Editing 568 (section)

==== Europe ====
* Spring &ndash; The [[Lombards]], led by King [[Alboin]], cross the [[Julian Alps]]. Their invasion of [[Northern Italy]] is almost unopposed; withered [[Byzantine Empire|Byzantine]] forces, that remain in the [[Po Valley]] and are based at [[Ravenna]], are no match for the overwhelming Lombard incursion. Residents of the Italian countryside flee at the Lombards' approach. Some retreat to the [[barrier island]]s along the shore of the Northern [[Adriatic Sea]], where they establish permanent settlements: the nascent city of [[Venice]].<ref>Traditional date as given in William J. Langer, ed. ''An Encyclopedia of World History''</ref>
* The [[Byzantine Greeks|Byzantines]] abandon present-day [[Lombardy]] and [[Tuscany]], to establish a frontier [[March (territory)|march]] in the hills south of Ravenna (still known as ''Le Marche''). [[Bavaria]]ns, [[Sarmatians]], [[Saxons]] and [[Taifals|Taifali]], join the invasion ''en route''. As they advance, the vacuum left behind them on the [[Balkan|Balkan Peninsula]] is filled by [[Avars (Carpathians)|Avars]], [[Bulgars]] and [[Slavic peoples|Slavs]].
* [[Sigebert I]], king of [[Austrasia]], repels a second attack from the Avars. His half brother [[Chilperic I]] strangles his wife [[Galswintha]] at the instigation of his mistress [[Fredegund]].
* [[Liuvigild]] is declared co-king and heir after the second year of the reign of his brother [[Liuva I]]. He becomes ruler over the [[Visigoths]] in [[Hispania Citerior]] (Eastern [[Spain]]).<ref>John of Biclaro, ''Chronicle'' 10. Translated by [[Kenneth Baxter Wolf]], ''Conquerors and Chroniclers of Early Medieval Spain'', second edition (Liverpool: University Press, 1990), p. 60</ref>
* [[Mummolus]], Gallo-Roman [[prefect]], defeats the Lombards at [[Embrun, Hautes-Alpes|Embrun]] and expels them from [[Provence]] (Southern [[Gaul]]). 
* The [[Avar Khaganate]] attempts to expel [[Kutrigurs]] who had fled the [[Göktürks]], ordering them to go south of the [[Sava|Sava River]]; those who leave generally fall under rule of the Turks.