542 Constantinople - Bubonic Plague breaks out and spreads throughout Europe.

553 Byzantine Emperor Justinian sends Lombards to Ravenna to fight the Gepids.

533 Justinian Code of Law.

534 Justinian's General Belisarius destroys the Vandals and reconquers Southern Spain and North Africa.

536 Barbar Wars Begin. Belisarius conquers Rome - Ostrogoths surrender.

542 Plague ravages the Empire.

554 End of Barbar War.

565 Avars (from Asian steppes) move into Pannonia and ally with Lombards and destroy the Gepids. Albion - King of Lombards - marries Rosamund (daughter of Gepid King).

565 Constantinople - Emperor Justinian dies. Western Empire is relinquished.

567 Lombards invade Northern Italy - led by Albion. They are the last and fiercest of the Germanic Barbarian tribes to invade Italy.

568 Pope John III rules Italy. Lombards ally with Saxons and other Barbarians against the Catholic Church.

570 Pavia becomes the capital of the Lombard state. Pope asks for Byzantine Emperor's protection.

571 Visigoths conquer Spain.

572 Verona, Italy - Queen Rosamund has her husband Albion,King of the Lombards - killed.

592 Pope Gregory I negotiates with the Lombards.

597 Pope Gregory sends Augustine to Britain as a missionary.