523

By place

Byzantine Empire

• Justinian, later Byzantine emperor, marries in Constantinople his mistress Theodora, who is by profession a courtesan.

  Europe

• King Chlothar I takes part in an expedition against Burgundy and captures the town of Autun. Now about 26, he makes plans to expand the territory he inherited from his late father, Clovis I.
• King Sigismund of Burgundy is defeated by the invading Franks under Chlodomer, Childebert I and Chlothar I. He is captured and taken as prisoner to Aurelianum.

  Africa

• Hilderic succeeds his uncle Thrasamund after a 27-year reign, and becomes king of the Vandals and Alans. He favours Catholicism and grants the inhabitants religious freedom.
• Leptis Magna is sacked by Berber raiders. Gelimer leads a successful expedition in North Africa.

  Asia

• A revolt breaks out on the Six Frontier Towns, on the northern border of Northern Wei China. Tensions between the elite and the Tuoba-clan severely destabilise the state.
• The Songyue Pagoda is completed during the Northern Wei era; the circular-based tower is still 40 m in height.
• Seong becomes king of Baekje, one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea.

  By topic

Religion

• August 6 - Pope Hormisdas dies at Rome after a 9-year reign, in which he has been instrumental in ending the Acacian Schism. He is succeeded by John I as the 53rd pope.