Editing 540 (section)

=== By place ===

==== Byzantine Empire ====
* Emperor [[Justinian I]] offers to make peace with [[Vitiges]], but [[Belisarius]] refuses to transmit the message. The [[Ostrogoths]] then offer to support Belisarius as emperor of the West.
* [[May]] &ndash; [[Gothic War (535-554)|Gothic War]]: Belisarius conquers [[Mediolanum]] (modern-day [[Milan]]) and the [[Goths|Gothic]] capital [[Ravenna]]. Vitiges and his wife [[Matasuntha]] are taken as captives to [[Constantinople]]. 
* Belisarius consolidates [[Italy]] and begins mopping-up operations, capturing the Gothic [[fortification]]s. The cities [[Ticinum]] and [[Verona]] north of [[Po (river)|River Po]] remain in Gothic hands. 
* [[Ildibad]] succeeds Vitiges as king of the Ostrogoths, and installs his nephew [[Totila]] as commander of the Gothic army. He recaptures [[Venetia (region)|Venetia]] and [[Liguria]] in [[Northern Italy]].<ref>[[Herwig Wolfram]], ''History of the Goths'' (University of California Press), 1990</ref>

==== Europe ====
* In [[Sub-Roman Britain|Britain]] various kingdoms are united by a ruler (''[[High King]]'') or overlord, while wars are fought between others.
* King [[List of kings of Dumnonia|Custennin ap Cado]] is deposed, and returns to [[Dumnonia]] in the [[West Country|south-west]] of [[Great Britain]].

==== Persia ====
* King [[Khosrow I]] breaks the "Eternal Peace" treaty with the Byzantine Empire after eight years. Responding to an [[Diplomatic mission|embassy]] from the Ostrogoths urging action against Emperor Justinian I's expanding power, he leads the Persian army up the [[Euphrates|River Euphrates]]. Extracting tributes from towns along the way, [[Khosrau I]] besieges and captures [[Antioch]]. He plunders the city extensively, transporting valuable artworks, including marble statues and mosaics, back to [[Sassanid Empire|Persia]]. <ref>Rome at War (p. 56). Michael Whitby, 2002. {{ISBN|1-84176-359-4}}</ref>

==== Africa ====

* [[Solomon (magister militum)|Solomon]] captures the [[Aurès Mountains]] from the [[Moors]] and extends [[Byzantine Empire|Byzantine]] authority over [[Numidia]] and [[Mauretania|Mauretania Sitifensis]]. The city of [[Theveste]] ([[Algeria]]) is restored and fortified.<ref> {{cite book|last=Graham|first=Alexander|title=Roman Africa|location=North Stratford, New Hampshire|publisher=Ayer Publishing, Incorporated|year=2002|orig-year=1902|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=luzyhkMxwScC|isbn=0-8369-8807-8}} </ref>

==== Asia ====
* [[Jinheung of Silla|Jinheung]] becomes king of the Korean kingdom of [[Silla]].<ref>{{cite web |title=List of Rulers of Korea |url=https://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/koru/hd_koru.htm |website=www.metmuseum.org |access-date=21 April 2019}}</ref>