| A.D. | Event |
| 535 | Gothic War, phase 1 |
| 536 | The sun became dim… for nearly the whole year |
| 537 | |
| 538 | |
| 539 | |
| 540 | Ravenna reconquered by the Byzantines. Totila, King of Ostrogoths, starts Gothic War, phase 2 |
| 541 | |
| 542 | Pelagius (later Pope) pours out his own fortune to save the famine-stricken people of Rome; tries to induce Totila to grant a truce |
| 543 | Fighting on land and sea, Totila reconquers lost territory Totila visits Saint Benedict in Monte Cassino |
| 544 | Byzantine Emperor Justinian I sends General Belisarius to Italy to counterattack |
| 545 | |
| 546 | Totila captures Rome from Belisarius, depopulates the city after yearlong siege |
| 547 | |
| 548 | |
| 549 | |
| 550 | |
| 551 | Cerbonius flees to Elba from Totila |
| 552 | Franks and Alamanni invade Italy Totila dies July 1 |
| 553 | Gothic War ends |
| 554 | General Narses (serving Justinian I) repels Totila Franks and Alamanni invade Italy |
| 555 | |
| 556 | |
| 557 | |
| 558 | |
| 559 | |
| 560 | |
| 561 | Byzantines control all of Italy, but country is so ravaged by war that normal life is impossible |
| 562 | |
| 563 | |
| 564 | |
| 565 | Emperor Justinian dies; Justin II reigns |
| 566 | |
| 567 | Lombards (“the crudest and most primitive of all the Germanic invaders”) invade Italy, absorbing remaining Ostrogoths |
| 568 | |
| 569 | |
| 570 | |
| 571 | |
| 572 | Lombard King Alboin dies |
| 573 | |
| 574 | |
| 575 | Cerbonius dies |
Thanks to “www.tomysardinia.com” for the historic map
