540s

Below are some of the important events that happened from 540 to 549. It is distinct from the decade known as the 50th decade which began on January 1, 541 and ended on December 31, 550.

540

• Emperor Kimmei, reign of 29th emperor of Japan starts (540-571)
• Vitiges of the Ostrogoths surrendered to the Byzantine army.

541

• Plague of Justinian: Bubonic plague appears suddenly in the Egyptian port of Pelusium. It spreads to Alexandria and, the following year, to Constantinople. This is the beginning of a 200-year long pandemic that will devastate Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa.
• Totila is elected king by the Ostrogothic nobles after the death of his uncle Ildibad.
• The Uyghurs come under the rule of the Hephthalites

542

• Plague of Justinian: Bubonic plague kills at least 230,000 in Constantinople.
• King Childebert I and his brother Chlothar I invade Visigothic Spain.

543

• The Byzantine garrison (1,000 men) in Naples surrenders to the Ostrogoths.
• King Khosrau I invades Syria.
• The Hephthalites threaten the Persian Empire from the East. They extend their gain more territory in Central Asia.
• King Pulakesi I starts the Chalukya Dynasty.

544

• Belisarius defeats the Gothic army under king Totila.
• King Khosrau I unsuccessfully attacks the Byzantine city of Dara.
• Ly Bi is made emperor and starts the empire Van Xuân (modern Vietnam).

545

• King Khosrau I signs a five-year truce with the Byzantine Empire.

546

• The Ostrogoths under king Totila retake Rome.
• Audoin succeeds Walthari as king of the Lombards.
• Audoin leads the Lombards across the Danube and becomes an ally of the Byzantines.

547

• Belisarius recaptures Rome from the Ostrogoths.
• Theodebald becomes king of Austrasia.
• King Ida starts the kingdom of Bernicia. He builds Bamburgh Castle.
• The Tonkin revolt is stopped by the Chinese Liang Dynasty.

548

• Emperor Justinian I removes Belisarius from military service.
• Theudigisel names himself ruler over the Visigothic Kingdom.

549

• Jianwen Di becomes ruler of the Liang Dynasty in China.
• Agila becomes king of the Visigoths.
• The Roman Catholic Diocese of Ossory is founded in Ireland.
• The Ostrogoths under Totila recapture Rome.
• Totila conquers the city of Perugia.

References