Editing 538 (section)

== Events ==
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=== By place ===
==== Byzantine Empire ====
* [[March 12]] &ndash; [[Siege of Rome (537–38)|Siege of Rome]]: King [[Vitiges]] of the [[Ostrogoths]] ends his siege (after 374 days) and abandons [[Rome]]. He retreats with his [[Ostrogoths|Gothic]] army northeast along the ''[[Via Flaminia]]''. 
* [[Belisarius]] attacks the [[Goths]] when they have crossed the [[Milvian Bridge]]. After fierce resistance, Vitiges routs in panic, and many are slain or drowned in the river.<ref>Procopius, ''De Bello Gothico'' II</ref>
* [[Gothic War (535–554)|Gothic War]]: Vitiges strengthens the garrisons of various towns and besieges [[Rimini|Ariminum]]. Byzantine forces under the [[Armenia]]n general [[Narses]] arrive at [[Picenum]].<ref>Procopius, ''De Bello Gothico'' I.XIII</ref>
* [[April]] &ndash; Belisarius secures [[Liguria]], [[Mediolanum]] (modern [[Milan]]) and Ariminum, but disagreements, especially with Narses, leads to disunity in the [[Byzantine army]]. 
* Summer &ndash; King [[Theudebert I]] sends a small [[Franks|Frankish]] force across the [[Alps]], and defeats the Goths and Byzantines at the [[Po (river)|River Po]]. Belisarius retreats to [[Tuscany]]. 
* [[Sittas]], Byzantine general, suppresses a revolt in [[Armenia]] in protest against heavy taxation. During the campaign he is killed by [[Artabanes (general)|Artabanes]], leader of the revolt.<ref>{{harvnb|Martindale|Jones|Morris|1992|pp=125, 255, 641}}</ref>

==== Britain ====
* King [[Cuneglas]] of [[Rhos (North Wales)|Rhos]] abandons his wife in favour of his sister-in-law, a [[nun]] who he drags from her [[convent]] (approximate date).
* [[Gabrán mac Domangairt]] becomes king of [[Dál Riata]] ([[Scotland]]).

==== Asia ====
* King [[Seong of Baekje|Seong]] of [[Baekje|Paekche]] ([[Korea]]) moves the capital from [[Ungjin]] (present-day [[Gongju]]) further south to [[Sabi (Korea)|Sabi]] (present-day [[Buyeo County]]), on the [[Geum River]]. He sends a [[diplomatic mission]] that formally introduces [[Buddhism]] to the Japanese imperial court (see also [[552]]).
* The [[Kofun period]] ends and the [[Asuka period]], the second part of the [[Yamato period]] in [[Japan]], begins.

=== By topic ===
==== Religion ====
* As a result of persecutions by the [[Byzantine Empire]], Monophysite [[Christianity|Christians]] establish the [[Coptic Orthodox Church|Coptic Church]] in [[Alexandria]] (approximate date).
* The [[Third Council of Orléans]] takes place, and prohibits rural labor on [[Sunday]].
* The first time since the Emperor Justinian's decree of [[533]], making John (the Bishop of Rome) Chief Bishop of all the churches, that the supremacy of the Bishop of Rome over the Church can actually be implemented by [[Pope Vigilius]].

==== Society ====
* Third year of worldwide [[famine]], a consequence of the [[Extreme weather events of 535–536]].{{#tag:ref|Famine is described as "T538.1, Failure of bread" in the [[Annals of Tigernach]].{{sfn|Mac Niocaill|2010|pp=T538.1}}|group=n|name=failedbread538}}

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