Late Roman Timeline 250 AD

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Late Roman Timeline
501 AD - 550 AD

By Robert Vermaat

3rd Century (events 250-300 AD)
4th Century (events 301-400 AD)
5th Century (events 401-500 AD)
6th Century (events 501-550 AD)

Emperor*	Reigned	Date	Events
Anastasius	491-518	501	year
		502	War begins with the Persians, after Kavadh has subjugated Armenia with the aid of the Eastern or Hephtalite Huns. The Bulgars defeat a Roman army.
		503	The Persians take Theodosiopolis (Erzerum) and Amida (Diyarbekir).
		504	Anastasius gathers an army of 15.000 Goths under Hypatius and Aerobindus (the great-grandson of Aspar) against the Persians. Theodoric occupies Sirmium (Sremska Mitrovica) after the death of the Gepid king Thraustila.
		505	The magister officiorum Celer invades Persia and reaches Ctesiphon. An invasion by the Western Huns across the Caucasus brings an armistice. The Gothic comes Pitzias heavily defeats an army of Anastasius' Bulgarian federates.
		506	Anastasius signs a 7-year truce with the Persians. Clovis wins the second battle of Tolbiacum (Zülpich) and crushes the Alamanni, who subsequently have to seek refuge with the Ostrogoths.
		507	Clovis, together with Rhine Franks under Chloderic, the Armoricans, as well as a large contingent of Gallo-Romans from the Auvergne under Apollinaris, defeats the Visigoths under Alaric II at Vouillé, near the 10th milestone outside Pictavia (Poitiers). Alaric is killed but his son Amalaric (still a child) manages to escape to Spain. His half-brother Gesalec rules the Visigoths for the next 4 years. Clovis sends his son Theuderic to capture all the territory along the Burgundian border up to Clermont-Ferrand, while he captures Burdigala (Bordeaux). Anastasius sends his fleet to plunder to coast of southern Italy.
		508	Having wintered in Burdigala (Bordeaux), Clovis goes on to capture Tolosa (Toulouse) together with Alaric's royal treasure. Clovis establishes his capital at Parisiense (Paris). He is made a consul by Anastasius.
		509	Sigibert the Lame, king of the Rhine Franks, is killed by his son Chloderic. Clovis then has Chloderic killed and the Rhine Franks recognise his rule. Later Clovis also kills the Frankish kings of Camerasensis (Cambriai) and Cenomanense (Le Mans), bringing all Frankish territories under his rule.
		510	year
		511	Death of Clovis (November 11), after which his territory was divided amongst his sons, creating the kingdoms of Neustria, consisting of the regions Remensis (Reims) and Aureliani (Orléans), and Austrasia, consisting of the regions Parisiensis (Paris) and Noviodunum (Soissons). Theuderic inherited Remensis (Reims) and Metense (Metz), Chlodomer inherited the kingdom of Noviodunum (Soissons), Childebert inherited the kingdom of Parisiensis (Paris) and Clotaire the town of Noviodunum (Soissons) and the Lower Meuse region. Amalric comes of age and becomes king of the Visigoths.
		512	During a religious uprising in Constantinople, the mob elects Aerobindus (great-grandson of Aspar and married to great-granddaughter of Theodosius II) as emperor, but Aerobindus declines and saves the position of Anastasius.
		513	Rebellion of Vitalianus, grandson of Aspar and the Gothic comes foederatorum in Thrace and magister militum per Thracias, who supports the decrees of Chalcedon (Anastasius is a Monophysite). His rebellion is supported by the regular diocesan army, the barbarian federates and the local peasants, but also receives support from Theodoric. In protest against the dismal state of food supplies, a 60.000-men strong army besieges Constantinople. Anastatsius complies, but sends two armies after Vitalianus, who defeats both.
		514	Vitalianus again besieges Constantinople, this time with an army and a fleet. Anastasius again gives in and makes him magister militum per Thracias.
		515	After Anastasius again fails to fulfill his promises, Vitalianus besieges Constantinople for a third time. First use of Greek Fire against the ships of Vitalianus in the defenc e of Constantinople. Vitalianus is defeated in Thrace and goes into hiding in the Dobrudja area.
		516	Death of Gundobad, king of the Burgundians former magister militum praesentalis and later magister militum Galliarum. He is succeeded by his son Sigismund, who is made a patricius by Anastatsius.
		517	The Bulgars raid as far as Thermopylae.
Justin	518-27	518	Death of Anastasius (night of July 8) at the age of 88. Flavius Justinus, commander of the 300-strong elite guard unit, the excubitores, is put forward by the court officials, and elected emperor (July 9) at age 65 with support of the senate and the city garrisson. Justin ends the feud with Vitalianus (both are Orthodox) and promotes him to consul and magister militum.
		519	year
		520	Vitalianus is assassinated on orders of Justin.
		521	year
		522	year
		523	Death of Thrasamund, king of the Vandals (May 6). He is succeeded by Hilderic, who is then probably 60 years old, a son of Huneric and Eudocia. The Frankish kings invade the Burgundian kingdom and capture their king Sigismund.
		524	The Burgundian king Sigismund is defeated, flees to a monastery but is captured and asassinated by Chlodomer, who also kills his sons (May 1). Sigismund's younger brother Godomar returns to Burgundy and defeats the Franks with the help of Ostrogothic troops. The Frankish troops in Burgundy are massacred. The Franks then lead a second expedition into Burgundy and defeat the Burgundians and Ostrogoths at the battle of Veseruntia (Vézeronce) on June 21, where king Chlodomer is killed. His children are killed by their uncle Clotaire and Chlodomer's kingdom is divided among his brothers. Childebert annexes Carnutum (Chartres) and Aureliani (Orléans), Clotaire Turonensis (Tours) and Pictavia (Poitiers). Godomar rules Burgundy under Frankish threat.
		525	The Persians move against Iberia, which is conquered despite a small army sent by Justin.
		526	Death of Theodoric the Great, king of the Ostrogoths (August 30). He is succeeded by his 10-year old grandson Athalaric, under guardianship of his mother Amalasuntha. The Franks defeat the Alamanni and occupy their territory. The generals Sittas and Belisarius lead armies into Persian Armenia.
Justinian	527-65	527	When Justin falls ill, his nephew Flavius Petrus Sabbatius Iustinianus (Justinian) is elevated to co-emperor (April 4). Death of Justin (August 1) at age 74. The Ostrogoths besiege Vitage and cut the aquaduct to Rome.
		528	Justinian conquers the Crimea peninsula with a combined land and naval expedition.
		529	Justinian subdues a revolt by the (much-repressed) Samaritans in which 20.000 Samaritans are killed.
		530	Hilderic, king of the Vandals, is deposed and imprisoned by his cousin Gelimer. At the battle of Dara, Belisarius defeats the Sassanid Persians under Firouz.
		531	Belisarius is defeated by the Sassanid Persians under Spahbod Azarethes at the battle of Callinicum (April 19). Khavadh I dies (september) and is succeeded by his son Khosrau I Anushirvan 'the just' (Chosroes) as king of the Sassanid Persians. The Frankish kings Clotaire and Theuderic move east of the Rhine and conquer Thuringia. Childebert invades Spain in rescue of his sister Chrotilda, and defeats and kills her abusive husband, the Visigothic king Amalric in battle, who is succeeded by Theudis, a former commander of Theoderic the Great.
		532	Serious rioting (Nika-revolt) in Constantinople by the two main circus factions (January 11-18). The riots turn into a rebellion when the aristocracy forces Justinian to name Hypatius (a nephew of Anastasius) emperor. Justinian is saved by the magister militius per Orientem Belisarius and the magister militum per Illyrium Mundus, who quell the rebellion with a few loyal troops, killing 30-40.000 people. The Frankish king Childebert besieges Augustodunum (Autun).
		533	Justinian buys a peace from the Persians. Justinian then sends Belisarius with a large army to Africa in order to conquer the Vandal kingdom (June). At the battle of Ad Decimum (´at the tenth´ [milestone]), Belisarius is almost defeated by Gelimer, but manages to secure the victory after Gelimer's brother Ammatas falls (September 14). Carthage is taken the next day. Gelimer is joined by his brother Tzazo at Bulla Regia and secures the aid of the Mauretanians. He then confronts Belisarius a second time, but is defeated at the battle of Tricamarum (December 15). Tzazo falls and Gelimer escapes, while Belisarius captures many Vandal civilians and the royal treasure. In the same year, his forces conquer the Balearic isles and the narrows of Gibraltar.
		534	Gelimer flees to the mountains but surrenders to Belisarius at last at Mount Papua (March). He is pensioned off to live in Galatia with his family. Many Vandal troops are recruited for the Roman army. The Romans fortify Septem (Ceuta) in April. The Ostrogothic king Athalaric dies of alcohol abuse at age 18 (October 2). His mother Amalasuntha marries her cousin Theohadad, who succceeds Athalaric. Death of the Frankish king Theuderic of Metense (Metz), he is succeeded by his son Theudebert. The Frankish kings Childebert and Clotaire invade Burgundy and kill the Burgundian king Godomar. They divide large parts of Burgundy amongst themselves.
		535	Amalasuntha, queen of the Ostrogoths, is murdered by Theohadad who smothers her in her bath (April 30). Justinian uses this pretext to invade Italy. His armies under Belisarius and Mundo occupy resp. Sicily and Illyrium. To secure their help, Witigis cedes the Provence to the Franks.
		536	Belisarius lands in Italy, marches north and conquers Naples, despite a defense of the city by the (much repressed) Jewish population. After that he marches north and enters Rome without opposition. Theohadad tries to negotiate, but the Ostrogoths depose him and elect Witigis in his place as 'king of the Goths and Italians'. Witigis marries Mataswintha (granddaughter of Theodoric) and recalls the Gothic forces from southern Gaul (which is afterwards occupied by the Franks).
		537	The Frankish kings Childebert and Clotaire occupy the Provence. The Ostrogoths under Witigis besiege Rome (February) for a year.
		538	After almost a year, Rome is relieved by a Roman army under Narses (Winter), and the Ostrogoths raise the siege. Belisarius moves north and seizes Milan and Rimini.
		539	Witigis is supported by the Frankish king Theudebert, who sends 10.000 Burgundians to support him. With their aid, the Ostrogoths recapture Milan, pull down the walls, kill all male inhabitants and give the females and children as slaves to their Burgundian allies. Justinian sends Narses with a relief force to Italy. When Belisarius forces the Goths north, they retreat across the Po river and cede the rest of Italy to Justinian. Belisarius besieges Witigis in Ravenna. Justinian limits all production of weapons to state-owned fabricae.
		540	After the food supply is destroyed by fire, Ravenna falls. Belisarius captures Witigis, together with the Ostrogothic treasure. The Ostrogoths elect Hildebad as their king. Belisarius leaves Italy. Witigis is pensioned off, his Gothic troops that are captured are enlisted into the Roman army. Chosroes breaks the peace with Justinian and invades Syria. He captures many cities including Antioch, which is destroyed.
		541	Hildebad is murdered shortly afterwards, and Eraric is elected. Eraric is in turn asassinated by Baduila (Totila), who becomes king of the Ostrogoths. Totila builds a fleet and marches south. The Sassanid king Chosroes campaigns into the Caucasus and captures Petra, the most important fortress in Lazica.
		542	Totila occupies most of southern Italy. The Frankish kings Childebert and Clotaire invade the Visigothic kindom, capturing Pompaelo (Pamplona) and besieging Caesaraugusta (Zaragosa), but are forced to retrerat. Plague in the eastern provinces.
		543	Totila occupies Neapolis (Naples) and marches on Rome.
		544	Belisarius returns to Italy, but with only few reinforcements. The plague reaches Constantinople.
		545	War in Italy between Totila and Beliarius. When the Frankish king Theudebert marries the Lombard queen Wisigarde, the Eastern Alps come under the control of the Franks. A five-year truce is signed between Chosroes and Justinian.
		546	Totila conquers Rome (December 17). Belisarius retreats from the city, which is sacked by the Ostrogoths for 40 days. After Totila has captured most of the city's population and resettled them in Campania, the remaining population may have numbered as low as 500. Justinian leaves Pannonia to the Lombards.
		547	The Goths leave Rome, after which the battered city is again occupied by Roman forces.
		548	Death of empress Theodora, wife of Justinian (June 28). The Visigothic king Theudis is asassinated by Theudegisel. Death of the Frankish king Theudebert of Metense (Metz), he is succeeded by his son Theudebald.
		549	Theudegisel is in turn asassinated at a banquet in Hispalis (Seville). He is succeeded by Agila.
		550	Justinian names Germanus ruler of Gaul and marries him to Witigis' widow Mataswintha. But Germanus dies while on his way to Italy. After the Isaurian garisson does not receive their pay, they open the gates of Rome to the Goths and the battered city switches hands again. Totila invades Sicily.

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