Directory

570 CE

Abraha, Christian ruler of coastal Yemen, who was acting as a general for the Christian kingdom in Abyssinia, begins a military expedition in Arabia against the predominantly pagan Quraysh of Mecca, known as the Year of the Elephant. The Jews of Clermont-Ferrand are forced to convert to Christianity. A limestone statue of Boddhisattva is created in Henan (approximate date).

Geopolitics & Diplomacy

  • Leutfred becomes duke of Alemannia (modern Germany).source
  • Spoleto becomes the capital of an independent duchy, under the Lombard chieftain Faroald (approximate date).source

Conflict & Security

  • Ctesiphon, capital of the Sassanid Empire, becomes the largest city in the world, taking the lead from Constantinople, capital of the Byzantine Empire.source
  • Battle of Gwen Ystrad: A British alliance is forged between the kingdoms of Strathclyde, Bryneich and Elmet (approximate date).source

Exploration & Expansion

  • Abraha, Christian ruler of coastal Yemen, who was acting as a general for the Christian kingdom in Abyssinia, begins a military expedition in Arabia against the predominantly pagan Quraysh of Mecca, known as the Year of the Elephant.source
  • The anonymous Pilgrim of Piacenza travels the Holy Sites of Christianity in Syria, Palestine and Sinai, an experience that he later writes down as a travel report (approximate date).source

Religion & Belief

  • The Jews of Clermont-Ferrand are forced to convert to Christianity.source

Technology & Infrastructure

  • The first mention is made of the Spear of Destiny (approximate date).source
  • A limestone statue of Boddhisattva is created in Henan (approximate date).source

Culture & Society

  • Year of the Elephant, according to Islamic tradition.source

Births

  • Rigunth, daughter of Chilperic I (d. 585)source
  • Khosrow II, last great Sasanian king of Iran (d. 628)source
  • Imerius of Immertal, Swiss monk (approximate date)source
  • Muhammad, last prophet of Islam (d. 632) (approximate date)source
  • Ammar ibn Yasir, companion of Muhammad.source
  • Namri Songtsen, king of Tibet (approximate date)source
  • Childebert II, king of Austrasia (d. 595)source
  • Li Dashi, Chinese official and historian (d. 628)source
  • Gao Heng, emperor of Northern Qi (d. 577)source
  • Pei Ji, chancellor of the Tang dynasty (d. 629)source
  • Pybba, king of Mercia (approximate date)source
  • Chen Yuan, crown prince of the Chen dynasty (approximate date)source
  • Theodelinda, queen of the Lombards (d. 628)source

Deaths

  • January 15 – Íte of Killeedy, Irish nunsource
  • Fei Di, emperor of the Chen dynastysource
  • John Philoponus, Aristotelian commentator (b. 490)source
  • Zhang Yao'er, empress dowager of the Chen dynasty (b. 506)source
  • Antonina, wife of Belisarius (approximate date)source
  • Muhammad, Islamic prophet, is born in Mecca (today's Saudi Arabia). His father Abdullah ibn Abd al-Muttalib dies a few months before his birth, so he and his mother Aminah bint Wahb are protected by Muhammad's paternal grandfather, Abdul Muttalib, who is recognized as the leading figure in his tribe, the Quraysh.source
  • Abraha, an Aksumite army general, Islamic tradition places his death immediately after his expedition to the Hejazsource
  • Abdullah ibn Abd al-Muttalib, father of Muhammad (b. 545)source
  • Soga no Iname, leader of the Soga clansource
  • Armel, Breton prince and bishop (approximate date)source