Significant Events With Reference to Silvanus’ Age
| AD | Age | Story Events | Historic Events |
|---|---|---|---|
| 535 | Gothic War phase 1; Belisarius repels Goths from Sicily | ||
| 536 | Sun dark for nearly a year; Pope Vigilius appointed | ||
| 540 | Ravenna reconquered by the Byzantines Ostrogothic King Totila wages Gothic War phase 2 | ||
| 541 | Plague of Justinian afflicts much of Roman Empire | ||
| 542 | Cerbonius visits Benedict of Nursia | Pelagius (later Pope) aids famine-stricken people of Rome with own fortune; Totila visits Benedict of Nursia | |
| 543 | Fighting on land and sea, Totila reconquers lost territory | ||
| 544 | Cerbonius made Bishop of Populonia | Justinian sends Belisarius to free Italy | |
| 546 | Pope Vigilius summons Cerbonius | Totila captures Rome from Belisarius Pelagius induces Totila to spare the people | |
| 547 | Cerbonius released by Totila after the bear licks his feet, flees to Elba [or 573] | Benedict of Nursia dies [or 543] | |
| 549 | Totila invites survivors to return toruined Rome | ||
| 551 | Battle of Sena Gallica; General Narses defeats Goths | ||
| 552 | Franks and Alemanni invade Italy; Totila dies | ||
| 553 | Narses defeats Ostrogoths; Gothic War ends | ||
| 554 | Narses frees Italy from Franks, Alemanni | ||
| 561 | 3 | Byzantines control all of war-ravaged Italy | |
| 565 | 7 | Belisarius dies; Justinian dies; Justin II Emperor | |
| 567 | 9 | Lombards invade Italy, absorbing remaining Ostrogoths | |
| 568 | 10 | Silvanus‘ first trade trip with father | |
| 569 | 11 | Lombards conquer Milan | |
| 570 | 12 | Cerbonius flees to Elba from Lombards [Legend says 547 or 573] | Exarch Longinus can defend only coastal cities, supplied by the Byzantine fleet |
| 571 | 13 | 570-572: three year siege of Pavia | |
| 572 | 14 | Silvanus alone in Fabricia; meets V. and Cerbonius; family conflicts | Pavia falls, made capital of the Lombard kingdom of Italy Lombard King Alboin murdered |
| 573 | 15 | Cerbonius mediates civil dispute | Lombards conquer Tuscany and establish duchies of Spoleto and Benevento under Zotto |
| 574 | 16 | Silvanus’s apprenticeship | Justin II sends Baduarius to Italy to fight the Lombards |
| 575 | 17 | V. kidnapped and freed | |
| 576 | 18 | Death of Cerbonius Miraculous journey to Populonium | Baduarius killed in battle |
| 577 | 19 | Trip to Capraia | |
| 578 | Justin II dies |