574

Year 574 was a common year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar. The denomination 574 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

December 7 - Emperor Justin II retires due to recurring seizures of insanity; he abdicates the throne in favour of his general Tiberius. Justin proclaims him Caesar and adopts him as his own son.
Winter - Empress Sophia and Tiberius agree to a one year truce with the Persians, at the cost of 45,000 solidi. The truce applies only to the Mesopotamian front; in the Caucasus, war continues.
Europe
King Cleph is murdered after an 18-month reign by a guard, a slave who he has mistreated. For the next decade, the Lombard Kingdom is governed by independent duchies.
The Visigoths under King Liuvigild invade Cantabria, and destroy the city of Amaya. He massacres the inhabitants and adds the province to the Visigothic Kingdom.
Áedán mac Gabráin becomes king of Dál Riata .
Asia
The Persian Empire overthrows the Axumite- and Byzantine-affiliated regimes in Yemen.
Unidentified
A major volcanic eruption occurs in the Antarctic.
By topic

July 13 - Pope John III dies at Rome after a 13-year tenure. The Holy See becomes sede vacante until June of the following year.
Marius Aventicensis is made bishop of Aventicum.