/year

The 340s

123 sourced entries across 10 years, inside the 4th century. Each year below opens its own page; the lines under it are that year’s highest-ranked entries.

340 CE17 entries

  • Constantine II, emperor of the western part of the Roman Empire (Britain, Gaul, the Rhine provinces and Iberia), crosses the Alps and attacks the army of his brother Constans I, emperor of the central part of the Roman Empire (Upper Danube, Italy and middle Africa). They clash at Aquileia in northern Italy. Constantine is killed in a skirmish by an ambush of Constans' troops.
  • Wulfila evangelizes among the Goths for 7 years.
  • Acacius succeeds Eusebius as bishop in the see of Caesarea.

341 CE14 entries

  • Coptic Christianity is introduced into Ethiopia by the Syrian apostle Frumentius. He and his colleague Aedesius ware captured by Ethiopians a year or two ago, and have become civil servants at the Aksumite court of King Ezana. Ezana is impressed with Frumentius' teachings and converts to Christianity. Frumentius becomes the first Bishop of Axum and encourages the Christian merchants present in the country to practise their faith openly.
  • Samudragupta of the Gupta Empire, during a decade, extends his kingdom and his influence. A pillar found at Allahabad sings his praises.
  • Thousands of Christians are executed at Seleucia in Mesopotamia.

342 CE12 entries

  • February 15 – The original Hagia Sophia is dedicated in Constantinople.
  • A large earthquake strikes Cyprus.
  • Jin Kangdi succeeds his brother Jin Chengdi as emperor of China.

343 CE9 entries

  • The Eastern Roman Emperor Constantius II campaigns in Adiabene, a vassal kingdom of Armenia (Persian Empire).
  • Pope Julius I tries to unite the Western bishops against Arianism by convoking the Council of Serdica, which acknowledges the pope's supreme authority and grants him the right to judge cases involving the legal possession of episcopal sees, but only Western and Egyptian bishops attend, and Arianism remains strong.
  • The Western Roman Emperor Constans I is in Britain, possibly in a military campaign against the Picts and Scots (the last visit to Britain by a legitimate emperor).

344 CE17 entries

  • Jin Mudi, age 1, succeeds his father Jin Kangdi as emperor of China. His mother, Empress Dowager Chu, becomes the ruling authority at court, and serves as regent.
  • Bishop Eustorgius I brings relics of the Three Magi from Constantinople to Milan, according to a 12th century legend.
  • The Eastern Roman Emperor Constantius II campaigns in eastern Mesopotamia, against the Sassanid Persians.

345 CE16 entries

  • Merchant Knai Thomman and 400 followers visit the Malabar Coast in Kerala (India), and assist the church there.
  • Constans orders the Basilica di Santa Tecla to be constructed in Milan.
  • The Kadamba Dynasty is founded by Mayurasharma.

346 CE10 entries

  • Geunchogo becomes king of the Korean kingdom of Baekje.
  • In Korea, the Buyeo Kingdom is absorbed by Goguryeo.
  • Macedonius I, Patriarch of Constantinople, is deposed again by Paul I.

347 CE10 entries

  • The Council of Philippopolis is held as the result of Eastern bishops leaving the Council of Sardica. In Philippopolis (Bulgaria), they excommunicate Pope Julius, and as a result, the Arian controversy is perpetuated.
  • Li Shi, ruler of Cheng Han, fails in his attempt to halt a Jin expedition under Huan Wen. He flees to the capital Chengdu and surrenders his forces. Emperor Jin Mudi spares his life and makes him a marquess.
  • Council of Sardica: An attempt is made to resolve the Arian controversy, and ground rules for bishops are laid down.

348 CE8 entries

  • Wulfila escapes religious persecution by the Gothic chieftain Athanaric, obtains permission from Constantius II to migrate with his flock of converts to Moesia, and settles near Nicopolis ad Istrum (Bulgaria).
  • In Persia, women are enrolled in the army to perform auxiliary services.
  • In India, Samudragupta of the Gupta Empire defeats Rudrasena in battle.

349 CE10 entries

  • Shi Hu, emperor of the Jie state Later Zhao since 334, dies. The state plunges into turmoil with his sons Shi Shi, Shi Zun, Shi Jian and Shi Zhi plotting against each other and holding the emperorship in rapid succession, before ethnic Han Ran Min establishes the short-lived Ran Wei dynasty in 350, bringing the Later Zhao dynasty to an end in 351 before it is itself conquered and divided by the Former Yan and Former Qin dynasties in 351.
  • Shi Shi, youngest of Shi Hui's sons, reigns for 33 days before being deposed and executed at age 10 by Shi Zun. After a brief reign of 183 days, Emperor Shi Zun and his mother Empress Zheng Yingtao are executed; his brother Shi Jian succeeds him, only to be toppled after 103 days in early 350 by Shi Zhi,