598

By place

Byzantine Empire

• March 30 - Balkan Campaign: The Avars lift the siege of the fortress city of Tomis. A Byzantine army under Comentiolus crosses the Balkan Mountains, and marches along the Danube River to Zikidiba.
• The Avars rout the Byzantine forces of Comentiolus, and capture Drizipera. A large part of their troops are killed by the plague, after many cities are devastated in the Balkan Peninsula.
• Emperor Maurice pays tribute to the Avars and concludes a treaty with their leader Bayan I, allowing Byzantine expeditions in Wallachia. He reorganises his army and strengthens the Long Walls.

  Europe

• Maurice makes peace with King Agilulf, conceding northern Italy. Pope Gregory I the Great negotiates a truce, ending 30 years of Lombard terror. Agilulf expands the Lombard Kingdom by occupying Sutri and Perugia.

  Britain

• Battle of Catraeth: The Gododdin under Mynyddog Mwynfawr, Brythonic king of Hen Ogledd, defeat the Angles of Bernicia and Deira, at the stronghold of Catraeth in Northern England.

  Asia

• August 4 - Goguryeo War: Emperor Wéndi orders his youngest son, Yang Liang, to conquer Goguryeo during the rainy season, with a Chinese army.
• The Chinese fleet engages in battle against the Goguryeo fleet under Admiral Kang I-sik, and is destroyed in the Bohai Sea. During the invasion the Sui forces are all defeated, and Yang Liang is forced to retreat.
• King Yeongyang sends an embassy to Daxing; Wéndi accepts a peace agreement with Goguryeo. He claims a hollow victory, as the Sui dynasty lost nearly 90% of his army and navy during the disastrous campaign.
• Hye becomes king of the Korean kingdom of Baekje.

  By topic

Religion

• Missionaries begin to convert the Anglo-Saxons to Christianity throughout much of what will later be the British Isles.
• The Guoqing Temple is built on Mount Tiantai, and becomes the site for the teachings of Chinese Buddhism.