Dhu Nuwas now writes a letter to…

Persia and the Eastern Roman Empire had agreed on a seven-year truce after the Anastasian War ended in 506, yet it has lasted for nearly twenty years.

Even during the war in 505, Emperor Anastasius I had already started fortifying Dara as a counter to the Persian fortress city of Nisibis for a looming conflict.

In 524, the Persian shah Kavadh I proposes that Emperor Justin I adopt his son, Khosrau I; the priority of the Persian king is to secure the succession of Khosrau, whose position is threatened by rival brothers and the Mazdakite sect.

The proposal is initially greeted with enthusiasm by the Roman Emperor and his nephew, Justinian, but Justin's quaestor, Proculus, opposes the move.

Despite the breakdown of the negotiations, it will not be until 530 that full-scale warfare on the main eastern frontier breaks out.

In the intervening years, the two sides will prefer to wage war by proxy, through Arab allies in the south and Huns in the north.

The Persians begin intruding upon Roman Mesopotamian territory in 524, provoking a succession of border skirmishes.

Sigismund’s brother Godomar, while Chlotar and Childebert are occupied with seizing the lands of their late brother Chlodomer and murdering his heirs, defeats the Franks and compels their withdrawal, securing Burgundy’s independence for the time being.

Chlodomer takes the offensive again but is killed at the Battle of Vézeronce on June 25, 524, reportedly at the hands of Godomar.

In vengeance, Frankish soldiers behead Sigismund and throw his body in a well at Coulmiers.

Sigismund's two sons Gisald and Gondebaud are also put to death.

Sigismund is succeeded on the throne by his brother Godomar.

The definitive defeat of the Burgundians reverses their fortunes permanently and assures eventual annexation of their kingdom to that of the Merovingians.

The chief legacy of the battle within Francia is the division of Chlodomer's kingdom among his brothers and the dispossession (and murder) of his young heirs.

Theodoric had made the philosopher-statesman Boethius magister officiorum ("master of the Palace") in 522, but he has soon been charged, unjustly, with treason in his relations with Pope John I. Theodoric has had Boethius imprisoned at Ticinum (Pavia) where he has composed “On the Consolation of Philosophy.” He translates most of Aristotle's treatises on logic into Latin, comments on some of them, pens brief treatises on logic, and summarizes Euclid's “Geometry.” In his summary of the “Arithmetic” and “Music” of Nicomachus of Gerasa, Boethius expresses a very broad view of music, dividing it into the harmony of the universe, the harmony of soul and body, and the harmony of sounding tones.

Boethius also produces five succinct theological treatises on such topics as Christian Greek theology on the Trinity, the incarnation, and the creed.

Theodoric orders his execution in about 524.

Clotilde’s Revenge and the Frankish-Burgundian War (523–524 CE)

The Frankish invasion of Burgundy, launched in 523 CE, is driven by Queen Clotilde, widow of Clovis I and daughter of Chilperic II of Burgundy. Seeking revenge for her father’s murder by Gundobad (Sigismund’s father), she incites her sons—Theuderic I, Chlodomer, Childebert I, and Chlothar I—against King Sigismund of Burgundy, setting off a bitter dynastic war.

First Frankish Invasion (523 CE): The Defeat of Sigismund

• The four Frankish brothers invade Burgundy, facing resistance from Sigismund and his brother Godomar.
• The Burgundian army is defeated, forcing Godomar to flee.
• Sigismund is captured and executed, leaving Burgundy vulnerable.
• However, the Burgundian nobility rally behind Godomar, who regains control after the Franks withdraw.

Second Frankish Invasion (524 CE) and the Death of Chlodomer

• In 524 CE, the Franks launch a second campaign, advancing deep into Burgundy’s Isère Valley.
• At the Battle of Vézeronce (June 25, 524), the Franks suffer a major defeat, and King Chlodomer (ruler of Orléans) is killed in battle.
• His death marks a turning point in the war, as his brothers retreat and Godomar reestablishes Burgundian rule.

Frankish Dynastic Struggle and the Murder of Chlodomer’s Sons

• Following Chlodomer’s death, his three young sons—Gunthar, Theudebald, and Clodoald—become potential heirs.
• Childebert I and Chlothar I, seeing an opportunity, seize Chlodomer’s lands.
• In a ruthless move, Chlothar and Childebert murder Gunthar and Theudebald to eliminate rivals.
• Clodoald escapes to Provence, later becoming a monk—he will be canonized as Saint Cloud.

Further Consolidation: The Fate of Chlodomer’s Widow and Territory

• Chlodomer’s widow, Guntheuc, is forced to marry Chlothar I, securing his claim to Orléans.
• Childebert I annexes Chartres and Orléans, further expanding his domain.

Aftermath and the Fate of Burgundy

• Though Godomar temporarily regains power, Burgundy remains weakened.
• A decade later, in 534 CE, the Franks return and conquer Burgundy permanently, incorporating it into their growing kingdom.

This war cements Frankish dominance in Gaul but also marks the beginning of internal struggles within the Merovingian dynasty, as Clovis’ sons begin to compete for control of the divided Frankish realm.

Yuan Faseng, the governor of Xu Province (modern northern Jiangsu), who had been a close associate of Yuan Cha, believing that Yuan Cha will soon fall, rebels as well, declaring himself emperor in 525.

After some initial defeats at the hands of Northern Wei forces sent against him, he surrenders his post of Pengcheng (in modern Xuzhou, Jiangsu) to Northern Wei's southern rival, the Liang Dynasty.

Yuan Cha's precautions against Empress Dowager Hu have been greatly relaxed by this point, particularly after Liu Teng's death in 523, as he no longer sees her as a threat.

Empress Dowager Hu, Emperor Xiaoming, and Yuan Yong therefore take the opportunity to conspire against Yuan Cha.

Empress Dowager Hu first relaxes Yuan Cha's guard by often discussing his overly trusting of Yuan Faseng, which causes Yuan Cha to be an apologetic mood.

Then, with his agreement, she relieves him of his command of the imperial guards, replacing him with his associate Hou Gang.

In summer 525, she takes sudden action and declares herself regent again, killing most of Yuan Cha's and Liu's associates and putting Yuan Cha under house arrest.

However, she is initially hesitant to take further action against Yuan Cha, because of her relationship with her sister.

Eventually, however, with popular opinion favoring Yuan Cha's death, she forces him and his brother Yuan Gua to commit suicide, but still posthumously awards him much honor.

Empress Dowager Hu, after resumption of her regency over Emperor Xiaoming, allows her lover Zheng Yan to assume great power, and while Yuan Yong and Yuan Lüe the Prince of Dongping (Yuan Xi's brother) are trusted and have high ranks, Zheng and Zheng's associate Xu Ge are more powerful than they.

The agrarian and other revolts continue, and during these years, …

…additional chief rebels include Xianyu Xiuli, with his rebellion centering on Ding Province (roughly modern Baoding, Hebei.

After Xianyu's death, his general Ge Rong will take over and become very strong, proclaiming himself the Emperor of Qi; …

…Xiao Baoyin, son of Emperor Ming of Southern Qi, who seeks to reestablish Southern Qi, with his rebellion centering on Chang'an; …

…Xing Gao, with his rebellion centering on Beihai (roughly modern Weifang, Shandong); and …