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St. Agapetus I ends his reign as Catholic Pope

Pope Agapetus I (489/490 – 22 April 536) was the bishop of Rome from 13 May 535 to his death on 22 April 536.

Pope Agapetus I (489/490 – 22 April 536) was the bishop of Rome from 13 May 535 to his death on 22 April 536. His father, Gordianus, was a priest in Rome and he may have been related to two popes, Felix III and Gregory I.

In 536, Agapetus traveled to Constantinople at the behest of King Theodahad of the Ostrogoths and unsuccessfully tried to persuade Emperor Justinian I to call off a Byzantine invasion of the Ostrogoth kingdom. While in Constantinople, Agapetus also deposed the patriarch Anthimus I and personally consecrated his successor who is Menas of Constantinople.

Historical Significance

Pope Agapetus I (489/490 – 22 April 536) was the bishop of Rome from 13 May 535 to his death on 22 April 536.

Events Before

  1. Byzantine general Belisarius defeats the Vandals led by King Gelimer at the Battle of Tricamarum

    The Vandals were a Germanic people who were first mentioned in the written records as the inhabitants of what is now Poland, during the period of the Roman Empire.

  2. Second and final revision of the Justinian Code is published, a codified set of imperial and classical laws initially be

    Second and final revision of the Justinian Code is published, a codified set of imperial and classical laws initially begun in 528

  3. John II's reign as Catholic Pope ends, upon his death

    Pope Agapetus I (489/490 – 22 April 536) was the bishop of Rome from 13 May 535 to his death on 22 April 536.

  4. St Agapitus I begins his reign as Catholic Pope

    St Agapitus I begins his reign as Catholic Pope

  5. Byzantine General Belisarius completes the conquest of Sicily, defeating Ostrogothic garrison of Syracuse, and ending hi

    Byzantine General Belisarius completes the conquest of Sicily, defeating Ostrogothic garrison of Syracuse, and ending his consulship for the year

Events After

  1. Goths lay siege to Rome

    The siege of Rome of 537–538 AD was the city's first siege during the Gothic War (535–554) between the defending Byzantine Empire's forces under the leadership of Belisarius against a numerically...

  2. Witiges, King of the Ostrogoths, ends his siege of Rome and retreats to Ravenna, leaving the city in the hands of the vi

    Witiges, King of the Ostrogoths, ends his siege of Rome and retreats to Ravenna, leaving the city in the hands of the victorious Byzantine general Belisarius

  3. BC Army of Cyrus the Great of Persia takes Babylon

    The fall of Babylon occurred in 539 BCE, when the Persian Empire conquered the Neo-Babylonian Empire.

  4. BC King Cyrus "the Great" of Persia marches into Babylon, freeing Jewish captives and allowing them to return home

    The Cyrus Cylinder is an ancient clay cylinder, now broken into several pieces, on which is written an Achaemenid royal inscription in Akkadian cuneiform script in the name of the Persian king Cyrus...

  5. Ostrogoths of King Totila conquer Rome by bribing the Byzantine garrison during the Gothic War

    Ostrogoths of King Totila conquer Rome by bribing the Byzantine garrison during the Gothic War

More from the 530s

Nika riots begin in Constantinople, a revolt against Byzantine Emperor Justinian I that leaves half the city burned and

Nika riots begin in Constantinople, a revolt against Byzantine Emperor Justinian I that leaves half the city burned and thousands dead. The riots are sparked by a botched execution of chariot racing supporters and end only after Empress Theodora refuses to flee, forcing her husband to act decisively

Nika uprising against Emperor Justinian I in Constantinople fails; 30,000 are killed by troops loyal to the emperor in t

Nika uprising against Emperor Justinian I in Constantinople fails; 30,000 are killed by troops loyal to the emperor in the Hippodrome

Witiges, King of the Ostrogoths, ends his siege of Rome and retreats to Ravenna, leaving the city in the hands of the vi

Witiges, King of the Ostrogoths, ends his siege of Rome and retreats to Ravenna, leaving the city in the hands of the victorious Byzantine general Belisarius

BC Army of Cyrus the Great of Persia takes Babylon

The fall of Babylon occurred in 539 BCE, when the Persian Empire conquered the Neo-Babylonian Empire.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happened on April 22, 536?
Pope Agapetus I (489/490 – 22 April 536) was the bishop of Rome from 13 May 535 to his death on 22 April 536. His father, Gordianus, was a priest in Rome and he may have been related to two popes, Felix III and Gregory I. In 536, Agapetus traveled to Constantinople at the behest of King Theodahad of the Ostrogoths and unsuccessfully tried to persuade Emperor Justinian I to call off a Byzantine invasion of the Ostrogoth kingdom.
Why is St. Agapetus I ends his reign as Catholic Pope significant?
Pope Agapetus I (489/490 – 22 April 536) was the bishop of Rome from 13 May 535 to his death on 22 April 536.

Explore More

April 22 in HistoryYear 536