Turkey).


text: Vigor becomes bishop of Bayeux. He opposes paganism and founds a monastery later known as Saint-Vigor-le-Grand (Normandy).


text: An Ding Wang, emperor of Northern Wei (d. 532)


text: Gesalec, king of the Visigoths (approximate date)


text: Shen Yue, Chinese historian and statesman (b. 441)


text: Vitalian, Byzantine general, marches again to Constantinople. A fleet of 200 vessels sails from the Black Sea ports and blockades the entrance of the harbor capital. Emperor Anastasius I is disquieted by riots in the city, which cost many casualties, and decides to negotiate with Vitalian.


text: Beopheung becomes king of the Korean kingdom of Silla.


section: Crime & Justice

text: Vitalian accepts the receipt of ransom money and gifts worth 5,000 pounds of gold for the release of Hypatius, a nephew of Anastasius I who has been a prisoner since the attack at Acris (see 513). Vitalian retreats back to Lower Moesia.


section: Culture & Society

text: Cissa of Sussex becomes king of the South Saxons after his father's death (approximate date).


date: July 19

text: July 19 – Pope Symmachus dies at Rome after a tenure of 15 years, 7 months and 27 days. He is succeeded by Hormisdas.


text: Aelle of Sussex, king of Sussex (approximate date)


text: Jayavarman, king of Funan (Cambodia)


text: Autumn – Revolt of Vitalian: Byzantine general (magister militum) Vitalian mobilises his army, and marches again towards Constantinople. He captures the suburb of Sycae (modern Turkey) across the Golden Horn, and encamps there.


text: Emperor Anastasius I gives Marinus, former praetorian prefect of the East, command over the Byzantine army. He defeats the rebel fleet at the harbor entrance, using a sulfur-based chemical substance, similar to the later Greek fire.


text: Marinus lands with an army on the shore of Sycae and defeats the rebels. Disheartened by the losses suffered, Vitalian flees north under cover of the night.


text: The St. Maurice's Abbey (Switzerland) is founded by Sigismund of Burgundy. He sets up five groups of monks to whom he entrusts the liturgy of the praise of God.


text: Amalasuintha, daughter of king Theodoric the Great, marries Eutharic, an Ostrogoth noble of the old Amal line.


text: As a sign of his victory, Anastasius I leads a procession to Sosthenion, and attends a service of thanks at the local church dedicated to the Archangel Michael.


text: Hulü Guang, general of Northern Qi (d. 572)


text: Yuwen Hu, regent of Northern Zhou (d. 572)


text: Approximate date – Cainnech of Aghaboe, Irish abbot and saint (d. 600)


text: Xuan Wu Di, emperor of Northern Wei (b. 483)


text: Euphemius, patriarch of Constantinople


text: Empress Ariadne, wife of Emperor Anastasius I, dies at Constantinople and is buried in the Church of the Holy Apostles.


text: Gao Zhao, high official of Northern Wei


text: Hygelac, king of the Geats (Sweden), raids the Lower Rhine, and is defeated by a Frankish force led by Theudebert (according to the "History of the Franks").


text: Battle of Badon, British defeat of the Saxons, traditionally associated with King Arthur (traditional date)

source_section: Events › By place › Great Britain


text: Emperor Wu appoints Lý Tắc, a Jiaozhou's state official, as the governor. Lý Tắc then suppresses the rebellion of Lý Tông Lão, a former subordinate of Lý Nguyên Khải, the previous governor of Jiaozhou, then beheads him to bring his head to Jiankang, as an offering to the emperor.

source_section: Events › By place › Vietnam


date: November 6

text: November 6 – The Council of Tarragona (modern Spain) is held.


text: Athalaric, king of the Ostrogoths (d. 534)


text: Ciarán of Clonmacnoise, Irish bishop (d. 546)


text: Hygelac, king of the Geats (approximate date)


text: Gundobad, king of the Burgundians


text: King Gundobad of the Burgundians dies peacefully after a 43-year reign, and is succeeded by his eldest son Sigismund.


text: Oisc, king of Kent (approximate date)


text: John, Coptic Orthodox patriarch of Alexandria


text: Council of Epaone: Bishops of southern Gaul convene near Epao (present Anneyron) in Burgundy. The synod enacts the first legislation against wooden altars, forbidding the building of any but stone altars with chrism (a mixture of oil and spice).


text: King Sigismund of Burgundy is opposed by his son Sigeric, and has him strangled. Overcome with remorse, he retreats to the monastery that he founded, St. Maurice's Abbey (modern Switzerland).


text: Emperor Wu Di of the Liang Dynasty becomes a Buddhist, and introduces the new religion to central China. He demands that sacrifices to imperial ancestors be changed to using dried meat, instead of the traditional animals (goats, pigs and cows).

source_section: Events › By place › China


text: Aryabhata compiles his manual of mathematics and astronomy (approximate date).

source_section: Events › By topic › Science


text: Ebrulf, Frankish hermit and abbot (d. 596)


text: Charibert I, king of the Franks (approximate date)


date: April 5

text: April 5 – Timothy I, patriarch of Constantinople


text: Dioscorus II, Coptic Orthodox patriarch of Alexandria


text: Macedonius II, patriarch of Constantinople (approximate date)


text: Jabalah IV ibn al-Harith becomes the king of the Ghassanids. He invades Palestine, but is defeated by a Byzantine army under general (dux) Romanus.

source_section: Events › By place › Arabia


text: Approximate date – Jewish king Dhu Nuwas (also known as Yūsuf Asar Yathar) usurps the kingship of Himyar from Ma'dikarib Ya'fur.


date: September 29

text: September 29 – Severus, patriarch of Antioch, is deposed by a synod for his Monophysitism. Paul the Jew is appointed to replace him.


text: Justin I founds the Justinian dynasty and makes his nephew Flavius Petrus Sabbatius (later Justinian I) his trusted advisor. He becomes the emperor's close confidant and possibly acts as regent. Theocritus, candidate to the throne, is accused of a conspiracy and executed.


text: An earthquake destroys the city of Scupi (modern-day Skopje, North Macedonia), in what once was the Roman province of Moesia Superior.

source_section: Events › By place › Balkans


text: Matasuntha, queen of the Ostrogoths (approximate date)


text: Gildas, British saint (approximate date)


text: Mungo, Brythonic apostle and saint (approximate date)


date: April 21

text: April 21 – Yu Zhong, official and regent of Northern Wei (b. 462)


date: July 9

text: July 9 – Anastasius I Dicorus, Byzantine emperor


text: July 9 – Emperor Anastasius I dies childless at Constantinople, age 88, after a 27-year reign in which he has abolished the sale of offices, reformed taxation, and perfected the empire's monetary system, but antagonized some with his heretical Monophysite religious policies. He is succeeded by Justin I (Flavius Justinus), his comes excubitorum, commander of the palace guard. After his death, he leaves the imperial treasury richer by 23,000,000 solidi or 320,000 pounds of gold.


date: July

text: July – Theocritus, Byzantine pretender (executed)


date: November 14

text: November 14 – Gao, Chinese empress dowager of Northern Wei (murdered)


text: Flavian II, banished patriarch of Antioch


text: Aeneas of Gaza, Neoplatonist and Christian philosopher (approximate date)


text: Tonantius Ferreolus, Gallo-Roman senator (approximate date)


text: Moninne of Killeavy, one of Ireland's early women saints (approximate date)


text: Anjang becomes ruler of the Korean kingdom of Goguryeo.


text: Cerdic becomes the first king of the Kingdom of Wessex.


date: August 28

text: August 28 – Theodoric's tricennium, a 30-year statute of limitations, after which unlawful seizures of land during his 489 invasion of Italy can no longer be contested, ends.

source_section: Events › By place › Europe


date: March 28

text: March 28 – The Eastern and Western churches reconcile their differences, ending the Acacian Schism.


text: The Memoirs of Eminent Monks is compiled.


text: In Ireland, the Diocese of Kildare is erected.


text: Jacob of Serugh becomes bishop of Batnan (near modern Diyarbakir, Turkey).


section: Disasters & Accidents

text: The synagogues of Ravenna are burnt down in a riot; Theodoric the Great orders them to be rebuilt at Ravenna's expense.


text: Xuan Di, emperor of the Liang Dynasty (d. 562)


text: Munjamyeong of Goguryeo, 21st king of Goguryeo


year_label: 52 CE

text: Pliny the Elder writes his account of the German wars.

source_section: Events › 52 AD › Roman Empire


text: Ananias, a high priest in Jerusalem, is sent to Rome after being accused of violence.

source_section: Events › 52 AD › Palestine


text: Saint Thomas, one of the twelve disciples of Jesus, is believed to have landed in Kodungallur, India to preach the Gospel; the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church, the Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church, the Indian Orthodox Church, and the Assyrian Church of the East claim descent from him.

source_section: Events › 52 AD › India


text: Barea Soranus is consul suffectus in Rome.


text: Emperor Claudius attempts to control the Fucine Lake by digging a 5.6 km tunnel through Monte Salviano, requiring 30,000 workers and eleven years.


text: Claudius completes the Aqua Claudia and Anio Novus, two aqueduct projects started by Caligula.


section: Health & Medicine

text: In Rome, a law prohibits the execution of old and crippled slaves.


text: The Yuejue Shu, the first known gazetteer of China, is written during the Han Dynasty.

source_section: Events › 52 AD › China


text: Guo Shengtong, Chinese empress of the Han Dynasty

source_section: Deaths › 52 AD


text: Julia Iotapa, queen of Commagene (approximate date)


text: In Britain, governor Publius Ostorius Scapula dies while campaigning against the Silures of south Wales. Following his death, the Roman Second Legion are heavily defeated by the Silures. His replacement is Aulus Didius Gallus, who quells the rebellion and consolidates the gains the Romans have so far made, but does not seek new ones.

source_section: Events › 52 AD › Britain


text: Publius Ostorius Scapula, Roman statesman and general


text: Gamaliel, Jewish leader (nasi) (approximate date)


text: 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_section: Events › By place › Britannia


text: 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.


date: February 25

text: February 25 – Epiphanius is elected patriarch of Constantinople by Byzantine Emperor Justin I.

source_section: Events › By topic › Religion


text: Bodhidharma, Buddhist monk, arrives in Luoyang. He spreads Buddhism and travels to the northern Chinese kingdom of Wei, to the Shaolin Monastery.

source_section: Events › By place › Asia


text: 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_section: Events › By place › Byzantine Empire


text: The monastery of Seridus, where Barsanuphius and John the Prophet lived as hermits, is founded in the region of Gaza.


text: The construction of the Basilica of San Vitale in Ravenna, is started (approximate date).


text: 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.


text: King Budic II returns to Cornouaille (Brittany), to claim the Breton throne (approximate date).


text: Ostrogothic ruler Theodoric the Great builds the Mausoleum of Theodoric as his future tomb in Ravenna (Italy).


text: Justin II, emperor of the Byzantine Empire (d. 578)

source_section: Births


text: Zuhayr bin Abi Sulma, Arabian poet (approx.)


text: Martin of Braga, missionary and archbishop (d. 580)


text: Hou Andu, general of the Chen dynasty (d. 563)


text: Radegund, Frankish princess (approx.)


text: Pope Pelagius II of Rome (d. 589)


text: Malo, Welsh bishop (approximate date)


date: January 19

text: January 19 – John of Cappadocia, patriarch of Constantinople

source_section: Deaths


text: July – Vitalian, Byzantine general, consul


text: Maximinus, Frankish abbot and saint (approximate date)


text: Isidore of Alexandria, Neoplatonist philosopher (approximate date)


text: Abbán, Irish cult leader and saint (approx.)


text: Ardgal mac Conaill, king of Uisneach (Ireland)


text: Zu Gengzhi, Chinese mathematician (approx.)


text: Ma`adikarib Ya`fur becomes king, supported by the Aksumites; he begins a military campaign against the Arabian tribes.


text: Future Byzantine emperor Justinian, age 39, is appointed consul. He later becomes Commander-in-chief of the Army of the East.


date: February 22

text: February 22 – Samson of Dol is ordained as bishop in Brittany, on the Feast of the Chair of Saint Peter.


text: Ecclesius becomes a bishop of Ravenna.


text: Boethius introduces Greek musical letter notation to the West.

source_section: Events › By topic › Music


date: December 7

text: December 7 – Columba, Gaelic Irish missionary monk (d. 597)


text: Gao Cheng, high official and regent of Eastern Wei (d. 549)


text: Agericus, bishop of Verdun (approximate date)


date: July 17

text: July 17 – Magnus Felix Ennodius, bishop and Latin poet


date: November 29

text: November 29 – Jacob of Serugh, Syrian poet and theologian


text: Amalaric, age 20, is proclaimed king of the Visigoths. His kingdom is threatened from the north by the Burgundians.


text: Dhu Nuwas seizes the throne of the Himyarite Kingdom in Yemen. He attacks the Aksumite garrison at Zafar, capturing the city and burning the churches.


text: Dhū Nuwas moves to Najran, an Aksumite stronghold. After accepting the city's capitulation, he massacres the Christian inhabitants (some sources estimate a death toll up to 20,000).


text: Anicius Manlius Severinus Boethius, Roman philosopher, is arrested on charges of having conspired against Theodoric the Great. He is imprisoned at Pavia (Lombardy).


date: October 15

text: 15 October – Colmán of Cloyne, Irish monk (d. 600)


text: Clodoald, Merovingian prince (approximate date)


text: Wen Di, emperor of the Chen dynasty (d. 566)


text: Eutharic, son-in-law of Theodoric the Great


text: Galan Erilich, king of the Picts (approximate date)


text: Liu Xie, Chinese writer (approximate date) (b. 465)


text: Hilderic succeeds his uncle Thrasamund after a 27-year reign, and becomes king of the Vandals and Alans. He favours Catholicism and grants the inhabitants religious freedom.

source_section: Events › By place › Africa


text: A revolt breaks out on the Six Garrisons, on the northern border of Northern Wei China ("Revolt of the Six Garrisons"). Tensions between the elite and the Tuoba-clan severely destabilise the state.


text: King Sigismund of Burgundy is defeated by the invading Franks under Chlodomer, Childebert I and Chlothar I. He is captured and taken as prisoner to Aurelianum (modern Orléans).


text: Seong becomes king of Baekje, one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea.


text: King Chlothar I takes part in an expedition against Burgundy and captures the town of Autun. Now about 26, he makes plans to expand the territory he inherited from his late father, Clovis I.


text: Leptis Magna (modern Libya) is sacked by Berber (Moor) raiders. Gelimer leads a successful expedition in North Africa.


text: The Songyue Pagoda is completed during the Northern Wei era; the circular-based tower is still 40 m (131 ft) in height.


text: Justinian, later Byzantine emperor, marries in Constantinople his mistress Theodora, who is by profession a courtesan (approximate date).


text: Aurelianus, archbishop of Arles (d. 551)


date: August 6

text: August 6 – Pope Hormisdas dies at Rome after a tenure of 9 years and 17 days, in which he has been instrumental in ending the Acacian Schism. He is succeeded by John I as the 53rd pope.


text: August 6 – Pope Hormisdas (b. 450)


text: Philoxenus of Mabbug, Syrian theologian


text: Thrasamund, king of the Vandals (b. 450)


text: Arethas, leader of the Christian community in Yemen


text: Muryeong, king of Baekje (Three Kingdoms of Korea)


date: May 1

text: May 1 – King Sigismund of Burgundy is executed at Orléans after an 8-year reign, and is succeeded by his brother Godomar. He rallies the Burgundian army and begins plundering Frankish territory.


date: June 25

text: June 25 – Battle of Vézeronce: The Franks under Chlodomer, Childebert I and Chlothar I are defeated by the Burgundians and allied Ostrogoths near Isère (France), averting the Frankish advance into Burgundy. During the fighting Chlodomer is killed. Later Childebert annexes the cities of Chartres and Orléans.


date: January 1

text: January 1 – Venantius Opilio is appointed by Byzantium's Emperor Justin to administer the Western Roman Empire as the Roman consul, replacing Anicius Maximus. The Emperor Justin appoints himself as consul for the West, an office vacant since 522, but has Theodorus Filoxenus administering the west.


text: Date unknown – Queen Guntheuc, widow of Chlodomer, is forced into marrying his brother, Chlothar I. Her two children are murdered by him, but the eldest son Clodoald survives by escaping to Provence.


date: September 18

text: September 18 – Kan Bahlam I, ruler of Palenque (d. 583)


text: Xiao Jing Di, emperor of Eastern Wei (d. 552)


text: Xiao Daqi, crown prince of Northern Qi (d. 551)


text: He Shikai, high official of Northern Qi (d. 571)


text: June 25 – Chlodomer, king of the Franks


date: July 12

text: July 12 – Viventiolus, Archbishop of Lyon (b. 460)


date: October 23

text: October 23 – Anicius Manlius Boethius, one of Rome's most prolific writers and philosophers, is beaten to death at the prison at Pavia, where he has been imprisoned for treason. During his prison sentence, he has written his final work, The Consolation of Philosophy. The date of the death of St. Boethius is later celebrated as his feast day on the Roman Catholic Calendar of Saints.


text: November 29 – Ahkal Moʼ Nahb I, ruler of the Maya city of Palenque in what is now the southern Mexican state of Chiapas, dies after a reign of 23 years. The city enters an interregnum which lasts a little over four years.

source_section: Events › By place › Central America


text: November 29 – Ahkal Moʼ Nahb I, ruler of Palenque (Mexico) (b. 465)


text: Boethius, Roman philosopher and writer (b. 480)


text: Brigit of Kildare, Irish patron saint


text: Sigismund, king of the Burgundians


text: Zhou She, high official of Southern Liang (b. 469)


text: Sanghapala, Mon-Khmer monk (b. 460)


text: Emperor Justin I rebuilds the city of Anazarbus (modern Turkey) and renames it "Justinopolis".


text: Cosmas Indicopleustes, Alexandrian explorer-geographer, travels up the Nile. He will venture as far to the east as Ceylon, become a monk, and write "Topographia Christiana" to vindicate the biblical account of the world (see 550).

source_section: Events › By topic › Exploration and colonization


text: Bernicia (North East England) is settled by the Angles (approximate date).


text: Kaleb, king of Aksum, collects a fleet and crosses from Africa to conquer Yemen. He establishes better trade ports on the Red Sea.


text: King Theodoric the Great sends Pope John I to Constantinople, to negotiate a withdrawal of Byzantine emperor Justin's edict against Arian Christianity.

source_section: Events › By place › Europe


text: Buddhist caves are completed at Ajanta (India) with stone carvings (approximate date).


text: The Arian baptistery of Santa Maria is built in Ripa (Rome).


text: Dionysius Exiguus, Scythian theologian-mathematician, inaugurates the practice of using A.D. (Anno Domini) in Rome for calendar dates after the birth of Jesus Christ, a system which has been supported by subsequent studies. Dionysius also produces his tables for computing the date of "Cyclus Paschalis" (Easter Tables).


text: Frankish tribesmen, under the command of King Chlothar I, plunder Burgundy.


text: The Daisan river, tributary of the Euphrates, floods Edessa, and within a couple of hours fills the entire city except for the highest parts. Eventually the pent-up waters break through the city walls. The Shroud of Turin is allegedly discovered during the rebuilding of the city (see Image of Edessa).


text: Pope Benedict I, Pope of Catholic church (d. 579)


text: Alexander of Tralles, physician (approximate date)


text: Yujiulü, empress of Western Wei (d. 540)


text: John Climacus, monk and writer (approximate date)


text: Wideok, king of Baekje (Three Kingdoms of Korea)


text: Liuvigild, king of the Visigoths (d. 586)


text: Justin, Byzantine aristocrat and general (d. 566)


text: Boethius, Roman philosopher and writer (or 524)


text: Yuan Cha, high official of Northern Wei (approximate date)


text: Yūsuf Dhū Nuwas, king of the Himyarite Kingdom (Yemen).


text: Amalaric, age 24, becomes king of the Visigoths, and assumes full royal power.


text: Amalasuintha rules the Ostrogothic Kingdom that extends throughout the Italian Peninsula, Dalmatia, Sicily, Sardinia and Corsica.


text: Roman–Persian Wars: King Kavad I, assisted by his Arabian vassal, Al-Mundhir III, begins a campaign in the Transcaucasus region and Upper Mesopotamia.

source_section: Events › By place › Persia


text: Pope John I returns to Ravenna from Constantinople. Theodoric the Great finds that he has been only partly successful in persuading the Byzantine emperor Justin I to withdraw his edict against Arian Christianity, and throws the pope into prison.


text: Ecclesius, bishop of Ravenna, commissions two new churches, one for Ravenna and one for its port, Classis.


text: c. 526–547 – Sanctuary apse's mosaic showing Jesus enthroned and flanked by Saint Vitalis and Ecclesius, Basilica of San Vitale (Ravenna) is made.


text: Probably between May 20 and May 29 – 526 Antioch earthquake: A great earthquake kills approximately 250,000 people in Syria and Antioch.

source_section: Events › By place › Middle East


text: Yuan Zhao ("the young lord"), emperor of Northern Wei (d. 528)


text: Wang Lin, general of the Liang Dynasty and Northern Wei (d. 573)


date: May 18

text: May 18 – John I dies of starvation after a 3-year reign. Theodoric the Great selects Pope Felix IV as the 54th pope.


date: August 30

text: August 30 – Theodoric the Great, king of the Ostrogoths (b. 454)


text: August 30 – King Theodoric the Great dies of dysentery at Ravenna; his daughter Amalasuintha takes power as regent for her 10-year-old son Athalaric.


date: October 30

text: October 30 – Paul of Edessa, Syriac Orthodox bishop of Edessa


text: Quintus Aurelius Memmius Symmachus, Roman politician


text: Iwai Rebellion: A revolt against the Yamato court breaks out in Tsukushi Province (according to Nihon Shoki).

source_section: Events › By place › Japan


text: Justinian I appoints Belisarius to command the Eastern army in Armenia and on the Byzantine-Persian frontier.


text: Æscwine becomes the first king of Essex (approximate date), defeating Octa in battle at Hackney, west of the River Lea.


text: Justinian I reorganises the command structure of the Byzantine army, and fields a small but highly trained army.


text: King Cerdic of Wessex and his son Cynric defeat the Britons at Cerdicesleah (modern Chearsley).


text: The Kingdom of Essex is founded by the Saxons, who land north of the Thames. They take control of the land between what is now London and St Albans, ceding from the Kingdom of Kent


text: Silla, one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, formally adopts Buddhism as a state religion (approximate date).


text: The Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem is rebuilt until 565, restoring the architectural tone of the basilica.


text: Justinian I outlaws pagan religious practices in Egypt, and dispatches Byzantine missionaries to southern territories (approximate date).


date: April 1

text: April 1 – Emperor Justin I names his nephew Justinian I as co-ruler, as an incurable wound saps his strength.


date: August 1

text: August 1 – Justin I, age 77, dies at Constantinople and is succeeded by Justinian I, who becomes sole emperor.


text: August 1 – Justin I, Byzantine Emperor (b. 450)


text: Illan mac Dúnlainge, king of Leinster (Ireland)


date: May 17

text: May 17 – Empress Dowager Hu, regent of Northern Wei, having resorted to an old monarchist tool and executed lovers who have displeased her, is drowned in the Yellow River along with the nominal emperor, the baby Yuan Zhao, and prince Yuan Yong by order of General Erzhu Rong, who places 21-year-old Yuan Ziyou on the throne as Emperor Xiaozhuang of Northern Wei.


text: Justin, Byzantine general (magister militum), dies in battle against the Bulgars on the frontier of the Danubian limes in Moesia. He is succeeded by Constantiolus.


text: Yasodharman, Maharaja ("great king") of Malwa, defeats the Hun invaders under Mihirakula in central India.


date: February 13

text: February 13 – Emperor Justinian I appoints a commission (including the jurist Tribonian) to codify all laws of the Roman Empire that are still in force from Hadrian to the current date; this becomes the Corpus Juris Civilis.


text: Bulguksa, a Buddhist temple, is built in South Korea.


text: The Hephthalites (White Huns) move from the Hindu Kush into the Punjab region, and eastward across the Ganges Delta, ravaging cities and Buddhist monasteries.


date: March 31

text: March 31 – Emperor Xiaoming of Northern Wei, emperor of Northern Wei, is poisoned by order of his mother, the regent Empress Dowager Hu.


date: April 2

text: April 2 – Xiaoming's daughter is replaced by the 2- or 3-year-old Yuan Zhao as emperor of Northern Wei, by order of Empress Dowager Hu


date: November 29

text: November 29 – Natural disaster: A second earthquake strikes Antioch, killing thousands.


text: April 1 – The 6-week-old only daughter of Emperor Xiaoming of Northern Wei is proclaimed empress regnant of Northern Wei, by Empress Dowager Hu.


text: King Seong of Baekje adopts Buddhism as the state religion.


date: February 12

text: February 12 – Daughter of Emperor Xiaoming of Northern Wei, nominal empress regnant of Northern Wei


text: March 31 – Emperor Xiaoming of Northern Wei, emperor of Northern Wei (b. 510)


text: May 17 – Empress Dowager Hu of Northern Wei


text: May 17 – Yuan Zhao, emperor of Northern Wei (b. 526)


text: May 17 – Yuan Yong, imperial prince of Northern Wei


text: Procopius of Gaza, Christian sophist and rhetorician


text: Euphrasius, patriarch of Antioch (in the earthquake)


text: Bodhidharma, Buddhist monk (approximate date)


text: Jabalah IV ibn al-Harith, king of the Ghassanids


text: Justin, Byzantine general (magister militum)


text: Anicia Juliana, daughter of Olybrius (approximate date)


date: February 25

text: February 25 – Kʼan Joy Chitam I becomes the new ruler of the Mayan city-state of Palenque what is now the state of Chiapas in southern Mexico, ending an interregnum of a little over four years, and reigns until his death in 565.


text: Rudravarman is granted investiture by China, as the first king of the fourth dynasty of Champa (modern Vietnam).

source_section: Events › By place › Southeast Asia


text: Al-Harith ibn Jabalah becomes the fifth king of the Ghassanids. He helps the Byzantines to suppress the wide-scale Samaritan Revolt.

source_section: Events › By place › Arabia


text: The Samaritans revolt and are defeated; the Church of the Nativity is burnt down during the Rebellion.


date: April 7

text: April 7 – Emperor Justinian I issues the Codex Justinianus (Code of Civil Laws), reformulating Roman law in an effort to control his unruly people (see 532).


text: The Benedictine Order is established at Monte Cassino near Naples by Benedict of Nursia, who founds a monastery and formulates for his monks strict rules in the "Regula Benedicti".


text: The Canons of the Council of Orange are established, approving the Augustinian doctrine of sin and grace over Pelagianism and Semi-Pelagianism, but without Augustine's absolute predestination.


text: Queen Amalasuntha receives a delegation sent by a council of Gothic nobles urging that she have her son Athalaric, now 13, taught an education in the Roman tradition—not by elderly schoolmasters, but by men who will teach him to "ride, fence, and to be toughened, not to be turned into a bookworm".


text: The Academy, originally founded at Athens by Plato around 387 BC, closes down by order of Justinian I, on charges of un-Christian activity. Many of the school's professors emigrate to Persia and Syria.

source_section: Events › By topic › Education


text: Wen Xuan Di, emperor of Northern Qi (d. 559)


text: Yuan Hao, imperial prince of Northern Wei


text: Theodosius the Cenobiarch, monk and founder of the Monastery of St. Theodosius


text: Baderic, king of the Thuringi (b. c. 480)


year_label: 53 CE

text: Decimus Junius Silanus Torquatus and Quintus Haterius Antoninus become Roman consuls.

source_section: Events › 53 AD › Roman Empire


text: Claudius secures a senatorial decree that gives jurisdiction in financial cases to imperial procurators. This marks a significant strengthening of imperial powers at the expense of the Senate.


text: Taejodae becomes ruler of the kingdom of Goguryeo.

source_section: Events › 53 AD › Korea


text: Tiridates I, brother of Vologases I, comes to power in Armenia as an adversary of the Romans.

source_section: Events › 53 AD › Caucasus


text: Emperor Claudius removes Herod Agrippa II from the tetrarchy of Chalcis in Greece.


text: Claudius accepts Nero as his successor, to the detriment of Britannicus, his son by his first wife, Valeria Messalina.


text: Evodius succeeds Saint Peter as Patriarch of Antioch.

source_section: Events › 53 AD › Syria


text: Paul the Apostle writes his epistle to the Galatians from Ephesus (approximate date).

source_section: Events › 53 AD › Anatolia


text: Seneca writes the tragedy Agamemnon, which he intends to be read as the last chapter of a trilogy including two of his other tragedies, Medea and Edipus.


date: June 9

text: June 9 – Nero is adopted by Claudius as his son and marries his 14-year-old daughter Claudia Octavia.


text: Cardiff is founded by Aulus Didius Gallus.

source_section: Events › 53 AD › Britain


text: (approximate year) Marcus Ulpius Traianus, Roman emperor (d. 117)

source_section: Births › 53 AD


text: Kanishka I, Indian ruler of the Kushan Empire (d. 150)


text: Domitia Longina, Roman empress (approximate date)


text: Mobon, Korean ruler of Goguryeo

source_section: Deaths › 53 AD


text: Justinian I sends an embassy to Carthage to negotiate with Gelimer. Gelimer replies: “Nothing is more desirable than that a monarch should mind his own business.”

source_section: Events › By place › Africa


text: King Hilderic is deposed by his cousin Gelimer after a seven-year reign. Gelimer restores Arianism as the official religion of the Vandal Kingdom and puts Hilderic in prison along with other supporters.


text: Summer – Battle of Satala: A Byzantine cavalry force (30,000 men) under command of Sittas defeats a major Persian invasion into Roman Armenia.


text: Spring – Battle of Dara: Belisarius and Hermogenes (magister officiorum) defeat a combined Persian-Arab army of 50,000 men at Dara (modern Turkey), by entrenching his infantry in a refused position in the centre line, then carrying out a cavalry envelopment to culminate a classic defensive-offensive battleplan.


text: Brendan, Irish abbot, allegedly climbs to the top of Mount Brandon to look for the Americas (approximate date).

source_section: Events › By topic › Religion


date: December 15

text: December 15 – Emperor Justinian I selects a second commission to excerpt and codify the writings of the jurists on Roman law. This becomes the Digest (Pandects).

source_section: Events › By place › Byzantine Empire


text: The Vishnu Temple at Deogarh, Uttar Pradesh (India) is built.

source_section: Events › By topic › Art


text: Xiao Tong, eldest son of emperor Wu Di, compiles the Wen Xuan (Literary Selections), a famous anthology of works dating from the Han to the Liang dynasty (approximate date).

source_section: Events › By place › China


text: Tribonian becomes quaestor sacri palatii and chief editor of the compilation of the old Roman lawyers' writings.


text: Emperor Xiao Zhuang Di is arrested and imprisoned in a Buddhist temple at Jinyang (Shanxi). He is succeeded by Chang Guang Wang, who becomes the new ruler of Northern Wei.


text: The mosaic synagogue floor from Maon (Judea) is made. It is now kept at the Israel Museum in Jerusalem (approximate date).


text: Dallán Forgaill, Irish poet (approximate date)

source_section: Births


text: Colmán of Cloyne, Irish monk (d. 606)


text: Xuan Di, emperor of the Chen dynasty (d. 582)


text: Sophia, Byzantine Empress (approximate date)


text: Venantius Fortunatus, Latin poet and bishop (approximate date) (d. 600)


date: September 22

text: September 22 – Pope Felix IV dies at Rome after a tenure of four years, two months and 13 days, in which he has condemned semi-pelagianism. He is succeeded by Boniface II, who becomes the 55th pope.


date: October 14

text: October 14 – Dioscorus is elected as antipope in the Lateran Palace, but he dies within a month, thus ending the schism.


text: Cador, king of Dumnonia (England)

source_section: Deaths


text: Drest III, king of the Picts (approximate date)


text: Xiao Baoyin, prince of Southern Qi (b. 487)


text: Dhu Nuwas, king of Himyar (b. circa 450)


text: Erzhu Rong, general of Northern Wei (b. 493)


text: Anwon becomes ruler of the Korean kingdom of Goguryeo.

source_section: Events › By place › Asia


text: Theudis, sword-bearer of former king Theodoric the Great, succeeds Amalaric as new ruler of the Visigoths.

source_section: Events › By place › Europe


date: April 19

text: April 19 – Battle of Callinicum: A Byzantine army (20,000 men), commanded by Belisarius, is defeated by the Persians at Raqqa (northern Syria). Emperor Justinian I negotiates an end to the hostilities, and Belisarius is hailed as a hero.


text: King Childebert I receives pleas from his sister Clotilde, wife of King Amalaric, claiming that she is abused by her husband. Childebert invades Septimania (Gaul).


text: Hermanafrid, last king of the Thuringi, is defeated by the Franks near the Unstrut River. During negotiations he is pushed from the town walls of Zülpich (northern Germany).


text: Childebert I defeats the Visigoths and conquers the capital Narbonne. Amalaric flees south to Barcelona, where he is assassinated by his own men.


text: The reign of Chang Guang Wang, ruler of Northern Wei, ends. Gao Huan, Chinese general, begins a rebellion and declares another member of the imperial clan, An Ding Wang, emperor.


text: The Franks under King Chlothar I march against the Thuringi with Chlothar's nephew Theudebert I. The Kingdom of Thuringia comes under Frankish domination.


text: Some members of the Blue and Green chariot racing factions in Constantinople are imprisoned for murder, precipitating the Nika riots the next year.


text: Ankan, age 66, succeeds his father Keitai as the 27th emperor of Japan.


text: Yan Zhitui, Chinese scholar and official (d. 591)


text: Waldrada, Lombard princess (d. 572)


text: Li Delin, Chinese official and writer (d. 591)


text: Liu Jingyan, Chinese Empress (d. 615)


date: May 30

text: May 30 – Xiao Tong, prince of the Liang Dynasty (b. 501)


text: Drest IV, king of the Picts (approximate date)


text: Clotilde, Visigoth queen and daughter of Clovis I


text: Clotilde returns with the Frankish army and dies on the journey home. She is buried in Paris alongside her father Clovis I.


text: Hermanafrid, king of the Thuringi (murdered)


text: Amalaric, king of the Visigoths (assassinated)


text: Xiao Zhuang Di, emperor of Northern Wei (b. 507)


text: Keitai, emperor of Japan (b. 450)


text: King Kavad I, age 82, dies after a 43-year reign. Khosrau I, his favourite son, is proclaimed successor over his elder brothers.

source_section: Events › By place › Persia


text: Kavadh I, king of the Persian Empire (b. 449)


text: Maine mac Cearbhall, king of Uí Maine (or 537)


date: September

text: September – Justinian I signs a peace treaty, the "Eternal Peace", with the Persian king Khosrau I, ending the Iberian War (527-531). Both sides agree to return all occupied territories, and Justinian makes a one-off payment of 110 centenaria (11,000 pounds of gold), as a contribution to the defense of the Caucasus passes.


date: January 11

text: January 11 – Nika riots in Constantinople: Anger among the supporters of the most important chariot teams—the Blues and the Greens—escalates into violence towards the emperor. For the next five days the capital is in chaos. The fires that start during the tumult result in the destruction of much of the city. The insurrection is put down a week later by Belisarius and Mundus; 30,000 people are killed in the Hippodrome.


text: Battle of Autun - The Franks, under command of King Childebert I and his brother Chlothar I, invade the Kingdom of Burgundy. They defeat the Burgundians under King Godomar near Autun (modern France).


text: An Ding Wang commits suicide, and is succeeded by Xiao Wu Di as Chinese emperor of Northern Wei.


text: Silla conquers the city-state of Geumgwan Gaya (Korea) during the Three Kingdoms period.


date: February 23

text: February 23 – Emperor Justinian I orders the building of a new Orthodox Christian basilica in Constantinople – the Hagia Sophia. He chooses Isidore of Miletus and Anthemius of Tralles as architects. The material for the construction is brought from all over the empire, such as large stones from quarries in Porphyry, Egypt. More than 10,000 people are employed.


text: First year in which the Anno Domini calendar is used for numbering the years.

source_section: Events › By topic › Arts and sciences


text: Áedán mac Gabráin, king of Dál Riata (Scotland) (approximate date)


text: Xiao Mohe, general of the Chen dynasty and Sui dynasty (d. 604)


text: Guntram, king of Burgundy (approximate date)


text: Marius Aventicensis, bishop of Aventicum (d. 596)


date: March 3

text: March 3 – Winwaloe, saint and founder of Landévennec Abbey (b.c. 460)


date: October 17

text: October 17 – Pope Boniface II dies in Rome after a tenure of two years, four months and six days.


text: Erzhu Shilong, official of Northern Wei (b. 500)


text: Chang Guang Wang, emperor of Northern Wei


text: Erzhu Tianguang, general of Northern Wei (b. 496)


text: An Ding Wang, emperor of Northern Wei (b. 513)


text: Hypatius, Byzantine nobleman (executed)


text: Guntheuc, princess of Burgundy (approximate date)


text: Pompeius, Byzantine politician (executed)


text: Jie Min Di, emperor of Northern Wei (b. 498)


text: Ecclesius, bishop of Ravenna (approximate date)


text: Sabbas the Sanctified, monk and saint (b. 439)


text: Theudebert I succeeds his father Theuderic I and becomes king of Austrasia.


date: September 9

text: September 9 – The Byzantine army lands at Caput Vada (modern Tunisia). Belisarius marches his army northwards, towards Carthage (over 140 miles), following the coast, accompanied by the fleet and shadowed by Gelimer. During the march, the Vandal towns fall without a fight.


date: September 13

text: September 13 – Battle of Ad Decimum: Gelimer attempts to ambush the Byzantines in a defile at the "10th milestone" from Carthage; due to inadequate coordination and the alertness of Belisarius, the attack is repulsed and the Vandals are scattered into the desert. Belisarius enters the capital and orders his soldiers not to kill or enslave the population. The fleet is stationed in the Lake of Tunis.


text: September – Belisarius arrives at Sicily, which he uses as a staging area, with the permission of the Ostrogoth queen Amalasuntha, daughter of Theodoric the Great and regent of Italy. The Ostrogoths help him with supplies and the fleet is prepared for the final attack.


text: December 15 – Battle of Tricamarum: Gelimer assembles an army of about 50,000 men at Bulla Regia (Numidia), and advances towards Carthage. Belisarius moves out to meet the Vandals; he leads the Byzantine cavalry (5,000 men) into battle. Without waiting for his infantry to come up, he charges, despite odds of almost 10-to-1, and throws Gelimer in confusion. Belisarius captures the Vandal camp by storm. Tzazo is killed in an all-cavalry fight, and Gelimer is forced to seek refuge in the mountains of Tunis with the Berbers.


text: Spring – Vandalic War: Anti-Vandal revolt in Tripolitania and Sardinia; Gelimer, king of the Vandals, dispatches the bulk of the Vandal fleet (120 ships and 5,000 men) under his brother Tzazo to Sardinia. Byzantine forces from Cyrenaica occupy Leptis Magna and Tripolis.


date: June 21

text: June 21 – A Byzantine expeditionary fleet under Belisarius sails in 500 transports, escorted by 92 war vessels (dromons), manned by 20,000 seamen from Constantinople, to attack the Vandals in Africa, via Greece and Sicily. The fleet carries 10,000 infantry, about half Byzantine and half foederati, and 5,000 cavalry, consisting of 3,000 Byzantine horsemen, 1,000 foreign allies (Huns and Heruli) and 1,500 of Belisarius' retainers (bucellarii). On the flagship Belisarius is accompanied by his military secretary Procopius, and his wife Antonina.


text: Summer – Emperor Justinian I holds a war council in Constantinople. His advisers warn him against launching an expedition to North Africa, because of the supply-lines (1,000 miles into Vandal waters) and the huge drain on the imperial treasury. Justinian appoints Belisarius to command the Byzantine army.


date: January 2

text: January 2 – After an interregnum of 2 months and 15 days, Pope John II becomes the 56th pope of Rome, and the first to adopt a regnal name upon elevation to the papacy (his birth name, Mercurius, being of pagan origin).


date: March 25

text: March 25 – In a letter, Emperor Justinian I declares the Bishop of Rome (currently John) to be "head of all Bishops, and the true and effective corrector of heretics."


date: December 16

text: December 16 – The Digesta or Pandectae, a collection of jurist writings and other sources, is completed (see Corpus Juris Civilis).


date: January 13

text: January 13 – Remigius, bishop of Reims


text: Hilderic, king of the Vandals and Alans


text: Fulgentius of Ruspe, bishop (approximate date)


text: Tzazo, brother of Gelimer (killed in battle)


text: Erzhu Zhao, general of Northern Wei


text: Theuderic I, king of Austrasia (or 534)


date: April

text: April – Belisarius leaves a small force in Africa under the Byzantine general Solomon, to continue the subjugation of the province. He is appointed governor (Exarch) and pacifies the Moorish tribes with success. Malta becomes a Byzantine province (until 870).


text: Toledo becomes the capital of the Visigothic Kingdom that controls the Iberian Peninsula. King Theudis expands Visigoth rule in the southern regions (Hispania Baetica).


text: Cynric becomes king of Wessex.


date: March

text: March – King Gelimer surrenders to Belisarius, after spending a winter in the mountains of Numidia. He and large numbers of captured Vandals are transported to Constantinople. The Vandal Kingdom ends, and the African provinces return to the Byzantine Empire.


text: The Frankish kings Childebert I and Chlothar I overthrow Godomar, king of the Burgundians, and end the Kingdom of Burgundy.


date: January 1

text: January 1 – Decius Paulinus enters the office of consul (the last to hold this office in the West).


text: Justinian I commemorates the victory against the Vandals by stamping medals in his honor with the inscription "Gloria Romanorum" (approximate date).


date: November 16

text: November 16 – A second and final revision of the Codex Justinianus is published.


text: Summer – Belisarius arrives in Constantinople and is permitted by Emperor Justinian I to celebrate a triumph, the first non-imperial triumph for over 500 years. In the procession the spoils of the Temple of Jerusalem and the Vandal treasure are paraded.


text: Liu Jingyan, empress of the Chen dynasty (d. 616)


text: Ming Di, emperor of the Northern Zhou (d. 560)


text: Leander, bishop of Seville (approximate date)


text: Taliesin, Welsh poet (approximate date)


date: October 2

text: October 2 – King Athalaric dies of tuberculosis, age 18, having dissipated his youth in drink and debauchery. His mother, Amalasuntha, proposes to her cousin Theodahad, the kingdom's largest landowner and her father's last male heir, that he share the throne with her but that he will be king of the Ostrogoths in name only. Theodahad has secret conversations with the Byzantine ambassador, and promises to turn over Tuscany in exchange for a large sum of money, the rank of senator, and permission to live at Constantinople.


text: October 2 – Athalaric, king of the Ostrogoths


text: Anthemius of Tralles, architect and mathematician (approximate date)


text: Marcellinus Comes, Latin chronicler (approximate date)


text: Theuderic I, king of Austrasia (or 533)


text: April – Justinian I reorganises the province as an African prefecture, centered in Carthage. He restores frontier defences, and returns property to the Catholic Church.


text: Justinian I issues the Lex Julia and declares that a wife has no right to bring criminal charges of adultery against a husband. This makes divorce almost impossible in the Byzantine Empire.


date: December 31

text: December 31 – Belisarius completes the conquest of Sicily, defeating the Gothic garrison of Palermo (Panormos), and ending his consulship for the year.


text: Gothic War: Emperor Justinian I appoints Belisarius commander-in-chief (stratēgos autokratōr), and sends a Byzantine expeditionary force of only 8,000 soldiers (half are heavy East Roman cavalry) to begin the reconquest of Italy.


text: The Northern Wei dynasty ends: The northern region of China is split into the Eastern Wei and the Western Wei during a civil war. The first ruler is Wen Di; he makes his son Fei Di crown prince.


text: Summer – Belisarius lands in Sicily and meets little opposition, save for the Gothic garrison of Palermo. Laying siege to the citadel, he blockades the harbour with his ships. Mundus invades Dalmatia and captures its capital, Salona.


text: Spring – Solomon defeats the Moorish rebels at Mount Mammes and Mount Bourgaon. He secures Byzacena (modern Tunisia) and establishes fortifications along the Numidian border.


text: Anthimus I becomes patriarch of Constantinople (535–536).


text: Byzantine troops drive the extremist Monophysite party out of Alexandria, and establish Theodosius I as patriarch of the Eastern Orthodox Church.


text: The Byzantine city of Justiniana Prima is founded, and later becomes a bishop's seat of the Central Balkans.


text: A Christian basilica is completed at Leptis Magna in North Africa.


date: April 30

text: April 30 – King Theodahad revenges himself upon Queen Amalasuintha. He has her taken from the capital of Ravenna to a small island on Lake Bolsena, where she is strangled in her bath.


text: Significant to the history of agriculture, Chinese author Jia Sixia writes the treatise "Chimin Yaoshu" in this year, and although it quotes 160 previous Chinese agronomy books, it is the oldest existent Chinese agriculture treatise. In over 100,000 written Chinese characters, the book covers land preparation, seeding, cultivation, orchard management, forestry, animal husbandry, trade, and culinary uses for crops.


text: The weather is reported to be unusually cold and dark in multiple parts of the world; see Extreme weather events of 535–536.

source_section: Events › By topic › Meteorology


text: Reports of the eruption of Krakatoa (Java), which possibly led to several years of climate change (see Extreme weather events of 535–536), are recorded in the Javanese Book of Kings.


text: Abu Talib ibn Abd al-Muttalib, uncle of the prophet Muhammad, father of Ali Ibn Abi Talib (d. 619)


text: Sigebert I, king of Austrasia (approximate date)


text: Theudebald, king of Austrasia (approximate date)


text: Evagrius Scholasticus, Syrian scholar (approximate date)


text: Xiao Zhao Di, emperor of Northern Qi (d. 561)


date: May 8

text: May 8 – Pope John II dies in Rome after a two-year reign, and is succeeded by Agapetus I as the 57th pope. Agapetus is sent by King Theodahad on an embassy to Constantinople.


date: June 5

text: June 5 – Epiphanius, patriarch of Constantinople


text: Xu Mian, official of the Liang dynasty (b. 466)


text: The death of Amalasuintha gives Byzantine Emperor Justinian I a pretext to invade Italy and begin the Gothic War.


text: Xiao Wu Di, emperor of Northern Wei (b. 510)


text: Eugippius, disciple and biographer


text: Timothy III, Coptic Orthodox Patriarch of Alexandria


text: Xie He, Chinese writer and art historian (approximate date)


date: January 26

text: January 26 – Senka succeeds his brother Ankan as the 28th emperor of Japan.


text: Summer – Constantinianus, magister militum per Illyricum, retakes Dalmatia. The Goths abandon Salona and withdraw to the north. The Byzantines rebuild its walls and reclaim the province.


text: March – April – Belisarius sails to Carthage with 1,000 men, to suppress a mutiny against Solomon. Meanwhile, Carthage is besieged by 9,000 rebels, including many Vandals, under Stotzas.


text: March – Ostrogothic King Theodahad cedes Provence and upper Alamannia to the Franks, gaining their support in the war. He sends a large Gothic army into Dalmatia. They defeat the Byzantines, Mundus is killed during the fighting at Salona, and the Byzantine army withdraws.


date: November

text: November – Siege of Naples: Belisarius captures Naples after a month's siege, by sending troops into the city through an abandoned Roman aqueduct.

source_section: Events › By place › Eastern Roman ("Byzantine") Empire


date: December 9

text: December 9 – Belisarius enters Rome through the Porta Asinaria, and the Gothic garrison of 4,000 men flees the city. He sends an urgent request for reinforcements to Justinian I, meanwhile preparing Rome for a siege, by bringing in great quantities of food and other supplies.


date: December

text: December – Vitiges deposes his rival Theodahad at Ravenna, and marries Mataswintha (daughter of queen Amalasuintha). He becomes king of the Ostrogoths and assembles an army to fight against Belisarius.


text: Winter – Belisarius sets up his headquarters on the Pincian Hill, and repairs the neglected city walls of Rome. He stations a 5,000-man garrison, of whom half are his personal bodyguard (bucellarii). To hold parts of the city, he recruits 20,000 young Romans to man the walls.


text: Battle of the River Bagradas: Belisarius defeats the mutineers, and hurries back to Sicily.


text: Spring – Emperor Justinian I appoints his cousin Germanus as magister militum to deal with the crisis in Africa. He sends a mobile force of comitatenses (mostly cavalry) and an elite guard. Solomon, the previous magister militum, returns to Constantinople.


text: Summer – Gothic War (535–554): Belisarius crosses the Strait of Messina and invades Italy. He conquers the city of Rhegium and advances to Naples.


date: May 2

text: May 2–June 4 – Council of Constantinople.


date: September 19

text: September 19 – Council of Jerusalem.


text: Before March 13 – Anthimus I is deposed as patriarch of Constantinople in favour of Menas.


text: The Little Hagia Sophia in Constantinople (begun in 527) is completed as the Church of Saints Sergius and Bacchus.


date: August

text: August – Volcanic winter of 536: Snow falls in China, which causes the harvest to be delayed.


text: Early in 536 (possible) – Volcanic winter of 536: Famine is described in the Annals of Ulster.


text: The volcanic winter of 536, thought to have been caused by an extensive veil of dust in the atmosphere, began in the Northern Hemisphere. It continued until the following year, causing unseasonal weather and crop failure worldwide.

source_section: Events › By topic › Climate


text: Evagrius Scholasticus, Syrian church historian (or 537) (d. 594)


text: Venantius Fortunatus, Merovingian bishop and poet (d. c. 600/609)


text: unknown date – Li Ezi, Chinese empress dowager of Northern Zhou (d. 588)


date: January 25

text: January 25 – Ankan, emperor of Japan (b. c. 466)


date: April 22

text: April 22 – Pope Agapetus I dies in Constantinople, after a reign of just ten months. He is succeeded by Silverius as the 58th pope.


text: December – Theodahad, king of the Ostrogoths (assassinated) (b. c. 480)


text: unknown date – Mundus, Gepid Byzantine general (killed in action)


date: March 2

text: March 2 – Siege of Rome: The Ostrogothic army (45,000 men) under King Vitiges begins the siege of the city. Belisarius conducts a delaying action outside the Flaminian Gate; he and a detachment of his bucellarii are almost cut off.


date: March 21

text: March 21 – Vitiges attempts to assault the northern and eastern city walls with four siege towers, but is repulsed at the Praenestine Gate, known as the Vivarium, by the defenders under the Byzantine generals Bessas and Peranius.


date: April 9

text: April 9 – Belisarius receives his promised reinforcements: 1,600 cavalry, mostly of Hunnic or Slavic origin and expert bowmen. Despite shortages, he starts raids against the Gothic camps and Vitiges is forced into a stalemate.


date: April

text: April – The Goths capture the Portus Claudii at Ostia; the harbor is left unguarded by the Romans. Belisarius is forced to unload his supplies at Antium; he sends urgent messages for reinforcements to Constantinople.


text: November – Belisarius brings his long-awaited reinforcements, namely 3,000 Isaurians and 1,800 cavalry embarked in Ostia, along with a supply convoy, safely to Rome. The Goths are forced to abandon the Portus Claudii.


text: John Cottistis starts a short-lived rebellion against Justinian I. He is declared emperor at Dara, but is killed four days later by conspiring soldiers.


text: Eastern Wei sends an advance guard of three army columns through the Tong Pass, to attack Western Wei. The Western army under Yu-Wen Tai defeats one of the columns while the others retreat. Yu-Wen follows up, but runs into the main Eastern army (200,000 men). The Westerners are pushed back through the pass, and the Eastern army emerges from the mountains. Unexpectedly they are charged in the flank by 10,000 Western cavalry, and 6,000 Easterners are killed and 70,000 captured.


text: Battle of Camlann: King Arthur fights his last battle against the forces of his rebellious son (or nephew) Mordred, and is mortally wounded (traditional date)

source_section: Events › By place › Britain


text: The Aqua Virgo aqueduct is destroyed by the Goths; they try to use the underground channel as a secret route to invade Rome.

source_section: Events › By topic › Construction


text: Spring – Battle of Scalas Veteres (6 km south of Carthage, in the Praetorian prefecture of Africa): Byzantine troops under Germanus crush a large-scale mutiny. Stotzas, leader of the rebellion, flees with a handful of followers to Mauretania.


text: Yaxchilan captures the ajaws of Bonampak, Lakamtuun, and Calakmul, at the outset of the First Tikal-Calakmul War.

source_section: Events › By place › America


text: December – Belisarius sends John "the Sanguinary" with a force of 2,000 men towards Picenum, to plunder the east coast of Italy. He arrives at Ariminum (Rimini), where he is welcomed by the local population.


date: March 29

text: March 29 – Pope Vigilius succeeds Silverius as the 59th pope, when the latter is deposed by Belisarius at the order of Justinian I.


date: December 27

text: December 27 – The construction of the Hagia Sophia in Constantinople (begun in 532) is completed.


text: Vitiges sets up seven camps, overlooking the main gates and access routes to the city, in order to starve it out. He blocks the Roman aqueducts that are supplying Rome with water, necessary both for drinking and for operating the corn mills.


date: June

text: June – In Rome, famine brings the city to despair; Belisarius sends his secretary Procopius to Naples for more reinforcements and supplies. Vitiges arranges a three-month armistice for Gothic envoys to travel to Constantinople.


text: Gong Di, emperor of Western Wei (d. 557)


text: Chen Chang, prince of the Chen dynasty (d. 560)


text: Agilulf, bishop of Metz (approximate date)


text: Wu Cheng Di, emperor of Northern Qi (d. 569)


text: John Cottistis, Byzantine usurper


text: Mordred, son (or nephew) of King Arthur, also in the Battle of Camlann


text: Maine mac Cearbhall, king of Uí Maine (or 531)


text: Husi Chun, general of Northern Wei (b. 495)


text: King Arthur, King of the Britons, in the Battle of Camlann (historicity debated)


text: Isidore of Miletus, Byzantine architect


text: Gabrán mac Domangairt becomes king of Dál Riata (Scotland).


text: The Kofun period ends and the Asuka period, the second part of the Yamato period in Japan, begins.


date: March 12

text: March 12 – Siege of Rome: King Vitiges of the Ostrogoths ends his siege (after 374 days) and abandons Rome. He retreats with his Gothic army northeast along the Via Flaminia.


text: April – Belisarius secures Liguria, Mediolanum (modern Milan) and Ariminum, but disagreements, especially with Narses, leads to disunity in the Byzantine army.


text: Gothic War: Vitiges strengthens the garrisons of various towns and besieges Ariminum. Byzantine forces under the Armenian general Narses arrive at Picenum.


text: Summer – King Theudebert I sends a small Frankish force across the Alps, and defeats the Goths and Byzantines at the River Po. Belisarius retreats to Tuscany.


text: King Seong of Paekche (Korea) moves the capital from Ungjin (present-day Gongju) further south to Sabi (present-day Buyeo County), on the Geum River. He sends a diplomatic mission that formally introduces Buddhism to the Japanese imperial court (see also 552).


text: The Third Council of Orléans takes place, and prohibits rural labor on Sunday.


text: As a result of persecutions by the Byzantine Empire, Monophysite Christians establish the Coptic Church in Alexandria (approximate date).


text: Belisarius attacks the Goths when they have crossed the Milvian Bridge. After fierce resistance, Vitiges routs in panic, and many are slain or drowned in the river.


text: King Cuneglas of Rhos abandons his wife in favour of his sister-in-law, a nun who he drags from her convent (approximate date).


text: Sittas, Byzantine general, suppresses a revolt in Armenia in protest against heavy taxation. During the campaign he is killed by Artabanes, leader of the revolt.


text: Zhiyi, de facto founder of Tiantai Buddhism (d. 597)


text: Emperor Bidatsu of Japan (d. 585)


text: Gregory of Tours, French bishop, historian (d. 594)


date: February 8

text: February 8 – Severus of Antioch, patriarch of Antioch


text: Cailtram, king of the Picts (approximate date)


text: Damascius, Byzantine philosopher


text: Comgall mac Domangairt, king of Dál Riata (approximate date)


text: Sittas, Byzantine general (magister militum)


text: Kinmei succeeds his brother Senka, and ascends as 29th emperor to the throne of Japan.


date: March

text: March – Gothic War: The Goths and the Burgundians recapture Mediolanum (modern Milan), after many months of siege, the city reaching the point of starvation. The Byzantine garrison (1,000 men) surrenders and is spared, but the inhabitants are massacred (according to Procopius 300,000 people are murdered), and the city itself is destroyed.


text: Emperor Justinian I becomes alarmed by renewed barbarian incursions across the Danube frontier from the Slavs, the Bulgars, the Gepids, and the Avars.


text: Belisarius, still besieging Ravenna, negotiates a treaty with Theodebert I (whose forces are suffering from dysentery), and the Franks retreat to Gaul. The Byzantine fleet controls the Adriatic Sea and blockades the port of the capital from supplies.


text: Walthari murders his uncle Wacho and becomes king of the Lombards.


date: November 29

text: November 29 – Antioch is struck by an earthquake.


text: Bertha, wife of Æthelberht of Kent


text: Maurice, emperor of the Byzantine Empire (d. 602)


text: Abu Talib ibn Abd al-Muttalib, leader of the Banu Hashim and uncle of Muhammad (d. 619)


text: Chilperic I, king of Neustria (approximate date)


year_label: 54 CE

text: Palestine is returned piecemeal to Herod Agrippa's son Marcus Julius Agrippa between 48 and 54.

source_section: Events › 54 AD › Palestine


text: Gnaeus Domitius Corbulo arrives in the East and takes up an assignment as governor of Asia, with a secret brief from Nero and his chief ministers, Seneca and Burrus, to return Armenia to the Roman Empire.

source_section: Events › 54 AD › Anatolia


text: In Britain, Venutius leads a revolt against his ex-wife Cartimandua, queen of the Brigantes and a Roman ally. Governor Aulus Didius Gallus sends her military aid, and after some indecisive fighting a legion commanded by Caesius Nasica defeats the rebels (approximate date – some time between 52 and 57).

source_section: Events › 54 AD › Britain


text: Corbulo recruits Syrian auxiliary units in the region and stations them in border forts, with orders from Nero not to provoke the Parthians.

source_section: Events › 54 AD › Syrian


text: Winter – Domitius Corbulo marches his legions (Legio VI Ferrata and Legio X) into the mountains of Cappadocia and makes camp. He gives the men a harsh training, twenty-five-mile marches and weapons drills.


text: Nero attempts to prohibit the gladiatorial games.

source_section: Events › 54 AD › Roman Empire


text: Corbulo inspects a base of Legio X Fretensis in Syria, at Cyrrhus; the Roman legionaries are demoralized by a "long peace". Many soldiers sell their helmets and shields.


text: Two centurions are sent to the south of Egypt to find the source of the Nile, and possible new provinces. They report that while there are many cities in the desert, the area seems too poor to be worthy of conquest.

source_section: Events › 54 AD › Egypt


text: Under Nero, Rome annexes Aden to protect the maritime route between Alexandria and Asia.

source_section: Events › 54 AD › Arabia


text: Apollos, a later assistant of Paul, is converted to Christianity in Ephesus.


text: Patriarch Onesimus succeeds Stachys the Apostle as Patriarch of Constantinople.


text: Violence erupts in Caesarea regarding a local ordinance restricting the civil rights of Jews, creating clashes between Jews and pagans. The Roman garrison, made up of Syrians, takes the side of the pagans. The Jews, armed with clubs and swords, meet in the marketplace. The governor of Judea, Antonius Felix, orders his troops to charge. The violence continues and Felix asks Nero to arbitrate. Nero sides with the pagans, and relegates the Jews to second-class citizens.


date: October 13

text: October 13 – Emperor Claudius dies (possibly after being poisoned by Agrippina, his wife and niece), and is succeeded by Nero.


text: October 13 – Claudius, Roman emperor, possibly poisoned by his wife Agrippina (b. 10 BC)

source_section: Deaths › 54 AD


text: Ban Biao, Chinese historian and official (b. AD 3)


text: Domitia Lepida the Younger, widow of Marcus Valerius Messalla Barbatus, mother of Valeria Messalina and former mother-in-law of Claudius (b. 10 BC)


text: Marcus Junius Silanus, Roman consul (b. AD 14)


text: Gaius Stertinius Xenophon, Greek physician, possibly poisoned Claudius


text: Stachys the Apostle, Byzantine bishop and saint


text: King Custennin ap Cado is deposed, and returns to Dumnonia in the south-west of Great Britain.

source_section: Events › By place › Europe


text: Solomon captures the Aurès Mountains from the Moors and extends Byzantine authority over Numidia and Mauretania Sitifensis. The city of Theveste (Algeria) is restored and fortified.

source_section: Events › By place › Africa


date: May

text: May – Gothic War: Belisarius conquers Mediolanum (modern-day Milan) and the Gothic capital Ravenna. Vitiges and his wife Matasuntha are taken as captives to Constantinople.

source_section: Events › By place › Byzantine Empire


text: Ildibad succeeds Vitiges as king of the Ostrogoths, and installs his nephew Totila as commander of the Gothic army. He recaptures Venetia and Liguria in Northern Italy.


text: Emperor Justinian I offers to make peace with Vitiges, but Belisarius refuses to transmit the message. The Ostrogoths then offer to support Belisarius as emperor of the West.


text: Belisarius consolidates Italy and begins mopping-up operations, capturing the Gothic fortifications. The cities Ticinum and Verona north of River Po remain in Gothic hands.


text: King Khosrow I breaks the "Eternal Peace" treaty with the Byzantine Empire after eight years. Responding to an embassy from the Ostrogoths urging action against Emperor Justinian I's expanding power, he leads the Persian army up the River Euphrates. Extracting tributes from towns along the way, Khosrau I besieges and captures Antioch. He plunders the city extensively, transporting valuable artworks, including marble statues and mosaics, back to Persia.

source_section: Events › By place › Persia


text: Jinheung becomes king of the Korean kingdom of Silla.

source_section: Events › By place › Asia


text: Pope Vigilius rejects Monophysitism in letters to Justinian I and patriarch Menas of Constantinople.

source_section: Events › By topic › Religion


text: Benedict of Nursia writes his monastic rules, containing precepts for his monks (approximate date).


text: Cassiodorus, former Roman statesman, establishes a monastery at his estate in Italy. The Vivarium "monastery school" is for highly educated and sophisticated men, who copy sacred and secular manuscripts, intending for this to be their sole occupation (approximate date).


text: Global environmental cooling occurs, due either to a comet impact or volcanic eruption in Central America, evidenced by global tree ring growth diminution. Recent evidence from Swiss ice core points to volcanic eruptions in Iceland. Historical evidence records this earlier as the Extreme weather events of 535–536.

source_section: Events › By topic › World


date: October 12

text: October 12 – Yōmei, emperor of Japan (d. 587)

source_section: Births


text: Myrddin Wyllt, Welsh legend (approximate date)


text: John of Biclaro, Visigoth chronicler (approximate date)


text: Authari, king of the Lombards (approximate date)


text: Columbanus, Irish missionary (or 543)


text: Garibald I, duke of Bavaria (d. 591)


text: Galswintha, Neustrian queen, married to Chilperic I (d. 568)


text: Pope Gregory I ("the Great") (d. 604)


text: Dionysius Exiguus (approximate date)

source_section: Deaths


text: Fridolin of Säckingen Irish missionary


text: Vitiges, king of the Ostrogoths


text: Yifu, empress of Western Wei (b. 510)


text: Dignāga, Buddhist founder of Indian logic


text: Yujiulü, empress of Western Wei (b. 525)


text: The Uyghurs come under the rule of the Hephthalites (approximate date).


text: Emperor Justinian I recalls Belisarius from Italy to handle the situation in Armenia. He arrives in Upper Mesopotamia and attacks the fortress city of Nisbis. After an unsuccessful siege he ravages the countryside.


text: Lý Bí initiates a rebellion against the ruling Chinese Liang dynasty in Giao Châu province.


text: Winter – Siege of Verona: Totila defends the city of Verona against a numerically superior Byzantine army. He gains control over the Po Valley and prepares a Gothic offensive in Central Italy.


text: Lazic War: King Khosrau I intervenes in Lazica (modern Georgia), and supports the weakened king Gubazes II against a full-scale uprising. He sends an expeditionary force under Mermeroes and captures the Byzantine stronghold of Petra, located on the coast of the Black Sea, which provides the Persians a strategic port.


date: January 1

text: January 1 – Anicius Faustus Albinus Basilius is appointed as consul in Constantinople, the last person to hold this office.


text: Jacob Baradaeus becomes bishop of Edessa (approximate date).


text: Plague of Justinian: Bubonic plague appears suddenly in the Egyptian port of Pelusium, spreading to Alexandria and, the following year, to Constantinople. This is the beginning of a 200-year-long pandemic that will devastate Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa.


text: John the Cappadocian, praetorian prefect of the East, is dismissed by the Byzantine empress Theodora for treason. He is banished to Cyzicus, and his estates are confiscated.


date: July 21

text: July 21 – Emperor Wen of Sui, emperor of the Sui dynasty (d. 604)


text: Autumn – Totila is elected king by the Ostrogothic nobles after the death of his uncle Ildibad. He wins the support of the lower classes by liberating slaves and distributing land to the peasants.


text: John Tzibus, Byzantine governor-merchant in Lazica


text: Ildibad, king of the Ostrogoths


text: Eraric, king of the Ostrogoths


text: Lazic War – Justinian I sends a Byzantine army (30,000 men) to Armenia. The Persians, severely outnumbered, are forced to retreat, but at Dvin the Byzantines are defeated by a force of 4,000 men in an ambush, and are completely routed.


text: Siege of Naples: Totila besieges the city of Naples in Campania. A Byzantine relief force from Sicily is intercepted and almost destroyed by Gothic warships.


text: Battle of Mucellium: Totila marches down into Tuscany and defeats the Byzantines at Florence, in the valley of Mugello. He treats his prisoners well, and many are induced to join his banner.


text: Spring – Battle of Faventia: King Totila scatters the Byzantine forces near Faventia (modern Faenza) with 5,000 men, beginning the resurgence of Gothic resistance to the reconquest of Italy.


text: King Childebert I and his brother Chlothar I invade Visigothic Spain. They capture Pamplona, but Zaragoza withstands a siege and the Franks retreat to Gaul. From this expedition Childebert brings back to Paris a relic, the tunic of Saint Vincent.


text: March – Totila bypasses Rome and begins his expedition in Southern Italy. He captures Beneventum and receives the submission of the provinces of Apulia, Lucania and Bruttium.


text: Gildas, British monk, writes his work "De Excidio et Conquestu Britanniae" (approximate date).

source_section: Events › By topic › Literature


text: Brendan establishes a monastic settlement on Eileach an Naoimh (approximate date).


text: Plague of Justinian: Bubonic plague, spread from Egypt, kills at least 230,000 in Constantinople (modern Istanbul; before counting stops), and perhaps two million or more in the rest of the empire. Emperor Justinian I contracts the disease but recovers.


text: The 542 Sea of Marmara earthquake takes place in the winter of 542, in the vicinity of the Sea of Marmara. It also affects the coasts of Thrace and the Edremit Gulf.


text: Su Wei, high official of the Sui dynasty (d. 623)


text: Xiao Min Di, emperor of Northern Zhou (d. 557)


text: Xiao Ming Di, emperor of the Liang dynasty (d. 585)


date: August 27

text: August 27 – Caesarius, bishop of Arles


text: Eógan Bél, king of Connacht (Ireland)


text: Battle of Anglon: A Byzantine invasion of Persarmenia is defeated by a much smaller force from the Sasanian Empire.


text: The Hephthalites threaten the Sasanian Empire from the East. They extend their domain in Central Asia (approximate date).


text: Spring – Siege of Naples (542–543): The Byzantine garrison (1,000 men) in Naples surrenders to the Ostrogoths, pressed by famine and demoralized by the failure of two relief efforts. The defenders are well treated by King Totila, and the garrison is allowed safe departure, but the city walls are partly razed.


text: Summer – Khosrow I, Shahanshah of the Sasanian Empire, invades Syria again, and turns south towards Edessa to besiege the fortress city.


text: King Pulakeshin I establishes the Chalukya dynasty in India. He extends his kingdom by conquering Vakataka and the west coast of Karnataka, giving him access to the valuable Arabian Sea trade routes.


text: The fortress city of Old Dongola (modern Sudan) along the River Nile becomes the capital of the Kingdom of Makuria. Several churches are built, including the "Old Church" (approximate date).


text: The doctrine of apocatastasis is condemned by the Synod of Constantinople.


text: Approximate date – The Yupian (玉篇) Chinese dictionary is edited by Gu Yewang.

source_section: Events › By topic › Learning


text: Wu Di, emperor of Northern Zhou (d. 578)


text: Brunhilda, queen of Austrasia (approximate date)


text: Jing Di, emperor of the Liang dynasty (d. 558)


text: Columbanus, Irish missionary (d. 615)


text: Barsanuphius, a famous hermit close to Gaza, retreats fully from the world after the death of Seridus, abbot of the nearby monastery, and fellow hermit John the Prophet with whom he wrote over 850 letters to people seeking his advice and guidance. Aelianos follows Seridus as abbot of the monastery.


text: John the Prophet, Palestinian hermit and Desert Father


text: Seridus of Gaza, Palestinian abbot


text: Octa, king of Kent (approximate date) (b. 500)


date: February

text: February – Lý Bí is declared emperor and establishes the empire Van Xuân (modern Vietnam). His armies repel attacks from the kingdom of Champa.


date: October

text: October – The Liang dynasty retaliates against Van Xuân, and sends an imperial army (120,000 men) under Chen Baxian to re-occupy the region.


text: Gothic War: Emperor Justinian I sends Belisarius back to the Ostrogothic Kingdom (Italy) with an inadequate Byzantine expeditionary force (4,000 men and 200 ships).

source_section: Events › By place › The Mediterranean World, Europe, and the Middle East


text: King Khosrau I unsuccessfully attacks the Byzantine fortress city of Dara. The siege of Edessa is repulsed, and the Persians are forced into a stalemate.


text: Battle of Cillium: A medium-sized Byzantine army under Solomon is defeated by the Moors on the border of Numidia. Solomon and his bodyguard are forced to retreat and are later killed.


text: Belisarius defeats the Gothic army under King Totila, who unsuccessfully besieges the city of Otranto (southern Italy). After their retreat, the Byzantines march towards the city of Rome.


text: Justinian I issues a new edict condemning the Three Chapters. In Western Europe, Pope Vigilius refuses to acknowledge the imperial edict and is ordered to summon to Constantinople.


text: Jacob Baradaeus consecrates Sergius of Tella as patriarch of Antioch, opening a permanent schism between the Syriac Orthodox Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church.


text: Yuwen Xian, prince of Northern Zhou (d. 578)


text: Dugu Qieluo, empress of the Sui dynasty (d. 602)


date: October 18

text: October 18 – Wenna, Cornish saint (approximate date)


text: Dionysius Exiguus, inventor of the Anno Domini era (approximate date)


text: Solomon, Byzantine general and prefect of Africa


text: Yangwon becomes ruler of the Korean kingdom of Goguryeo.


text: Emperor Justinian I sends Narses, Byzantine general, to the rulers of the Heruli, to recruit troops for the campaigns in Italy and Syria.


text: King Khosrau I signs a five year truce with the Byzantine Empire, but war continues to ravage the Caucasus region, especially in Armenia.


text: Gothic War: King Totila establishes his military base at Tivoli (Central Italy), and prepares a campaign to reconquer the region of Latium.


text: The monastery of Clonmacnoise is founded in Ireland by Ciarán Mac a tSaor on the River Shannon (approximate date).


text: The Synod of Brefi is held at Llanddewi Brefi, to condemn the Pelagian heresy. Dubricius, archbishop of South Wales, resigns his position in favour of David (approximate date).


text: Peter, Byzantine general (d. 602)


text: Abd Allah ibn Abd al Muttalib, father of Muhammad (d. 570)


text: Fei Di, emperor of Northern Qi (d. 561)


date: June 3

text: June 3 – Clotilde, Christian wife of Clovis I and ancestress of the succeeding Merovingian dynasty (b.474)


text: October 12 – Mobhí Clárainech, Irish abbot and saint


text: Stotzas, Byzantine rebel leader


text: Medardus, bishop of Vermandois


date: May 5

text: May 5 – First Tikal-Calakmul War: After a victory by Calakmul, Aj Wosal Chan K'inich is installed as the new ruler of the Mayan city state of Naranjo in Guatemala, and reigns until his death in 615.

source_section: Events › By place › Central America


text: Audoin receives subsidies from Justinian I, to encourage him to battle the Gepids in the Carpathian Mountains.


text: Audoin leads the Lombards across the Danube into Pannonia, and becomes an ally of the Byzantines.


date: December 17

text: December 17 – Sack of Rome: After almost a year's siege, the capture of a grain fleet sent by the exiled Pope Vigilius near the mouth of the Tiber, and failure of troops of the Byzantine Empire under Belisarius to relieve the city, the Ostrogoths under King Totila plunder Rome and destroy its fortifications. He then withdraws to Apulia (Southern Italy).


text: Approximate date – The Diocese of Bangor is established in the Welsh kingdom of Gwynedd, with Deiniol consecrated as first bishop.


text: The Basilica of San Vitale (Ravenna) is completed by bishop Maximianus, during the Byzantine Exarchate of Ravenna.


text: Winter – Pope Vigilius arrives in Constantinople, to meet with Emperor Justinian I. The future Pope Pelagius I is sent by Totila to negotiate with Justinian.


text: Audoin murders and succeeds Walthari as king of the Lombards.


text: Walthari, king of the Lombards


text: King Ida establishes the kingdom of Bernicia. He builds Bamburgh Castle (northeast England) as a fortress that will become the seat of Anglo-Saxon kings (according to the Historia Brittonum).

source_section: Events › By place › Britain


text: Theudebald, age 13, succeeds his father Theudebert I after a reign of 14 years, and becomes king of Austrasia (or 548).


text: The Tonkin revolt (Vietnam), led by Lý Nam Đế, is suppressed by the Chinese Liang dynasty.


text: Gothic War: Belisarius recaptures Rome from the Ostrogoths, but his Italian campaign is unsuccessful (he is starved of supplies and reinforcements from Constantinople).


text: Battle of Marta: The Byzantine army under John Troglita is defeated by Moorish tribes in Tripolitania. He flees to Lunci (9 km south of Mahares), and is forced to withdraw north to the fortress of Laribus (near modern El Kef).


text: The Basilica of San Vitale (Ravenna) is consecrated by bishop Maximianus of Ravenna.


text: The mosaic panels of Justinian I and Theodora I with attendants, in the Basilica of San Vitale (Ravenna), are made (approximate date).


text: Pei Ju, official of the Sui dynasty and Tang dynasty (d. 627)


text: Zhu Manyue, empress of Northern Zhou (d. 586)


date: February 10

text: February 10 – Scholastica, Christian nun


date: March 21

text: March 21 – Saint Benedict, Patron Saint of Europe, twin brother of St Scholastica, famous for building the Monastery of Mt Cassino and for his Benedictine Monastic Rule


text: Tribonian, Byzantine jurist and author of the Codex Justinianus


text: Theudebert I, king of Austrasia (or 548)


text: Gao Huan, general of Northern Wei (b. 496)


text: Maelgwn Hir ap Cadwallon, king of Gwynedd (traditional date)


text: Theudigisel, Visigothic general, proclaims himself ruler over the Visigothic Kingdom, after King Theudis is assassinated.


text: Lazic War: King Gubazes II revolts against the Persians, and requests aid from Justinian I. He sends a Byzantine expeditionary force (8,000 men) to Lazica (modern Georgia).


text: Spring – Battle of the Fields of Cato: The Byzantine army, under John Troglita, crushes the Moorish revolt in Byzacena (Tunisia).


text: Mermeroes stations a garrison of 3,000 men in the stronghold of Petra, and marches to Armenia. The Persians, lacking sufficient supplies, secure the supply routes and plunder Lazica.


text: Gubazes II besieges the fortress of Petra, located on the Black Sea. The Persian army under Mermeroes defeats a small Byzantine force guarding the mountain passes, and relieves Petra.


text: Emperor Justinian I relieves Belisarius from military service, in favour of 70-year-old Byzantine general Narses.


text: Cosmas Indicopleustes, Alexandrian merchant, writes his work Christian Topography. He describes the importance of the spice trade (especially in cloves and sweet aloes) in Ceylon, and the harvesting of pepper in India (approximate date).

source_section: Events › By topic › Commerce


text: Saint Catherine's Monastery is established in the Sinai Peninsula.


date: April 13

text: April 13 – Emperor Lý Nam Đế of Vietnam is killed by Laotian tribesmen, while on retreat from the Hong River Plain. He is succeeded by his elder brother Lý Thiên Bảo.


text: Xiao Zhuang, crown prince of the Southern Dynasties (approximate date)


text: April 13 – Lý Nam Đế, emperor of Vietnam


date: June 28

text: June 28 – Empress Theodora I dies at age 48, probably of breast cancer (according to Bishop Victor of Tunnuna). Her body is buried in the Church of the Holy Apostles (Constantinople).


text: June 28 – Theodora I, Byzantine Empress


text: Carcasan, king of the Ifuraces (Algeria)


text: Theudebert I, king of Austrasia (or 547)


text: Theudis, king of the Visigoths


text: Chen Daoten, father of Xuan Di (or 549)


date: January

text: January - Battle of Ciiil Conaire, Ireland: Ailill Inbanda and his brother are defeated and killed.


text: Siege of Rome: The Ostrogoths under Totila besiege Rome for the third time, after Belisarius has returned to Constantinople. He offers a peace agreement, but this is rejected by Emperor Justinian I.


text: The Romans unsuccessfully besiege Petra, Lazica.


text: Jianwen Di succeeds his father Wu Di as emperor of the Liang Dynasty (China).


text: Spring – Lazic War: The Byzantine army under Bessas combines forces with King Gubazes II, and defeats the Persians in Lazica (modern Georgia) in a surprise attack. The survivors retreat into Caucasian Iberia.


text: The Roman Catholic Diocese of Ossory (which still exists) is founded in Ireland.


text: c. 549–564 – Transfiguration of Christ, mosaic in the apse, Church of the Virgin, Saint Catherine's Monastery in Egypt, is made.


text: Totila conquers the city of Perugia (Central Italy) and stations a Gothic garrison. He takes bishop Herculanus prisoner, and orders him to be completely flayed. The Ostrogoth soldier asked to perform this gruesome execution shows pity, and decapitates Herculanus before the skin on every part of his body is removed.


text: Fifth Council of Orléans: Nine archbishops and forty-one bishops pronounce an anathema against the errors of Nestorius and Eutyches.


text: Bishop Maximianus of Ravenna consecrates the Basilica of Sant'Apollinare in Classe.


text: Agila I succeeds Theudigisel as king of the Visigoths, after he is murdered by a group of conspirators during a banquet in Seville.


text: In the Circus Maximus, first and largest circus in Rome, the last chariot races are held.


text: Abū Lahab, uncle and staunch critic of Muhammad (d. 624)


text: Jizang, Chinese Buddhist monk (d. 623)


text: January – Ailill Inbanda, king of Connacht (Ireland) (killed in battle)


date: February 16

text: February 16 – Zhu Yi, official of the Liang dynasty (b. 483)


date: December 12

text: December 12 – Finnian of Clonard, Irish monastic saint (b. 470)


text: Túathal Máelgarb, king of Tara (Ireland)


text: Ciarán of Clonmacnoise, Irish monastic saint


text: Theudigisel, king of the Visigoths (assassinated)


text: Xu Zhaopei, princess of the Liang dynasty


text: Wu Di, emperor of the Liang dynasty (b. 464)


text: Xiao Zhengde, prince of the Liang dynasty


text: Gao Cheng, official and regent of Eastern Wei (b. 521)


year_label: 55 CE

text: Emperor Nero becomes a Roman Consul.

source_section: Events › 55 AD › Roman Empire


text: The apostle Paul writes his First Epistle to the Corinthians.

source_section: Events › 55 AD › Anatolia


text: The Roman jurist Sabinus writes three books on the rights of citizens.


text: Epictetus, Greek-Roman philosopher (d. 135)

source_section: Births › 55 AD


date: February 11

text: February 11 – Britannicus, son of Claudius (b. AD 41)

source_section: Deaths › 55 AD


text: Antonia Tryphaena, Roman client queen (b. 10 BC)


text: Izates bar Monobaz, Parthian client king (b. c. AD 1)


text: Wen Xuan Di adopts a defensive policy towards the hostile northern tribes; he builds over 1,000 miles of walls on the border.


text: The Vendel era begins; the name is given to a region in Uppland (an important area of the sagas' account of a Swedish kingdom).

source_section: Events › By place › Europe


date: January 16

text: January 16 – Gothic War: The Ostrogoths under king Totila recapture Rome after a long siege, by bribing the Isaurian garrison.

source_section: Events › By place › Byzantine Empire


text: The Eastern Wei Dynasty ends, and Wen Xuan Di becomes emperor of Northern Qi. He forces Xiao Jing Di to yield the throne.

source_section: Events › By place › Asia


text: The Gupta Empire falls; India is again ruled by regional kingdoms (approximate date).


text: Emperor Justinian I appoints Bessas commander (magister militum) of Armenia, and entrusts him with the war in Lazica (Georgia).


text: The Sassanid Empire, under the reign of King Khosrow I, controls the trade of silk destined for Europe and the Byzantine Empire.

source_section: Events › By place › Persia


text: Summer – Totila plunders Sicily, after he subdues Corsica and Sardinia. He sends a Gothic fleet to raid the coasts of Greece.


text: Justinian I sends two Nestorian monks on a mission to Central Asia, to spread Christianity in the East (approximate date).


text: The main redaction of the Babylonian Talmud is completed under Rabbis Ravina and Ashi (approximate date).

source_section: Events › By topic › Religion


text: The churches of Lazica (Georgia) and Armenia split. While the Armenian Church remains independent, the Georgian church unites with the Byzantine Empire. This ecclesiastical union deepens political and cultural contact between the two states. As a sign of Lazica's status vis-à-vis Byzantium, Lazic princes are vested with honorific titles of the Byzantine court, including kouropalates, or "minister of the imperial palace" (approximate date).


text: In Ireland, the Diocese of Tuam is erected.


text: Chararic, king of the Suevi, converts to Catholicism.


text: Construction of Quiriguá (Guatemala) begins (approximate date).

source_section: Events › By place › Americas


text: Procopius writes the Secret History (approximate date).

source_section: Events › By topic › Arts and sciences


text: Hindu mathematicians give zero a numeral representation in a positional notation system.


text: The last known eruption of Chimborazo (modern Ecuador) occurs.


text: Gaugericus, bishop of Cambrai (approximate date)

source_section: Births


text: Gallus, Irish missionary (approximate date)


text: John Moschus, Byzantine monk (approximate date)


text: Finbarr of Cork, Irish bishop (approximate date)


text: Peter III of Callinicum, Syriac Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch (approximate date)


date: May 8

text: May 8 – Desideratus, French saint

source_section: Deaths


text: Buddhapālita, Indian Madhyamaka scholar (b. 470)


text: Aryabhata, Indian mathematician-astronomer (b. 476)


text: Eustathius of Mtskheta, Orthodox Christian saint


text: Germanus, Byzantine general (magister militum)


text: Bumin Qaghan, chieftain of the Göktürks, founds the Turkic Khaganate. He unites the local Turkic tribes and throws off the yoke of Rouran domination.


text: Athanagild revolts against the Visigothic king Agila. Their armies meet at Seville (Andalusia), and Agila is defeated.


text: Spring – Lazic War - Siege of Petra (550–551): The Byzantine army and their Sabir allies (some 6,000 men) under Bessas recapture the strategic Byzantine fortress of Petra, located on the coast of the Black Sea. He orders the city walls razed to the ground.


text: Autumn – Xiao Dong, great-nephew of the rebellious general Hou Jing, succeeds Jianwen Di as emperor of the Liang Dynasty. Xiao Dong has no real power and Hou Jing controls the imperial government at the capital Jiankang.


text: Autumn – Battle of Sena Gallica: The Byzantine fleet (50 warships) destroys the Gothic naval force under Indulf near Sena Gallica (Senigallia), some 17 miles (27 km) north of Ancona. It marks the end of the Gothic supremacy in the Mediterranean Sea.


text: Gothic War: Narses arrives in Venetia and discovers that a powerful Gothic-Frank army (50,000 men), under joint command of the kings Totila and Theudebald, has blocked the principal route to the Po Valley. Not wishing to engage such a formidable force and confident that the Franks would avoid a direct confrontation, Narses skirts the lagoons along the Adriatic shore, by using vessels to leapfrog his army from point to point along the coast. In this way he arrives at the capital Ravenna without encountering any opposition. He attacks and crushes a small Gothic force at Ariminum (modern Rimini).


text: 12,000 Kutrigurs appear in Europe led by Chinialus and others to assist the Gepids.


text: Jordanes, Roman bureaucrat, publishes "The Origin and Deeds of the Goths" (approximate date).


date: July 9

text: July 9 – Beirut is destroyed by an earthquake and tsunami. Its epicenter has an estimated magnitude of about 7.2 or 7.6, and according to reports of Antoninus of Piacenza, Christian pilgrim, some 30,000 people are killed.


text: Spring – The 551 Malian Gulf earthquake takes place in the vicinity of the Malian Gulf; it affects the cities of Echinus and Tarphe.


text: Babai the Great, church father and theologian (approximate date)


text: Ashina, empress of Northern Zhou (d. 582)


text: Germanus, Byzantine pretender (approximate date)


text: Umako Soga, leader of the Soga clan (d. 626)


text: Jianwen Di, emperor of the Liang Dynasty (b. 503)


text: After the death of his cousin Germanus, Justinian I appoints Narses new supreme commander, and returns to Italy. In Salona on the Adriatic coast, he assembles a Byzantine expeditionary force totaling 20,000 or possibly 30,000 men and a contingent of foreign allies, notably Lombards, Heruls and Bulgars.


text: Wen Di, emperor of Western Wei (b. 507)


text: Xiao Daqi, crown prince of Northern Qi (b. 524)


date: July 11

text: July 11 – The Armenian calendar is introduced.

source_section: Events


text: Yuan Di succeeds Xiao Dong as emperor of the Liang dynasty.


text: Battle of Asfeld: The Lombards under King Audoin defeat the Gepids.


text: Cynric, king of Wessex, captures the fortress city of Old Sarum.


text: Teia becomes the last king of the Ostrogoths in Italy.


text: Emperor Justinian I dispatches a small Byzantine force (2,000 men) under Liberius to Hispania, according to the historian Jordanes. He conquers Cartagena and other cities on the southeastern coast.


text: Smuggling of silkworm eggs into the Byzantine Empire by monks allows development of the Byzantine silk industry in the Empire.

source_section: Events › By topic › Industry


text: Justinian I receives the first silkworm eggs from two Nestorian monks at Constantinople. They were sent to Central Asia (see 550) and smuggled the precious eggs from China hidden in rods of bamboo.


text: Eutychius becomes patriarch of Constantinople.


text: The Roman Catholic Diocese of Meath is established in Ireland.


text: Buddhism in Japan is introduced, according to the Nihon Shoki.


text: July 11 – First year of the Armenian calendar.


text: John the Merciful, patriarch of Alexandria (approximate date)


text: Æthelberht, king (bretwalda) of Kent (approximate date)