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