(Feature Photo: A mosaic inside the Hagia Sophia in Constantinople [modern-day Istanbul in Turkey], the Virgin Mary is in the middle holding the Christ Child, to the right is emperor Justinian I, offering her a model of the Hagia Sophia, and on the left is emperor Constantine I, offering her a model of Constantinople; Credit: Myrabella, Wikimedia Commons)
530
RULERS & ROYALTY: Hispania (modern-day Spain) is being ruled by the Visigoths (Germanic peoples) – The Merovingian kings are ruling Gaul (modern-day France) – Pope Felix IV dies, and is succeeded by Boniface II – Justinian I is emperor of the Byzantine Empire (eastern Roman Empire)
September 22, Pope Felix IV dies, and is succeeded by Boniface II, the first Germanic pope
531
RULERS & ROYALTY: Hispania (modern-day Spain) is being ruled by the Visigoths (Germanic peoples) – The Merovingian kings are ruling Gaul (modern-day France) – Boniface II is pope/bishop of Rome – Justinian I is emperor of the Byzantine Empire (eastern Roman Empire)
532
RULERS & ROYALTY: Hispania (modern-day Spain) is being ruled by the Visigoths (Germanic peoples) – The Merovingian kings are ruling Gaul (modern-day France) – Pope Boniface II dies, and is succeeded by John II – Justinian I is emperor of the Byzantine Empire (eastern Roman Empire)
October 17, Pope Boniface II dies, and he is succeeded by John II
533
RULERS & ROYALTY: Hispania (modern-day Spain) is being ruled by the Visigoths (Germanic peoples) – The Merovingian kings are ruling Gaul (modern-day France) – John II is pope/bishop of Rome – Justinian I is emperor of the Byzantine Empire (eastern Roman Empire)
A Byzantine army under Belisarius enters Carthage (in modern-day Tunisia, Africa) unopposed and takes it from the Vandals (a Germanic people)
The Merovingian king Theudebert I, begins his reign of the Frankish kingdom Austrasia (Photo: All the Frankish kingdoms; Credit: Wikimedia Commons)
534
RULERS & ROYALTY: Hispania (modern-day Spain) is being ruled by the Visigoths (Germanic peoples) – The Merovingian kings are ruling Gaul (modern-day France) – John II is pope/bishop of Rome – Justinian I is emperor of the Byzantine Empire (eastern Roman Empire)
Coinage is being minted in Austrasia by King Theudebert I (Photo: one of the gold coin minted around this year; Credit: Wikimedia Commons)
535
RULERS & ROYALTY: Hispania (modern-day Spain) is being ruled by the Visigoths (Germanic peoples) – The Merovingian kings are ruling Gaul (modern-day France) – Pope John II dies, and is succeeded by Agapetus I – Justinian I is emperor of the Byzantine Empire (eastern Roman Empire)
May 8, Pope John II dies and is succeeded by Agapetus I
536
RULERS & ROYALTY: Hispania (modern-day Spain) is being ruled by the Visigoths (Germanic peoples) – The Merovingian kings are ruling Gaul (modern-day France) – Pope Agapetus I dies, and is succeeded by Silverius – Justinian I is emperor of the Byzantine Empire (eastern Roman Empire)
April 22, Pope Agapetus I dies, and is succeeded by Silverius
537
RULERS & ROYALTY: Hispania (modern-day Spain) is being ruled by the Visigoths (Germanic peoples) – The Merovingian kings are ruling Gaul (modern-day France) – Pope Silverius dies, and is succeeded by Vigilius – Justinian I is emperor of the Byzantine Empire (eastern Roman Empire)
December 2, Pope Silverius dies, and is succeeded by Vigilius
538
RULERS & ROYALTY: Hispania (modern-day Spain) is being ruled by the Visigoths (Germanic peoples) – The Merovingian kings are ruling Gaul (modern-day France) – Vigilius is pope/bishop of Rome – Justinian I is emperor of the Byzantine Empire (eastern Roman Empire)
539
RULERS & ROYALTY: Hispania (modern-day Spain) is being ruled by the Visigoths (Germanic peoples) – The Merovingian kings are ruling Gaul (modern-day France) – Vigilius is pope/bishop of Rome – Justinian I is emperor of the Byzantine Empire (eastern Roman Empire)
540
RULERS & ROYALTY: Hispania (modern-day Spain) is being ruled by the Visigoths (Germanic peoples) – The Merovingian kings are ruling Gaul (modern-day France) – Vigilius is pope/bishop of Rome – Justinian I is emperor of the Byzantine Empire (eastern Roman Empire)
541
RULERS & ROYALTY: Hispania (modern-day Spain) is being ruled by the Visigoths (Germanic peoples) – The Merovingian kings are ruling Gaul (modern-day France) – Vigilius is pope/bishop of Rome – Justinian I is emperor of the Byzantine Empire (eastern Roman Empire)
An outbreak of the bubonic plague hits the Byzantine Empire, and reduces its population severely (Byzantium, Pg. 16)
542
RULERS & ROYALTY: Hispania (modern-day Spain) is being ruled by the Visigoths (Germanic peoples) – The Merovingian kings are ruling Gaul (modern-day France) – Vigilius is pope/bishop of Rome – Justinian I is emperor of the Byzantine Empire (eastern Roman Empire)
543
RULERS & ROYALTY: Hispania (modern-day Spain) is being ruled by the Visigoths (Germanic peoples) – The Merovingian kings are ruling Gaul (modern-day France) – Vigilius is pope/bishop of Rome – Justinian I is emperor of the Byzantine Empire (eastern Roman Empire)
544
RULERS & ROYALTY: Hispania (modern-day Spain) is being ruled by the Visigoths (Germanic peoples) – The Merovingian kings are ruling Gaul (modern-day France) – Vigilius is pope/bishop of Rome – Justinian I is emperor of the Byzantine Empire (eastern Roman Empire)
545
RULERS & ROYALTY: Hispania (modern-day Spain) is being ruled by the Visigoths (Germanic peoples) – The Merovingian kings are ruling Gaul (modern-day France) – Vigilius is pope/bishop of Rome – Justinian I is emperor of the Byzantine Empire (eastern Roman Empire) – Diarmuid Mac Cearbaill is High King in Ireland (r. 545-568)
High King Diarmuid Mac Cearbaill is said to have both Druids and Christians advisors in his court in Tara; His chief Druid is Beag Mac Dé (sometimes given as Bec Mac Dé (later writers will convert him into a Celtic "saint"); "King Diarmuid is an interesting combination of Christian and Pagan according to the texts" (The Druids, pg. 77)
546
RULERS & ROYALTY: Hispania (modern-day Spain) is being ruled by the Visigoths (Germanic peoples) – The Merovingian kings are ruling Gaul (modern-day France) – Vigilius is pope/bishop of Rome – Justinian I is emperor of the Byzantine Empire (eastern Roman Empire)
547
RULERS & ROYALTY: Hispania (modern-day Spain) is being ruled by the Visigoths (Germanic peoples) – The Merovingian kings are ruling Gaul (modern-day France) – Vigilius is pope/bishop of Rome – Justinian I is emperor of the Byzantine Empire (eastern Roman Empire)
548
RULERS & ROYALTY: Hispania (modern-day Spain) is being ruled by the Visigoths (Germanic peoples) – The Merovingian kings are ruling Gaul (modern-day France) – Vigilius is pope/bishop of Rome – Justinian I is emperor of the Byzantine Empire (eastern Roman Empire)
549
RULERS & ROYALTY: Hispania (modern-day Spain) is being ruled by the Visigoths (Germanic peoples) – The Merovingian kings are ruling Gaul (modern-day France) – Vigilius is pope/bishop of Rome – Justinian I is emperor of the Byzantine Empire (eastern Roman Empire)