Directory

580 CE

Siege of Sirmium: The Avars march to the right bank of the River Sava, and besiege the Byzantine stronghold of Sirmium (Pannonia). The Chinese city of Ye (Henan) is razed to the ground by Yang Jian, future founder of the Sui dynasty, who defeats a resistance force under Yuchi Jiong. The Northern Zhou dynasty, strategically based in the basin of the Wei River, is supreme in Northern China. In the south only the Chen dynasty remains a rival.

Geopolitics & Diplomacy

  • Æthelberht succeeds his father Eormenric as king (bretwalda) of Kent (approximate date).source

Conflict & Security

  • The Slavs begin to migrate into the Balkan Peninsula. The Avars, under King (khagan) Bayan I, invade the Lower Danube (modern Bulgaria).source
  • Siege of Sirmium: The Avars march to the right bank of the River Sava, and besiege the Byzantine stronghold of Sirmium (Pannonia).source
  • The Chinese city of Ye (Henan) is razed to the ground by Yang Jian, future founder of the Sui dynasty, who defeats a resistance force under Yuchi Jiong.source
  • The Northern Zhou dynasty, strategically based in the basin of the Wei River, is supreme in Northern China. In the south only the Chen dynasty remains a rival.source

Exploration & Expansion

  • The Lombards drive the last Ostrogoths across the Alps (Northern Italy). During the "Rule of the Dukes" the Lombards adopt Roman titles, names, and traditions.source

Religion & Belief

  • The Roman Senate sends an embassy to Constantinople, with a gift (3,000 pounds of gold) to Emperor Tiberius II Constantine, along with a plea for help against the Lombards.source
  • Gregory of Tours is brought before a council of bishops, on charges of slandering the Frankish queen Fredegund (approximate date).source
  • King Liuvigild calls for an Arian synod in Toledo (central Spain), which modifies several doctrines; he tries to unify the Christians within the Visigothic Kingdom.source

Births

  • Bilal ibn Rabah al-Habashi, companion of Muhammadsource
  • Umm Salama, wife of Muhammad (approximate date)source
  • Dayi Daoxin, Chán Buddhist patriarch (d. 651)source
  • Cadfan ap Iago, king of Gwynedd (approximate date)source
  • Livinus, Irish apostle (approximate date)source
  • Clemen ap Bledric, king of Dumnonia (approximate date)source
  • Maximus the Confessor, monk and theologian (d. 662)source
  • Abdel Rahman ibn Awf, companion of Muhammadsource
  • Fabia Eudokia, Byzantine empress (approximate date)source
  • Wei Zheng, chancellor of the Tang dynasty (d. 643)source
  • Didier of Cahors, Frankish bishop (approximate date)source
  • Pepin the Elder, Frankish Mayor of the Palace (d. 640)source

Deaths

  • Gao Anagong, high official of Northern Qisource
  • Wei Xiaokuan, general of Western Wei (b. 509)source
  • Galam Cennalath, king of the Pictssource
  • Eormenric, king of Kent (approximate date)source
  • Xuan Di, emperor of Northern Zhou (b. 559)source
  • Yuchi Jiong, general of Northern Zhousource
  • Dorotheus of Gaza, monk and abbot (approximate date)source
  • Martin of Braga, missionary and archbishopsource
  • Bacurius III, king of Iberia (Georgia)source
  • Audovera, wife of Chilperic I (approximate date)source