559

By place

Byzantine Empire

• Winter - The Kutrigurs and Huns under Zabergan cross the frozen Danube River, and invade the Balkans. They raid Thracia and Macedonia, but are driven back near Constantinople by a Byzantine force under Belisarius. Outside the city walls he defeats the "barbarians" with his veteran cavalry, and a few thousand hastily raised levies.

  Britain

• Glappa succeeds his father Ida as king of Bernicia. During his rule, Anglian settlers expand their territory in what is now southeastern Scotland.

  Asia

• First successful human flight: a manned kite lands in the proximity of Ye, China. Emperor Wen Xuan Di sponsors the flight; Yuan Huangtou, a prisoner, is the unwilling aviator; other imprisoned kite flyers also fly, but those die and Yuan survives. Yuan is executed afterwards.
• Wen Di, age 37, succeeds his uncle Chen Wu Di as emperor of the Chen Dynasty. During his reign, he consolidates the state against the rebellious warlords.
• The city-state Ara Gaya, a member of the Gaya confederacy, surrenders to Silla in the Korean peninsula.
• Pyeongwon becomes ruler of the Korean kingdom of Goguryeo.