593

By place

Byzantine Empire

• Spring - Priscus, commander-in-chief in Thrace, defeats the Slavic tribes and Gepids on Byzantine territory south of the Danube. He crosses the river to fight in the uncharted swamps and forests of modern-day Wallachia.
• Autumn - Emperor Maurice orders Priscus to spend the winter with his troops on the northern Danube bank, but he disobeys the emperor's order and retreats to the port city of Odessus on the Black Sea Coast.

Britain

• Æthelfrith of Northumbria succeeds Hussa as king of Bernicia. His accession possibly involves dynastic rivalry and the exile of Hussa's relatives.
• Pybba succeeds his father Creoda as king of Mercia.

Persia

• The Persian usurper Hormizd V is defeated by King Khosrau II.

Asia

• Empress Suiko begins a long reign during a pivotal period, in which Buddhism influences the development and culture of Japan. She is the first female ruler and the first to receive official recognition from China.
• Suiko appoints her 21-year-old nephew Shōtoku as regent, with strongman Umako Soga. He holds shared power for nearly 30 years, creating the nation's first constitution.

By topic

Art

• The Altar to Amitābha Buddha is made during the Sui dynasty. It is now kept at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.

Religion

• Anastasius I is restored as patriarch of Antioch, after Gregory dies.
• The Shitennō-ji monastery is founded at Osaka by Shōtoku.