Directory

490 CE

Battle of the Adda River: Theodoric and his ally Alaric II defeat the forces of Odoacer, on the Adda River, near Milan. Empress Feng of the Chinese Northern Wei Dynasty dies. She is buried with magnificent honors, in the Wenming Tomb. Theodoric and his Ostrogoths lay siege to Ravenna. The cities of Cesena and Rimini retain their allegiance to Odoacer.

Conflict & Security

  • August 11 – Battle of the Adda River: Theodoric and his ally Alaric II defeat the forces of Odoacer, on the Adda River, near Milan.source
  • In Jiaozhou, a state official Phục Đăng Chi launched a coup d'etat against the governor Phòng Pháp Thặng and captured him. In November, emperor Wu appointed Phục Đăng Chi as the new Jiaozhou's governor.source
  • King Theodoric the Great retreats to Ticinum (modern Pavia), where he constructs a fortified camp, which is blockaded.source
  • Spring – Odoacer receives reinforcements from the south and leaves Ravenna. He defeats the Ostrogoths near Faenza.source
  • King Alaric II supports Theodoric in his conquest of Italy, by dispatching a Visigoth army to raise Odoacer's siege of Pavia.source
  • Theodoric and his Ostrogoths lay siege to Ravenna. The cities of Cesena and Rimini retain their allegiance to Odoacer.source

Religion & Belief

  • Euphemius becomes patriarch of Constantinople.source

Crime & Justice

  • Summer – The Burgundians, under King Gundobad, cross the Alps and plunder Liguria. Many Romans are taken into captivity.source

Births

  • May 3 – Kʼan Joy Chitam I, ruler of Palenque (d. 565)source
  • Vigilantia, Byzantine princess (approximate date)source
  • Romanos the Melodist, Syrian poet (approximate date)source
  • John Philoponus, Aristotelian commentator and philosopher (d. 570)source

Deaths

  • Empress Feng of the Chinese Northern Wei Dynasty dies. She is buried with magnificent honors, in the Wenming Tomb.source
  • Theodora of Alexandria, Desert Mothersource
  • Peter III Mongus, patriarch of Alexandriasource
  • Feng, Chinese empress and regent of Northern Wei (b. 442)source