Great earthquake at Antioch, which destroys the city; 250,000 persons perish.

The Eastern Empire begins war with Persia.

527.  Justinian proclaimed joint augustus, soon after which, by the death of Justin, he becomes sole emperor.

Use of the Christian era introduced by Dionysius Exiguus.

528.  Thuringia conquered by the Franks.

529.  Julian, leader of a Jewish and Samaritan revolt, is made prisoner and beheaded.

Justinian issues edicts against philosophers, heretics, and pagans.  See “PUBLICATION OF THE JUSTINIAN CODE,” iv, 138.  Closing of the schools at Athens.

530.  Benedict founds his new monastic order; the principal seat is Monte Casino, Campania.[77]

Belisarius, the greatest general of the Byzantine empire, defeats the Persians at Dara.

531.  Alamundarus, at the head of the Persians and Saracens, defeats Belisarius, who maintains his ground against their nearly overwhelming force.

Accession of Khusrau to the throne of Persia.

532.  End of the war between the Eastern Empire and Persia.

533.  Justinian’s general, Belisarius, destroys the Vandal kingdom in Africa.

Publication of the Pandects and Institutes of Justinian.  See “PUBLICATION OF THE JUSTINIAN CODE,” iv, 138.

Philosophers, who were driven from Constantinople by Justinian’s orders, return disappointed from Persia.

534.  Overthrow of the Burgundian kingdom by the Franks, who divide the dominions between the three Frankish kings.

Solomon, left by Belisarius to command in Africa, defeats the Moors.

535.  Belisarius is sent by Justinian to recover Italy from the Ostrogoths; he occupies Sicily.

536.  Rome is occupied by Belisarius.

537.  Vitiges unsuccessfully besieges Belisarius in Rome; great distress in the city.

538.  Vitiges retreats from before Rome and takes shelter in Ravenna.

539.  The Franks, under Theodebert, invade Italy and plunder Genoa; attacked by disease they return into Gaul.

540.  Vitiges surrenders Ravenna and is sent a prisoner to Constantinople.  Justinian recalls Belisarius from Italy.

Khusrau, King of Persia, invades Syria and takes Antioch.

A total eclipse of the sun, June 20th.

Justinian makes a formal relinquishment of Gaul to the Franks.

541.  Belisarius takes the command of the Roman forces against the Persians; he defeats Khusrau.

Totila, King of the Ostrogoths, is successful in Italy.  End of the succession of Roman consuls.

542.  Belisarius compels the Persians to recross the Euphrates.

The great plague spreads from Egypt and rages for many years in Asia and Europe.

543.  Naples surrenders to Totila, who then advances against Rome.  Belisarius recalled from the East, after which the Persians again advance and defeat the Romans.