Directory

590 CE

Theodosius, eldest son of Maurice, is proclaimed as co-emperor. He becomes his father's heir to the Byzantine throne. Bahrām Chobin defeats the inferior forces of Khosrau II near Ctesiphon. He seizes the throne and proclaims himself as king Bahrām IV of Persia. Owain mab Urien succeeds his father Urien, as Brythonic king of Rheged in Northern England (approximate date).

Geopolitics & Diplomacy

  • Maurice establishes the Exarchate of Carthage in Africa. He combines the civil authority of a praetorian prefect and the military authority, based at Carthage.source
  • Kadungon becomes king of the Pandyan Kingdom in South India (approximate date).source
  • Stephen I succeeds his father Guaram I as king of Iberia (Georgia) (approximate date).source
  • Yeongyang becomes ruler of the Korean kingdom of Goguryeo.source
  • Æthelberht succeeds his father Eormenric as king (bretwalda) of Kent (according to the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle).source

Conflict & Security

  • February 15 – Hormizd IV is deposed and assassinated by Persian nobles. Having ruled since 579, he is succeeded by his son Khosrau II as king of the Persian Empire.source
  • September – Bahrām Chobin defeats the inferior forces of Khosrau II near Ctesiphon. He seizes the throne and proclaims himself as king Bahrām IV of Persia.source
  • Byzantine–Sassanid War: Emperor Maurice defeats the Persian forces under Bahrām Chobin at Nisibis (modern Turkey), and drives them back into Armenia.source
  • Owain mab Urien succeeds his father Urien, as Brythonic king of Rheged in Northern England (approximate date).source
  • Comentiolus, commander (magister militum) of the eastern army, receives the legitimate Persian king, Khosrau II, as a refugee in his headquarters at Hierapolis.source
  • The Franks and Burgundians under King Guntram invade Italy. They capture the cities Milan and Verona, but are forced to leave by a plague outbreak in the Po Valley.source
  • Siege of Lindisfarne: A Brythonic coalition lays siege to King Hussa of Bernicia at Lindisfarne Castle (Holy Island).source
  • Spring – King Hormizd IV dismisses Bahrām Chobin as commander (Eran spahbed). He revolts and marches with the support of the Persian army towards Ctesiphon.source
  • Frankish rebellion led by Basina, daughter of Chilperic I.source
  • The Franks again invade Italy; they capture Modena and Mantua. Several Lombard dukes defect: Gisulf I, duke of Friuli, is defeated and replaced by his son Gisulf II.source

Religion & Belief

  • February 7 – Pope Pelagius II falls victim to the plague that devastated Rome. He is succeeded by Gregory I, age 50, as the 64th pope, and the first from a monastic background.source
  • March 26 – Theodosius, eldest son of Maurice, is proclaimed as co-emperor. He becomes his father's heir to the Byzantine throne.source
  • Egidius, bishop of Reims, is tried at Metz before a council of bishops for a conspiracy against King Childebert II; he is found guilty and exiled to Strasbourg.source
  • Columbanus, Irish missionary, obtains from King Guntram the Gallo-Roman castle Luxovium (Luxeuil-les-Bains), where he founds the Abbey of Luxeuil.source
  • John of Biclaro, Visigoth chronicler, finishes his "Chronicle" before he is appointed bishop of Girona (Catalonia, Spain).source

Technology & Infrastructure

  • Gregory I begins a vigorous program of rebuilding aqueducts and restoring Rome. He feeds the citizens with doles of grain, as under Roman imperial rule.source

Births

  • Cedda, prince of Wessex (approximate date)source
  • Theodore Rshtuni, Armenian generalsource
  • Benjamin, Coptic Orthodox Patriarch of Alexandria (approximate date)source
  • Secundus of Non, Lombard abbotsource
  • Judicaël, high king of Domnonée (approximate)source
  • Sichilde, Frankish queen (d. 627)source
  • Kavadh II, king of the Sasanian Empire (d. 628)source
  • Boran, Queen of Persia (d. 632)source
  • Dervan, prince of the Sorbs (approximate date)source
  • Braulio, bishop of Zaragoza (d. 651)source
  • Harsha, Indian emperor (d. 647)source
  • Eanfrith, king of Bernicia (d. 634)source

Deaths

  • February 7 – Pope Pelagius II (b. 520)source
  • September 5 – King Authari dies (possibly by poison) after a six-year reign, and is succeeded by Agilulf, duke (dux) of Turin, who marries his widow Theodelinda.source
  • September 5 – Authari, king of the Lombardssource
  • Blane, Scottish bishop and saintsource
  • Ermelinde, Brabant Saint (b. 510)source
  • Gisulf I, duke of Friuli (Italy)source
  • Guaram I, king of Iberia (Georgia)source
  • Hormizd IV, king of the Persian Empiresource
  • Eormenric, king of Kent (England)source