576

By place

Byzantine Empire

• Byzantine–Sassanid War: A Persian army under King Khosrau I breaks through the Caucasus into Anatolia. They attack the cities of Theodosiopolis and Caesarea, but are thwarted. Khosrau is forced to retreat and sacks Sebasteia. On the way home, he is intercepted by a Byzantine force under Justinian, and severely defeated near Melitene. The royal baggage is captured and many Persians drown while escaping across the Euphrates.

  Europe

• Baduarius, son-in-law of the Byzantine emperor Justin II, is sent to Italy to resist the Lombard conquest. He leads an aborted counter-assault against the Lombards and dies soon after.
• The Visigoths under King Liuvigild establish the capital of their kingdom in Toledo, located in central Spain.

  Asia

• The Göktürks under Tardu cross the Cimmerian Bosporus into the Crimea, and besiege the city of Panticapaeum.
• Jinji becomes king of the Korean kingdom of Silla.