589

Year 589 was a common year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar. The denomination 589 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

May 15 - King Authari marries Theodelinda, daughter of the Bavarian duke Garibald I. A Catholic, she has great influence at court and among the Lombard nobility.
King Childebert II attempts to impose taxes on the citizens of Tours; Bishop Gregory successfully opposes this by claiming state immunity instituted by Fredegund.
King Guntram sends an expedition into Septimania, in support of a rebellion by the Arian bishop Athaloc.
Claudius, duke of Lusitania, defeats the Franks and Burgundians at Carcassonne on the Aude River.
October 17 - Breach at Cucca. The Adige River overflows its banks, flooding the church of St. Zeno and damaging the walls of Verona.
The plague hits Rome, and its victims include Pope Pelagius II.

First Perso-Turkic War: The Sassanid Persians capture the cities Balkh and Herat. They cross the Oxus River and repulse a Turkic invasion.

The Chinese Empire is reunited under the leadership of Emperor Wéndi, who defeats the Chen forces at Jiankang, ending the Chen dynasty that has ruled since 557.
Yan Zhitui, scholar-official, makes the first reference to the use of toilet paper in human history. It is used in the Chinese imperial court and amongst the other wealthy citizens.
Tulan Qaghan, son of Ishbara Qaghan, becomes the seventh ruler of the Turkic Khaganate.

Gregory, archdeacon of Rome, converts English slaves on the Roman market. He calls them Angels if they would be Christians.
The Third Council of Toledo, called by King Reccared I of the Visigoths, renounces Arianism and embraces Catholicism.
The Council of Narbonne is held. In Septimania, Jews are forbidden from chanting psalms while burying their dead.