520s
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| 1st millennium |
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The520sdecade ran from January 1, 520, to December 31, 529.
Events
520
By place
[edit]Byzantine Empire
[edit]- Priscian,Latin grammarian,writes theInstitutiones Grammaticae( "Grammatical Foundations" ). InConstantinople,he codifies thismanuscriptin 18 volumes, which will be widely used through theMiddle Ages.It provides the raw material for the field ofspeculative grammar.
- July– Byzantine generalVitalianbecomesconsul,and is shortly later murdered, probably on the orders ofJustinian,the nephew and heir-apparent of EmperorJustin I.[1]
Britannia
[edit]- KingPabo Post Prydainof thePennines(Northern England) abdicates histhrone,and divides the kingdom between his two sons. He retires, as ahermit,toAnglesey.[2]
- TheKingdom of East Angliais formed, by the merging of theEnglishcounties ofNorfolkandSuffolk,and perhaps the eastern part ofThe Fens(approximate date).
- KingBudic IIreturns toCornouaille(Brittany), to claim the Breton throne (approximate date).
Europe
[edit]- OstrogothicrulerTheodoric the Greatbuilds theMausoleum of Theodoricas his future tomb inRavenna(Italy).[3]
Asia
[edit]- Bodhidharma,Buddhistmonk,arrives inLuoyang.He spreadsBuddhismand travels to thenorthern Chinese kingdom of Wei,to theShaolin Monastery.
By topic
[edit]Religion
[edit]- February 25–Epiphaniusis electedpatriarch of Constantinopleby Byzantine Emperor Justin I.
- The construction of theBasilica of San Vitalein Ravenna, is started (approximate date).
521
By place
[edit]Byzantine Empire
[edit]- FutureByzantine emperorJustinian,age 39, is appointedconsul.He later becomesCommander-in-chiefof the Army of the East.
Arabia
[edit]- Ma`adikarib Ya`fur becomes king, supported by theAksumites;he begins a military campaign against theArabian tribes.
By topic
[edit]Music
[edit]- BoethiusintroducesGreek musical letternotation to the West.
Religion
[edit]- February 22–Samson of Dolis ordained asbishopinBrittany,on the Feast of theChair of Saint Peter.
- Ecclesiusbecomes abishop of Ravenna.
522
By place
[edit]Europe
[edit]- Anicius Manlius Severinus Boethius,Romanphilosopher,is arrested on charges of having conspired againstTheodoric the Great.He is imprisoned atPavia(Lombardy).
- Amalaric,age 20, is proclaimed king of theVisigoths.His kingdom is threatened from the north by theBurgundians.
Arabia
[edit]- Dhu Nuwasseizes the throne of theHimyarite KingdominYemen.He attacks theAksumitegarrison atZafar,capturing the city and burning the churches.
- Dhū Nuwas moves toNajran,an Aksumite stronghold. After accepting the city's capitulation, he massacres the Christian inhabitants (some sources estimate a death toll up to 20,000).
523
By place
[edit]Byzantine Empire
[edit]- Justinian,laterByzantine emperor,marries inConstantinoplehis mistressTheodora,who is by profession acourtesan(approximate date).
Europe
[edit]- KingChlothar Itakes part in an expedition againstBurgundyand captures the town ofAutun.Now about 26, he makes plans to expand the territory he inherited from his late father,Clovis I.
- KingSigismund of Burgundyis defeated by the invadingFranksunderChlodomer,Childebert Iand Chlothar I. He is captured and taken as prisoner toAurelianum(modernOrléans).
Africa
[edit]- Hildericsucceeds his uncleThrasamundafter a 27-year reign, and becomes king of theVandalsandAlans.He favoursCatholicismand grants the inhabitantsreligiousfreedom.
- Leptis Magna(modernLibya) is sacked byBerber(Moor) raiders.Gelimerleads a successful expedition inNorth Africa.
Asia
[edit]- Arevoltbreaks out on theSix Frontier Towns,on the northern border ofNorthern WeiChina ( "Revolt of the Six Garrisons" ). Tensions between the elite and theTuoba-clan severely destabilise the state.
- TheSongyue Pagodais completed during theNorthern Weiera; the circular-based tower is still 40 m (131 ft) in height.
- Seongbecomes king ofBaekje,one of theThree Kingdoms of Korea.[4]
By topic
[edit]Religion
[edit]- August 6–Pope Hormisdasdies atRomeafter a 9-year reign, in which he has been instrumental in ending theAcacian Schism.He is succeeded byJohn Ias the 53rdpope.
524
By place
[edit]Europe
[edit]- January 1–Venantius Opiliois appointed by Byzantium'sEmperor Justinto administer the Western Roman Empire as the Roman consul, replacingAnicius Maximus.The Emperor Justin appoints himself as consul for the West, an office vacant since 522, but hasTheodorus Filoxenusadministering the west.
- May 1– KingSigismund of Burgundyis executed atOrléansafter an 8-year reign, and is succeeded by his brotherGodomar.He rallies theBurgundianarmy and begins plunderingFrankishterritory.
- June 25–Battle of Vézeronce:TheFranksunderChlodomer,Childebert IandChlothar Iare defeated by theBurgundiansand alliedOstrogothsnearIsère(France), averting the Frankish advance into Burgundy. During the fighting Chlodomer is killed. Later Childebert annexes the cities ofChartresand Orléans.
- October 23–Anicius Manlius Boethius,one of Rome's most prolific writers and philosophers, is beaten to death at the prison atPavia,where he has been imprisoned for treason. During his prison sentence, he has written his final work,The Consolation of Philosophy.[5]The date of the death of St. Boethius is later celebrated as his feast day on the Roman Catholic Calendar of Saints.[6]
- Date unknown – QueenGuntheuc,widow of Chlodomer, is forced into marrying his brother, Chlothar I. Her two children are murdered by him, but the eldest sonClodoaldsurvives by escaping toProvence.
Central America
[edit]- November 29–Ahkal Moʼ Nahb I,ruler of theMayacity ofPalenquein what is now the southern Mexican state ofChiapas,dies after a reign of 23 years. The city enters aninterregnumwhich lasts a little over four years.
525
By place
[edit]Byzantine Empire
[edit]Britannia
[edit]- Bernicia(North East England) is settled by theAngles(approximate date).
Europe
[edit]- KingTheodoric the GreatsendsPope John ItoConstantinople,to negotiate a withdrawal ofByzantine emperorJustin'sedictagainstArianChristianity.
- Frankishtribesmen, under the command of KingChlothar I,plunderBurgundy.
Africa
[edit]- Kaleb,king ofAksum,collects a fleet and crosses fromAfricato conquerYemen.He establishes better trade ports on theRed Sea.
Asia
[edit]- The Daisan river, tributary of theEuphrates,floodsEdessa,and within a couple of hours fills the entire city except for the highest parts. Eventually the pent-up waters break through the city walls. TheShroud of Turinis allegedly discovered during the rebuilding of the city (seeImage of Edessa).
By topic
[edit]Exploration and colonization
[edit]- Cosmas Indicopleustes,Alexandrianexplorer-geographer, travels up theNile.He will venture as far to the east asCeylon,become amonk,and write"Topographia Christiana"to vindicate thebiblicalaccount of the world (see550).
Religion
[edit]- Dionysius Exiguus,Scythiantheologian-mathematician, inaugurates the practice of using A.D. (Anno Domini) inRomefor calendar dates after the birth ofJesusChrist, a system which has been supported by subsequent studies.[7]Dionysius also produces his tables for computing the date of"Cyclus Paschalis"(Easter Tables).
- The ArianbaptisteryofSanta Mariais built inRipa(Rome).
- Buddhistcaves are completed atAjanta(India) withstonecarvings (approximate date).
526
By place
[edit]Europe
[edit]- August 30– KingTheodoric the Greatdies ofdysenteryatRavenna;his daughterAmalasuinthatakes power asregentfor her 10-year-old sonAthalaric.
- Amalasuintha rules theOstrogothic Kingdomthat extends throughout theItalian Peninsula,Dalmatia,Sicily,SardiniaandCorsica.
- Amalaric,age 24, becomes king of theVisigoths,and assumes full royal power.
Persia
[edit]- Roman–Persian Wars:KingKavad I,assisted by hisArabianvassal,Al-Mundhir III,begins a campaign in theTranscaucasusregion andUpper Mesopotamia.
Middle East
[edit]- Probably betweenMay 20andMay 29–526 Antioch earthquake:A great earthquake kills approximately 250,000 people inSyriaandAntioch.
By topic
[edit]Religion
[edit]- Pope John Ireturns to Ravenna fromConstantinople.Theodoric the Great finds that he has been only partly successful in persuading theByzantine emperorJustin Ito withdraw hisedictagainstArianChristianity,[8]and throws thepopeinto prison.
- May 18– John I dies ofstarvationafter a 3-year reign. Theodoric the Great selectsPope Felix IVas the 54th pope.
- Ecclesius,bishop of Ravenna,commissions two newchurches,one for Ravenna and one for its port,Classis.
- c. 526–547 – Sanctuaryapse'smosaicshowingChristenthroned and flanked bySaint Vitalisand Ecclesius,Basilica of San Vitale(Ravenna) is made.
527
By place
[edit]Byzantine Empire
[edit]- April 1– EmperorJustin Inames his nephewJustinian Ias co-ruler, as an incurable wound saps his strength.
- August 1– Justin I, age 77, dies atConstantinopleand is succeeded by Justinian I, who becomes sole emperor.
- Justinian I reorganises the command structure of theByzantine army,and fields a small but highly trained army.
- Justinian I appointsBelisariusto command the Eastern army inArmeniaand on the Byzantine-Persian frontier.
Britannia
[edit]- KingCerdic of Wessexand his sonCynricdefeat theBritonsatCerdicesleah(modernChearsley).
- TheKingdom of Essexis founded by theSaxons,who land north of theThames.They take control of the land between what is now London andSt Albans,ceding from theKingdom of Kent
- Æscwinebecomes the first king ofEssex(approximate date), defeatingOctainbattle at Hackney,west of theRiver Lea.
Japan
[edit]- Iwai Rebellion:A revolt against theYamato courtbreaks out inTsukushi Province(according toNihon Shoki).
By topic
[edit]Religion
[edit]- Justinian I outlawspaganreligious practices inEgypt,and dispatches Byzantinemissionariesto southern territories (approximate date).
- TheChurch of the NativityinBethlehemis rebuilt until565,restoring thearchitecturaltone of thebasilica.
- Silla,one of theThree Kingdoms of Korea,formally adoptsBuddhismas astate religion(approximate date).
528
By place
[edit]Byzantine Empire
[edit]- February 13– EmperorJustinian Iappoints a commission (including thejuristTribonian) to codify all laws of theRoman Empirethat are still in force fromHadrianto the current date; this becomes theCorpus Juris Civilis.
- November 29–Natural disaster:Asecond earthquakestrikesAntioch,killing thousands (including Patriarch Euphrasius), and causing a fire that destroys theDomus Aurea(Great Church) built byConstantine the Great.[9]
- Justin,Byzantine general (magister militum), dies in battle against theBulgarson the frontier of theDanubianlimesinMoesia.[10]He is succeeded byConstantiolus.
Asia
[edit]- March 31–Emperor Xiaoming of Northern Wei,emperor ofNorthern Wei,is poisoned by order of his mother, the regentEmpress Dowager Hu.
- April 1– The 6-week-old onlydaughter of Emperor Xiaoming of Northern Weiis proclaimed empress regnant of Northern Wei, byEmpress Dowager Hu.
- April 2– Xiaoming's daughter is replaced by the 2- or 3-year-oldYuan Zhaoas emperor of Northern Wei, by order ofEmpress Dowager Hu
- May 17–Empress Dowager Hu,regent ofNorthern Wei,having resorted to an old monarchist tool and executed lovers who have displeased her, is drowned in theYellow Riveralong with the nominal emperor, the babyYuan Zhao,and princeYuan Yongby order of GeneralErzhu Rong,who places 21-year-old Yuan Ziyou on thethroneasEmperor Xiaozhuang of Northern Wei.
- TheHephthalites(White Huns) move from theHindu Kushinto thePunjab region,and eastward across theGanges Delta,ravaging cities andBuddhistmonasteries.
- Yasodharman,Maharaja( "great king" ) ofMalwa,defeats theHuninvaders underMihirakulain centralIndia.
By topic
[edit]Religion
[edit]- KingSeong of BaekjeadoptsBuddhismas the state religion.
- Bulguksa,a Buddhist temple, is built inSouth Korea.
529
By place
[edit]Byzantine Empire
[edit]- April 7– EmperorJustinian Iissues theCodex Justinianus(Code of Civil Laws), reformulatingRoman lawin an effort to control his unruly people (see532).[11]
- TheSamaritansrevolt and are defeated; theChurch of the Nativityis burnt down during theRebellion.[12]
Europe
[edit]- QueenAmalasunthareceives a delegation sent by a council ofGothicnobles urging that she have her sonAthalaric,now 13, taught aneducation in the Roman tradition—not by elderlyschoolmasters,but by men who will teach him to "ride, fence, and to be toughened, not to be turned into abookworm".[13]
Arabia
[edit]- Al-Harith ibn Jabalahbecomes the fifth king of theGhassanids.He helps theByzantinesto suppress the wide-scaleSamaritan Revolt.[14]
Central America
[edit]- February 25–Kʼan Joy Chitam Ibecomes the new ruler of theMayan city-stateofPalenquewhat is now the state ofChiapasin southernMexico,ending aninterregnumof a little over four years, and reigns until his death in565.[15]
Southeast Asia
[edit]- Rudravarmanis grantedinvestiturebyChina,as the first king of the fourthdynastyofChampa(modernVietnam).[16]
By topic
[edit]Education
[edit]- TheAcademy,originally founded atAthensbyPlatoaround387 BC,closes down by order of Justinian I, on charges of un-Christianactivity. Many of the school's professorsemigratetoPersiaandSyria.[17]
Religion
[edit]- TheBenedictine Orderis established atMonte CassinonearNaplesbyBenedict of Nursia,who founds amonasteryand formulates for hismonksstrict rules in the"Regula Benedicti".[18]
- TheCanons of the Council of Orangeare established, approving theAugustiniandoctrine of sin and grace overPelagianismandSemi-Pelagianism,but without Augustine's absolutepredestination.[19]
Significant people
[edit]- Ahkal Mo' Nahb I,Ajaw (Lord) of Palenque (Mayan Empire)
- Boethius,philosopher
- Childebert I,Frankish king, 524-558
- Clodoald,saint
- Chlodomer,King of Orleans, 511-524
- Chlothar I,Frankish King
- Dionysius Exiguus,inventor of the Anno Domini
- Godomar,King of Burgundy
- Guntheuc,Queen of Orleans
- Justin I,Eastern Roman Emperor, 518-527
- Kaleb of Axum,King of Ethiopia
- Sigismund of Burgundy,King of the Burgundians, 516-524
- Theoderic the Great,King of the Ostrogoths, 475-526
Births
520
- Hou Andu,general of theChen dynasty(d.563)
- Justin II,emperor of theByzantine Empire(d.578)
- Malo,Welshbishop(approximate date)
- Martin of Braga,missionaryandarchbishop(d.580)
- Pope Pelagius IIofRome(d.589)
- Radegund,Frankishprincess (approx.)
- Zuhayr bin Abi Sulma,Arabianpoet(approx.)
521
- December 7–Columba,Gaelic Irishmissionarymonk(d.597)
- Agericus,bishop of Verdun(approximate date)
- Gao Cheng,high official andregentofEastern Wei(d.549)
522
- 15 October–Colmán of Cloyne,Irish monk (d.600)
- Clodoald,Merovingianprince (approximate date)
- Wen Di,emperor of theChen dynasty(d.566)
523
524
- September 18–Kan Bahlam I,ruler ofPalenque(d.583)
- He Shikai,high official ofNorthern Qi(d.571)
- Xiao Daqi,crown princeof Northern Qi (d.551)
- Xiao Jing Di,emperor ofEastern Wei(d.552)
525
- Alexander of Tralles,physician(approximate date)
- Pope Benedict I,Popeof Catholic church (d.579)
- John Climacus,monkand writer (approximate date)
- Justin,Byzantine aristocrat and general (d.566)
- Liuvigild,king of theVisigoths(d.586)
- Wideok,king ofBaekje(Three Kingdoms of Korea)
- Yujiulü,empress ofWestern Wei(d.540)
526
- Wang Lin,general of theLiang DynastyandNorthern Wei(d.573)
- Yuan Zhao( "the young lord" ), emperor of Northern Wei (d.528)
528
- February 12–Daughter of Emperor Xiaoming of Northern Wei,nominal empress regnant of Northern Wei
529
- Wen Xuan Di,emperor ofNorthern Qi(d.559)[20]
Deaths
520
- January 19–John of Cappadocia,patriarch of Constantinople
- July –Vitalian,Byzantine general,consul
- Abbán,Irish cult leader andsaint(approx.)
- Ardgal mac Conaill,king ofUisneach(Ireland)
- Isidore of Alexandria,Neoplatonistphilosopher (approximate date)
- Maximinus,Frankishabbotand saint (approximate date)
- Zu Gengzhi,Chinesemathematician(approx.)
521
- July 17–Magnus Felix Ennodius,bishopand Latin poet
- November 29–Jacob of Serugh,Syrianpoetandtheologian
522
- Eutharic,son-in-law ofTheodoric the Great
- Galan Erilich,king of thePicts(approximate date)
- Liu Xie,Chinesewriter(approximate date) (b.465)
523
- August 6–Pope Hormisdas(b.450)
- Arethas,leader of theChristiancommunity inYemen
- Muryeong,king ofBaekje(Three Kingdoms of Korea)[4]
- Philoxenus of Mabbug,Syriantheologian
- Thrasamund,king of theVandals(b.450)
524
- June 25–Chlodomer,king of theFranks
- July 12–Viventiolus,Archbishop of Lyon (b.460)
- November 29–Ahkal Moʼ Nahb I,ruler of Palenque (Mexico) (b.465)
- Boethius,Romanphilosopherand writer (b.480)[21]
- Brigit of Kildare,Irishpatron saint[22]
- Sigismund,king of theBurgundians
- Zhou She,high official ofSouthern Liang(b.469)
525
- Boethius,Romanphilosopherand writer (or524)
- Bandzhis Firenz,king of Danmark and Medieval Gritzania[23]
- Yuan Cha,high official ofNorthern Wei(approximate date)
- Yūsuf Dhū Nuwas,king of theHimyarite Kingdom(Yemen).
526
- May 18–Pope John I[8]
- August 30–Theodoric the Great,king of theOstrogoths(b.454)[24]
- October 30–Paul of Edessa,Syriac Orthodoxbishop ofEdessa
- Quintus Aurelius Memmius Symmachus,Romanpolitician
527
528
- March 31–Emperor Xiaoming of Northern Wei,emperor of Northern Wei (b.510)
- May 17
- Empress Dowager HuofNorthern Wei
- Yuan Yong,imperial prince of Northern Wei
- Yuan Zhao,emperor of Northern Wei (b.526)
- Anicia Juliana,daughter ofOlybrius(approximate date)
- Bodhidharma,Buddhistmonk(approximate date)
- Euphrasius,patriarch of Antioch(in theearthquake)
- Jabalah IV ibn al-Harith,king of theGhassanids
- Justin,Byzantine general (magister militum)
- Procopius of Gaza,Christiansophistandrhetorician
529
- Baderic,king of theThuringii(b. c.480)[26]
- Theodosius the Cenobiarch,monkand founder of theMonastery of St. Theodosius[27]
- Yuan Hao,imperial prince ofNorthern Wei[28]
References
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- ^Simmons, Kurt M."Dr".dec25th.info.RetrievedMarch 19,2020.
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- ^Tucker, Abigail (March 2009)."Endangered Site: Church of the Nativity, Bethlehem".Smithsonian Magazine.Retrieved29 January2019.
- ^Amory, Patrick (1997).People and Identity in Ostrogothic Italy, 489-554.Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. pp. 155–158.ISBN9780521526357.
- ^Baumstark, Anton (2011).On the Historical Development of the Liturgy.Liturgical Press. p. 117.ISBN9780814660966.
- ^Tiesler, Vera; Cucina, Andrea (2006).Janaab' Pakal of Palenque: Reconstructing the Life and Death of a Maya Ruler.Tucson, AZ: University of Arizona Press. p. 161.ISBN9780816525102.
- ^Hall, Daniel George Edward (1981) [1955].History of South East Asia.London and Basingstoke: Macmillan International Higher Education. p. 35.ISBN9781349165216.
- ^Blumenthal, Henry J. (1978). "529 and Its Sequel: What Happened to the Academy?".Byzantion.48(2): 369–385.JSTOR44171310.
- ^Johnston, William M.; Renkin, Claire (2000).Encyclopedia of Monasticism: A-L.Chicago: Taylor & Francis. pp. 128–143.ISBN9781579580902.
- ^Westerfield, David (28 April 2006)."What Was Significant About the Council of Orange?".David Westerfield.Retrieved2019-01-29.
- ^Lee, Lily Xiao Hong; Stefanowska, A. D.; Wiles, Sue (2015) [2007].Biographical Dictionary of Chinese Women: Antiquity Through Sui, 1600 B.C.E. - 618 C.E.Abingdon & New York: Routledge. p. 314.ISBN9781317475910.
- ^"Boethius (480-524) - Anicius Manlius Severinus Boetius: Of the consolation of philosophy: in five books / made English and illustrated with notes by the Right Honourable Richard Lord Viscount Preston".www.royalcollection.org.uk.Retrieved23 June2018.
- ^"Ireland's own 5th-century female bishop: Brigid of Kildare".The Irish Times.Retrieved23 June2018.
- ^"525 _ AcademiaLab".academia-lab.com.Retrieved2024-07-04.
- ^"Theodoric | king of Italy | Britannica".www.britannica.com.Retrieved18 February2022.
- ^Venning, Timothy (2017).A Chronology of Early Medieval Western Europe: 450–1066.Routledge. p. 64.ISBN9781351589161.
- ^Duruy, Victor (1918).A Short History of France.J. M. Dent. p. 86.
- ^Khoury, Bishop Demetri (2008).A Cloud of Witnesses: Saints and Martyrs from the Holy Land.Bloomington, Indiana: AuthorHouse. p. 256.ISBN9781434394408.
- ^Knechtges, David R.; Chang, Taiping (2014).Ancient and Early Medieval Chinese Literature (vol.3 & 4): A Reference Guide, Part Three & Four.Vol. III. Leiden, Boston: BRILL. p. 1827.ISBN9789004271852.