588
Year 588 was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Julian calendar. The denomination 588 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.
Events
By place
Byzantine Empire
- Byzantine-Sassanid War: Unpaid Byzantine troops mutiny against Priscus. King Hormizd IV begins a Persian offensive, but is defeated at Martyropolis.
- Summer - Guaram I of Iberia, Georgian prince in exile, is sent by Emperor Maurice to the city of Mtskheta. He restores the monarchy and is bestowed with the Byzantine court title of curopalates.
Europe
- The Franks and Burgundians under King Guntram and his nephew Childebert II invade Northern Italy, but suffer a disastrous defeat against the Lombards.
- The Lombard Kingdom is converted to Roman Catholicism under the rule of King Authari.
Britain
- Æthelric succeeds his father Ælla as king of Deira in Northern England.
Persia
- First Perso-Turkic War: A Persian army under Bahrām Chobin, supported by Cataphracts, ambush the invading Turks, and win a great victory at the Battle of the Hyrcanian Rock.
Asia
- Emperor Wéndi of the Sui dynasty prepares a campaign against the Chen dynasty. He amasses 518,000 troops along the northern bank of the Yangtze River, stretching from Sichuan to the Pacific Ocean.
By topic
Religion
- The Skellig Michael monastery is founded on a steep rocky island off the coast of Ireland.
- The Guanghua Temple in Putian is built during the Chen dynasty, under Emperor Chen Wu Di.
Births
- Eligius, bishop and saint
- Suintila, king of the Visigoths
- Yu Zhining, chancellor of the Tang dynasty
Deaths
- Áed mac Bricc, Irish bishop and saint
- Ælla, king of Deira
- Agericus of Verdun|Agericus], Roman [Catholic Diocese of Verdun|bishop of Verdun]
- Fridianus, Irish prince and saint
- Li Ezi, empress of Northern Zhou
- Monulph, bishop of Maastricht