541–549 CEReputable sourceWell documented
The Plague of Justinian
On the timeline · around 541–549 CE ·
What happened
At the height of Justinian's reign, the first recorded outbreak of bubonic plague erupted in the empire. Spreading along trade routes from Egypt, it reached Constantinople in 542, killing enormous numbers — the emperor himself caught it but survived. The pandemic recurred for two centuries and may have killed tens of millions around the Mediterranean.
Why it matters
The plague shattered Justinian's hopes of a lasting restoration of Rome, gutting the empire's population, armies, and tax base at the worst possible moment. It reshaped the late-antique world and helped end the age of ancient empires.
Sources
- World History Encyclopedia. Justinian's Plague (541–542 CE) · Reputable source
Related timelines
- Pandemics Through History → — The first great bubonic plague pandemic