Unpaid imperial troops mutiny against Priscus, magister…

Emperor Wen of the Sui Dynasty prepares a campaign against the Chen Dynasty.

He amasses five hundred and eighteen thousand troops along the northern bank of the Yangtze River, stretching from Sichuan to the Pacific Ocean.

Anbar, originally called Massice and Fairuz Sapur, had been destroyed in CE 363 by the Roman emperor Julian.

The rebuilt town becomes known from at least the sixth century as Anbar (Stores”).

Jews from the academy of Pumbedita take refuge there from Sassanian persecution in 588; it will become a Jewish center.

Internal rebellion had begun to be widespread throughout the Sassanid Persian empire, concurrent with its war against the Romans, following the ascension of Hormizd IV, the son and successor of Khosrau I, in 579.

Turkic invaders have overrun most of Khorasan, but, by the mid 580s, Persian general Bahram Chobin has regained much of the lost territory.

Hormizd tyrannizes the Jews, forcing many to flee, including the leaders of the academies.

However, when the Zoroastrian priests demand a similar persecution of the Christians, Hormizd refuses for the reason that the throne and government can be safe only with the goodwill of both religions.

Although negotiations for peace had begun with the emperor Maurice, Hormizd declines to cede any of his father's conquests.

Khosrau I, Shah of Sassanid Persia, had in 558 allied with the Göktürks to defeat the Hephthalites.

The campaign was successful and the region north of the Oxus had gone to the Turks and the south had come under Sassanid rule.

However, in the 580's, the Turks had once again commenced their raids on the Silk Road and in 588, the Hephthalites, who are now part of the Western Turkic Khaganate, invade the empire once more.

Bahram Chobin, descended from the House of Mihran, one of the Seven Parthian clans, is chosen to lead an army against them.

According to Shahbazi, Bahram's army consisted of twelve thousand hand picked Savaran, Persia's elite soldiers.

His army ambushes a large army of Turks and Hephthalites in April 588, at the battle of Hyrcanian rock in Herat in 589, over a large Göktürk army reported to have outnumbered his troops five to one.

Relying on the discipline and superior training of his Persian cataphract cavalry, Bahram traps and defeats the Turks.

The Lombard Kingdom is converted to Roman Catholicism under the rule of king Authari.

Guntram and Childebert are still not satisfied with their successes in Italy and they have many times threatened invasion, following through on their threats twice.

The memory of Theudebert I of Austrasia's campaigns in Italy, the urging of Childebert's warlike mother Brunhilda and the emperor and exarch, as well as the wrongs done Guntram in the past, undoubtedly fuel their quarrelsomeness.

The Franks and Burgundians under Guntram and Childebert invade northern Italy in 588, but Authari defeats them handily.

King Guntram’s Diplomatic Struggle with Waroch II of Brittany (588 CE)

By the late sixth century, Frankish rulers, particularly King Guntram of Burgundy, struggle to maintain control over eastern Brittany, where Waroch II, ruler of the Veneti (Vanetais), continues to challenge Frankish dominance.

In an effort to stop ongoing Breton raids into Frankish-controlled territories, Guntram sends envoys to Brittanyand demands compensation for previous attacks, leading to a diplomatic standoff in 588 CE.

1. Guntram’s Demand for Compensation from Waroch II

• Waroch II had led raids into the Nantais region, disrupting Frankish settlements and trade routes.
• Guntram, determined to impose his authority, compels Waroch to promise obedience and pay 1,000 solidi (gold coins) in reparations.
• This sum represents a significant financial penalty, reinforcing Frankish claims over eastern Brittany.

2. Waroch’s Duplicity: Playing Guntram Against Chlothar II

• By 588 CE, Waroch still has not paid the agreed sum, instead making contradictory promises to two rival Frankish kings:
  • Guntram of Burgundy, who had originally demanded the tribute.
  • Chlothar II of Neustria, who likely holds suzerainty over Vannes, Waroch’s stronghold.
• This suggests that Waroch is attempting to balance alliances between the two Frankish rulers, ensuring Brittany’s autonomy while delaying submission.

3. The Unresolved Conflict Between the Franks and Brittany

• Waroch’s delayed payment and political maneuvering indicate that the Frankish grip on Brittany remains fragile.
• Though Guntram and Chlothar both claim authority over Brittany, Waroch’s continued resistance shows that Breton rulers still operate with considerable independence.
• The Frankish-Breton struggle persists for centuries, as Brittany remains one of the most difficult regions for the Franks to fully integrate into their kingdom.

Conclusion: A Tense Diplomatic Stalemate

The standoff between Guntram and Waroch II in 588 CE illustrates the challenges of Frankish rule in Brittany. While Guntram attempts to enforce obedience and secure reparations, Waroch cleverly plays Neustria and Burgundy against each other, delaying his submission and maintaining Breton autonomy. This diplomatic struggle is part of the longer historical conflict between the Franks and the Bretons, shaping the medieval history of western Gaul.

The Chinese Empire is reunited under the leadership of emperor Wen of Sui, who defeats the Chen forces at Jiankang (modern Nanjing), ending the Chen Dynasty (the last of the Southern Dynasties) that has ruled since 557.

Yan Zhitui, scholar-official, makes the first reference to the use of toilet paper in history.

It is used in the Chinese imperial court and among the other wealthy citizens.

Bahram, having largely secured Khorasan, turns to fight the Romans, who defeat his forces at Nisibis and the Araxes River in 589, driving him back into Armenia.

Hormizd IV humiliates him, sending him women's clothing to wear.

Thus, …

…Bahram, along with the main Persian army, rebels against the Shah and marches toward Ctesiphon.

Bahram Chobin defeats the Turks and Hephthalites again in 589, capturing Balkh.

He proceeds to cross the Oxus River and manages to repulse the Turkic Invasion and take over Hephthalite territory that had been occupied by the Turks.

It is reported that an arrow shot by Bahram killed the Eastern Turkic Khagan, Bagha Qaghan, known as Ch'u-lo-hou by the Chinese.