557

Year 557 was a common year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar. The denomination 557 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

The Avars arrive in the northern region of the Caucasus, between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea. They send envoys to the Byzantines in Lazica. Like the Huns, the Avars are the former elite of a central Asian federation, which has been forced to flee westwards.
Byzantine Empire
December 14 - The 557 Constantinople earthquake occurs.
Asia
The Western Wei Dynasty ends: Yuwen Hu deposes emperor Gong Di, and places Yuwen Tai's son Xiaomin on the throne. Yuwen Hu becomes regent and establishes the Northern Zhou dynasty in China.
Ming Di is made emperor, after his younger brother Xiao Min Di is arrested while trying to assume power. Xiao Min Di is deposed and executed by Yuwen Hu.
The Liang dynasty ends: Chen Wu Di, a distinguished general, becomes the first emperor of the Chen dynasty in Southern China.
The Göktürks under Muqan Qaghan ally with the Persian Empire, and destroy the Hephthalites in Central Asia.
By topic

King Chlothar I of the Franks founds the Abbey of St. Medard at Soissons.
The Jiming Temple in Nanjing is built; the Buddhist pagoda is located near Xuanwu Lake.