Directory

578 CE

Emperor Justin II dies after several periods of insanity. On the advice of his wife Sophia, he has raised his general Tiberius to the rank of co-emperor (Caesar). From December 574 he has ruled jointly with Sophia, and now succeeds them as emperor of the Byzantine Empire. Tzi-B'alam, who had been the ruler of the Mayan city state of Copán in Honduras, dies after a 25-year reign that began in May 553. K'ak' Chan Yopaat, becomes the new ruler of the Mayan city state of Copán in Honduras, and rules until his death 49 years later in 628.

Geopolitics & Diplomacy

  • November 15 – K'ak' Chan Yopaat, becomes the new ruler of the Mayan city state of Copán in Honduras, and rules until his death 49 years later in 628.source

Conflict & Security

  • Byzantine–Sassanid War: A Byzantine army under command of Maurice (magister militum per Orientem) invades Upper Mesopotamia, and raids on both sides of the Tigris. He deports 70,000 captives from Hyrcania to Cyprus, and installs military colonists to guard the strategic locations.source
  • Summer – Emperor Wu Di engages in military campaigns on two fronts: against the invading Göktürks to the north and against the Chen dynasty in the south.source

Technology & Infrastructure

  • Kongō Gumi, the world's oldest construction company (578–2006), is founded in Osaka (Japan).source

Deaths

  • July 30 – Jacob Baradaeus, bishop of Edessasource
  • October 5 – Emperor Justin II dies after several periods of insanity. On the advice of his wife Sophia, he has raised his general Tiberius to the rank of co-emperor (Caesar). From December 574 he has ruled jointly with Sophia, and now succeeds them as emperor of the Byzantine Empire.source
  • October 5 – Justin II, Byzantine emperorsource
  • October 22 – Tzi-B'alam, who had been the ruler of the Mayan city state of Copán in Honduras, dies after a 25-year reign that began in May 553.source
  • Wuffa, king of East Anglia (approximate date)source
  • Wu Mingche, general of the Chen dynasty (b. 512)source
  • Bhavyaviveka, Indian Madhyamaka scholarsource
  • Wu Di, emperor of Northern Zhou (b. 543)source
  • Yuwen Xian, prince of Northern Zhou (b. 544)source
  • John Malalas, Byzantine chronicler (b. c.491)source
  • Abdul Muttalib, grandfather of Islamic prophet Muhammadsource
  • Wu Di, age 35, dies from an illness, and is succeeded by his eldest son Xuan Di as emperor of Northern Zhou.source