552

Centuries: 5th century - 6th century - 7th century

Decades: 490s - 500s - 510s - 520s - 530s - 540s - 550s - 560s - 570s - 580s - 590s

Years: 547 548 549 550 551 552 553 554 555 556 557

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Events

• Silkworms are smuggled into the Byzantine Empire from China.
• Buddhism is introduced into Japan.
• Battle of Taginae: The Byzantine general Narses defeats and kills Totila, king of the Ostrogoths.
• Battle of Asfeld[?]: Longobards under king Audoin[?] defeat the Gepids
• Liang Yuan Di[?] succeeds Liang Yu Zhang Wang[?] as ruler of the Chinese Liang Dynasty.
• Cynric, king of Wessex, captures the fort at Old Sarum.

Births

• Ethelbert, king of Kent and Bretwalda

Deaths