313 CE

This year is notable for ending of the persecution of Christians in the Roman Empire.

In the 310s, the 4th century.

Geopolitics & Diplomacy

  • Nintoku, the fourth son of Ōjin, becomes the 16th emperor of Japan. The historical profile of Nintoku is generally accepted as fact without attributing all of the things he allegedly accomplished.source

Conflict & Security

  • Emperor Maximinus Daza crosses the Bosphorus with an army of 70,000 men and lays siege to Heraclea in Thrace. He captures the city after eight days.source
  • Battle of Tzirallum: Licinius defeats his rival Maximinus in Thrace, who then flees to Cilicia. After losing the Cilician Gates to Licinius' forces, Maximinus commits suicide.source

Religion & Belief

  • February 3 – Edict of Milan: Constantine the Great and co-emperor Licinius meet at a conference in Mediolanum (modern Milan). They proclaim a policy of religious freedom for all, ending the persecution of Christians in the Roman Empire and returning property confiscated from Christians. The edict is posted in Nicomedia on June 13.source
  • February: Emperors Constantine I and Licinius convene in Mediolanum (modern Milan). Licinius marries Constantine's half-sister Constantia, and they issue the Edict of Milan. This edict ends the Great Persecution against the Christians and is the first piece of legislation in western history to decree freedom of religion. It also returns property confiscated from Christians. The edict is posted in Nicomedia on June 13.source
  • October 2 – Lateran Synod: Donatism is declared a heresy.source
  • Arius preaches of the human nature of Jesus.source

Crime & Justice

  • Licinius conducts a purge of the wider Tetrarchic dynasty. He executes Galerius' son Candidianus, Valerius Severus' son Severianus (whom he accuses of conspiracy), and Maximinus' wife, son and daughter. Diocletian's wife Prisca and daughter Galeria Valeria go into hiding.source

Culture & Society

  • Basilica of Maxentius and Constantine (or Basilica Nova), in Rome, is finished.source

Births

  • Cyril of Jerusalem, Christian bishop and theologian (died 386)source
  • Didymus the Blind, Alexandrian theologian (died 398)source
  • Shi Hong, Chinese emperor of the Jie state (died 334)source

Deaths

  • March 14 – Huai of Jin, Chinese emperor (born 284)source
  • March 14 – Emperor Huai of Jin is executed by Liu Cong, ruler of the Xiongnu state (Han-Zhao). At the imperial new year he and a number of former Jin officials are poisoned. Crown prince Min of Jin, age 13, succeeds, in Chang'an, his uncle Huai of Jin and becomes the new emperor of the Jin Dynasty.source
  • Galerius Valerius Maximinus, Roman emperor (born 270)source
  • Zhang Huiguang (or Wuxiao), Chinese empresssource
  • Guangxian, Chinese empress of the Xiongnu statesource
  • At the end of 312 or in early 313, the retired Emperor Diocletian dies in his palace in Split, most likely from natural causes.source
  • Achillas (the Great), pope and patriarch of Alexandriasource
  • Severianus, son of Valerius Severussource