Dionysius Exiguus ( also known as Dennis the Short or Dennis the Little ) , born around 470 and died around 544 , was a monk born in Scythia Minor . This is now a part of modern Romania . Dionysius Exiguus ( Dennis the Small , Dennis the Little or Dennis the Short , meaning humble ) ( â `` ) was a sixth century monk born in Scythia Minor , modern Dobruja shared by Romania and Bulgaria .