In the 560s the Avars began to expand from their base on the north bank of the Danube; by the end of the 6th-century, they were the dominant power in Central Europe and routinely able to force the Eastern emperors to pay tribute.
I 560'erne begyndte avarere at udvide deres område på den norlige side af Donau; mod slutningen af 500-tallet var de den dominerende magt i centraleuropa og var rutinemæssigt i stand til at tvinge de østlige kejsere til at betale troskab.