date: August

text: August: Domitius Domitianus launches a usurpation against Diocletian in Egypt. He is perhaps aided by popular discontent with Diocletian's taxation reform.


section: Births

text: Murong Huang, ruler of the Former Yan (d. 348)

source_section: Births


text: Yu Wenjun, empress of the Jin Dynasty (d. 328)


date: December

section: Deaths

text: December: Domitianus dies, but his corrector Aurelius Achilleus takes over as the leader of the rebellion.

source_section: Events › By place › Roman Empire


text: Chen Shou, author of the San Guo Zhi (b. 233)

source_section: Deaths


text: Zhou Chu, Jin dynasty general, son of Zhou Fang (b. 236)


section: Geopolitics & Diplomacy

text: Girim becomes the king of the Korean kingdom of Silla.

source_section: Events › By place › Korea


section: Conflict & Security

text: Spring: Emperor Diocletian retakes Alexandria and crushes the usurpation of Aurelius Achilleus.


text: Caesar Galerius restores Tiridates III to the throne of Armenia and invades the Sassanid Empire. His army marches through Adiabene, Atropatene, Susiana and Lower Mesopotamia. He then retakes the strategically important city of Nisibis in Upper Mesopotamia.


text: Bunseo becomes king of the Korean kingdom of Baekje.


section: Exploration & Expansion

text: The manufacture of cultured silk becomes popular from Korea to Japan.


text: Diocletian then travels into Upper Egypt and possibly campaigns on the Nubian frontier. In either this year or in 300/301, he makes agreements with the Meroitic Nubians and the Blemmyes. He agrees to pay subsidies to both peoples, and he cedes the Dodecashoenos to the Nubians on the understanding that the Nubians will defend the region against the Blemmyes.


text: Athanasius of Alexandria, Egyptian patriarch (d. 373)


text: Marcellus of Tangier, Christian martyr


text: Yurye of Silla (or Yuri), Korean ruler


text: Chaekgye of Baekje, Korean ruler


text: Cassian of Tangier, Christian martyr


text: Aurelius Achilleus, Roman usurper


text: Peace of Nisibis: Emperor Diocletian signs a treaty with the Persian king Narseh that will last for 40 years. The Persians accept Roman dominion over Armenia, the Caucasus, and Upper Mesopotamia. The pro-Roman ruler Tiridates III receives all of Armenia as far as the border with Atropatene. Mirian III of the Kingdom of Iberia is made a Roman client, and at some point in time, as a result of the treaty, Caucasian Albania will follow suit. Rome also gains five satrapies beyond the Tigris, which are perhaps given to Tiridates to administer.


text: To celebrate his victory over the Persians, Galerius commissions the Arch of Galerius in Thessaloniki (modern Greece).


text: Empress Jia Nanfeng frames Crown Prince Yu for treason and has him deposed.

source_section: Events › By place › China


text: Having first crossed into Africa in 296, Emperor Maximian concludes his campaigns against the Quinquegentiani and other Berbers. His campaigns had ranged as far as Mauretania in the west and Tripolitania in the east. Julianus, a rebel leader in Africa, throws himself into a fire after the Romans breach the walls of his stronghold.


text: In this or the following year, Galerius campaigns with success against Sarmatians and the Marcomanni, attacking through a swamp to defeat a Sarmatian army.


text: Diocletian expels Christians from the Roman army.


section: Religion & Belief

text: Returning to Rome in triumph, Maximian commissions the Baths of Diocletian in honour of his 'brother' Diocletian.


text: Jin Mingdi, Chinese emperor of the Jin Dynasty (d. 325)


text: Qi Wannian, Chinese chieftain and rebel leader


text: Judah bar Ezekiel, Babylonian amora (b. 220)


year_label: 3 CE

text: AD 3 – The rule of Emperor Augustus is renewed for a ten-year period.

source_section: Events › Roman Empire


text: AD 3 – Wang Mang foils a plot by his son, Wang Yu, his brother-in-law, Lu Kuan, and the Wei clan to oust him from the regent's position. Wang Yu and Lu Kuan are killed in the purge that follows.

source_section: Events › China


text: AD 3 – Tiberius Claudius Balbilus, Roman politician and astrologer (d. AD 79)


text: AD 3 – Ban Biao, Chinese historian and official (d. AD 54)


text: AD 3 – Geng Yan, Chinese general of the Han dynasty (d. AD 58)


text: AD 3 – Bao Xuan, Chinese politician of the Han dynasty


year_label: 30 CE

text: Jesus is crucified in Jerusalem (possible date)

source_section: Events › 30 AD › Palestine


text: Phaedrus translates Aesop's fables, and composes some of his own.

source_section: Events › 30 AD › Roman Empire


section: Science & Discovery

text: Velleius Paterculus writes the general history of the countries known in Antiquity.


section: Crime & Justice

text: Agrippina the Elder (the wife of Germanicus) and two of her sons, Nero Julius Caesar and Drusus Caesar, are arrested and exiled on orders of Lucius Aelius Sejanus (the prefect of the Praetorian Guard), and later starved to death in suspicious circumstances. In Sejanus's purge of Agrippina the Elder and her family, her son Caligula, and her three daughters, Agrippina the Younger, Julia Drusilla and Julia Livilla are the only survivors.


section: Culture & Society

text: The Kushan Empire is founded (approximate date).

source_section: Events › 30 AD › South Asia


date: November 8

text: November 8 – Nerva, Roman emperor (d. AD 98)

source_section: Births › 30 AD


text: Quintus Petillius Cerialis, Roman general


text: Poppaea Sabina, second wife of Nero (d. AD 65)


text: Jia Kui, Chinese Confucian philosopher (d. AD 101)


text: Mobon of Goguryeo, Korean king (d. AD 53)


text: Emperor Diocletian begins construction of a palace that will become the city of Split (approximate date). Diocletian, who plans on abdicating, intends to use this palace as his place of retirement.


text: The Yayoi period ends in Ancient Japan (approximate date).

source_section: Events › By place › Asia


text: Caesar Constantius I wins a victory over the Franks (approximate date).


text: Micheon becomes ruler of the Korean kingdom of Goguryeo.


text: The Mayan civilization reaches its most prolific period, the classic period, in what is now Guatemala, Belize and parts of southern Mexico adjacent to the former two. During most of this period, Tikal dominates the Mayan world.

source_section: Events › By place › Mesoamerica


text: The magnetic compass for navigation is invented in China (approximate date).

source_section: Events › By topic › Art and Science


text: Peter of Alexandria becomes Patriarch of Alexandria.

source_section: Events › By topic › Religion


text: The Tetrarchs are probably made in Egypt. After 330 they are moved to Constantinople and in 1204 they are installed at the corner of the facade of the St Mark's Basilica, Venice (approximate date).


text: Approximate date of the Synod of Elvira in Elvira, Spain, which prohibits interaction with Jews, pagans, and heretics.


text: Possible date of the Codex Vaticanus Graecus 1209 and Codex Sinaiticus, manuscripts of the Bible written in Greek.


text: The Panchatantra, a Sanskrit collection of fables and fairy tales, is written in India.


text: The Kama Sutra, an Indian handbook on the art of sexual love, is probably produced around this time by the sage Vatsyayana.


section: Technology & Infrastructure

text: Diocletian's Palace, Split, Croatia, is built. Its model is nowadays kept at the Museo della Civilta Romana, Rome.


text: Wootz steel is developed in India (approximate date).


section: Climate & Environment

text: The lion becomes extinct from Armenia (approximate date).


text: The Formative/Preclassic period in Mesoamerica comes to an end approximately around this year.


text: The elephant becomes extinct in North Africa (approximate date).

source_section: Events › By place › Africa


text: The Atlas wild ass becomes extinct (approximate date).


text: Hilary of Poitiers, Gallo-Roman bishop (approximate date)


text: Macarius of Egypt, Coptic Christian monk and hermit (d. 391)


text: Frumentius, Syrian missionary and bishop (approximate date)


text: Min of Jin, Chinese emperor of the Jin Dynasty (d. 318)


text: Aemilia Hilaria, Gallo-Roman physician (approximate date)


text: Flavius Hermogenes, Roman prefect and politician (d. 361)


text: Zeno of Verona, Christian bishop and martyr (approximate date)


text: Li Shou, Chinese emperor of the Cheng Han Dynasty (d. 343)


text: Lüzhu, Chinese dancer, singer and music teacher


text: Pei Wei, Chinese philosopher and politician (b. 267)


text: Jia Nanfeng, Chinese empress of the Jin Dynasty (b. 257)


text: Pan Yue, Chinese poet and writer (b. 247)


text: Sima Yu, Chinese prince of the Jin Dynasty (b. 278)


text: Zhang Hua, Chinese official, scholar and poet (b. 232)


text: Liu Ling, Chinese scholar and poet (b. 221)


text: Shi Chong, Chinese politician and statesman (b. 249)


text: Sporus of Nicaea, Greek mathematician (approximate date)


text: Jia Mi, Chinese general, official and politician


date: September 3

text: September 3 – The republic of San Marino is established (approximate date).

source_section: Events › By place › Europe


date: February 3

text: February 3 – May 30 – Sima Lun briefly usurps the Jin Dynasty.


text: Caesar Galerius begins a major war against the Carpi and Bastarnae and wins the first of several victories.


text: King Tiridates III (the Great) proclaims Christianity as the official state religion, making Armenia the first nation to adopt Christianity as its official religion (traditional date). Construction of the original Etchmiadzin Cathedral by Gregory the Illuminator begins.

source_section: Events › By place › Armenia


date: September

section: Economy & Finance

text: September: Emperor Diocletian issues a reform that revalues the Roman currency.

source_section: Events › By place › Roman Empire


date: November

text: November: Diocletian issues his Edict on Maximum Prices, which, rather than halting rampant inflation, causes widespread panic and an increase in inflation. The measure is quickly abandoned.


text: Xie Ai, Chinese general of the Former Liang state (d. 354)

source_section: Births


date: June 5

text: June 5 – Sima Lun, Chinese usurper (forced suicide)

source_section: Deaths


text: Sun Xiu (or Junzhong), Chinese official and politician


text: Emperor Diocletian persecutes the Manichaeans, accusing them of being a Persian fifth column.


text: Caesar Galerius wins his second victory over the Carpi.


text: An invasion of Gaul by the Alemannic Lingones almost traps Caesar Constantius I between the enemy and the walls of a town. Constantius himself is carried onto the wall via a crane. However, within the same day, Constantius sallies forth from the walls and defeats the enemy in a major battle.


text: Gregory the Illuminator is consecrated as Patriarch of Armenia by Leontius of Caesarea.


text: Iamblichus of Chalcis writes a treatise on magic and the occult.


text: Sun Sheng (or Anguo), Chinese historian (d. 373)


text: Cao Huan, Chinese emperor of the Cao Wei state (b. 246)


text: Sima Jiong (or Jingzhi), Chinese prince and regent


text: Narseh (or Narses), ruler of the Sassanid Empire


text: Narseh, ruler (Shahanshah) of the Sassanid Empire, dies after a 9-year reign. He is succeeded by his son Hormizd II.

source_section: Events › By place › Persia


date: November 20

text: November 20 – The Augusti Diocletian and Maximian reunite in Rome to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Diocletian's accession, which is now treated as a joint anniversary for both emperors. A series of columns in the Roman Forum and a triumphal arch are dedicated to the emperors. The two emperors also agree on a plan of abdication.


text: Galerius wins his third victory over the Carpi and is perhaps joined on campaign by Diocletian. The Arch of Galerius is dedicated in Thessaloniki.


text: Caesar Constantius I wins a victory over Germanic invaders in the battle of Vindonissa.


date: January 6

text: January 6 – Baptism of Tiridates III of Armenia.


date: March 4

text: March 4 – Adrian and Natalia of Nicomedia are martyred.


date: September 25

text: September 25 – On a voyage preaching the gospel, Saint Fermin of Pamplona is beheaded in Amiens (Modern day France).


text: Etchmiadzin Cathedral is completed by Gregory the Illuminator and Tiridates III, king of Armenia.


text: In Mexico, the civilization of Teotihuacan flourishes.

source_section: Events › By place › America


text: Xun Guan, Chinese warrior and general


text: Wang Xizhi, Chinese calligrapher (d. 361)


text: Magnentius, Roman usurper (d. 353)


date: April 23

text: April 23 – George of Lydda, Roman soldier and martyr


text: Li Liu, Chinese spiritual leader (b. 248)


text: Victor Maurus ("the Moor"), Christian martyr


text: Devota, Corsican woman and martyr


text: Erasmus of Formiae, Christian martyr


text: Pantaleon, Christian wonderworker and martyr


text: Cyriacus, Roman nobleman and martyr


text: Fermin, Christian bishop and martyr


text: Acacius of Byzantium, Roman centurion and martyr


text: Lu Ji, Chinese general and writer (b. 261)


text: Li Te (or Xuanxiu), Chinese general


text: Vitus (or Guido), Christian martyr


text: Expeditus, Roman centurion and martyr


text: Romanus of Caesarea, Christian martyr


text: Cheng-Han earns its independence from Jin dynasty.


text: Sixteen Kingdoms: The Xiongnu establishes the Han-Zhao state under Liu Yuan, often seen as the start of the Upheaval of the Five Barbarians.


text: Caesar Constantius I besieges a Germanic raiding force on an island in the Rhine and forces their surrender.


text: Biryu becomes king of the Korean kingdom of Baekje.


text: Caesar Galerius, perhaps accompanied by Emperor Diocletian, wins his fourth and final victory over the Carpi. Many of the surviving Carpi and Bastarnae are resettled in the Roman Empire, where they are split up. The Bastarnae are not attested after this time, and the Carpi are attested only once more in the 310s.


section: Health & Medicine

text: Diocletian, while inspecting the Danube border, becomes seriously ill.


date: January 21

text: January 21 – Saint Agnes of Rome (martyred by fire) (b. c. 291)


date: March 19

text: March 19/20 – Sima Ai, Chinese prince of the Jin dynasty (executed) (b. 277)


date: May 12

text: May 12 (or 303?) – Saint Pancras of Rome (martyred by beheading) (b. c. 289)


date: October 25

text: October 25 – Pope Marcellinus dies at Rome after an 8-year reign. The papal throne will remain vacant until 308.


date: December 25

text: December 25 – Saint Anastasia of Sirmium (martyred by beheading)


text: Saint Alban (martyred by beheading) (possibly 309)


text: Saint Juliana of Nicomedia (martyred)


text: c. October? – Bunseo of Baekje, king of Baekje (Korea) (assassinated)


text: Saint Gorgonius of Nicomedia (martyred)


text: Saint Vincent of Saragossa (martyred)


text: Saint Florian (martyred by drowning)


text: Saint Lucy of Syracuse (martyred by fire and sword)


text: c. August 10 – Saint Philomena (martyred by beheading)


text: Saint Margaret the Virgin (martyred by beheading)


date: May 1

text: May 1 – Emperor Diocletian abdicates and retires to his palace at Salona (modern Split) on the Adriatic coast, after a reign of nearly 21 years, in which the last vestiges of republican government have disappeared.


text: Landowners dominate the Roman Empire, and enjoy the title of senator, which exempts them from the crushing taxes imposed on the rest of the population. The Senate has lost all its power and the landowners almost never attend Senate sessions. Members of municipal senates (curiales or decuriones) are charged with the responsibility of collecting taxes and paying arrears; smaller landowners are held responsible for providing recruits for the Roman army, and with keeping wastelands under cultivation.

source_section: Events › By topic › Commerce


text: Constantius requests leave for his son Constantine I to join him in the west, who has been living at the courts of Diocletian and Galerius as a hostage. Galerius allows Constantine to return.


text: Constantius I and Galerius are declared Augusti; Flavius Valerius Severus and Maximinus Daza are appointed Caesars.


text: Summer – Constantine joins his father at Bononia (Boulogne) in Gaul; they cross the Channel to Britain and make their way to Eboracum (York), capital of Britannia Secunda and home to a large military base. They campaign with success against the Picts.


text: Galerius begins a series of campaigns against the Sarmatians, winning his first victory before the end of the year.


text: Maximian retires from office, and leaves for Campania or Lucania (southern Italy), to live a life of ease in his luxury villas.


text: The Council of Illiberis decrees that priests must be celibate. Additionally, it condemns visiting the homes of Jews and prohibits Christian women from marrying Jews, unless they have converted.


text: Patron of Pozzuoli, Saint Proculus, and patron of Naples, Saint Januarius are thrown to wild beasts in Pozzuoli's Flavian Amphitheater, then beheaded at Solfatara.


text: Maximinus Daza persecutes the Christians of Egypt, many of whom take refuge in the desert. In time, this refuge leads to the monastic life. In these monasteries, Coptic writing develops, supporting the propagation of Christian texts.


text: Catherine makes a public confession of the Christian gospel at a sacrificial feast ordered by Maximinus Daza at Alexandria. A virgin of royal descent, she is tortured on a spiked wheel (later called the "Catherine Wheel") and beheaded; her remains are spirited to Mount Sinai.


text: In this or the following year, the Baths of Diocletian are dedicated; the thermae become the largest imperial baths in Rome.


text: The Daysan River floods Edessa.


text: Yu Yi (or Zhigong), Chinese calligrapher and general (d. 345)


text: Wang Rong (or Junchong), Chinese politician (b. 234)


text: Catherine of Alexandria, Christian martyr and virgin


text: Tuoba Yituo, Chinese chieftain of the Tuoba clan


text: Zuo Si (or Taichong), Chinese poet and writer (b. 250)


text: Proculus of Pozzuoli (or Proclus), Christian martyr


text: Vincent, Orontius, and Victor, Christian martyrs


text: Januarius I of Benevento, Roman bishop and martyr


text: Sossianus Hierocles, Roman proconsul and aristocrat


text: Porphyry of Tyre, Neoplatonist philosopher and writer


date: October 28

text: October 28 – Maxentius, son of former Western Emperor Maximian, leads a revolt by the Praetorian Guard and members of the Senate in Rome, and is proclaimed Emperor. Southern Italy supports Maxentius, as do Africa, Corsica, Sardinia and Sicily. Maxentius recalls Maximian from retirement, who joins his son in Rome.


text: Constantine institutes toleration of the Christians in his territories.


text: Building on the efforts of Diocletian, Galerius introduces the poll tax to central and southern Italy and truncates the size of the Praetorian Guard, with plans to disband the Guard altogether.


text: Constantine establishes his capital in Augusta Treverorum (Trier). He begins a major expansion of the city, strengthening the walls, expanding the palace complex and building the Imperial Baths.


text: Winter: Constantine fights with success against the Franks.


text: The War of the Eight Princes ends in China.


text: Metrophanes becomes bishop of Byzantium.


text: The Patriarchate of Lisbon is established.


text: Christianity is established in Roman Britain. British bishops participate in the councils of Arles (314), Nicaea (325) and Arminum (349).


text: The Synod of Elvira concludes with the issue of various canons, including one declaring that killing through a magic spell is a sin and the work of the devil.


text: Galerius has the Rotunda of Galerius built in Thessaloniki (Macedonia).


text: Ephrem the Syrian, Syriac theologian and hymnodist (d. 373)


date: February 17

text: February 17 – Theodore of Amasea, Roman soldier and martyr


text: March 4 – Adrian and Natalia of Nicomedia, Christian martyrs


date: July 25

text: July 25 – Constantius I dies outside Eboracum (modern-day York). Constantine, aged 23 or 24, is declared emperor by his troops. Emperor Galerius grants Constantine the title of Caesar, and elevates Flavius Valerius Severus to emperor in the Western part of the Roman Empire.


text: July 25 – Constantius Chlorus, Roman emperor (b. c. 250)


date: August 25

text: August 25 – Maginus, Christian hermit and martyr


text: Demetrius of Thessaloniki, Roman soldier and martyr


text: Sima Ying, Chinese prince of the Jin Dynasty (b. 279)


text: Sima Yong (or Wenzai), Chinese prince and regent


text: Winter: Emperor Galerius wins his second victory over the Sarmatians.


text: Galerius sends Valerius Severus with the army of northern Italy, to suppress the rebellion in Rome. However, faced with their former emperor Maximian, the soldiers desert him, and Severus flees to Ravenna. Maximian besieges Severus in Ravenna, who then surrenders. Maxentius makes Severus a hostage, in an attempt to keep Galerius at bay.


text: Summer: Anticipating an offensive by Galerius, Maximian travels to Gaul to make an alliance with Constantine I.


date: November 11

text: November 11 – Following the murder of Severus, Galerius promotes Licinius to Augustus.


date: December

text: December: Constantine marries Maximian's daughter Fausta, and is promoted to Augustus by Maximian.


text: Near the end of the year, Galerius gives his wife (Diocletian's daughter) Galeria Valeria the title of Augusta.


text: Zhang Jun, Chinese prince of the Jin Dynasty (d. 346)


date: January 8

text: January 8 – Hui of Jin, Chinese emperor of the Jin Dynasty (b. 259)


text: January 8 – Emperor Hui of Jin dies after a 16-year reign, in which eight dukes of the imperial family have conducted a civil war (War of the Eight Princes) against each other in a struggle for power. Huai of Jin, age 23, succeeds his father and becomes the third ruler of the Jin Dynasty.

source_section: Events › By place › China


date: September 16

text: September 16 – Severus II, Roman emperor (murdered)


text: Tuoba Luguan, Chinese chieftain of the Tuoba clan


text: Septimius of Iesi, German bishop, martyr and saint


date: April

text: April: In Rome, Emperor Maximian attempts to depose his son Maxentius, but the soldiers in Rome side with Maxentius and force Maximian to flee to the court of Constantine I.


text: November 11 – The Conference of Carnuntum: Attempting to keep peace within the Roman Empire, Galerius recalls Diocletian briefly from retirement, and they convene with Maximian. Diocletian persuades Maximian to return to retirement, and he and Galerius declare Maxentius a public enemy. Licinius is proclaimed Augustus of the west, while rival contender Constantine I is again declared Caesar.


text: The overthrow of Maximian prompts the soldiers of Roman Africa to prop up the vicarius of Africa, Domitius Alexander, as a usurper.


text: The Han-Zhao Dynasty is established in northern China, marking the official inception of the long lasting Uprising of the Five Barbarians.


text: Winter: Emperor Galerius wins his third and final victory over the Sarmatians.


date: May 27

text: May 27 or June 26 – Pope Marcellus I succeeds Pope Marcellinus as the 30th pope.


text: Maxentius institutes toleration of the Christians in his territories.


text: Constantine raids the territory of the Bructeri and builds a bridge across the Rhine at Cologne.


text: Bereft of his father's support, Maxentius increasingly presents himself as the Conservator Urbis Suae (Preserver of His Own City). Construction of the Basilica of Maxentius (or Basilica Nova), the largest building in the Roman Forum, is begun.


text: Xie Shang (or Renzu), Chinese general (d. 357)


text: Adrian of Batanea (or Eubulus), Christian martyr


text: Gaius Ceionius Rufius Volusianus, the Praetorian Prefect of Emperor Maxentius, defeats the usurper Domitius Alexander and purges Africa of his supporters.


date: April 18

text: April 18 – Eusebius succeeds Marcellus I as the 31st pope, but is himself banished on August 17 to Sicily (these events may have also taken place in 310).


text: Pope Marcellus I is banished from Rome by Emperor Maxentius.


text: Hormizd is succeeded by his infant son Shapur II following the brief reign and murder of Adur Narseh.


text: Shapur II (the Great), king of the Sassanid Empire (d. 379)


date: January 16

text: January 16 – Marcellus I, bishop of Rome (b. 255)


text: Hormizd II, king of the Sassanid Empire


text: Adur Narseh, king of the Sassanid Empire


text: King Hormizd II, ruler of the Sassanid Empire, demands that the king of the Ghassanids pays tribute. After the king refuses, Hormizd invades Ghassanid territory. The Ghassanids seek aid from Maximinus Daza, but before a Roman army can arrive, Hormizd defeats the Ghassanid army and kills their king. A Ghassanid force then ambushes Hormizd's small retinue while the latter is on a hunting trip, and the Sasanian king is mortally wounded. He dies after a 7-year reign.


text: Elias and companions, Christian martyrs


year_label: 31 CE

text: Naevius Sutorius Macro becomes the leader of the Praetorian Guard after Sejanus is executed.

source_section: Events › 31 AD › Roman Empire


text: Lucius Aelius Sejanus is named co-Consul to Emperor Tiberius. However, Tiberius becomes aware of Sejanus' treachery and has him arrested and executed.


text: Musonius Rufus, Roman Stoic philosopher (d. 101)

source_section: Births › 31 AD


text: Gnaeus Arrius Antoninus, Roman consul


date: April 6

text: April 6 – Jesus of Nazareth (possible date of the crucifixion) (born circa 4 BC) The other possible dates also supported by scholarly consensus among a survey of 100 published scholarly biblical statements are April 7, AD 30 and April 3, AD 33, and April 27, AD 31 (according to a Chodesh calculating system).

source_section: Deaths › 31 AD


date: October 18

text: October 18 – Lucius Aelius Sejanus, Roman prefect and advisor (b. 20 BC)


text: Claudia Livia Julia, niece and daughter-in-law of Tiberius (b. 13 BC)


text: Nero Julius Caesar Germanicus, grandson and heir of Tiberius (b. AD 6)


text: Marcus Velleius Paterculus, Roman historian and writer (b. c. 19 BC)


date: July

text: July – Maximian flees to Marseille where he is besieged and surrenders. Constantine encourages his suicide and Maximian, age 60, hangs himself. Emperor Maxentius condemns the killing of his father.


text: Maximian, retired emperor, rebels against Constantine I in Arles while the latter is campaigning against the Franks.


text: Haelhae becomes the king of the Korean kingdom of Silla.

source_section: Events › By place › Asia


text: Licinius campaigns with success against the Carpi.


text: Maximinus Daza, caesar under Emperor Galerius, is acclaimed augustus by his troops. Galerius is forced to recognize him as co-ruler of the East. The Roman Empire is thus divided between seven simultaneous emperors: Galerius (East), Maximinus II (East), Licinius (Middle), Constantine I (West), Maximian (West), Maxentius (Italy), and Domitius Alexander (Africa).


text: At Trier, Constantine orders the minting of a new coin, the solidus, in an effort to offset the declining value of the denarius and bring stability to the imperial currency by restoring a gold standard. The solidus (later known as the bezant) will be minted in the Byzantine Empire without change in weight or purity until the 10th century.


text: Epiphanius of Salamis, Church Father (d. 403)


text: Ausonius, Roman poet and rhetorician (d. 395)


text: Wulfila, Gothic bishop and missionary (d. 383)


text: April 18 – Pope Eusebius succeeds Pope Marcellus I as the 31st pope, but is banished on August 17 by the Emperor Maxentius to Sicily, where he dies, perhaps from a hunger strike.


text: July – Maximian, Roman emperor (b. c. 250)


date: August 17

text: August 17 – Eusebius, bishop of Rome


text: Domnina, Berenice, and Prosdoce, Christian martyrs


text: Liu He, Chinese emperor of Xiongnu (or Han-Zhao)


text: Liu Yuan, Chinese emperor of Xiongnu (or Han-Zhao)


text: Emperor Ōjin of Japan, according to legend.


text: Luo Shang, Chinese general of the Jin dynasty (266–420)


text: Dan, Chinese empress of Xiongnu (or Han-Zhao)


text: Fearing an alliance between Licinius and Constantine I, Maximinus forges a secret alliance with Emperor Maxentius.


date: July 13

text: July 13 – Disaster of Yongjia: Xiongnu soldiers led by Liu Cong conquer and pillage the Jin dynasty capital at Luoyang and capture Emperor Huai; 30,000 residents in the city are massacred.


date: April 30

text: April 30 – On his deathbed, Emperor Galerius declares religious freedom and issues the Edict of Serdica, ending the Diocletianic Persecution of Christians in the eastern half of the Roman Empire.


date: July 2

text: July 2 – Pope Miltiades succeeds Eusebius as the 32nd pope of Rome.


text: Maximinus recommences the persecution of Christians, having encouraged his subjects to petition him to do so.


text: The Donatist schism begins in the African Church.


text: Maximinus Daza and Licinius divide the Eastern Empire between themselves.


date: April 23

text: April 23 – Sima Yue (or Yuanchao), Chinese prince and regent


date: May 5

text: May 5 – Galerius dies at age 51 from a gruesome disease, possibly colorectal cancer or Fournier gangrene.


text: May 5 – Galerius, Roman emperor (b. c.258)


text: May 5 – Wang Yan, Chinese official and politician (b. 256)


date: October 7

text: October 7 – Gou Xi (or Daojiang), Chinese inspector and general


date: November 25

text: November 25 – Peter I, patriarch of Alexandria


date: December 3

text: December 3 – Diocletian, Roman emperor (b. 244)


text: Wang Mi (or Zigu), Chinese general and rebel leader


text: Domitius Alexander, Roman emperor and usuper


date: October 28

text: October 28 – Battle of the Milvian Bridge: Constantine defeats Maxentius at the Milvian Bridge, becoming the only Roman emperor in the West. Prior to the battle, he reportedly has a vision of a cross (labarum) with the phrase "in hoc signo vinces" ("In this sign you shall conquer"). This encourages him to convert to Christianity.


text: Constantine forges an alliance with co-emperor Licinius, and offers him his half-sister, Constantia, in marriage. The Praetorian Guard and Imperial Horse Guard (equites singulares Augusti) are disbanded.


text: Emperor Maximinus Daza campaigns unsuccessfully against the Armenians.


text: Constantine I crosses the Cottian Alps with an army (40,000 men) and defeats Maxentius's generals in three battles at Turin, Brescia and Verona. Maxentius's Praetorian Prefect Ruricius Pompeianus is killed in the fighting outside Verona.


text: Constantine I promotes a policy of state sponsorship of Christianity, perhaps even becoming a Christian himself (see Constantine the Great and Christianity).


text: Constantine I adopts the words "in hoc signo vinces" as a motto, and has the letters X and P (the first letters of the Greek word Christ) emblazoned on the shields of his soldiers.


text: The Council of Carthage supports Donatism, which espouses a rigorous application and interpretation of the sacraments. These doctrines will be condemned by the Council of Arles (314).


date: October 29

text: October 29 – Constantine enters Rome; he stages a grand adventus in the city, and is met with popular jubilation. Maxentius' body is fished out of the Tiber and decapitated.


text: Huan Wen (or Yuanzi), Chinese general (d. 373)


text: Dao'an, Chinese Buddhist monk and writer (d. 385)


text: October 28 – Maxentius, Roman emperor (b. 283)


text: Guo Xiang, Chinese scholar and philosopher (b. 252)


text: Huyan, Chinese empress of the Xiongnu state


text: Ruricius Pompeianus, Roman praetorian prefect


text: Clement of Ancyra, Christian bishop and martyr


text: 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.


date: March 14

text: 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.


text: 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.


text: 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.


date: February 3

text: 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.


date: February

text: 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.


date: October 2

text: October 2 – Lateran Synod: Donatism is declared a heresy.


text: Arius preaches of the human nature of Jesus.


text: 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.


text: Basilica of Maxentius and Constantine (or Basilica Nova), in Rome, is finished.


text: Cyril of Jerusalem, Christian bishop and theologian (d. 386)


text: Didymus the Blind, Alexandrian theologian (d. 398)


text: Shi Hong, Chinese emperor of the Jie state (d. 334)


text: March 14 – Huai of Jin, Chinese emperor (b. 284)


text: Galerius Valerius Maximinus, Roman emperor (b. 270)


text: Zhang Huiguang (or Wuxiao), Chinese empress


text: Guangxian, Chinese empress of the Xiongnu state


text: At the end of 312 or in early 313, the retired Emperor Diocletian dies in his palace in Split, most likely from natural causes.


text: Achillas (the Great), pope and patriarch of Alexandria


text: Severianus, son of Valerius Severus


date: January 10

text: January 10 – Pope Miltiades' reign ends.


date: January 31

text: January 31 – Pope Sylvester I succeeds Pope Miltiades as the 33rd pope.


date: August 30

text: August 30 – Council of Arles: Confirms the pronouncement of Donatism as a schism, and passes other canons.


text: Alexander becomes Bishop of Byzantium.


text: Synod of Ancyra: Consulting a magician is declared a sin earning five years of penance.


text: A large Pictish raid southwards in Roman Britain is attempted.


text: Libanius, Greek rhetorician and sophist (approximate date)


text: Zhi Dun, Chinese Buddhist monk and philosopher (d. 366)


text: Li Qi, Chinese emperor of the Cheng Han Dynasty (d. 338)


text: January 10 – Miltiades (or Melchiades), bishop of Rome


text: Wang Jun (or Pengzu), Chinese general and warlord (b. 252)


text: Liu E (or Lihua), Chinese empress of the Xiongnu state


text: Zhang Gui, Chinese governor and duke of Xiping (b. 255)


text: Constantine the Great and co-emperor Licinius battle the Sarmates, the Goths and the Carpians along the Danube. Constantine leads a punitive expedition into Dacia and reestablishes the Roman fortifications of the frontier.


text: The lamb becomes the symbol of Jesus in Christian art.


text: Eusebius becomes bishop of Caesarea (approximate date).


text: Constantine I dedicates the Basilica of Maxentius and installs a large statue of himself inside it.


date: July 25

text: July 25 – The Arch of Constantine is completed near the Colosseum at Rome to commemorate Constantine's victory over Maxentius at the Milvian Bridge. As part of the ceremony Constantine is expected to make a sacrifice to Rome's traditional gods, but he refuses to do so.


text: Immense baths are constructed in Augusta Treverorum (modern-day Trier).


text: A program of assistance to the poor is established in the Roman Empire.


text: Crucifixion is abolished as punishment in the Roman Empire.


text: Hilary of Poitiers, Christian bishop and Doctor of the Church


text: Himerius, Greek sophist and rhetorician (approximate date)


text: Vettius Agorius Praetextatus, Roman politician (d. 384)


text: Flavius Hannibalianus, ruler of Armenia and Pontus (d. 337)


date: September 14

text: September 14 – Maternus of Cologne, bishop of Trier


text: Prisca, Roman empress and wife of Diocletian (b. 247)


text: Du Tao (or Jingwen), Chinese general and rebel leader


text: Galeria Valeria, Roman empress and wife of Galerius


text: Valerius of Saragossa, Christian bishop and martyr


date: October 8

text: October 8 – Battle of Cibalae: Constantine the Great defeats his rival Licinius near the town of Colonia Aurelia Cibalae (modern-day Vinkovci, Croatia). Licinius is forced to flee to Sirmium and loses all of the Balkans except for Thrace. Peace negotiations are initiated between the two Augusti, but they are unsuccessful.


date: December

text: December – Battle of Mardia: Constantine I defeats his rival Licinius and senior officer Valerius Valens, near the town of Harmanli (Bulgaria).


text: Han-Zhao forces capture Chang'an, capital of the Chinese Western Jin dynasty. Emperor Min of Jin surrenders to Liu Yao, ending the Western Jin.


text: Constantine I sends his half-brother Julius Constantius to Licinius at Sirmium (Pannonia), with the proposal to accept Bassianus as Caesar and give him power over Italy. Licinius refuses, and forces a conspiracy against Constantine.


text: Licinius elevates Valerius Valens to Augustus, and mobilises an army against Constantine. Bassianus is accused of conspiracy and executed.


text: At the request of the Christians, Constantine I attempts to end the schism with the Donatist sect.


text: Emperor Constantine the Great issues an edict, prohibiting the punishment of slaves by crucifixion and facial branding.


text: Martin of Tours, bishop of Tours (d. 397)


text: Constantine II, Roman emperor (d. 340)


text: Tuoba Yilu, Chinese chieftain of the Tuoba clan


text: Diocletian, Roman emperor, commits suicide (b. 244) (most historians date his death to 311 or 312)


text: Bassianus, Roman advisor and politician


text: Blaise, bishop of Sebastea (martyred)


text: Tuoba Pugen, Chinese chieftain of the Tuoba clan


text: Suo Chen (or Juxiu), Chinese general


text: Sixteen Kingdoms: Jingwen (later Yuan of Jin) flees with remnants of the Jin court and noble families to the south. He succeeds Emperor Min of Jin as first ruler of the Eastern Jin Dynasty and decides to make Jiankang (modern Nanjing) his new capital.


date: March 1

text: March 1 – Emperor Constantine the Great and co-emperor Licinius elevate their sons Crispus, Constantine II and Licinius II to Caesars. After this arrangement Constantine rules the dioceses Pannonia and Macedonia, and establishes his residence at Sirmium, from where he prepares a campaign against the Goths and Sarmatians.


text: Licinius recognizes Constantine I as senior emperor and executes Valerius Valens.


text: The earliest historically verified reference to tea is recorded, although the Chinese have been drinking the beverage for centuries.


date: August 7

text: August 7 – Constantius II, Roman emperor (d. 361)


text: Fú Jiàn, Chinese emperor of the Former Qin (d. 355)


text: Themistius, Byzantine statesman and philosopher


text: Junius Bassus Theotecnius, Roman politician (d. 359)


text: Valerius Valens, Roman emperor


text: Liu Yao becomes the new emperor of Han-Zhao and moves his capital to Chang'an.


text: The Eastern Jin dynasty loses its territories to the north of the Yangtze River, to the benefit of the Xiongnu and the Xianbei. The Former Zhao state is proclaimed; Liu Can and the state ruling family at Pingyang is executed in a coup d'état by Jin Zhun, who is in turn overthrown by Shi Le and Liu Yao.


text: Gregory the Illuminator appoints his son Aristax as successor in the patriarchate of Armenia.


text: Constantine the Great is given the title Brittanicus Maximus, for successful engagements in Britain.


text: Emperor Constantine the Great gives the ancient Roman town Drepana (Asia Minor) the name Helenopolis, after his mother Helena, and builds a church in honour of the martyr St. Lucian.


text: Liu, Chinese empress and wife of Shi Hu (d. 349)


date: February 7

text: February 7 – Min of Jin, Chinese emperor (b. 300)


date: August 31

text: August 31 – Liu Cong, Chinese emperor


text: Fan Changsheng, Chinese religious leader


text: Theodota of Philippi, Greek harlot and martyr


text: Liu Can (or Shiguang), Chinese emperor


text: Liu Kun, Chinese general and poet (b. 270)


text: Jin Zhun, Chinese official and chancellor


text: Emperor Constantine the Great prohibits the separation of the families of slaves, during a change in ownership.


text: Arius travels to Nicomedia at the invitation of Bishop Eusebius, after having been accused of heresy and condemned by Alexander, the Patriarch of Alexandria. This gives rise to the Arian Controversy.


text: Christianity is introduced in Colchis, present-day Georgia.

source_section: Events › By place › Georgia


text: Murong Jun, Chinese emperor of the Former Yan (d. 360)


text: Theodore Stratelates, Greek general and martyr (b. 281)


text: Du Zeng, Chinese general and rebel leader


text: Ghatotkacha, Indian ruler of the Gupta Empire


year_label: 32 CE

text: Philo writes his symbolic interpretation of the Old Testament (Allegory).

source_section: Events › 32 AD › Egypt


date: April 28

text: 28 April – Marcus Salvius Otho, Roman emperor (d. AD 69)

source_section: Births › 32 AD


text: Ban Gu, Chinese historian and politician (d. AD 92)


text: Ban Chao, Chinese general and diplomat (d. 102)


text: Decimus Haterius Agrippa, Roman consul

source_section: Deaths › 32 AD


text: John the Baptist, religious figure in Christianity, Islam, and other Abrahamic religions


text: Lucius Calpurnius Piso, Roman consul (b. 48 BC)


text: Cassius Severus, Roman rhetor and writer


text: Crispus, eldest son of Constantine I, leads a victorious campaign against the Franks, assuring twenty years of peace along the Rhine frontier. He establishes his residence in Augusta Treverorum (modern Trier), capital of Germania.


text: Zhang Shi (張寔), Zhang Duke of Xiping and governor of Liang Province, (涼州)is assassinated by Yan She (閻涉) and Zhao Ang (趙卬) and replaced by Zhang Mao (張茂), commonly accepted first ruler of the Chinese state Former Liang.


text: King Chandragupta I founds the Gupta dynasty in northern India (approximate date).


text: In Nydam Mose (Denmark), the Nydam oak boat is sacrificed by the Danes (the boat is excavated in the 1830s, when a local farmer finds weapons, including swords and spears).

source_section: Events › By topic › Culture and Religion


text: Licinius reneges on the religious freedom promised by the Edict of Milan, and begins a new persecution of Christians in the Eastern Roman Empire. He imprisons Christians, confiscates their properties and destroys churches.


text: Construction begins on the Old St. Peter's Basilica, Rome (approximate date).

source_section: Events › By topic › Art


date: October 18

text: October 18 – Pappus of Alexandria, Greek philosopher, observes an eclipse of the sun and writes a commentary on The Great Astronomer (Almagest).

source_section: Events › By topic › Science


text: Flavian I, Patriarch of Antioch (d. 404)

source_section: Births


text: Constans I, Roman emperor (d. 350)


text: Oribasius, Greek physician (approximate date)


text: Tuoba Shiyiqian, prince of the Tuoba Dai (d. 376)


text: Aurelius Victor, Roman historian and politician (approximate date)


text: Jin Jianwendi, emperor of the Jin Dynasty (d. 372)


text: Xie An, statesman of the Jin Dynasty (d. 385)


date: January 2

text: January 2 – Narcissus, Argeus, and Marcellinus, Roman Catholic martyrs and saints

source_section: Deaths


date: January 29

text: January 29 – Valerius of Trèves, Roman Catholic priest and saint


date: February 6

text: February 6 – Dorothea of Alexandria, Roman Catholic virgin, martyr and saint


date: March 9

text: March 9 – 40 Martyrs of Sebaste


date: March 10

text: March 10 – Cyrion and Candidus, Armenian Orthodox priest and saints


date: July 11

text: July 11 – Januarius and Pelagia, Roman Catholic priests, martyrs and saints


date: November 29

text: November 29 – Saint Illuminata, Roman Catholic religious sister and saint


date: December 9

text: December 9 – Proculus of Verona, Roman Catholic priest and saint


text: Sima Bao, prince of the Jin Dynasty (b. 294)

source_section: Deaths › Date unknown


text: Lactantius, Christian writer (approximate date)


text: Tuoba Heru launches a coup d'état against his cousin Tuoba Yulü and becomes the new Prince of Dai.

source_section: Events › By topic › Asia


text: Emperor Constantine I expels the Goths from the Danube frontier and repairs Trajan's Bridge. He leads an expedition into the old province Dacia (modern Romania) and makes peace with the barbarians.

source_section: Events › By topic › Roman Empire


text: History of the Jews in Germany: Jews in modern-day Germany are documented for the first time, in Colonia Agrippinensium (modern-day Cologne).

source_section: Events › By topic › Religion


text: Calcidius translates Plato into Latin.

source_section: Events › By topic › Art and Science


text: The Christian Church is allowed to hold property.


text: A synod held in Alexandria condemns Arianism.


date: March 7

text: March 7 - Constantine I signs legislation directing urban residents to refrain from work, and businesses to be closed, on the "venerable day of the Sun". An exception is made for agriculture.


text: Constantine I assigns convicts to grind Rome's flour, in a move to hold back the rising price of food in an empire whose population has shrunk as a result of plague.

source_section: Events › By topic › Food and Drink


text: Du Lingyang (or Chenggong), Chinese empress (d. 341)


text: Cheng of Jin (or Shigen), Chinese emperor (d. 342)


text: Valentinian I ("the Great"), Roman emperor (d. 375)


text: Zu Ti (or Shizhi), Chinese general and adviser (b. 266)


text: Tuoba Yulü, Chinese prince of the Tuoba Dai


text: The first dependable representation of a horse rider with paired stirrups is found in China, in a Jin Dynasty tomb.

source_section: Events › By topic › Technology


text: Xun Xian (or Lingze), Chinese general (d. 359)


text: Kang of Jin (or Shitong), Chinese emperor (d. 344)


text: Rabbah bar Rav Huna, Jewish Talmudist


text: Yang Xianrong, Chinese empress


text: Xu Kan, Chinese bandit leader and warlord


text: Philogonius (or Filogonius), bishop of Antioch


text: Emperor Constantine the Great defeats the invading Goths and Sarmatians north of the Danube in Dacia, and claims the title of Sarmaticus Maximus.

source_section: Events › By place › Roman Empire


text: Crown Prince Ming of Jin succeeds his father Yuan of Jin as emperor of the Eastern Jin Dynasty.

source_section: Events › By place › China


text: Constans I, Roman consul and emperor (d. 350)


date: January 3

text: January 3 – Yuan of Jin (or Jingwen), Chinese emperor (b. 276)


text: Tiberius Julius Rhadamsades, Roman prince and client king


text: Zhang Bin (or Mengsun), Chinese general and strategist


date: January 1

text: January 1 – Flavius Julius Crispus Caesar, the sons of the Emperor Constantine and his expected heir, and Flavius Claudius Constantinus begin their one year terms as the new Roman consuls.

source_section: Events › Roman Empire


date: December 19

text: December 19 – Licinius abdicates his position as Emperor. He is pardoned by Constantine I as a result of the supplication of his wife Constantia (who is Constantine's halfsister), and banished to Thessalonica as a private citizen.


text: (Date unknown) The Roman Emperor Constantine I seizes the Byzantine Empire's capital, Byzantium, and commences work on rebuilding the city as the Eastern Empire's capital, which he will inaugurate as Constantinople in 330.


date: July 3

text: July 3 – Battle of Adrianople: Emperor Constantine the Great defeats his rival Licinius near Adrianople, forcing him to retreat to Byzantium. Constantine then invades Thrace with a Visigothic force and raids the countryside.


date: July

text: July – Battle of the Hellespont: Flavius Julius Crispus, the designated heir of his father Constantine, destroys the naval fleet of Licinius in the Dardanelles, allowing Constantine to cross over the Bosphorus into Asian provinces. Byzantium is besieged and Licinius assembles a second military force, under his newly elevated co-emperor Martinian at Lampsacus (modern-day Lapseki).


date: August 9

text: August 9 – (guiyou day of the 7th month of the 2nd year of the Tai'ning era) In Jin dynasty China, the rebel warlord Wang Dun succumbs to illness as the armies of the Emperor Ming of Jin are approaching his camp.

source_section: Events › China


date: September 18

text: September 18 – Battle of Chrysopolis: Constantine I definitively defeats Licinius at Chrysopolis, and becomes sole Emperor, thus ending the period of the Tetrarchy. Licinius escapes and gathers around 30,000 of his surviving troops at Nicomedia. Thus, the Civil wars of the Tetrarchy, which began in 306, end with Constantine ruling as sole Emperor.


text: Constantine reorganises the Roman army in smaller units classified into three grades: palatini, (imperial escort armies); comitatenses, (forces based in frontier provinces) and limitanei (auxilia border troops).


date: June

text: June – The earliest known use of the Greek word monachós to refer to a monk is made in a petition filed in Egypt by a man named Aurelius Isidorus, a man from the town of Karanis in Egypt.


date: November 8

text: November 8 – Emperor Constantine declares his son, Flavius Julius Constantius, to the rank of caesar, designating Flavius as his successor. Flavius will ascend the throne as Constantine the Second in 337 AD.


date: November 9

text: November 9 – Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome.


text: Chu Suanzi, Chinese empress of the Jin dynasty (d. 384)


text: Zhang Mao, Chinese ruler of Former Liang (b. 277)


text: Guo Pu, Chinese historian, poet and writer (b. 276)


text: Wang Dun (or Chuzhong), Chinese warlord (b. 266)


text: German and Sarmatian campaigns of Constantine: Emperor Constantine I personally assures the security of the Danube frontier by defeating the Goths, the Vandals and the Sarmatians.


text: Constantine forbids criminals being forced to fight to the death as gladiators.


text: Constantine has deposed Emperors Licinius and Martinian executed in Thessalonica and Cappadocia respectively for conspiring and raising troops against him.


date: May 20

text: May 20 – First Council of Nicaea: Constantine summons an ecumenical council of bishops in Nicaea (Turkey). The Nicene Creed, adopted on June 19, declares that the members of the Trinity (the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit) are equal. The council decides that Easter is celebrated on the first Sunday after the first full moon after the vernal equinox. Arius is exiled to Illyria; his works are confiscated and consigned to the flames.


text: The Colossus of Constantine in the Basilica of Maxentius and Constantine, Rome, is perhaps remodelled at about this date. (The remains are moved to the Palazzo dei Conservatori, Rome, in the 15th century).


date: April 1

text: April 1 – Crown Prince Cheng of Jin, age 4, succeeds his father Ming of Jin as emperor of the Eastern Jin dynasty. During his reign, he is largely advised by regents, his uncle Yu Liang and high-level officials.


text: Wang Meng (or Jinglüe), Chinese prime minister (d. 375)


date: October 18

text: October 18 – Ming of Jin, Chinese emperor (b. 299)


text: Martinian, deposed Roman emperor (executed)


text: Licinius, deposed Roman emperor (executed)


text: Tuoba Heru, Chinese prince of the Tuoba Dai


text: Approximate date – Iamblichus, Syrian philosopher and writer (b. 245)


text: c. July – Li Ju (or Shihui), Chinese general and warlord


date: September 14

text: September 14 (traditional date) – Helena, mother of Constantine I, discovers the so-called True Cross and the Holy Sepulchre (Jesus's tomb) in Jerusalem. On her pilgrimage, which begins about this year, she pauses on the Aegean island of Patmos, where she is said to found the church of Panagia Ekatontapiliani.


text: Emperor Constantine the Great travels to Rome to celebrate the 20th anniversary of his accession to power, but while en route at Pola he orders his older son, Crispus Caesar, to be executed, possibly on charges of adultery. Later, Fausta, second wife of Constantine I, is also executed by being suffocated or boiled in a hot bath.


text: Helena tells Constantine that he must atone for executing his son and wife by building churches, and at about this date construction begins on Old St. Peter's Basilica, the first church on the traditional site of Saint Peter's tomb in Rome, and on the basilica of Golgotha on Calvary outside Jerusalem. He also commissions construction of the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem (dedicated 339).


text: Christianity is introduced to the Kingdom of Iberia (modern-day Georgia) by Saint Nino (approximate date).


text: Procopius, Roman general and usurper (executed 366) (approximate date)


text: Murong Chui (or Daoming), Chinese general (d. 396)


text: Constantius Gallus, Roman consul and statesman (d. 354)


text: Flavius Julius Crispus, son of Constantine I (b. 303)


text: Licinius II, Roman consul and caesar (b. 315)


text: Liu (or Xianlie), Chinese empress of Han Zhao


text: Flavia Maxima Fausta, Roman empress (b. 289)


text: Emperor Constantine the Great decrees that rural slaves can only be sold in the province where they reside, in order to resolve the shortage of labour in the Roman Empire.


text: Approximate traditional date – Helena, mother of Constantine, returning from her pilgrimage to the Holy Land, founds Stavrovouni Monastery on Cyprus.


text: Construction begins on the Great Church of Antioch, which will be completed in 341.


text: Zhang Chonghua, Chinese ruler of Han-Zhao (d. 353)


text: Urban of Langres, French bishop and saint


date: June 3

text: June 3 – Awtel, Eastern Christian monk and saint


text: Melitius of Lycopolis, Christian bishop


text: Jonas and Barachisius, Persian martyrs


text: Cleopatra, Christian martyr and saint (or 319)


date: July 5

text: July 5 – Constantine's Bridge, built over the Danube between Sucidava (Corabia, Romania) and Oescus (Gigen, Bulgaria), is officially opened by the Roman architect Theophilus Patricius.


text: Yuan Hong, Chinese historian and politician (d. 376)


text: Huan Chong, Chinese general and governor (d. 384)


text: Flavius Julius Valens, Roman emperor (d. 378)


date: May 9

text: May 9 – Athanasius is elected pope of Alexandria following the death of Alexander I.


date: December 7

text: December 7 – Lakhmid king Imru' al-Qays ibn 'Amr dies. His epitaph, the Namara inscription, is an important source for the Arabic Language.


text: Alexander I, pope and patriarch of Alexandria


text: Su Jun, Chinese general and politician


text: Yu Wenjun, Chinese empress (b. 297)


text: Papa (or Papa bar Aggai), Sassanid bishop


text: The Han-Zhao dynasty, a Southern Xiongnu state during the Sixteen Kingdoms, ends.


text: Roman restrictions on joining the clergy are initiated.


text: Gregory Nazianzus, Greek Patriarch of Constantinople (d. 390)


text: Wen Jiao, Chinese general and governor


text: Liu Yao, Chinese emperor of Han-Zhao


text: Liu Yin, Chinese prince of Han-Zhao


text: Han Huang, Chinese general and rebel


text: Liu Xi, Chinese emperor of Han-Zhao


year_label: 33 CE

text: According to Colin Humphrey's account, Jesus of Nazareth's Last Supper and crucifixion take place.

source_section: Events › 33 AD › Palestine


text: Emperor Tiberius founds a credit bank in Rome.

source_section: Events › 33 AD › Roman Empire


text: A financial crisis hits Rome, due to poorly chosen fiscal policies. Land values plummet, and credit is increased. These actions lead to a lack of money, a crisis of confidence, and much land speculation. The primary victims are senators, knights and the wealthy. Many aristocratic families are ruined.


text: Gaius Rubellius Plautus, son of Gaius Rubellius Blandus and Julia Livia (d. AD 62)

source_section: Births › 33 AD


text: Jesus of Nazareth (possible date of the crucifixion) The other possible dates supported by a number of scholars are April 7, AD 30 and April 6, AD 31.

source_section: Deaths › 33 AD


text: Drusus Caesar, son of Germanicus and Agrippina the Elder, adoptive son of Tiberius (starvation; b. AD 8)


text: Marcus Aemilius Lepidus, Roman consul and father-in-law of Drusus Caesar (natural causes; b. 30 BC)


text: Agrippina the Elder, daughter of Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa, wife of Germanicus (suicide by starvation; b. 14 BC)


text: Munatia Plancina, wife of Gnaeus Calpurnius Piso (suicide)


text: Marcus Cocceius Nerva, Roman jurist (suicide by starvation; b. 5 BC)


text: Gaius Asinius Gallus, widower of Vipsania Agrippina and alleged lover of Agrippina the elder (starvation)


text: Lucius Aelius Larnia, Roman consul, governor and praefectus urbi in Rome (b. 45 BC)


date: May 11

text: May 11 – Emperor Constantine the Great dedicates the Column of Constantine and Constantinople, or Nova Roma (modern-day Istanbul). He had spent four years expanding the city of Byzantium, having chosen the site for its strategic location on the Bosporus. The city became the capital of the Byzantine Empire.


text: Ezana, king of Axum, extends his area of control to the west. He defeats the Nobates, and destroys the kingdom of Meroë.

source_section: Events › By place › Africa


text: Pagan temples begin to be progressively abandoned, destroyed or left to fall into disrepair, save those that are transformed into churches.


text: The Bible is translated into the Gothic language by Wulfila.


text: Frumentius is the first bishop of Ethiopia (approximate date).


text: Eustathius, Patriarch of Antioch, is banished to Trajanopolis.


section: Disasters & Accidents

text: The Goths devastate the city of Tanais, in the Don River Delta.


text: Macrina the Younger, Christian nun and saint (d. 379)

source_section: Births


text: Basil the Great, bishop of Caesarea Mazaca (d. 379)


text: Victricius, Christian missionary and bishop of Rouen (d. c. 407)


text: Ammianus Marcellinus, Graeco-Roman historian (approximate date)


text: Yang Xi, Chinese scholar and calligrapher (d. 386)


text: Moses the Black, Christian monk and priest (d. 405)


text: Vicinius of Sarsina, Italian Christian bishop

source_section: Deaths


text: Helena (Augusta), mother of Constantine I


text: Arnobius, Numidian apologist and writer


text: Tiridates III ("the Great"), king of Armenia


text: Zu Yue, Chinese general and warlord


text: Achillius of Larissa (or Achilles), Greek bishop


text: Guo Mo, Chinese general and warlord


text: Gogugwon becomes ruler of the Korean kingdom of Goguryeo.

source_section: Events › By place › Asia


text: Gregory the Illuminator withdraws to a small sanctuary in the Daranali province (Armenia).


text: Eusebius of Caesarea writes the Onomasticon.


text: Constantine I dedicates the Church of the Holy Apostles in Constantinople.


text: The Fifty Bibles of Constantine are commissioned for use in Constantinople.


text: Emperor Constantine the Great vigorously promotes Christianity, confiscating the property and valuables of a number of pagan temples throughout the Roman Empire.


text: Constantine I promulgates a law against divorce.


text: Yao Xiang (or Jingguo), Chinese warlord (d. 357)


text: (or 332) Julian the Apostate, Roman emperor (d. 363)


text: Yao Chang, Chinese emperor of the Qiang state (d. 394)


text: Jovian, Roman consul and emperor (d. 364)


text: Gregory the Illuminator, official head of the Armenian Apostolic Church


text: Micheon of Goguryeo, Korean ruler of Goguryeo


text: Emperor Constantine I and his son Constantine II, aged 16, defeat the Goths in Moesia. The Goths become Roman allies and protect the Danube frontier.


text: Constantine I continues construction of a bridge (in imitation of Trajan and his architect Apollodorus of Damascus) across the Danube, for forward-staging grounds for planned campaigns against local tribes.


date: May 18

text: May 18 – Constantine I announces a free distribution of food to the citizens in Constantinople, similar to the food given out in the city of Rome. The amount is approximately 80,000 rations a day, doled out from 117 distribution points around the city.


text: Saint Monica, Christian saint and mother of Augustine of Hippo (d. 387)


text: Basilina, wife of Julius Constantius and the mother of Roman Emperor Julian


text: Flavius Dalmatius and Domitius Zenofilus are appointed consuls.


text: Calocaerus revolts against Constantine I and proclaims himself emperor. Flavius Dalmatius, responsible for the security of the eastern frontier, is sent to Cyprus to suppress the rebellion.


text: Shi Hong succeeds his father Shi Le as Emperor of the Later Zhao Empire, in the Period of the Sixteen Kingdoms, but Shi Hong's third cousin Shi Hu holds the real power. Empress Dowager Liu (widow of Shi Le) fails to get rid of Shi Hu, and Shi Hu has her deposed and killed.


text: Emperor Constantine the Great pulls Roman troops out of Britain, and abandons work on Hadrian's Wall.


date: December 25

text: December 25 – Constantine I elevates his youngest son Constans to the rank of Caesar at Constantinople.


text: Saint Monica, Christian saint and mother of Augustine of Hippo (approximate date)


text: Cheng Xia, Chinese official and politician


text: Shi Le, Chinese founder and emperor of the Jie State (b. 274)


text: Murong Hui, Chinese chieftain and duke of Liaodong (b. 269)


text: Liu, Chinese empress of the Jie State (or Later Zhao)


text: Xu Guang (or Jiwu), Chinese official, politician and adviser


text: Emperor Constantine the Great reauthorises gladiatorial combat.


text: Flavius Dalmatius puts down a revolt in Cyprus, led by Calocaerus. Calocaerus is brought to Tarsus (Cilicia), and executed.


text: The Goths protect the Danube frontier against an invasion by the Vandals.


text: Sabbas the Goth, Christian reader and saint (d. 372)


text: Huiyuan, Chinese Buddhist teacher and founder of Donglin Temple (d. 416)


text: Virius Nicomachus Flavianus, Roman historian and politician (d. 394)


date: December 5

text: December 5 – Li Ban, Chinese emperor of Cheng-Han (b. 288)


text: Tao Kan (or Shixing), Chinese general and politician (b. 259)


text: Shi Hong, Chinese emperor of the Jie state (b. 313)


text: Li Xiong, Chinese emperor of Cheng-Han (b. 274)


text: Yang Nandi, Chinese general and ruler of Chouchi


text: Wei Huacun (or Xianan), Chinese religious leader (b. 252)


date: September 19

text: September 19 – Flavius Dalmatius is raised to the rank of Caesar, with control of Thracia, Achaia, and Macedonia.


text: Tuoba Hena ousts Tuoba Yihuai as chieftain of the Tuoba Clan.


text: Samudragupta succeeds Chandragupta I as king of the Gupta Empire.


text: Emperor Shi Hu moves the capital of the Later Zhao state to Yecheng.


date: September 13

text: September 13 – The Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem is consecrated.


text: September 14 – Emperor Constantine I consecrates the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem.


text: Constantine I reinstates the Alexandrian priest Arius (declared a heretic at the First Council of Nicaea in 325) in a synod at Jerusalem about a year before Arius' death.


text: Hannibalianus, nephew of Constantine I, is made Rex Regum ("King of Kings of the Pontic people").


text: First Synod of Tyre: Constantine I convenes a gathering of bishops at Tyre to depose and exile Patriarch Athanasius of Alexandria.


date: November 7

text: November 7 – Athanasius is banished to Trier, on the charge that he prevented the grain fleet from sailing to Constantinople.


text: Theon of Alexandria, director of the Library of Alexandria (approximate date)


text: Fu Sheng, Chinese emperor of the Di state Former Qin (d. 357)


text: Gregory of Nyssa, Christian bishop and saint (approximate date)


text: Magnus Maximus, Western Roman emperor (approximate date)


date: December 31

text: December 31 – Pope Sylvester I dies at Rome after a 21-year reign. He is succeeded by Mark as the 34th pope.


text: December 31 – Sylvester I, pope of the Catholic Church (b. 285)


text: Lady Xun (or Yuzhang), Chinese concubine of Yuan of Jin


text: Chandragupta I, Indian king of the Gupta Empire


text: Cheng, Chinese empress dowager of the Later Zhao state


text: The military successes of Emperor Constantine I result in most of Dacia being reconquered by the Roman Empire.


date: January 18

text: January 18 – Pope Mark succeeds Pope Sylvester I as the 34th pope of the Catholic Church.


text: Pope Mark begins to build the basilica of San Marco; the church is devoted to St. Mark.


text: The first recorded customs tariff is in use in Palmyra.


text: December 25 – The first celebration of Christmas is recorded.


text: Arius, Alexandrian priest, collapses in the street in Constantinople (approximate date).


text: Richū, emperor of Japan (approximate date)


text: Murong De, Chinese emperor of the Xianbei state (d. 405)


text: Chi Chao (or Jingyu), Chinese advisor and politician (d. 377)


date: October 7

text: October 7 – Mark, pope of the Catholic Church


text: Murong Ren (or Qiannian), Chinese general


text: Gan Bao (or Kan Pao), Chinese historian


text: Pope Mark dies at Rome, after an 11-month reign. No successor is immediately found.


text: Arius, Cyrenaic presbyter and priest (b. 256)


text: Murong Huang claims the title of Prince of Yan, effectively beginning the kingdom of Former Yan.


text: Shapur II besieges the Roman fortress of Nisibis (Syria), but is repulsed by forces under Lucilianus.

source_section: Events › By place › Persia


text: King Shapur II of Persia begins a war against the Roman Empire. He sends his troops across the Tigris to recover Armenia and Mesopotamia.


date: February 6

text: February 6 – A 4-month papal vacancy ends; Pope Julius I succeeds Pope Mark, as the 35th pope.

source_section: Events › By topic › Religion


date: June 17

text: June 17 – Constantius II announces the restoration of Athanasius, as Patriarch of Alexandria.


date: September 9

text: September 9 – Constantine II, Constantius II, and Constans succeed their father Constantine I as co-emperors. The Roman Empire is divided between the three Augusti.


text: Paul I becomes Patriarch of Constantinople.


text: Christianity is declared an official religion in Caucasian Iberia, marking the rise of Christianity in Georgia.


text: A number of descendants of Constantius Chlorus, and officials of the Roman Empire, are executed in a purge.


text: Zenobius of Florence, Italian bishop and wonderworker (d. 417)


text: Faxian, Chinese Buddhist monk, traveler (approximate date)


text: Lü Guang, founding emperor of the Di state Later Liang (d. 400)


text: Fú Jiān, emperor of the Chinese Di state Former Qin (d. 385)


date: January 13

text: January 13 – Leontius of Caesarea, Roman Catholic bishop and saint


date: February 21

text: February 21 – Eustathius the Great, patriarch of Antioch (approximate date)


date: May 22

text: May 22 – Constantine the Great, first Christian Roman emperor of the Western Empire (312–324), and of the Roman Empire (324–337), dies in Achyron, near Nicomedia, at age 65, after he is baptized by Eusebius of Nicomedia.


text: May 22 – Constantine the Great, emperor of the Roman Empire, Orthodox priest and saint


date: August 30

text: August 30 – Alexander of Constantinople, bishop of Byzantium (approximate date)


text: Hannibalianus, king of the Pontus and nephew of Constantine I (executed)


text: Dalmatius, Caesar and nephew of Constantine I (executed)


text: Flavius Dalmatius, father of Dalmatius and Hannibalianus (executed)


text: Julius Constantius, son of Constantius Chlorus (executed)


text: The Romans, allied with the Goths, arrive in the north of the Roman Empire to protect the Danube frontier.


text: Shapur II, king of the Persian Empire, begins a widespread persecution of Christians. He orders forcible conversions to the state religion, Zoroastrianism, lest the Christians disrupt his realm while he is away fighting the Romans in Armenia and Mesopotamia.


text: Emperor Constantius II intervenes against the Persians in Armenia.


text: Non-Christians are persecuted by the Roman Empire as pagans.


text: Eusebius of Nicomedia becomes Patriarch of Constantinople, after Paul I is banished.


text: The Church of Santa Costanza, Rome, starts to be built (approximate date).

source_section: Events › By topic › Art


text: Isaac the Great, Armenian catholicos (d. 439)


text: Li Qi, Chinese emperor of Cheng Han (b. 314)


text: Tuoba Yihuai, prince of the Tuoba Dai clan


text: Tuoba Yihuai, ruler of the Tuoba Dai clan, dies and is succeeded by his brother Tuoba Shiyiqian.


text: Flavius Ablabius, Roman consul and politician


text: Emperor Constantius II hastens to his territory in the East, where a revived Persia under King Shapur II is attacking Mesopotamia. For the next 11 years, the two powers engage in a war of border skirmishing, with no real victor.


text: Pope Julius I gives refuge in Rome to the Alexandrian patriarch Athanasius, who is deposed and expelled during the First Synod of Tyre (see 335).


text: Eusebius of Nicomedia is made bishop of Constantinople, while another Arian succeeds Athanasius as bishop of Alexandria, under the name Gregory.


text: Shi Shi, Chinese emperor of Later Zhao (d. 349)


text: Aurelius Ambrosius, Italian bishop and theologian (d. 397)


text: He Fani, Chinese empress of the Jin Dynasty (d. 404)


text: Eusebius of Caesarea, Greek bishop (approximate date).


text: Abaye, Babylonian rabbi of the Jewish Talmud


text: Duan Liao, Chinese chieftain of the Duan state (Xianbei)


text: Khosrov III (the Small), Roman client king (approximate date)


text: Wang Dao (or Maohong), Chinese politician (b. 276)


text: Xi Jian (or Daohui), Chinese general (b. 269)


year_label: 34 CE

text: The original inhabitants of Dacia revolt against the Sarmatian tribe of Iazyges, who had enslaved them.

source_section: Events › 34 AD › Europe


text: Rome intervenes in Armenia (AD 34–37).

source_section: Events › 34 AD › Roman Empire


text: Stephen, one of the original seven deacons of the Christian Church, is martyred for his faith (possible date).

source_section: Events › 34 AD › Palestine


text: Saul of Tarsus, on the road to Damascus, is converted to Christianity, and becomes Paul the Apostle (possible date).

source_section: Events › 34 AD › Syria


text: According to one dating scheme, Paul and Barnabas announce in Antioch that they will begin to evangelize the Gentiles.


text: The Roman aqueduct Pont du Gard is constructed, running for 50 km, ending at Nîmes.


text: Naevius Sutorius Macro gains favour in the Roman Empire by prostituting his wife Ennia Thrasylla to Caligula.


date: December 4

text: December 4 – Aulus Persius Flaccus, Roman poet (d. AD 62)

source_section: Births › 34 AD


text: Mariamne, daughter of Herod Agrippa I (approximate date)


text: Zhang Daoling, Chinese Taoist master (d. 156)


text: Stephen, Jewish martyr of Christianity (stoned to death)

source_section: Deaths › 34 AD


text: Artaxias III, Roman client king of Armenia (b. 13 BC)


text: Philip the Tetrarch, Jewish ruler of Batanaea


text: 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.

source_section: Events › By place › Roman Empire


text: Constantinople, capital of Emperor Constantius II, becomes the largest city in the world, taking the lead from Rome, capital of his brother Constans I.


text: Constans is left sole ruler of the Western part of the Roman Empire, with his other brother, Constantius II, emperor of the Eastern portion.


text: Wulfila evangelizes among the Goths for 7 years.


text: Acacius succeeds Eusebius as bishop in the see of Caesarea.


text: Peter of Sebaste, bishop of Armenia (approximate date)


text: Quintus Aurelius Symmachus, Roman consul (d. 402)


text: Justina, Roman empress and regent (approximate date)


text: Jerome, priest and Bible translator (approximate date)


text: Amphilochius, bishop of Iconium (approximate date)


text: Aurelius Ambrose, bishop of Milan (approximate date)


date: October 28

text: October 28 – Cunera (or Kunera), Christian martyr


text: Kui An, Indian general and minister of Later Zhao


text: Tao Bao (or Anbu), Chinese general of Later Zhao


text: Macrina the Elder, Christian saint (approximate date)


text: Yu Liang (or Yuangui), Chinese general (b. 279)


text: Constantine II, Roman consul and emperor (b. 316)


text: Constans I begins a successful campaign against the Franks.


text: 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.


text: Paul I is restored as Patriarch of Constantinople.


text: The Council of Encaenia is held in Antioch.


text: Emperor Constans I bans pagan sacrifices and magic rituals, under penalty of death.


text: Thousands of Christians are executed at Seleucia in Mesopotamia.


text: Samudragupta of the Gupta Empire, during a decade, extends his kingdom and his influence. A pillar found at Allahabad sings his praises.

source_section: Events › By place › India


text: Ai of Jin (or Qianling), Chinese emperor (d. 365)


text: Potamon of Heraclea, Christian bishop and martyr


text: Paul of Thebes, Christian hermit (approximate date)


text: Ge Hong (or Ko Hung), Chinese taoist (approximate date)


text: Du Lingyang (or Du Ling), Chinese empress (b. 321)


text: Eusebius of Nicomedia, archbishop of Constantinople


text: Asterius of Cappadocia, Christian theologian and writer


text: Constans I campaigns victoriously against the Franks.


text: Goguryeo is invaded by Murong Huang of the Xianbei.


text: Jin Kangdi succeeds his brother Jin Chengdi as emperor of China.


text: Emperor Constans I campaigns in Britain against the Picts.


date: February 15

text: February 15 – The original Hagia Sophia is dedicated in Constantinople.


text: Paul I, Patriarch of Constantinople, is deposed and replaced by Macedonius I.


text: A large earthquake strikes Cyprus.


text: Fei of Jin (or Sima Yi), Chinese emperor (d. 386)


date: July 26

text: July 26 – Chen of Jin (or Sima Yan), Chinese emperor (b. 321)


text: Barsabias, Christian abbot, missionary and martyr


text: Tiberius Julius Rhescuporis VI, Roman client king


text: The Eastern Roman Emperor Constantius II campaigns in Adiabene, a vassal kingdom of Armenia (Persian Empire).


text: 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).


text: 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.


text: Jin Mudi, Chinese emperor of the Eastern Jin Dynasty (d. 361)


text: Fu Deng, Chinese emperor of the Di state Former Qin (d. 394)


text: Xiao Wenshou (or Xiaoyi), Chinese empress dowager (d. 423)


text: Xie Xuan, Chinese general of the Jin Dynasty (d. 388)


date: December 6

text: December 6 – Saint Nicholas (or Santa Claus) (b. 270)


text: Li Shou (or Wukao), Chinese emperor of Cheng Han (b. 300)


text: Battle of Singara: The Roman army under Constantius wins a close victory, at the strongly fortified city of Singara (Mesopotamia). His enemy, King Shapur II, is forced to lift the siege, and withdraw the Persian army.


text: 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.


text: Shapur II, for the second time, besieges the Roman fortress of Nisibis in eastern Mesopotamia, but is repulsed by forces under General Lucilianus.


text: Gye becomes king of the Korean kingdom of Baekje.


text: The Eastern Roman Emperor Constantius II campaigns in eastern Mesopotamia, against the Sassanid Persians.


text: Bishop Eustorgius I brings relics of the Three Magi from Constantinople to Milan, according to a 12th century legend.


text: The making of a detail of Admonitions of the Imperial Instructress to Court Ladies (attributed to Gu Kaizhi and being from the Six Dynasties period) begins (approximate year) and is completed in 406. It is now kept at the British Museum, London.


text: Zhang Yaoling, ruler of Former Liang (d. 355)


text: Mary of Egypt, patron Saint (approximate date)


text: Gu Kaizhi, Chinese painter (approximate date)


text: Kumārajīva, Buddhist monk and translator (d. 413)


text: Wang Xianzhi, Chinese calligrapher (d. 386)


date: April 14

text: April 14 – Chusdazat, Syrian Orthodox priest, martyr and saint


text: April 14 – Pusai, Syrian Orthodox priest, martyr and saint


date: August 20

text: August 20 – Heliodorus of Bet Zabdai, bishop and martyr


date: November 17

text: November 17 – Jin Kangdi, emperor of the Jin Dynasty (b. 322)


text: Biryu of Baekje, king of Baekje (Three Kingdoms of Korea)

source_section: Deaths › Date unknown


text: The Kadamba Dynasty is founded by Mayurasharma.


text: Merchant Knai Thomman and 400 followers visit the Malabar Coast in Kerala (India), and assist the church there.


text: Constans orders the Basilica di Santa Tecla to be constructed in Milan.

source_section: Events › By place › Italy


text: Quintus Aurelius Symmachus, Roman consul and intellectual (d. 402)


text: Tyrannius of Aquileia, historian and theologian (approximate date)


text: Afranius Syagrius, Roman politician and administrator


text: Evagrius Ponticus, Christian monk and ascetic (d. 399)


date: February 4

text: February 4 – Abraham of Arbela, Persian bishop and martyr (approximate date)


date: April 6

text: April 6 – Shemon Bar Sabbae – Persian Orthodox priest and saint


text: April 6 – Abdecalas – Persian Orthodox priest and saint


date: June 16

text: June 16 – Patriarch Gregory of Cappadocia


date: August 27

text: August 27 – Narnus, Roman Catholic bishop and saint


date: November 20

text: November 20 – Abiatha, Hathes and Mamlacha, Syrian Orthodox priests, virgins, martyrs and saints


text: Abdisho, member of the Church of the East


text: Aphrahat, Syrian Orthodox priest and saint


text: Stephen I of Antioch, Byzantine bishop and saint


text: Geunchogo becomes king of the Korean kingdom of Baekje.


text: In Korea, the Buyeo Kingdom is absorbed by Goguryeo.


text: The Visigoths are converted to Arianism by Wulfila.


text: Emperor Constans I uses his influence to secure the return of Athanasius. He is restored as Patriarch of Alexandria, and documents are compiled relating to his expulsion, under the title Apology Against the Arians.


text: Julius Firmicus Maternus writes De erroribus profanarum religionum.


text: Macedonius I, Patriarch of Constantinople, is deposed again by Paul I.


text: Zhang Tianxi, Chinese ruler of Former Liang (d. 406)


text: Zhang Jun (or Gongting), Chinese prince (b. 307)


text: Maximin of Trier, German bishop (approximate date)


text: He Chong (or Cidao), Chinese politician (b. 292)


text: 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.

source_section: Events › By place › China


text: 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.


text: Council of Sardica: An attempt is made to resolve the Arian controversy, and ground rules for bishops are laid down.


date: January 11

text: January 11 – Theodosius I, Roman Emperor (d. 395)

source_section: Births


date: March 27

text: March 27 – Saint Jerome, priest and translator of the Bible (approximate date)


text: Eunapius, Greek sophist and historian


text: Saint Porphyry, bishop of Gaza (approximate date)


text: Paula, Desert Mother and Saint (d. 404)


text: John Chrysostom, archbishop of Constantinople (approximate date)


text: Ursicinus of Brescia, Bishop of Brescia

source_section: Deaths


text: In Persia, women are enrolled in the army to perform auxiliary services.

source_section: Events › By place › Asia


text: In India, Samudragupta of the Gupta Empire defeats Rudrasena in battle.


text: 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).

source_section: Events › By place › Europe


text: Shenoute, monk and saint (d. 466)


text: Prudentius, Roman Christian poet (d. 413)


date: May 9

text: May 9 – Pachomius the Great, founder of Christian cenobitic monasticism (b. 292)


date: December 12

text: December 12 – Saint Spyridon, Greek-Cypriot Orthodox bishop and saint (b. 270)


text: Murong Huang, Chinese ruler of the Former Yan (b. 297)


text: 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,


text: Empress Liu, wife of Emperor Shi Hu (b. 318)


text: Empress Zhang, wife of emperor Shi Zun


text: 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.


text: Shi Hu, emperor of the Jie state Later Zhao (b. 295)


text: Shi Shi, emperor and brother of Shi Zun (b. 339)


text: Shi Zun, emperor of the Jie state Later Zhao


text: Wei Shuo, calligrapher of the Jin Dynasty (b. 272)


text: Empress Zheng Yingtao, mother of emperor Shi Zun


year_label: 35 CE

text: Tiridates III becomes king of Parthia (until AD 36).

source_section: Events › 35 AD › Persia


text: Pliny the Elder is brought to Rome before this year.

source_section: Events › 35 AD › Roman Empire


text: Emperor Tiberius names Caligula (aka Gaius) and Gamellus, a grandson, as co-heirs.


text: Decimus Valerius Asiaticus, Roman senator and governor

source_section: Births › 35 AD


text: Quintus Junius Arulenus Rusticus, Roman senator (d. AD 93)


text: Marcus Fabius Quintilianus, Roman rhetorician (approximate date)


text: Statilia Messalina, Roman empress and wife of Nero (approximate date)


text: Gaius Nymphidius Sabinus, Roman prefect (approximate date)


text: Phraates, Parthian prince and son of Phraates IV

source_section: Deaths › 35 AD


text: Epaticcus, British prince of the Catuvellauni (approximate date)


text: Arsaces I (or Arshak I), Roman client king of Armenia


text: Gaius Poppaeus Sabinus, Roman statesman and consul


text: Lucius Fulcinius Trio, Roman senator and suffect consul


date: March 1

text: March 1 – Vetranio is asked by Constantina, sister of Constantius II, to proclaim himself Caesar. Constantius accepts the new emperor and sends him funds to raise an army.


date: December 25

text: December 25 – Vetranio meets Constantius II at Naissus (Serbia) and joins forces with him. Vetranio is forced to abdicate his title, and Constantius allows him to live as a private citizen on a state pension.


text: King Pushyavarman establishes the Varman Dynasty in Assam.


date: January

text: January – Constans I flees towards Spain, where he is subsequently assassinated at Castrum Helenae. Magnentius rules the Western portion of the Roman Empire and is far more tolerant towards Christians and Pagans alike.


text: The city of Anbar (Iraq) is founded by king Shapur II.


text: The Ran Wei-Later Zhao war breaks out in North China. Ethnic Han ruler Ran Min had used the infighting between the brothers who reigned in quick succession as emperors of the Jie state of the Later Zhao to assume power, establish the Ran Wei dynasty, have an alleged 200,000 non-Han subjects (mostly Jie and Xiongnu) massacred and end the Later Zhao dynasty. This situation will soon be exploited by the neighbouring state of Former Yan which expands from the northeast towards the Yellow River.


text: About this time the Huns begin to invade the Sassanid Empire.


date: January 18

text: January 18 – Western Roman Emperor Constans I makes himself extremely unpopular; one of his generals, Magnentius, is proclaimed emperor at Augustodunum in the Diocese of Galliae, with the support of the army on the Rhine frontier.


date: June 30

text: June 30 – Nepotianus is defeated and killed by Marcellinus, a trusted general sent by Magnentius. His head is put on a spear and carried around the city.


date: June 3

text: June 3 – Nepotianus, Roman usurper, proclaims himself emperor and enters Rome with a group of gladiators.


text: The church of Santa Constanza in Rome is finished.

source_section: Events › By topic › Art


text: Hypatia of Alexandria, female Neoplatonist philosopher (approximate date);


text: Murong Wei, emperor of the Xianbei state Former Yan (d. 385);


text: Honoratus, archbishop of Arles (approximate date);


text: Theodore of Mopsuestia, bishop and theologian (approximate date);


text: Earliest common ancestor of Y haplotype R-S6881 born in north-west Germania (approximate date)


text: Plutarch of Athens, Greek philosopher (approximate date);


text: Zhang Xuanjing, ruler of the Chinese state Former Liang (d. 363).


date: February 11

text: February 11 – Constans I, Roman Emperor;


date: June 21

text: June 21 – Martin of Tongres, Roman Catholic bishop and saint;


text: June 30 – Nepotianus, Roman usurper;


date: August 5

text: August 5 – Cassian of Autun Roman Catholic bishop and saint;


date: November 26

text: November 26 – Paul I of Constantinople, Byzantine Orthodox bishop and saint.


text: Shi Jian, emperor of the Jie state Later Zhao.


text: Fú Jiàn, an ethnic Di, declares himself "Heavenly Prince" (Tian Wang) during the collapse of Later Zhao, and establishes Former Qin.


date: May 7

text: May 7 – The Jewish revolt against Constantius Gallus breaks out. After his arrival at Antioch, the Jews begin a rebellion in Palestine. The Roman garrison in the town of Diocesarea is wiped out.


date: September 28

text: September 28 – Battle of Mursa Major: Constantius II defeats the usurper Magnentius along the valley of the Drava. The battle is one of the bloodiest in Roman military history. During the fighting Marcellinus, a general of Magnentius is killed; Magnentius himself survives.


text: Winter – Magnentius flees to Aquileia in northern Italy and fortifies the mountain passes in the Alps.


text: Constantius II marches West with a large field army (around 60,000 men) to topple Magnus Magnentius in Pannonia.


text: Macedonius is restored as Patriarch of Constantinople.

source_section: Events › By topic › Religion


text: In India, a new process makes possible the extraction of sugar from sugarcane.

source_section: Events › By topic › Art and Science


text: Emperor Shi Zhi, last ruler of the Later Zhao dynasty, is killed by Ran Min's forces, an action that sets the stage for Wei's victory in the Ran Wei–Later Zhao war.


date: March 15

text: March 15 – Emperor Constantius II elevates his 25-year-old cousin Constantius Gallus to Caesar at Sirmium (Pannonia). He arranges a marriage with his sister Constantina, and puts him in charge of the Eastern portion of the Roman Empire.


text: Li Gao, Chinese general of the state Western Liang (d. 417)


text: Princess Dowager Helan, mother of Wei Daowudi (d. 396)


text: September 28 – Flavius Romulus, Roman consul


text: Shi Zhi, Chinese prince and emperor of Later Zhao


text: Marcellinus, Roman general (magister officiorum)


text: By the end of the year Constantius enters Milan.


text: The Alamanni and the Franks cross the Rhine and defeat the depleted Roman units left at the frontier. The Germans take control of around 40 towns and cities between the Moselle and the Rhine.


text: Constantius Gallus sends his general (magister equitum) Ursicinus to forcefully put down the Jewish revolt in Palestine. The rebels destroy the cities Diopolis and Tiberias, while Diocesarea is razed to the ground. Ursicinus gives the order to kill thousands of Jews, even children. After the revolt, a permanent garrison is stationed in Galilee.


text: Emperor Constantius II invades northern Italy in pursuit of the usurper Magnus Magnentius, who withdraws with his army to Gaul. He declares an amnesty for Magnentius' soldiers, many of whom desert to him.


text: War begins between the Huns and the Alans.


text: The earliest sighting of a supernova occurs in China.


text: Ran Wei is destroyed after Ran Min is killed by Murong Jun, the Xianbei emperor of the Former Yan.


text: Arsenius the Great, anchorite and Desert Father (approximate date)


date: April 12

text: April 12 – Julius I, bishop of Rome


date: May 17

text: May 17 – Pope Julius I dies after a 15-year reign in which he has made himself the chief opponent of Arianism. He is succeeded by Pope Liberius as the 36th pope, who immediately writes to Constantius II requesting a council at Aquileia to discuss the former Alexandrian patriarch Athanasius, who opposes the Arian belief to which the emperor subscribes.


date: June 1

text: June 1 – Ran Min, Chinese emperor "Heavenly King" (Tian Wang)


text: Yao Yizhong, Chinese general and warlord (b. 280)


text: Battle of Mons Seleucus: Emperor Constantius II defeats the usurper Magnentius, who commits suicide in Gaul in order to avoid capture. Constantius becomes sole emperor, and reunifies the Roman Empire.


text: Constantius II assembles a conciliabulum at Arles, and condemns Athanasius as Patriarch of Alexandria.


text: Wang Xizhi, Chinese calligrapher, produces "Preface to the Poems Composed at the Orchid Pavilion" in running script style. It becomes a model for future calligraphers.

source_section: Events › By topic › China


text: Constantius II sends his official Paulus Catena to Britain, to hunt down the opponents supporting Magnentius. Flavius Martinus, vicarius of Britain and supporter of Constantius, opposes the persecutions; he is then accused by Catena of being a traitor. In response, Martinus tries to kill Catena with a sword; he fails and then commits suicide.

source_section: Events › By place › Roman Empire


text: Saint Vigilius, Bishop of Trent (d. 405)


date: August 11

text: August 11 – Magnentius, Roman usurper (b. 303)


date: August 18

text: August 18 – Magnus Decentius, brother and Caesar of Magnentius


text: Zhang Chonghua, ruler of Former Liang (b. 327)


text: Flavius Martinus, vicarius of Roman Britain


text: The Bulgars are first mentioned in extant European chronicles.


text: As a result of the armies of the West having been largely withdrawn by the usurper Magnus Magnentius, to fight Constantius II, hordes of barbarians (Franks and Alemanni) cross the upper Rhine into Gaul and invade the lands of the Helvetians.


text: Fu Sheng, emperor of the Former Qin, reigns in northern China.


text: Libanius becomes a teacher of rhetoric in Antioch; his students include John Chrysostom and Theodore of Mopsuestia.


text: The Roman Calendar of 354, an illuminated manuscript, is drawn up and becomes the earliest dated codex.


text: Emperor Constantius II recalls his Caesar (and cousin) Constantius Gallus to Constantinople after hearing unfavorable reports about him. Gallus, Caesar of the East, has suppressed revolts in Syria Palaestina and central Anatolia. Constantius strips him of his powers and later has him executed in Pola (Croatia).


date: November 13

text: November 13 – Augustine of Hippo, North African bishop (d. 430)


text: Pelagius, English monk and theologian (d. 418)


text: Apa Bane, Christian hermit and saint (approximate date)


text: Paulinus of Nola, French bishop and writer (d. 431)


text: Fu Xiong (or Yuancai), Chinese general and politician


text: Xie Ai, Chinese general of Former Liang (b. 301)


text: Constantina, daughter of Constantine the Great (b. c. 320)


text: Ran Zhi, Chinese nobleman and prince of Ran Wei


text: Constantius Gallus, Roman consul and statesman (b. 326)


text: Pei, Chinese princess and wife of Zhang Chonghua


text: The Lentienses, a Germanic tribe, are fined by the Roman commander Arbetio under Constantius II for several incursions against the Roman Empire.


text: The Franks besiege Colonia Agrippinensium for ten months.


text: The Huns of Central Asia begin their great drive westwards with an advance into Scythia (modern Ukraine). They overcome and absorb the Alans, a nomadic and warlike horse breeding people from the steppes northeast of the Black Sea.


text: Pope Liberius refuses to sign a condemnation of Athanasius, Patriarch of Alexandria, imposed at Milan by Constantius II. Liberius is exiled to Beroea (Greece) and replaced by Felix II. He becomes an antipope and bishop of Rome.


date: January 1

text: January 1 – Arbitio and Lollianus Mavortius begin their term as Roman consuls.


text: August 11 – Claudius Silvanus, accused of treason, proclaims himself Roman Emperor. After 28 days, Ursicinus arrives from Rome and has Silvanus murdered.


date: November 6

text: November 6 – In Mediolanum (Italy), Emperor Constantius II raises his cousin Julian the Apostate to the rank of Caesar. He takes command of the western provinces and marries Constantius' sister, Helena.


text: Fan Tai, Chinese general of the Jin Dynasty (d. 428)


text: Murong Bao, Chinese emperor of Later Yan (d. 398)


date: September 7

text: September 7 – Claudius Silvanus, Roman usurper


text: Liang, Chinese empress of the Former Qin Dynasty


text: Zhang Yaoling, Chinese ruler of Former Liang (b. 344)


text: Zhang Zuo (or Taibo), Chinese ruler of Former Liang


text: Aedesius, Roman Neoplatonist philosopher and mystic


text: Fu Jian, Chinese emperor of the Former Qin (b. 317)


text: Winter – Siege of Senonae: Julian over-winters at Senonae (Bourgogne). German federated troops (foederati) desert and hostile warbands besiege the town.


text: Siege of Autun: Julian receives a report that Augustodunum (Autun) is under attack by the Alemanni. The city walls are in poor state and in danger of falling.


text: Naemul becomes king of the Silla dynasty (Three Kingdoms of Korea).


text: Battle of Reims: Julian is defeated by the Alemanni at Reims (Gaul).


text: Rhaetia (Switzerland) is invaded by the Alemanni.


text: Battle of Brumath: Roman forces pursue Germanic warbands through the Gallic countryside. Julian wins an open battle near Brumath (Alsace).


date: February 19

text: February 19 – Emperor Constantius II issues a decree closing all pagan temples in the Roman Empire, and ordering the banishment once again of the anti-Arian patriarch of Alexandria, Athanasius. He tries to have him arrested during a vigil service, but Athanasius flees to the Nitrian desert in Upper Egypt.


text: Construction begins on the first basilica of Saint Peter in Rome.


text: The veneration of non-Christian images is banned in the Roman Empire.


date: March 31

text: 31 March – Aelia Flaccilla, Roman empress and wife of Theodosius I (d. 386)


text: John II, Byzantine bishop, theologian and writer (d. 417)


text: Anthony the Great (pictured) dies at his hermitage near the Red Sea in mid-January at age 105 (approximate), having preached against Arianism, and having tried to codify guidelines for monastic life. His followers subsequently establish the Monastery of Saint Anthony, beginning the tradition of Coptic monasticism.


text: Rav Nachman bar Yitzchak, Babylonian scholar and rabbi


text: Amasius of Teano, bishop Teano (also known as St. Paris)


text: Anthony the Great, Egyptian monk and Desert Father


text: Sanctinus of Meaux, French bishop and missionary (b. 270)


text: Yin Hao (or Yuanyuan), Chinese general and politician


text: Vetranio, Roman statesman, usurper and co-emperor


text: Qiang (or Mingde), Chinese empress and wife of Fú Jiàn


text: Cai Mo (or Daoming), Chinese official and politician (b. 281)


text: The reign of Fú Jiān, the emperor of Former Qin, commences in China.


text: The Alans rout the Hun army in Western Asia.


text: Summer – Battle of Strasbourg: Julian, Caesar (deputy emperor) and supreme commander of the Roman army in Gaul, wins an important victory against the Alemanni at Strasbourg (Argentoratum), driving the barbarians back behind the Rhine.


text: At about this date, Basil of Caesarea visits Egypt.


text: Winter – Constantius II receives ambassadors from the Persian Empire. They demand that Rome restore the lands surrendered by King Narseh.


text: Saran, King of Ulster, is overthrown.

source_section: Events › By place › Ireland


text: Ammianus Marcellinus describes the Pantheon as being "rounded like the boundary of the horizon and vaulted with a beautiful loftiness".


text: At about this date, the relics of St Andrew the Apostle are taken from Patras to Constantinople by order of the Emperor Constantius II, and deposited in the Church of the Holy Apostles.