538

Years: 534 535 536 537 - 538 - 539 540 541 542

Decades: 500s 510s 520s - 530s - 540s 550s 560s

Centuries: 5th century - 6th century - 7th century

Events

• End of the Kofun and beginning of the Asuka period, the second part of the Yamato period in Japan.
• Buddhism introduced formally into Japan (by some accounts; see also 552).
• End of the Ostrogothic siege of Rome.
• Gabhran becomes king of Dalriada.

Births

• Emperor Bidatsu of Japan
• Gregory of Tours, bishop and historian
• Zhiyi, de facto founder of Tiantai Buddhism

Deaths

• February 8 - Saint Severinus of Antioch, patriarch of Antioch
• Comgall, King of Dalriada