Directory

548 CE

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. 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). 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).

Conflict & Security

  • Theudigisel, Visigothic general, proclaims himself ruler over the Visigothic Kingdom, after King Theudis is assassinated.source
  • 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).source
  • Spring – Battle of the Fields of Cato: The Byzantine army, under John Troglita, crushes the Moorish revolt in Byzacena (Tunisia).source
  • 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.source
  • 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.source
  • Emperor Justinian I relieves Belisarius from military service, in favour of 70-year-old Byzantine general Narses.source

Exploration & Expansion

  • 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

Religion & Belief

  • Saint Catherine's Monastery is established in the Sinai Peninsula.source

Crime & Justice

  • 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.source

Births

  • Xiao Zhuang, crown prince of the Southern Dynasties (approximate date)source

Deaths

  • April 13 – Lý Nam Đế, emperor of Vietnamsource
  • 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).source
  • June 28 – Theodora I, Byzantine Empresssource
  • Carcasan, king of the Ifuraces (Algeria)source
  • Theudebert I, king of Austrasia (or 547)source
  • Theudis, king of the Visigothssource
  • Chen Daoten, father of Xuan Di (or 549)source