text: Late in the year Pope Liberius travels to Sirmium (Pannonia) and agrees to sign documents that effectively undo the Nicene Creed (which implicitly disavows Arianism) and to sever his relationship with the former Alexandrian patriarch Athanasius, who is replaced as patriarch of Alexandria by his Arian opponent George of Cappadocia.


date: April 28

section: Culture & Society

text: April 28 – Emperor Constantius II enters Rome for the first time to celebrate his victory over Magnentius. He address the Senate and the Roman people.

source_section: Events › By place › Roman Empire


text: The Imperial Library of Constantinople is founded.


section: Deaths

text: Xie Shang (or Renzu), Chinese general and musician (b. 308)

source_section: Deaths


text: Yao Xiang (or Jingguo), Chinese general and warlord (b. 331)


text: Fu Sheng, Chinese emperor of the Di state Former Qin (b. 335)


section: Geopolitics & Diplomacy

text: The Salian Franks capitulate to Julian the Apostate in Gaul. He allows them to form a Roman foederati in Toxandria. Frankish settlers are established in areas in the north and the east to help with the defense of the Rhine frontier.


text: Emperor Constantius II builds new forts to secure upper Mesopotamia. Persia's king Shapur II sends an emissary to Constantinople with gifts and a letter wrapped in white silk. He requests that Constantius return the lands of his ancestors from the Euphrates to the frontier of Macedonia. Constantius tactfully refuses to cede any territories.


section: Conflict & Security

text: An invasion of Pannonia by the Quadi and the Sarmates is repulsed by Constantius II.


section: Religion & Belief

text: Constantius II recalls Pope Liberius to Rome, where he receives a joyous welcome from the Christians. Antipope Felix II prudently retires to his estate near Porto (Portugal).

source_section: Events › By topic › Religion


text: The last universally binding decision, of the Great Sanhedrin, establishes a fixed Hebrew calendar.


text: Eudoxius becomes Patriarch of Antioch.


date: August 24

section: Climate & Environment

text: August 24 — An earthquake destroys Nicomedia, and damages 150 cities in Macedonia, Asia and Pontus.


section: Births

text: Aignan of Orleans, Christian bishop (d. 453)

source_section: Births


text: Duan, Chinese princess and wife of Murong Chui


text: Paulinus of Trier, Christian bishop and saint


text: Siege of Amida: Shapur II besieges the Roman fortress of Amida (modern Diyarbakir). After seventy-three days the city is conquered and the population is massacred by the Persians. Ammianus Marcellinus is a fortunate survivor and flees to Singara (Iraq).


text: Winter – Shapur II halts his campaign, due to heavy casualties during the Persian invasion.


text: King Shapur II the Great of the Persian Empire invades southern Armenia. The Romans implement a scorched earth policy and place strong guards at the Euphrates crossings.


date: July

text: July – Emperor Constantius II convenes the Council of Rimini, to resolve the crisis over Arianism in the Church. Some 400 bishops of the Western portion of the Roman Empire attend, while the Eastern bishops simultaneously hold a meeting at Seleucia. Given Saint Jerome's comment that, "The whole world groaned in astonishment to find itself Arian", it appears to have failed. Pope Liberius rejects the new creed at Rimini.


text: The Sarcophagus of Junius Bassus, in the Old St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican, is made (approximate date).

source_section: Events › By topic › Art


section: Technology & Infrastructure

text: The first known Prefect of the city of Constantinople, Honoratus, takes office.


text: Famine in Upper Rhineland: A fleet of 800 river boats, built for the Rhine, cross to the British east coast, and carry back enough corn to raise the famine.


text: Godigisel, king of the Vandals (d. 406)


text: Stilicho, Roman general (d. 408)


text: Murong Chong, Chinese emperor (d. 386)


text: Gratian, Roman emperor (d. 383)


text: Hosius of Corduba, Christian bishop (b. 256)


text: Zhang Guan, Chinese general and regent


text: Junius Bassus Theotecnius, Roman politician


text: Xun Xian (or Lingze), Chinese general (b. 322)


text: Barbatio, Roman general (magister militum)


year_label: 36 CE

date: December 25

text: December 25 – Wu Han commands the forces of Emperor Guang Wu of the Eastern Han to conquer the separatist Chengjia Empire, reuniting China.

source_section: Events › 36 AD › China


text: Marcellus becomes governor of Judaea and Samaria.

source_section: Events › 36 AD › Palestine


text: Herod Antipas suffers major losses in a war with Aretas IV of Nabatea, provoked partly by Antipas' divorce of Aretas' daughter. According to Josephus, Herod's defeat was popularly believed to be divine punishment for his execution of John the Baptist. Emperor Tiberius orders his governor of Syria, Vitellius, to capture or kill Aretas, but he is reluctant to support Herod and abandons his campaign upon Tiberius' death in AD 37.

source_section: Events › 36 AD › Roman Empire


text: Lucius Vitellius defeats Artabanus III of Parthia in support of another claimant to the throne, Tiridates III.


text: Pontius Pilate is recalled to Rome, after putting down a Samaritan uprising.


text: Lucius Annius Vinicianus, Roman senator and legatus in the Roman–Parthian War of 58–63.

source_section: Births › 36 AD


date: December 24

text: December 24 – Gongsun Shu, Chinese emperor of Chengjia

source_section: Deaths › 36 AD


text: Gaius Sulpicius Galba, Roman senator and consul


text: Thrasyllus of Mendes, Greek grammarian and astronomer


text: Vibulenus Agrippa, Roman nobleman and knight (eques)


text: Emperor Constantius II and Julian exchange several letters, both hoping to avoid a civil war.


text: The Huns invade the Pontic steppes by the thousands, spreading terror as they take over territories held for generations by Alans, Heruls, Ostrogoths and Visigoths.

source_section: Events › By place › Europe


text: King Shapur II continues his campaign against the Roman fortresses, capturing Singara, Bezabde and Nisibis.


text: The Alamanni raid Raetia (Switzerland), but are pushed back behind the Rhine by Julian, into the Black Forest.


date: February 14

text: 14 February – The first Hagia Sophia church is consecrated in Constantinople.


text: Council of Constantinople (360): Emperor Constantius II requests a church council, at Constantinople; both the eastern and western bishops attend the meeting. Ulfilas also attends the council and endorses the resulting creed. After the council several homoiousian bishops are deposed or banished, including Macedonius I of Constantinople and Cyril of Jerusalem.


text: At about this date, Ligugé Abbey in France is founded for the monastic Order of Saint Benedict by Martin of Tours, under dispensation from Bishop Hilary of Poitiers.


text: Roman authorities in Britain export wheat to supply the legions on the Rhine; they have encouraged production of wheat for that purpose.

source_section: Events › By topic › Agriculture


date: February

text: February – Julian, Roman Caesar, is proclaimed emperor in Lutetia (modern Paris).


text: Wang Fahui, empress during the Jin Dynasty (d. 380)


text: Saint Ninian, missionary to Scotland (approximate date)


text: Tao Sheng, Chinese Buddhist scholar (approximate date)


text: Saint Mesrob, Armenian monk and theologian (approximate date)


text: John Cassian, Desert Father and Christian saint (approximate date)


date: May 4

text: May 4 – Judas Cyriacus, Roman Catholic priest and saint


date: October 14

text: October 14 – Gaudentius of Rimini, Roman Catholic priest and saint


date: November 11

text: November 11 – Abramios the Recluse, Byzantine Orthodox priest and saint


date: December 18

text: December 18 – Auxentius of Mopsuestia, Byzantine Orthodox priest and saint


text: Murong Jun, emperor of the Former Yan (b. 319)

source_section: Deaths › Date unknown


text: Eusebius of Emesa, Byzantine Orthodox bishop and saint (b. 290)


date: July 10

text: July 10 – Sixteen Kingdoms: Jin Aidi, age 20, succeeds Jin Mudi, as emperor of the Eastern Jin Dynasty.

source_section: Events › By place › China


text: July – Julian begins leading his troops eastwards against Constantius II.


date: December 11

text: December 11 – Julian becomes sole emperor of the Roman Empire; he rules from Constantinople, and tries to restore paganism. Constantius II is buried in the Church of the Holy Apostles.


text: December 24 – George of Cappadocia, the Arian intruding bishop of Alexandria, is murdered in his see and Athanasius of Alexandria returns to his native city in triumph.


text: Gregory Nazianzus (Saint Gregory the Theologian) returns to Nazianzus and is appointed a priest by his father, who wants him to assist local Christians.


text: Construction of the Monastery of Saint Anthony in the Eastern Desert of Egypt begins.


text: Emperor Julian tries to organize a pagan church and substitute it for Christianity. Pope Liberius repudiates the Arian creed, and declares that the Council of Ariminum has no authority to issue decrees.


section: Health & Medicine

text: Constantinople enforces a strict licensing system for physicians.

source_section: Events › By topic › Medicine


section: Crime & Justice

text: Ministers and followers of Constantius II are put on trial, at the Chalcedon Tribunal.


text: 361–363 – A Julian the Apostate coin is issued. It is now kept at the British Museum, London.


date: November 3

text: November 3 – Emperor Constantius II dies of a fever at Mopsuestia in Cilicia, age 44; on his deathbed he is baptised, and declares his cousin Julian rightful successor.


date: November

text: November – Constantius II, Roman Emperor (b. 317)


text: December 24 – George of Cappadocia, Byzantine Orthodox archbishop and saint


text: December 24 – George of Laodicea, Byzantine Orthodox archbishop and saint


text: Li Shi, emperor of the Chinese Ba-Di state Cheng Han


text: Song Hun, regent of the Chinese state Former Liang


text: Zhu Jingjian, Chinese Buddhist nun (b. 292)


text: Jin Mudi, emperor of the Eastern Jin Dynasty (b. 343)


text: Maximus of Naples, Roman Catholic archbishop and saint


text: Apodemius, Roman officer and secret agent


text: Wang Xizhi, Chinese calligrapher (b. 303)


date: July 18

text: July 18 – Emperor Julian arrives at Antioch with an expeditionary force (60,000 men), and stays there for nine months, to launch a campaign against the Persian Empire. He secures the co-operation of King Arsaces of Armenia, who fights a bloody guerrilla war against the Persians.


section: Exploration & Expansion

text: Julian builds a fleet of 50 warships, and more than 1,000 transport boats at Samosata, for his expedition in Persia against King Shapur II the Great.


date: February 21

text: February 21 – Athanasius returns to Alexandria and convenes a council, at which he appeals for unity among Christians who differ in terminology, but Emperor Julian orders Athanasius to leave Alexandria. He will remain in exile in Upper Egypt, until after Julian's death the next year.


date: October 22

section: Disasters & Accidents

text: October 22 – The temple of Apollo at Daphne, outside Antioch, is destroyed in a mysterious fire.


text: An earthquake strikes Al-Karak (Jordan).


text: An earthquake strikes Nicaea (Turkey).


text: Mesrop Mashtots, Armenian linguist (d. 440)


text: Jin Xiaowudi, emperor of the Eastern Jin Dynasty (d. 396)


text: Flavia Maxima Constantia, daughter of Constantius II (approximate date)


date: January 1

text: January 1 – Paulus Catena, Roman politician


date: February 25

text: February 25 – Reginos, Greek Orthodox bishop and saint


date: May 10

text: May 10 – Gordianus and Epimachus, Roman Catholic priests, martyrs and saints


date: June 5

text: June 5 – Dorotheus of Tyre, Roman Catholic bishop and martyr (b. 255)


date: June 27

text: June 27 – Crispus, Crispinianus, and Benedicta, Roman Catholic, priests, martyrs and saints


date: June 28

text: June 28 – Basil of Ancyra, Byzantine Orthodox bishop and saint


date: August 5

text: August 5 – Eusignius of Antioch, Byzantine Orthodox bishop and martyr (b. 252)


date: August 7

text: August 7 – Donatus of Arezzo, Roman Catholic bishop and saint


date: October 16

text: October 16 – Eliphius, Roman Catholic priest and saint


date: October 20

text: October 20 – Theodoret of Antioch, Syrian Christian priest and martyr


text: October 20 – Artemius, Egyptian Orthodox martyr and saint


date: December 10

text: December 10 – Gemellus of Ancyra, Byzantine Orthodox bishop and saint


text: Princess Dowager Ma, concubine of Zhang Jun


date: March 5

text: March 5 – Emperor Julian departs from Antioch with his army (90,000 men) and heads north towards the Euphrates. En route he creates a diversion and sends a force of 30,000 soldiers under his cousin Procopius to Armenia.


date: May 29

text: May 29 – Battle of Ctesiphon: Julian reaches the vicinity of the strongly fortified capital Ctesiphon. King Shapur II in charge of a large Persian army adopts a scorched earth policy, leaving the Romans desperately short of supplies.


date: June 16

text: June 16 – The Roman army starts its retreat northward to Corduene (Armenia). Julian marches back up the Tigris and burns his fleet of supply ships. During the withdrawal Julian's forces suffer several attacks from the Persians.


text: Egyptian rose in revolt against Roman occupation, armed clashes occur.

source_section: Events › By place › Egypt


text: Emperor Jovian negotiates a disastrous peace with Persia, surrendering four of the five Roman provinces gained by Caesar Galerius in 298, and the cities Nisibis and Singara (Mesopotamia).


date: April

text: April – Julian crosses the Euphrates near Hierapolis, using 50 pontoon ships, and moves eastwards to Carrhae. He destroys Perisapora and overruns Persian forts along the desert frontier (Limes Arabicus).


text: The Huns first appear in Europe and reach the Caspian Sea.


text: The Council of Laodicea, which deals with constricting the conduct of church members, is held. The major canon approved by this council is Canon 29, which prohibits resting on the Sabbath (Saturday), restricting Christians to honoring the Lord on Sunday.


text: Mar Mattai Monastery is founded on Mount Alfaf.


date: April 20

section: Science & Discovery

text: April 20 – The planet Venus occults the planet Jupiter.

source_section: Events › By topic › Astronomy


date: May 18

text: May 18–19 – Galilee earthquake of 363. Petra, capital of the Nabataeans (in modern-day Jordan), is seriously damaged.

source_section: Events › By place › Middle East


text: 363 Arsakawan earthquake: It affects the cities of Arsakawan (modern Doğubayazıt) and Salat (modern Sisian).


text: Sulpicius Severus, Christian writer (approximate date)


text: Wu Di (or Liu Yu), Chinese emperor of Liu Song (d. 422)


date: June 26

text: June 26 – Julian the Apostate, Roman emperor (b. 331)

source_section: Deaths


text: June 26 – Battle of Samarra: Julian is mortally wounded in a skirmish and dies from a wound received during the fighting near Samarra (Iraq). Jovian, general of the Guard, succeeds him and is proclaimed Emperor by the troops.

source_section: Events › By place › Roman Empire


text: Zhou (or Cheng), Chinese concubine of Jin Chengdi


text: Aemilia Hilaria, Galo-Roman physician and writer (b. 300)


text: Lucillianus, Roman commander (magister equitum)


text: Zhang Xuanjing, Chinese ruler of Former Liang (b. 350)


date: February 26

text: February 26 – Valentinian I is proclaimed Emperor by officers of the Roman army at Nicaea in Bithynia. He addresses the soldiers (who threaten to riot) in a speech. He founds the Valentinianic dynasty and rules the Western portion of the Roman Empire, from Caledonia (Scotland) to the Rhine frontier, ensuring it a few years of relative security. He settles in Lutetia (Paris) and establishes a militia to defend the region.


date: March 28

text: March 28 – Valens, brother of Valentinian I, is appointed co-emperor (Augustus) in the palace of Hebdomon (Turkey). He rules the Eastern portion of the Roman Empire, from the Danube to the Persian border, and begins the first anti-pagan persecutions.


text: Britain is forced to endure fierce barbarian raids.


text: The Council of Laodicea decides some disciplinary questions of the church and attempts to establish the Biblical canon, but fails.

source_section: Events › By topic › Religion


text: Theon of Alexandria, Greek mathematician, observes a solar eclipse (June 16) and a lunar eclipse (November 25).

source_section: Events › By topic › Science


text: Xu Xianzhi, Chinese official and regent (d. 426)

source_section: Births


text: Blaesilla, Roman noblewoman (d. 384)


text: Sima Daozi, Chinese prince and regent (d. 403)


text: Huiguo, Chinese Buddhist nun (d. 433)


date: February 17

text: February 17 – Emperor Jovian dies after a reign of eight months. He is found dead in his tent at Tyana (Asia Minor) en route back to Constantinople, in suspicious circumstances.


text: February 17 – Jovian, Roman emperor (b. 331)


text: Theophilos the Indian, Christian bishop


text: Ge Hong, Chinese scholar and taoist (b. 283)


date: September 28

text: September 28 – Procopius revolts and bribes two legions passing by Constantinople. He proclaims himself Emperor, and takes control of Thrace and Bithynia.


date: November 1

text: November 1 – The Alamanni cross the Rhine and invade Gaul. Emperor Valentinian I moves to Paris to command the army and defend the Gallic cities.


text: Basil of Caesarea becomes presbyter of Caesarea.


text: Emperor Valens orders the expulsion of the Alexandrian bishop Athanasius from his see, but instead of going into exile Athanasius, now about 67, moves to the outskirts of Alexandria.


date: July 21

text: July 21 – An earthquake and tsunami devastate Crete and Alexandria and affects Italy, Greece, and Palestine.


date: March 30

text: March 30 – Sixteen Kingdoms: Jin Feidi, age 23, succeeds his brother Jin Aidi as emperor of the Eastern Jin Dynasty. He has no actual power; governmental matters are largely in the hands of his granduncle Sima Yu.


text: Tao Yuanming, Chinese poet and politician (d. 427)


text: Julius Agricola, Roman consul and praetorian prefect


text: Kou Qianzhi, Chinese high official and taoist (d. 448)


text: Tufa Rutan, Chinese prince of the Southern Liang (d. 415)


text: March 30 – Ai of Jin (or Qianling), Chinese emperor (b. 341)


date: November 22

text: November 22 – Felix II, antipope of Rome (b. 287)


text: Wang Muzhi, Chinese empress of the Jin Dynasty


text: Feng Yi (or Zizhuan), Chinese official and general


text: Antipope Felix II dies after a 9-year reign, ending the double occupancy of the papacy.


text: Sima Xun (or Weichang), Chinese warlord (b. 306)


date: January 2

text: January 2 – The Alamanni cross the frozen Rhine in large numbers, and invade the Gallic provinces. They capture Alsace and a large part of the Swiss Plateau.


text: April – Battle of Thyatira: Emperor Valens defeats the troops of Procopius, bringing an end to his revolt; Serenianus and Marcellus are killed. Procopius flees the battlefield, but is executed by Valens.


text: Winter – Emperor Valentinian I appoints Jovinus, his Master of the Horse (Magister Equitum), general of the army. He defeats the Alamanni in three successive battles, and pushes them out of Gaul.


date: January 31

text: January 31 – Athanasius of Alexandria returns from his fifth exile. He has spent four months in his ancestral tomb outside Alexandria.


text: Buddhist monk Lè Zūn has a vision of "golden rays of light shining down on 1,000 Buddhas", resulting in the creation of the Mogao Caves.


text: Valens builds a pontoon bridge across the Danube, and drives the Visigoths further north, where they will come under pressure from the advancing Huns.


text: The Tabula Peutingeriana, a map showing Roman possessions and roads, is created about this time.

source_section: Events › By topic › Art and Science


date: January 18

text: January 18 – Valentinianus Galates, Roman emperor (d. 370)


text: Yao Xing, Chinese emperor of the Later Qin Dynasty (d. 416)


date: May 16

text: May 16 – Ajabel, Christian priest and martyr


date: May 27

text: May 27 – Procopius, Roman general and usurper


date: August 1

text: August 1 – Leo of Montefeltro, Christian bishop and saint


date: September 24

text: September 24 – Liberius, pope of the Catholic Church (b. 310)


date: October 1

text: October 1 – Pope Liberius dies after a 14-year reign and is succeeded by Damasus I as 37th pope. Romans unhappy with this choice elect the antipope Ursicinus.


text: Serenianus, Roman general of the Imperial Guard


text: Marinus, Christian hermit and saint (b. 275)


text: Zhi Dun, Chinese Buddhist monk and philosopher (b. 314)


text: Acacius of Caesarea, Christian bishop


text: Yu Daolian, Chinese empress and wife of Jin Feidi


text: Marcellus, Roman general and usurper


text: The first Korean envoy arrives in Japan, emissary of the government of Kudara.

source_section: Events › By place › Asia


text: Eunomius of Cyzicus is banished to Mauretania for harbouring the usurper Procopius.


text: Winter – Valentinian I mobilises a massive army for his campaign against the Alamanni and the Franks. He summons the Italian and Illyrian legions for a spring offensive.


text: Great Conspiracy: The Roman garrison on Hadrian's Wall revolts and allows Picts from Caledonia to devastate Britain. Simultaneously Attacotti, the Scotti from Hibernia (Ireland), and the Saxons from Germania invade the island's mid-western and south-eastern borders. They sack the cities and murder, rape or enslave Romano-British civilians.


text: Battle of Solicinium: Emperor Valentinian I launches a punitive expedition against the Alamanni, due to the crises in Britannia and Gaul. The Alamanni re-cross the Rhine and plunder Moguntiacum (modern Mainz).


date: August 4

text: August 4 – Gratian receives the title of Augustus under his father, Valentinian I.


date: November 16

text: November 16 – Antipope Ursicinus is banished by the praefecti to Gaul.


text: Epiphanius of Salamis becomes bishop of Salamis, Cyprus.


text: The first Listing of the New Testament (Bible) is made by St. Athanasius of Alexandria.


text: Valentinian I declares that Christians will not be forced into gladiator training schools.


text: Emperor Valens is baptized by Eudoxius of Antioch.


text: In the region of the constellation Perseus, a star not visible to the naked eye, and 1,533 light years distant from Earth, explodes in a nova. The light from the star, now called GK Persei, was first detected on Earth on February 21, 1901.


date: January 13

text: January 13 – Hilary of Poitiers, Byzantine bishop, Doctor of the Church and saint (b. c. 315)


text: Yang Wu (or Shiqiu), Chinese official, general and regent


text: Murong Ke, Chinese general and statesman of Former Yan


text: Spring – Emperor Valentinian I and his 8-year-old son, Gratian, cross the Rhine with an army into Alamannic territory. He defeats the Alemanni and burns food stores along the border. A temporary peace is signed with Macrian, king of the Bucinobantes, and Valentinian returns to his capital Augusta Treverorum (modern Trier).


text: Great Conspiracy: Picts, Scotti and Saxons reach Roman London and plunder the city. Theodosius, a general (Comes Britanniarum), is sent with a relief force to Britannia. He marches from Richborough, Kent, to deal with the invaders.


text: Winter – The barbarians are driven back to their homelands, Hadrian's Wall is retaken and order returns to the Roman diocese. Theodosius reorganises the abandoned forts and mounts punitive expeditions in Hibernia (Ireland).


date: October 11

text: 11 October – An earthquake strikes Nicaea (modern Turkey).


text: Philostorgius, Anomoean church historian and writer (d. 439)


text: Juqu Mengxun, Chinese prince of the Northern Liang (d. 433)


text: Eustochium, Christian Desert Mother and saint (approximate date)


date: July 7

text: July 7 – Maternien, Christian bishop and saint


text: Caesarius of Nazianzus, Roman physician and politician


text: Vulcacius Rufinus, Roman prefect, consul and politician


text: Yue Wan, Chinese general and politician of Former Yan


text: Spring – Emperor Valens crosses the Danube, and attacks the Gothic tribes (Greuthungi and Tervingi). Valens and Athanaric, the Gothic king, eventually sign a treaty.


text: Theodosius the Elder brings Britain fully back to the Empire after the Great Conspiracy of 367.


text: King Shapur II occupies the pro-Roman kingdom of Armenia. He besieges Artogerassa in modern Georgia, where Papas (Pap), son of King Arsaces II (Arshak II), defends the fortress and the royal treasure against Persian forces.

source_section: Events › By place › Persia


text: Fritigern becomes king of the Visigoths; amidst hostilities with his rival Athanaric, he asks Valens and the Thracian field army to intervene. They end the civil war, and Fritigern converts to Christianity.


text: Goguryeo invades Baekje (approximate date).


text: Eastern Jin general Huan Wen's third northern expedition is defeated by Former Yan general Murong Chui.


text: Wulfila creates a Gothic alphabet composed of letters based on Greek and Roman letters, as well as some Germanic runes. He converts the Goths to Arian Christianity.


text: Huan Xuan, Chinese warlord and emperor of the Jin Dynasty (d. 404)


date: May 3

text: May 3 – Juvenal of Narni, Roman Catholic bishop, confessor and saint


text: Valentinus, Roman criminal and rebel leader


text: Pharantzem, Armenian queen and regent (approximate date)


text: Caesarius of Nazianzus, Byzantine physician and politician (b. 331)


year_label: 37 CE

text: Abilene is granted to King Agrippa I.

source_section: Events › 37 AD › Roman Empire


date: March 18

text: March 18 – The Roman Senate annuls Tiberius's will, and proclaims Caligula as Roman Emperor, nullifying the joint claim of Tiberius Gemellus. Caligula's attempt to have himself deified creates friction between himself and the Senate.


text: The Pharisee Saul of Tarsus is converted to Christianity, after a vision (possible date). After the year 39, he is recognised as Saint Paul.

source_section: Events › 37 AD › Anatolia


text: Peter the Apostle founds the Church of Antioch (approximate date).


date: October

text: October – Caligula becomes seriously ill, or perhaps is poisoned. He recovers from his illness, but Caligula turns toward the diabolical: he starts to kill off those who are close to him, whom he sees as a serious threat.


date: April 9

text: April 9 – An earthquake destroys Antioch.


date: December 15

text: December 15 – Nero, Roman emperor (d. 68 AD)

source_section: Births › 37 AD


text: Josephus, Romano-Jewish historian (d. c. 100 AD)


date: March 16

text: March 16 – Tiberius, Roman emperor (b. 42 BC)

source_section: Deaths › 37 AD


date: May 1

text: May 1 – Antonia the Younger, daughter of Mark Antony and Octavia the Younger (b. 36 BC)


text: Lucius Arruntius (the Younger), Roman politician


text: Marcus Junius Silanus, Roman politician (b. c. 26 BC)


text: Maroboduus, king of the Marcomanni (b. c. 30 BC)


text: Germanic Invasions: Various Germanic tribes are forced against the northern borders of the Roman Empire as they flee the invading Huns.


text: Former Qin conquers Former Yan in China.


text: The Huns migrate westward from the Volga into Europe and subjugate the Alans and the Ostrogoths. With their arrival, a tradition of composite bows is introduced.

source_section: Events › By place › Europe


text: Athanaric, Gothic leader of the Tervingi, advances eastwards and takes up a defensive position along the banks of the Dniester (Romania).


text: Demophilus of Constantinople becomes Patriarch of Constantinople, although his position is disputed by Evagrius of Constantinople.


text: Basil the Great becomes bishop of Caesarea (Cappadocia).


text: A law of Valentinian I and Valens bans marriages between Romans and barbarians under penalty of death.


text: An edict issued by Valentinian I and Valens bans the importation of wine and olive oil from areas controlled by the barbarians.


text: Hypatia, Greek female philosopher (d. 415)


text: Decimus Rusticus, Roman praetorian prefect


text: Brice of Tours, Catholic bishop of Tours (d. 444)


text: Alaric I (or Alaricus), king of the Visigoths (d. 410)


text: Claudian, Roman poet and writer (d. 404)


text: Strategius Musonianus, Roman politician (approximate date)


text: Lucifer Calaritanus, founder of the Luciferian sect (approximate date)


text: Eudoxius of Antioch, Syrian patriarch of Constantinople


text: Yuan Zhen (or Yanren), Chinese general and rebel leader


text: Deng Xia (or Yingyuan), Chinese general (approximate date)


text: Valentinianus Galates, Roman emperor (approximate date)


text: Pharantzem, Armenian queen and regent (approximate date)


text: The fortified cities of the Danube, with Sirmium (Pannonia) at the forefront, contribute to stop an invasion of the Quadi.


text: Baekje forces sack the city of P'yongyang in Goguryeo.


text: Sosurim becomes king of Goguryeo.


text: The Persian Empire attains the zenith of its power under King Shapur II as the Romans renew their war against Persia. Hostilities will continue for the next 5 years.


text: Roman poet Ausonius writes of a voyage on the Rhine and the Moselle in his work 'Mosella'.


text: Martin of Tours becomes bishop of Tours (approximate date).


text: Augustine of Hippo, age 17, travels to Carthage to continue his education in rhetoric.


text: Valentinian II, Roman consul and emperor (d. 392)


text: Sengrui, Chinese Buddhist monk and scholar (d. 438)


text: Dao Wu Di, Chinese emperor of Northern Wei (d. 409)


date: April 12

text: April 12 – Zeno of Verona, Christian bishop and martyr


text: August 1 – Eusebius of Vercelli, Christian bishop (b. 283)


text: Gogugwon, king of Goguryeo (Korea)


text: Hilarion, Syrian anchorite and saint (b. 291)


text: Lucifer Calaritanus, Christian bishop (approximate date)


text: Athanaric starts building new defensive works to protect his people against the Alans and the Huns.


text: The first diplomatic ties are established between the Korean kingdom of Baekje and the Chinese court of the Jin Dynasty.

source_section: Events › By place › China


text: The Huns attack the Tervingi on the Dniester, overwhelming them with light cavalry (horse archers), and devastating the settlements of the Goths. King Athanaric is defeated and seeks refuge in Caucaland in the Carpathian Mountains.


text: Sixteen Kingdoms: Jin Feidi is dethroned as emperor of the Eastern Jin Dynasty. He is replaced by his granduncle Sima Yu, who is installed as Jin Jianwendi.


text: Emperor Valentinian I is engaged in operations against the Alamanni, Quadi and Sarmatians, while his subordinates are dealing with the Roman usurper Firmus in Africa and the Picts in Britain.


text: Buddhism is adopted as the official religion of Gorguryeo.


text: Gregory of Nyssa becomes bishop of Nyssa.


text: Saint Augustine adopts Manichaeism.


text: Valentinian I bans Manichaean meetings.


text: Basil the Great establishes the Basileias, possibly the first hospital, near Caesarea Mazaca on land granted by emperor Valens.


date: September 12

text: September 12 – Jin Xiaowudi, age 10, succeeds his father Jin Jianwendi. Empress Chu Suanzi serves as regent, but decisions are made by the high officials Xie An and Wang Tanzhi.


text: The national academy of Chinese learning, called Taehak, is established in the kingdom of Goguryeo (Korea).


text: Pei Songzhi, Chinese historian and politician (d. 451)


text: Jianwen of Jin, Chinese emperor of the Jin Dynasty (b. 320)


text: Sabbas the Goth, Christian reader and saint (b. 334)


text: Maximus of Ephesus, Greek Neoplatonist philosopher


text: The Aqueduct of Valens is inaugurated near Constantinople (modern Istanbul); the aqueduct has a length of 971 meters.


text: Battle of the Tanais River: The Huns defeat the Alans near the Don, sending the remnants fleeing westward.


text: King Shapur II declares war as a result of Valens' support of Armenia. Emperor Valens makes Antioch his military base for the campaign against Persia.


text: Count Theodosius the Elder is appointed commander of an expedition to suppress the rebellion of Firmus in Mauretania.


text: Saint Martin of Tours undertakes the Christianization of Gaul.


text: Quintus Aurelius Symmachus becomes proconsul of Africa, and is made a member of the pontifical college.


text: Emperor Valens is converted to Arianism, and orders the persecution of Trinitarian Christians in the Roman East.


text: Murong Sheng (or Daoyun), Chinese emperor of the Later Yan Dynasty (d. 401)


text: Murong Hui, Chinese general and prince of the Later Yan Dynasty (d. 397)


text: Synesius of Cyrene, Christian bishop (approximate date)


date: May 2

text: May 2 – Athanasius of Alexandria, Egyptian bishop and saint (b. 296)


date: June 9

text: June 9 – Ephrem the Syrian, Syrian Orthodox priest and saint (b. 306)


text: Huan Wen (or Yuanzi), Chinese general and regent (b. 312)


text: Sun Sheng, Chinese historian and politician (b. 302)


text: Nerses I (the Great), Armenian catholicos (or patriarch)


text: The Quadi cross the Danube and begin ravaging Pannonia. They avoid the fortified cities and plunder the unprotected countryside.


date: December 7

text: December 7 – The people of Milan astonish Ambrosius, governor of Aemilia-Liguria, by acclaiming him bishop. He is the second son of the former praetorian prefect of Gaul, and becomes a creative thinker whose ideas will provide the paradigm for medieval church-state relations.


date: May 4

text: May 4 – Spearthrower Owl ascends to the throne and becomes ruler of Teotihuacan (Mexico).

source_section: Events › By place › Mesoamerica


text: Gwanggaeto the Great, Korean king of Goguryeo (d. 412)


text: Fu Liang (or Jiyou), Chinese official and politician (d. 426)


date: January 2

text: January 2 – Gregory the Elder, Christian bishop and saint (b. 276)


date: April 20

text: April 20 – Marcellinus of Gaul (or Marcellin), Christian bishop


date: November 17

text: November 17 – Pap of Armenia (or Papas), king of Armenia


text: Auxentius of Milan, Christian bishop and theologian


text: Pushyavarman, Indian ruler of Kamarupa


text: Marcellus of Ancyra, Christian bishop and saint


text: Emperor Chandragupta II becomes ruler of the Gupta Empire (India). He is the son of Samudragupta the Great and retains his reign by an aggressive expansionist policy.

source_section: Events › By place › India


text: The Quadi accept an uneasy peace from Merobaudes (Magister militum), which gives them land to settle on the Danube.


text: Gratian, age 16, takes over the government at Augusta Treverorum (modern Trier), but ministers wishing to retain the loyalty of the Illyrian army fear a usurper. They proclaim Valentinian's 4-year-old son Valentinian II co-emperor with his mother, Justina, as regent. Gratian reserves for himself the administration of the Gallic provinces, and hands over Italy, Illyrium, Hispania and Africa to his stepmother, who makes Mediolanum (Milan) her residence.


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


text: In Africa, the dissident Berber prince Firmus is delivered to the Romans by his brother Gildon.


text: The earliest extant books – a school textbook and an account book – with bound wooden leaves, are lost at the Dakhla Oasis in western Egypt. The desert sands preserve them for modern archaeologists.

source_section: Events › By topic › Education


text: Saint Jerome retires to the desert of Chalcis (Syria).


text: Gratian, advised by his chief advisor Ambrosius, begins a systematic persecution of the pagans. He confiscates the fortunes of the temples and adds the money to the Imperial Treasury. He proscribes Arianism and Donatism.


text: The Maronite Church is founded by Saint Maron in Lebanon.


text: The Talmud of Babylon is written by Rav Ashi. This commentary on the Mishnah contains approximately 2.5 million words on 5.894 pages.


text: The first two Korean Buddhist temples are built.


text: Zong Bing (or Shaowen), Chinese artist and musician (d. 443)


text: Orosius, Christian historian and theologian (approximate date)


date: February 23

text: February 23 – Saint Gorgonia, daughter of Gregory the Elder

source_section: Deaths


date: May 30

text: May 30 – Emmelia of Caesarea, Byzantine Eastern Orthodox priest


date: September 3

text: September 3 – Mansuetus, Christian bishop and saint


text: November 17 – Valentinian I, Roman emperor (b. 321)


text: November 17 – Emperor Valentinian I concludes an enduring peace with the Alamanni in Germany, then marches into Illyricum to repel an invasion of the Quadi and the Sarmatians on the Danube frontier. While negotiating with the Quadi, Valentinian, age 54, becomes so enraged that he dies in a fit of apoplexy at Brigetio (Hungary). Extreme cruelty has marked his 11-year reign, but he has also founded schools and provided physicians to serve the poor of Constantinople.

source_section: Events › By place › Roman Empire


text: Kipunada, Indian ruler of the Kushan Empire


text: Wang Meng (or Jinglüe), Chinese politician (b. 325)


text: Samudragupta, Indian emperor of the Gupta Empire


text: Rav Papa, Babylonian Jewish amora and talmudist


text: Pambo (or Pemwah), Coptic Desert Father (b. 305)


text: Geunchogo (or Chogo II), Korean ruler of Baekje


text: China is divided between the Former Qin in the north and the Eastern Jin in the south.


text: The Greuthungi, led by Alatheus and Saphrax, displaced by the predations of the Huns and Alans, request asylum within the Roman Empire. They are refused. The Roman frontier forces stretched to the breaking point, they slip across the Danube and unite with Fritigern. With their situation critical and desperately short of food, discontent is rising amongst the Goths.


text: Lupicinus, count (Comes) of Thrace, tries to bring the Visigoths back under control. He invites Fritigern and the Gothic leaders to a banquet, letting them believe that in addition to food and drink, they can discuss provisions for their people. During the feast, Lupicinus tries to assassinate the Gothic delegation. Fritigern escapes and the Goths begin looting and burning the farms and Roman villas near Marcianople.


text: Zhang Tianxi, ruler of Former Liang, submits to Fu Jiān of Former Qin, thus ending the state of Former Liang. Zhang is made "Marquess of Guiyi".


text: The Romans fail to disarm the Visigoths, bungle administration of the refugees, and mistreat them, taking some of their children as slaves. The Goths break out of their containment area along the Danube and strike south towards the low-lying fertile region near Marcianople (Bulgaria). Although defying the local Roman officials, they are not in open revolt.


text: Fearing they will join Fritigern, Roman troops of Gothic origin stationed in Adrianople are ordered by Valens to move east. The soldiers request a two-day delay to prepare and ask for food and money for the journey. However, the chief magistrate of Adrianople refuses and the Goths break out in open rebellion. They inflict heavy casualties among the citizens. Arming themselves with Roman equipment, they join forces with Fritigern.


text: Gothic War: Emperor Valens permits the Visigothic chieftain Fritigern and his people to cross the Danube from Thrace (later Romania), and settle on Roman soil in Lower Moesia, on the condition that they provide soldiers to the legions. The Visigoths embark by troops on boats and rafts, and canoes made from hollowed tree trunks. The river is swollen by frequent rains; a large number try to swim and are drowned in their struggle against the force of the stream.


text: Winter – Fritigern attempts an unsuccessful siege of Adrianople. His troops try to storm the city walls, but abandon the attacks and break into small bands, better able to forage and feed themselves. Roman prisoners switch sides and give the Goths a valuable source of local intelligence.


text: Lupicinus attacks the Visigoths 9 miles outside Marcianople with hastily gathered local troops. His force (5,000 men) is annihilated and the Goths equip themselves with Roman armour and weapons. Fritigern marches south towards Adrianople (Turkey).


text: Cyril of Alexandria, Egyptian patriarch (d. 444)


date: April 10

text: April 10 – Bademus, Christian abbot and saint


date: October 10

text: October 10 – Acepsimas of Hnaita, Persian bishop


text: Theodosius the Elder, Roman general


text: Yuan Hong, Chinese historian and politician (b. 328)


text: Ermanaric, king of the Goths (Greuthungi) (b. 291)


text: Tuoba Shiyiqian, prince of the Tuoba Dai (b. 320)


text: Valens sends Saturninus to the Balkan Mountains to block the passes. These efforts are possibly supported by units of limitanei (light infantry) withdrawn from areas under Goth control. Split into small bands and unable to join the Tervingi in sufficient strength to overcome the Roman cordon, the Goths grow increasingly desperate.


text: Valens concludes a peace with the Persian Empire and leaves enough troops to defend the eastern frontier. The Saracens under Queen Mavia revolt and devastate a swath of territory stretching from Phoenicia and Palestine as far as the Sinai (Egypt). Valens successfully brings the uprising under control.


text: Battle of the Willows: The Romans abandon the guerrilla strategy and are attacked by the Goths. The battle is indecisive but both sides suffer heavy casualties. The only Roman army available to face the Goths is no longer a fighting force. Richomeres withdraws his troops south of Marcianople (Bulgaria).


text: Emperor Valens requests his nephew Gratian to send Roman troops against the Goths. He responds by sending the ageing General Frigeridus with elite reinforcements that Ammianus calls ‘Pannonian and Transalpine auxiliaries (Pannonicis et Transalpinis auxiliis).’ Gratian also sends Richomeres, his Frankish commander of household troops (comes domesticorum), at the head of a number of troops drawn from the Gallic field army.


text: Persian king Shapur II pushes the Huns back across the Caucasus.


text: Autumn – Bands of predatory "barbarians" spread throughout the province in search of food, supplies and booty. Most Roman troops are bottled up in the towns. Some elite units remain in the field and skirmish with the Goths. One such action takes place outside the town of Dibaltum. The Scutarii heavy cavalry is destroyed in a mad charge against the Goths.


text: The Goths (possibly Greuthungi) make an alliance with some of the Huns and Alans along the Danube, and entice them across the river. With the balance of power now shifted Saturninus concentrates his forces to avoid his outposts being overrun. This opens the passes, allowing the Goths, Huns and Alans to break out into the lowlands of southern Thrace.


text: The Goths, now seeking a military victory to force the Empire to make terms, aim to dislodge the army of Frigeridus from Beroea. He withdraws over the Succi (Ihtiman) Pass back to Illyrium, and reports to Gratian that an expedition by the main imperial armies is required to repulse the Goths in Thrace.


text: Chinese painter Gu Kaizhi paints his work, "The Nymph of the Luo River".


text: Gothic War: Famine in Lower Moesia (occupied by the Goths) takes a fearsome toll. Fritigern and his followers appeal for help, but the governors Lupicinus and Maximus regard them as second-class citizens. Little help is forthcoming, and thousands starve to death. The pressure on the Roman frontier is still severe, with the Taifali and other hostile bands of Goths on the Danube. In addition, groups of Huns and Alans have also moved up to the river.


text: Arcadius, Roman consul and emperor (approximate date)


text: Valerian of Abbenza, Christian bishop and saint (d. 457)


text: Euthymius the Great, Armenian abbot and bishop (d. 473)


text: Julian Sabas (the Ascetic), Byzantine hermit


text: Huan Huo (or Langzi), Chinese general (b. 320)


text: Chi Chao (or Jingyu), Chinese adviser and politician (b. 336)


text: Sahak I, Armenian archbishop and catholicos


date: February

text: February – The Lentienses (part of the Alemanni) cross the frozen Rhine and raid the countryside. They are driven back by Roman auxilia palatina (Celtae and Petulantes), who defend the western frontier.


date: May

text: May – Battle of Argentovaria: Emperor Gratian is forced to recall the army he has sent East. The Lentienses are defeated by Mallobaudes near Colmar (France). Gratian gains the title Alemannicus Maximus.


date: July

text: July – Frigeridus, Roman general, fortifies the Succi (Ihtiman) Pass to prevent the "barbarians" from breaking out to the north-west (Pannonia).


date: August 9

text: August 9 – Battle of Adrianople: Valens leads an elite Roman army to Thrace to confront revolts, but is defeated.


date: August

text: August – Gratian continues down the Danube to the "Camp of Mars" (frontier fortress near modern Niš), where he loses several men in an ambush by a band of Alans.


text: Siyaj K'ak' conquers Tikal on January 16.


text: Siyaj K'ak' conquers Waka on January 8.


text: Spring – Emperor Valens returns to Constantinople and mobilises an army (40,000 men). He appoints Sebastianus, newly arrived from Italy, as magister militum to reorganize the Roman armies in Thrace.


text: The Goths, with their wagons and families vulnerable to attack, withdraw back to the north. Roman scouts fail to detect the Greuthungi cavalry foraging further up the Tundzha valley.


text: Gothic War: Valens sends Sebastian with a body of picked troops (2,000 men) to Thrace and renews the guerrilla war against the Goths. He chases down small groups of Gothic raiders around Adrianople.


text: Siyaj K'ak' conquers Uaxactun.


text: The Goths, supported by the Huns, move on to Constantinople. Their progress is checked by the Saracens, recruited from Arab tribes who control the eastern fringes of the empire.


text: Siyaj K'ak' begins to replace Mayan kings with relatives of Spearthrower Owl, emperor of Teotihuacan.


text: Fritigern strikes south from Cabyle, following the Tundzha River towards Adrianople, and tries to get behind the supply lines to Constantinople.


text: Roman reconnaissance detects the Goths. Valens, already west of Adrianople, turns back and establishes a fortified camp outside the city.


text: Gratian sets out from Lauriacum (Austria) with a body of light armed troops. His force is small enough to travel by boat down the Danube. He halts for four days at Sirmium (Serbia) suffering from fever.


text: Fritigern concentrates his army at Cabyle (Bulgaria). The Goths are mainly centred in the river valleys south of the Balkan Mountains, around the towns of Beroea, Cabyle and Dibaltum.


text: Gregory of Nazianzus is ordained bishop of Constantinople.

source_section: Events › By topic › Religion


text: Pope Damasus I is accused of adultery but is exonerated by Gratian.


text: Fritigern sends a Christian priest to the Roman camp with an offer of terms and a letter for Valens. The peace overtures are rejected.


text: Valens completes the aqueduct of Constantinople begun by Constantine I.

source_section: Events › By topic › Architecture


text: The Goths attack Adrianople; they attempt to scale the city walls with ladders but are repelled by the defenders, who drop lumps of masonry.


date: October

text: October – The Greuthungi, faced with food shortages, split off and move west into Pannonia. Followed by their families, they raid villages and farmland.


text: Germanus of Auxerre, Christian bishop (approximate date)

source_section: Births


text: August 9 – Sebastianus, Roman general (magister peditum)


text: August 9 – Valens, Roman consul and emperor (b. 328)


text: August 9 – Traianus, Roman general (magister militum)


text: Titus of Bostra, Christian bishop and theologian


text: Flavius Arintheus, Roman politician and general


date: January 19

text: January 19 – Emperor Gratian elevates Flavius Theodosius at Sirmium, giving him the title Augustus with power over all the eastern provinces. Theodosius comes to terms with the Visigoths and settles them in the Balkans as military allies (foederati).


text: Gratian refuses the title of Eastern Emperor.


date: September 13

text: September 13 – Yax Nuun Ayiin (I) becomes ruler of Tikal.


text: Former Qin captures the city of Xiangyang from Eastern Jin. The Buddhist monk Dao'an is transferred from Xiangyang to Chang'an.


text: Britain is forced to endure fierce Barbarian raids.


text: Gratian renounces the title Pontifex Maximus.


text: John Chrysostom writes a book on the Christian education of children.


text: Gregory Nazianzus becomes Patriarch of Constantinople, and is wounded when he is attacked by a mob of heretics.


text: Niall becomes High King of Ireland.


text: Gunderic, king of the Vandals and Alans (d. 428)


text: Wang Hong, Chinese politician and general (d. 432)


date: January 1

text: January 1 – Basil the Great, bishop of Caesarea Mazaca (b. 330)


date: July 19

text: July 19 – Macrina the Younger, Christian nun and saint (b. 327)


text: King Shapur II, ruler of the Persian Empire, age 70, dies after a 69-year reign in which he conquered Armenia and transferred multitudes of people from the western lands to Susiana (Khuzistan). The great town Nishapur in Khorasan (eastern Parthia) is also founded by him. His brother Ardashir II, governor-king of Adiabene, is placed by the nobles on the throne.


text: Shapur II (the Great), ruler of the Sasanian Empire (b. 309)


year_label: 38 CE

text: An anti-Jewish riot breaks out in Alexandria, during a visit by King Herod Agrippa I; the mob wants to place statues of Caligula in every synagogue.

source_section: Events › 38 AD › Egypt


text: Stachys the Apostle becomes the second patriarch of Constantinople (traditional date).

source_section: Events › 38 AD › Anatolia


text: Andrew the Apostle becomes the first patriarch of Constantinople, and resigns that position shortly thereafter (traditional date).


text: Phaedrus writes his popular collection of fables.

source_section: Events › 38 AD › Roman Empire


text: An epidemic breaks out in K'aui-chi, causing many deaths. Imperial official Ch'ung-li I provides medicines that save many lives.

source_section: Events › 38 AD › China


text: Apion heads a deputation to Emperor Caligula, to complain about the Jews in Alexandria.


text: Claudius and Messalina are most likely married at this point in time.


text: Marcus Valerius Martialis, Roman Latin poet (approximate date)

source_section: Births › 38 AD


text: Julius Archelaus Antiochus, prince of Commagene (d. AD 92)


text: Drusilla, princess of Mauretania


text: Lucius Calpurnius Piso Licinianus, Roman co-emperor (d. AD 69)


text: Drusilla, Jewish princess and daughter of Herod Agrippa I (d. AD 79)


date: June 10

text: June 10 – Julia Drusilla, sister of Caligula (b. AD 16)

source_section: Deaths › 38 AD


text: Naevius Sutorius Macro, Roman prefect (b. 21 BC)


text: Tiberius Julius Aspurgus, Roman client king


text: Ennia Thrasylla, Roman noblewoman


text: Rhoemetalces II, Roman client king


text: Tiberius Gemellus, grandson of Tiberius (b. AD 19)


text: Du Shi, Chinese inventor and politician


text: Archelaus of Cilicia, Roman client king


date: November 24

text: November 24 – Theodosius I makes his adventus, or formal entry, into Constantinople.


text: Battle of Thessalonica: The Goths under Fritigern defeat a Roman army in Macedonia. Theodosius I retreats to Thessalonica and leaves Gratian in control of the Western Roman Empire.


text: Queen Mavia, with her Saracen forces, defeats the Roman army in southern Syria.


text: Rome's enemies (the Germans, Sarmatians and Huns) are taken into Imperial service; as a consequence, barbarian leaders begin to play an increasingly active role in the Roman Empire.


text: The annexation of western provinces by Chandragupta II gives him commerce with Europe and Egypt.


text: Easter Island, in the south Pacific Ocean, has been occupied by Neolithic seafarers under Hotu Matu'a ("supreme chief"), who about this time begin to fortify the island.

source_section: Events › By place › Pacific


date: February 27

text: February 27 – Edict of Thessalonica: Theodosius I, with co-emperors Gratian and Valentinian II, declare their wish that all Roman citizens convert to trinitarian Christianity, in accordance with the patriarchs of Rome and Alexandria, implicitly rejecting the Arianism of the patriarch of Constantinople as heretical.


text: Emperor Theodosius I is baptized.


text: A cathedral is built in Augusta Treverorum.


text: Ticonius writes a commentary on the Bible's Book of Revelation.


text: The Council of Saragossa is held; Spanish and Aquitanian bishops condemn the teachings of Priscillianism.


text: Important works on mathematics and astronomy are written in Sanskrit.

source_section: Events › By topic › Arts and sciences


text: Alexius, Eastern saint (approximate date)


text: Eutyches, presbyter and archimandrite (approximate date)


text: Peter Chrysologus, bishop of Ravenna (approximate date)


text: Olympiodorus of Thebes, historical writer (approximate date)


text: Hephaestion of Thebes, Egyptian astrologer (approximate date)


text: Socrates of Constantinople, church historian (approximate date)


text: Kālidāsa, Classical Sanskrit writer (approximate date)


text: Aelia Eudoxia, empress and wife of Arcadius (approximate date)


text: Eucherius, bishop of Lyon (approximate date)


text: Philip of Side, Christian church historian (approximate date)


text: April 10 – James, Azadanus and Abdicius, Roman Catholic priests, martyrs and saints


text: Fritigern, king of the Visigoths

source_section: Deaths › Date unknown


text: Samudragupta, ruler of the Gupta Empire


text: Wang Fahui, empress of the Jin dynasty (b. 360)


text: The Visigothic chieftain Fritigern dies after ravaging the Balkans; his rival Athanaric becomes king of the entire Gothic nation.

source_section: Events › By place › Europe


text: The Sciri together with the Huns attack along Rome's lower Danubian frontier.


text: John Chrysostom becomes a deacon.


text: Emperor Gratian moves the capital to Mediolanum (modern-day Milan). Because of his Christian beliefs, he eliminates Pontifex Maximus as Imperial title. Gratian also refuses the robe of office, insulting the pagan aristocrats of Rome.


text: First Council of Constantinople (some authorities date this council to 383): Theodosius I calls a general council to affirm and extend the Nicene Creed, and denounce Arianism and Apollinarism. Most trinitarian churches consider this an Ecumenical council.


text: Timothy succeeds Peter II as Patriarch of Alexandria.


text: Nectarius succeeds Gregory Nazianzus as Archbishop of Constantinople.


text: Council of Aquileia: Ambrose and the council depose the Arian bishops Palladius of Ratiaria and Secundianus of Singidunum.


text: The Gallic city of Cularo is renamed Gratianopolis (later Grenoble), in honor of Gratian having created a bishopric.


text: Flavian succeeds Meletius as Patriarch of Antioch.


text: Helian Bobo, Chinese emperor of the Xiongnu state Xia (d. 425)


date: February 15

text: February 15 – Faustinus of Brescia, Roman Catholic bishop and saint


text: February 27 – Peter II, Patriarch of Alexandria


date: June 29

text: June 29 – Saint Syrus, Bishop of Genoa


text: The Visigothic chieftain Athanaric becomes the first foreign king to visit the Eastern Roman capital of Constantinople. He negotiates a peace treaty with emperor Theodosius I that makes his people foederati as "one body within the imperial soldiery". Athanaric dies 2 weeks later after an 18-year reign in which he has been undisputed king of all the Goths for just 1 year. The peace will continue until Theodosius's death in 395.


text: Athanaric, king of the Visigoths


text: Saint Meletius, Patriarch of Antioch


date: October 3

text: October 3 – Emperor Theodosius I commands his general Saturninus to conclude a peace treaty with the Visigoths, allowing them to settle south of the Danube. They are installed as foederati in Moesia and Thrace with the title of "Allies of the Roman People", in exchange for furnishing a contingent of auxiliary troops to defend the borders.


text: The Council of Rome establishes Biblical canon in the Catholic Church. Pope Damasus I commissions a revision of the Vetus Latina, eventually resulting in the Vulgate of Jerome.


text: The first sermons declaring the virginity of Mary are given by John Chrysostom.


text: Emperor Gratian refuses the divine attributes of the Imperial cult and removes the Altar of Victory from the Senate.


text: Jin Andi, emperor of the Eastern Jin Dynasty (d. 419)


text: Sima Yuanxian, regent during the Jin Dynasty (d. 402)


text: Apollinaris the Younger, bishop of Laodicea in Syria.


text: The same council adopts Trinitarianism as doctrine, condemning Apollinarism. Theodosius I orders the death of members of the Manichaean monks.


text: January 19 – Arcadius is elevated to Emperor.


text: Niall of the Nine Hostages becomes the first High King of Ireland.

source_section: Events › By place › Britannia


text: Roman troops in Britannia proclaim Magnus Maximus as their Emperor. He crosses over to the continent and makes Trier his capital. Gaul, the Italian provinces and Hispania proclaim loyalty to him.


text: Theodosius I sends Flavius Stilicho as an envoy to the Persian court of King Shapur III at Ctesiphon, to negotiate a peace settlement relating to the partition of Armenia.


date: August 25

text: August 25 – Emperor Gratian, age 24, is assassinated at Lugdunum (modern-day Lyon), leaving a young widow Laeta. Pannonia and Africa maintain their allegiance to co-emperor Valentinian II, now 12, whose mother, Justina, rules in his name.


text: Magnus Maximus withdraws Roman troops from the region of Wales, marking the effective end of Roman rule in Wales.


text: Emperor Theodosius I cedes Dacia and Macedonia to Valentinian II. They recognize Magnus Maximus as Augustus.


text: Battle of Fei River (Feishui): Former Qin forces are defeated by the numerically inferior Eastern Jin army in Anhui, preserving the Jin state in the south and precipitating the destruction of Former Qin in the north.

source_section: Events › By place › Asia


text: By the order of Theodosius I, Eunomius of Cyzicus is banished to Moesia.


text: First Council of Constantinople (some authorities date this council to 381): Theodosius I calls a general council to affirm and extend the Nicene Creed, and denounce Arianism and Apollinarism. Most trinitarian Christian churches consider this an Ecumenical council.


text: Lupus of Troyes, French bishop and saint (approximate date)


date: May 30

text: May 30 – Isaac of Dalmatia, Byzantine Orthodox priest and saint

source_section: Deaths


text: August 25 – Gratian, Roman Emperor (assassinated) (b. 359)


date: October 21

text: October 21 – Ursula, Roman Christian martyr and saint


text: Fu Rong, Chinese general and prime minister


text: Ardashir II, Sassanid king (shah) ("King of Kings")


text: Frumentius, Phoenician missionary and bishop


text: King Ardashir II dies after a 4-year reign. He is succeeded by his son Shapur III.


text: Ulfilas (or Wulfila), Gothic missionary and bishop


text: Flavia Maxima Constantia, daughter of Constantius II


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


text: King Shapur III signs the Peace of Acilisene with Theodosius I. Armenia is divided in two kingdoms and becomes a vassal state of the Roman Empire and Persia. The friendly relations survive for 36 years.

source_section: Events › By place › Persia


text: Magnus Maximus returns to Britain to aid the Roman army with the barbarian raids triggered by Maximus' withdrawal of troops to the continent.

source_section: Events › By place › Roman Empire


text: Quintus Aurelius Symmachus becomes urban prefect of Rome.


text: Following Former Qin's defeat at the Battle of Fei River, Murong Chui, Murong Hong, and Yao Chang declares themselves emperors of Later Yan, Western Yan, and Later Qin respectively, precipitating the disintegration of Former Qin.

source_section: Events › By place › China


date: December 17

text: December 17 – Pope Siricius succeeds Damasus I as the 38th pope. He takes the title Pontifex Maximus, after it is relinquished by the late emperor Gratian.

source_section: Events › By topic › Religion


text: An edict of Theodosius I closes pagan temples in the Nile Valley (Egypt).


text: Ambrosius refuses the request of Empress Justina for a church in Milan, where she can worship according to her Arian belief.


text: Jerome, Christian prophet, writes his celebrated letter "De custodia virginitatis" (vow of virginity) to Eustochium, daughter of the ascetic Paula. He has by this time completed his Vulgate translation of the Gospels.


text: The Gallaeci or Gallic woman Egeria concludes her Christian pilgrimage to the Holy Land at about this date; her narrative of it, the Itinerarium Egeriae, may be the earliest surviving formal writing by a woman in western European culture.


text: A synod is held in Bordeaux (France).


text: The Forum of Theodosius ("Forum of the Bull") is built in Constantinople.


text: Stilicho marries Serena, adopted niece of Theodosius I.


text: Magnus Maximus elevates his son Flavius Victor to the rank of Augustus.


text: King Chimnyu ascends to the throne of Baekje (Korea); he welcomes the Indian Buddhist monk Marananta into his palace, and later declares Buddhism the official religion.


date: September 9

text: September 9 – Honorius, Roman Emperor (d. 423)

source_section: Births


text: Chu Lingyuan, last empress of the Jin Dynasty (d. 436)


text: Wang Shen'ai, empress of the Jin Dynasty (d. 412)


text: Sengzhao, Chinese Buddhist philosopher (d. 414)


text: Maria, empress and daughter of Stilicho (approximate date)


date: May 13

text: May 13 – Servatius of Tongeren, Roman Catholic bishop and saint


date: July 20

text: July 20 – Pope Timothy I of Alexandria


text: Chu Suanzi, empress of the Jin Dynasty (b. 324)


text: Huan Chong, general and governor of the Jin Dynasty (b. 328)


text: Vettius Agorius Praetextatus, praetorian prefect


text: Geungusu, king of Baekje (Korea)


text: Xi Zuochi, Jin Dynasty historian


text: Murong Hong, founder of the Xianbei state Western Yan


text: Jinsa of Baekje becomes the 16th king of the ancient Korean kingdom of Baekje.


text: Priscillian, Spanish bishop, is accused of Manichaeism and magic, and beheaded at Trier . He becomes the first person in the history of Christianity to be executed for heresy.


text: Theophilus becomes Patriarch of Alexandria.


text: Pope Siricius issues the Directa Decretal, proclaiming the primacy of Rome and the priestly obligation of celibacy.


text: The Roman synod exiles the prophet Jerome, who has incorporated ideas first propounded by the Roman statesman Cicero. He departs for Egypt, Bethlehem, and Jerusalem, accompanied by the Christian ascetic Paula, who will edit Jerome's translation of the Bible, which becomes the Latin Vulgate.


text: Ammianus Marcellinus begins writing a history, in the style of Tacitus, covering the years AD 96–378.

source_section: Events › By topic › Arts and Sciences


text: The Serapeum of Alexandria, one of the largest Greek temples in Egypt, is destroyed by a Christian mob. The precise date is disputed, with 391 sometimes given as the moment of final destruction.


text: Aurelios Zopyros becomes the last reported athlete at the Ancient Olympic Games. He is a victor in "junior boxing" (pankration).

source_section: Events › By topic › Sport in the Roman Empire


text: Pulcheria, daughter of Theodosius I who died in infancy (d. 386)


text: Murong Xi, emperor of the Xianbei state Later Yan (d. 407)


text: Paulus Orosius, historian and theologian (approximate date)


text: Saint Patrick, missionary in Ireland (approximate date)


text: Xie Lingyun, Chinese poet of the Southern and Northern Dynasties (d. 433)


text: Murong Chao, emperor of the Xianbei state Southern Yan (d. 410)


text: Avitus, Western Roman Emperor (approximate date)


date: October 16

text: October 16 – Fú Jiān, emperor of the Chinese Di state Former Qin (b. 337)


text: Xie An, statesman of the Jin Dynasty (b. 320)


text: Chimnyu, king of Baekje (Korea)


text: Dao An, Buddhist monk of the Jin Dynasty (b. 312)


text: Murong Wei, emperor of the Xianbei state Former Yan (b. 350)


text: Aelia Flaccilla, Roman empress and wife of Theodosius I (or possibly 386)


text: Priscillian, Spanish bishop and theologian


text: Emperor Theodosius I signs a peace treaty with King Shapur III; they divide Armenia into two kingdoms (vassal states). The treaty establishes friendly relations between the Roman Empire and Persia for the next 36 years.


text: A column is constructed at Constantinople in honour of Theodosius I. Reliefs depict the emperor's victory over the barbarians in the Balkan.


text: Magnus Maximus invades Italy; he destroys Novara for supporting his rival Valentinian II.


text: The fight in the Roman Empire against anti-pagan laws becomes increasingly futile.


text: John Chrysostom becomes a presbyter; he also writes eight Homilies entitled "Adversus Iudaeos" ("Against the Jews").


text: Saint Ambrose defends the rights of the Catholic Church with respect to those of the State.


text: Augustine converts to Christianity. He ends his marriage plans after hearing a sermon on the life of Saint Anthony.


text: Sumela Monastery is established in Asia Minor.


text: Theodosius I begins to rebuild the present-day Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls.


text: The Greuthungi cross the Danube to raid the Roman garrisons on the northern frontier. They are met midstream by a well-armed fleet, and their rafts and dugouts sink. Those not drowned are slaughtered.


text: The Northern Wei Dynasty begins in China. The Tuoba clan of the Xianbei tribe (proto-Mongol people) is politically separated from the Chinese dynasties established in Jiankang (modern Nanjing). The Northern Wei rulers are ardent supporters of Buddhism. Prince Dao Wu Di, age 15, becomes the first emperor (see Northern dynasties).


text: Nestorius, founder of Nestorianism (approximate date)


text: Jin Gongdi, last emperor of the Jin Dynasty (d. 421)


date: November 23

text: November 23 – Jin Feidi, emperor of the Jin Dynasty (b. 342)


text: Pulcheria, daughter of Theodosius I (b. 385)


text: Fu Pi, emperor of the Former Qin


text: Yang, empress of the Former Qin


text: Murong Zhong, emperor of the Western Yan


text: Duan Sui, ruler of the Western Yan


text: Cyril of Jerusalem, theologian and saint


text: Demophilus, Patriarch of Constantinople


text: Murong Yi, ruler of the Western Yan


text: Murong Chong, emperor of the Western Yan (b. 359)


text: Murong Yao, emperor of the Western Yan


text: Wang Xianzhi, Chinese calligrapher (b. 344)


text: Peace of Acilisene: King Shapur III signs a treaty with Theodosius I. Armenia is divided in two kingdoms, and becomes a vassal state of the Roman Empire and Persia.


text: Spring – Emperor Theodosius I increases the taxes in Antioch. A peasant uprising leads to a riot, and public buildings are set afire. Theodosius sends imperial troops to quell the disturbance, and closes the public baths and theatres.


text: Magnus Maximus, usurping emperor of the West, invades Italy. Emperor Valentinian II, age 16, is forced out of Rome. He flees with his mother Justina and sisters to Thessaloniki (Thrace).


text: Augustine is baptized on Easter Vigil by Saint Ambrose, Bishop of Milan.


text: Oribase, Greek doctor, publishes a treatise on paralysis and bleedings.

source_section: Events › By topic › Art and Science


text: Winter – The widowed emperor Theodosius I takes Valentinian II under his protection, and marries his sister Flavia Galla.


text: Vardan Mamikonian, Armenian military leader (d. 451)


text: Saint Monica, mother of Augustine of Hippo


text: Alatheus, chieftain of the Ostrogoths


text: Aelia Flaccilla, Roman Empress and wife of Theodosius I


text: Zhu Fatai, Chinese Buddhist scholar (b. 320)


date: August 28

text: August 28 – Magnus Maximus surrenders at Aquileia, and is executed. Theodosius I devotes himself to gluttony and voluptuous living. Maximus' son Flavius Victor is executed at Trier, by Valentinian's magister militum Arbogast.


text: A group of Christians storms the synagogue of the city Callinicum (Syria), at the Euphrates.


text: Emperor Chandragupta II, ruler of the Gupta Empire, begins a war against the Shaka Dynasty in West India.

source_section: Events › By place › India


text: Frankish invasion of 388: Rebellious Franks led by Marcomer, Sunno and Genobaud invade the Roman Empire with plunder and threaten Colonia Claudia Ara Agrippinensium (Cologne). A part of the invaders are destroyed by the Romans in the charcoal forest (present-day Belgium). The Roman general Quintines pursues the invaders on Frankish soil and is ambushed. His army is surrounded and defeated by the Franks.


text: Battle of the Save: Emperor Theodosius I defeats Magnus Maximus near Emona (modern Slovenia). Theodosius is in command of an army including Goths, Huns and Alans. Valentinian II, now 17, is restored as Roman Emperor.


text: Jerome moves to Palestine, where he spends the rest of his life as a hermit near Bethlehem.


text: Paternus becomes bishop of the Episcopal see of Braga (Portugal).


text: Isaac, age 50, is named Catholicos (spiritual head) of the Armenian Apostolic Church.


text: Elpidius of Atella (or Elpidio), Christian bishop (d. 452)


text: Yao Hong, Chinese emperor of the Qiang-led Later Qin state (d. 417)


text: August 28 – Magnus Maximus, Roman emperor


text: King Shapur III dies after a reign in which he has partitioned Armenia with the Roman Empire. He is succeeded by his son Bahram IV, who becomes the twelfth Sassanid king of Persia.


text: Qifu Guoren, Chinese ruler of the Xianbei-led Western Qin state


text: Shapur III, king of the Sassanid Empire (Persia)


text: Xie Xuan (or Youdu), Chinese general (b. 343)


text: Flavius Victor, Roman co-emperor (Augustus)


text: Huan Shiqian (or Zhen'e), Chinese general


text: Themistius, Byzantine statesman and rhetorician


text: Maternus Cynegius, Roman praetorian prefect


text: All pagan buildings in Alexandria, including the library, are destroyed by fire.


text: Geiseric, king of the Vandals and Alans (approximate date)


text: Florus of Lodève, Christian bishop and martyr (approximate date)


text: Mao, Chinese empress and wife of Fu Deng (Former Qin)


text: Donatian of Reims (or Donat), Christian bishop and saint


year_label: 39 CE

text: Legio XV Primigenia and XXII Primigenia are levied by Caligula for the German frontier.

source_section: Events › 39 AD › Germania


text: Gaius Caesar Augustus Germanicus (Caligula) and Gnaeus Domitius Corbulo become Roman consuls.

source_section: Events › 39 AD › Roman Empire


text: The Trung Sisters resist the Chinese influences in Vietnam.

source_section: Events › 39 AD › Vietnam


text: Caligula's campaign into Germany is stopped by a conspiracy led by Cassius Chaerea. Even though he never even reaches Germany, Caligula proclaims himself victorious and orders a triumph.


text: Tigellinus, minister and favorite of the later Roman emperor Nero, is banished for adultery with Caligula's sisters.


text: Caligula orders a floating bridge to be built using ships as pontoons, stretching for two miles from Baiae to the neighboring port of Puteoli.


text: Agrippa I, king of Judaea, successfully accuses Herod Antipas, tetrarch of Galilee and Perea, of conspiracy against Caligula. Antipas is exiled and Agrippa receives his territory.

source_section: Events › 39 AD › Palestine


text: Philo leads a Jewish delegation to Rome to protest the anti-Jewish conditions in Alexandria.


date: November 3

text: November 3 – Marcus Annaeus Lucanus, Roman poet (d. AD 65)

source_section: Births › 39 AD


date: December 30

text: December 30 – Titus Flavius, Roman emperor (d. AD 81)


text: Julia Drusilla, daughter of Caligula (d. AD 41)


text: Seneca the Elder, Roman rhetorician (approximate date)

source_section: Deaths › 39 AD


text: Caligula orders that a statue of himself be placed in the Temple in Jerusalem. The governor of Syria, Publius Petronius, who is responsible for having an erecting the statue, faces mass demonstrations by Jews of the region and manages to delay construction of the statue until the death of Caligula in AD 41.


text: Gnaeus Cornelius Lentulus Gaetulicus, Roman consul


text: Marcus Aemilius Lepidus, Roman politician (b. AD 6)


date: April

text: April – Massacre of Thessalonica: Resentment among the citizens of Thessalonica (Macedonia) breaks out into violence after the arrest of a popular charioteer. Butheric, military commander of Illyricum, is murdered. Emperor Theodosius I orders vengeance, despite the pleas for mercy by Ambrose, bishop of Milan; more than 7,000 inhabitants are massacred by the Roman army.


text: The Visigoths and Huns, led by Alaric, invade Thrace. Stilicho, high-ranking general (magister militum) of Vandal origin, raises an army and begins a campaign against the Goths.


text: Jerome, having finished the Latin translation of the New Testament, begins translating the Old Testament.


text: The Kama Sutra is revised by Vatsyayana.


text: Ambrose retires to Milan (residence of Theodosius I) and refuses to celebrate a mass in the emperor's presence, until he repents for ordering the massacre in Thessalonica. Theodosius, filled with remorse, kneels in humility and strips off his royal purple, before the altar of the cathedral in Milan, humbling himself before the church.


text: Theodosius I brings an obelisk from Egypt to the Hippodrome of Constantinople.


text: Rudrasena II of Vakataka succeeds his father, Prithivishena I. In the same year he marries Prabhavatigupta, daughter of the Gupta king Chandragupta II.


text: C. 390–401 – Priestess of Bacchus: Late Antiquity ivory diptych; documents the relationship of the senators Quintus Aurelius Symmachus and Virius Nicomachus Flavianus. It commemorates the marriage of the two families. The right panel is inscribed "Symmachorum", with an elaborately dressed priestess who makes an offer on an altar. It is now kept at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.

source_section: Events › By topic › Art


text: Prosper of Aquitaine, disciple and Christian writer (approximate date)


text: Gao Yun, duke of the Xianbei state Northern Wei (d. 487)


text: Simeon Stylites, Christian Stylite (approximate date)


text: Bleda, king of the Huns (approximate date)


text: Tonantius Ferreolus, prefect of Gaul (approximate date)


text: Romanus of Condat, hermit and saint (approximate date)


text: Xie Hui, general of the Liu Song dynasty (d. 426)


date: January 25

text: January 25 – Gregory Nazianzus, theologian and Patriarch of Constantinople (b. 329)

source_section: Deaths


text: Chen Guinü, queen consort of Jin Xiaowudi


text: Aurelius Victor, Roman historian and politician


text: Apollinaris of Laodicea, bishop and theologian


text: Diodorus of Tarsus, bishop and monastic reformer


text: A Rouran chief named Heduohan (曷多汗) is defeated and killed in battle against the Tuoba Northern Wei Dynasty. Surviving Rouran move west towards the Gaoche, led by Heduohan's brother and successor, Shelun.

source_section: Events › By place › Asia


text: Emperor Theodosius I establishes Christianity as the official state religion. All non-Christian temples in the Roman Empire are closed. The eternal fire in the Temple of Vesta at the Roman Forum is extinguished, and the Vestal Virgins are disbanded.

source_section: Events › By place › Roman Empire


text: Patriarch Theophilus destroys all pagan temples in Alexandria under orders from Theodosius I. Christians go on an iconoclastic rampage, smashing religious symbols or monuments through the city and destroying the Temple of Serapis. The "Order of Monks" known as the Parabalani take charge of patrolling the streets.


text: Flames destroy the great Library of Alexandria, established in the Mouseion in the fourth century BC. Among the items lost in the fire are works of science, including parchments by the Greek astronomer Aristarchus of Samos asserting that the Earth orbits the Sun, and dozens of dramatic works by Euripides and Sophocles.

source_section: Events › By topic › Literature


text: Quintus Aurelius Symmachus, urban prefect of Rome, pleads for traditional cult practices. He petitions Theodosius I to re-open the pagan temples, but is opposed by Ambrose.


text: King Gwanggaeto the Great of Goguryeo (Korea) ascends to the throne.


text: Flavius Aetius, Roman general (Magister militum) of part Gothic heritage. (d.454)


text: Justina, Roman empress (approximate date)


text: Macarius of Egypt, Christian monk and hermit


text: Peter of Sebaste, bishop of Armenia


text: Zhai Liao "Heavenly Prince" (Tian Wang), founder of the Dingling state Wei


text: Heduohan, chief of the Rouran tribes (killed in battle against the Northern Wei)


text: Saint Telemachus dies after being stoned to death. His date of death is also given to the year 404.


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


text: Stilicho, Roman general (magister militum), defeats the Visigoths and Huns in Thrace. Emperor Theodosius I permits Alaric to go free on condition he provides, as foederati, military services to the Roman Empire.


date: August 22

text: August 22 – Arbogast nominates Eugenius, Roman teacher of rhetoric, as the next emperor of the Western Roman Empire. He sends ambassadors to Theodosius's court asking for his recognition.


date: November 8

text: November 8 – Theodosius I issues an edict reinforcing the prohibition of prayers or sacrifices at non-Christian temples, leading to the persecution of pagans and the end of the almost 2,000-year-old Eleusinian Mysteries. He also bans items of pagan spiritual significance that could be used in the home, such as incense or spiritual figures.


text: Flavius Marcian, Roman Emperor (d. 457)


text: Galla Placidia, Roman Empress and daughter of Theodosius I (d. 450)


text: Ming Yuan Di, emperor of the Xianbei state Northern Wei (d. 423)


date: May 15

text: May 15 – Emperor Valentinian II, age 21, dies while advancing into Gaul against the Frankish usurper Arbogast. He is found hanging in his residence at Vienne under unknown circumstances.


text: May 15 – Valentinian II, Roman Emperor (b. 371)


text: Gregory Bæticus, bishop of Elvira (Spain)


text: Yao Xing succeeds Yao Chang as emperor of the Later Qin Empire.

source_section: Events › By place › China


date: January 23

text: January 23 – Emperor Theodosius I proclaims his son Honorius, age 8, co-ruler (Augustus) of the Western Roman Empire.


text: Synod of Hippo: A council at Hippo Regius (Algeria) is hosted by the Church. The bishops approve a canon of Sacred Scripture that correspond to the Roman Catholic Church.

source_section: Events › By topic › Religion


text: Chinese astronomers observe the guest star SN 393.


text: Theodosius I demands the destruction of pagan temples, holy sites, and ancient objects throughout the Roman Empire.


text: Theodosius I abolishes the Greek Olympic Games, ending a thousand years of festivals, as part of the general Christian policy to establish universal Christian worship in accordance with the doctrines set forth in the Nicene Creed (the next Olympic Games will not be held until 1896).


text: Sima Maoying, empress of the Liu Song dynasty (d. 439)

source_section: Births


text: Theodoret of Cyrrhus, bishop and theologian (approximate date)


text: Zhai Zhao "Heavenly Prince" (Tian Wang), emperor of Wei


text: Eunomius of Cyzicus, Arian bishop and theologian


date: September 6

text: September 6 – Battle of the Frigidus: Emperor Theodosius I defeats and kills the usurper Eugenius. The forces of Theodosius are bolstered by numerous auxiliaries, including 20,000 Visigoth federates under Alaric. The Frankish general Arbogast (magister militum) escapes into the Alps and commits suicide.


text: Late Roman army: The Notitia Dignitatum shows the development of forces in the Roman Empire. By now 200,000 soldiers guard the borders, and a reserve force of 50,000 is available for deployment. Many non-Roman soldiers are from Germanic tribes: Alamanni, Franks, Goths, Saxons and Vandals.


text: The last ruler of Former Qin, Fu Chong, is killed in battle against an army of Western Qin, bringing Former Qin to an end.


text: Winter – The Huns cross the frozen Danube and destroy the villages built by the Goths. Theodosius I, six hundred miles away in Italy, sends no reinforcements to defend the northern frontier.


text: The Council of Bagaï in Africa brings 310 Donatist bishops together.


text: In Rome, the sacred fire stops burning (see Vesta and Vestal Virgins).


text: Epiphanius of Salamis attacks Origen's followers and urges John II, Bishop of Jerusalem, to condemn his writings.


text: The last known hieroglyphic inscription, known as the Graffito of Esmet-Akhom, is written in Philae, Egypt.

source_section: Events › By place › Egypt


text: Gunabhadra, Indian Buddhist scholar-monk (d. 468)


text: Jangsu, Korean king of Goguryeo (d. 491)


text: September 6 – Eugenius, Roman usurper


date: September 8

text: September 8 – Arbogast, Frankish general


text: Fu Chong, emperor of the Chinese Di state Former Qin


text: Murong Yong, emperor of the Xianbei state Western Yan


text: Virius Nicomachus Flavianus, Roman historian and politician (b. 334)


text: Yao Chang, emperor of the Qiang state Later Qin (b. 331)


text: Fu Deng, emperor of the Di state Former Qin (b. 343)


date: December 8

text: December 8 – Later Yan is defeated by its former vassal Northern Wei at the Battle of Canhe Slope, during the Southern and Northern Dynasties period of China.


text: The Huns begin their large-scale attack on the Eastern Roman Empire. They invade Armenia, Cappadocia, and enter parts of Syria, threatening Antioch.


text: Alaric besieges Constantinople. After commitments from Rufinus, the Pretorian prefect of the East, and chief adviser to Arcadius, the Goths move further west.


text: Stilicho arrives in the fall with his army to fight the Goths. Rufinus, the strong man of the east, persuades the emperor to cancel Stilicho's campaign. Emperor Arcadius forbade Stilicho to attack Alaric and demandes that his army leave the territory of the East Roman Empire.


text: King Rudrasimha III, ruler of the Western Satraps (India), is defeated by the Gupta Empire.


text: The Goths, led by Alaric, invade and devastate Thrace and Macedonia and impose a tribute on Athens.


text: Alaric, Visigothic leader of the foederati, renounces Roman fealty and is declared king, waging war against both parts of the Roman Empire, and ending a 16-year period of peace.


text: Augustine, age 40, becomes bishop of Hippo Regius (modern Algeria). His assignment is the reunification of the Roman Catholic Church in Africa, primarily focusing on the Donatist movement led by Primianus of Carthage.


text: Russian astronomer Nikolai Alexandrovich Morozov claimed that Revelation to John could be astronomically dated to September 30, 395.


text: An estimated 330,000 acres of farmland lie abandoned in Campania (southern Italy), partly as a consequence of malaria from mosquitoes bred in swampy areas, but mostly because imprudent agriculture has ruined the land.

source_section: Events › By topic › Agriculture


date: November 27

text: November 27 – Rufinus, Praetorian prefect of the East, is murdered by Gothic mercenaries under Gainas.


date: April 27

text: April 27 – Arcadius marries Aelia Eudoxia, daughter of the Frankish general Flavius Bauto (without the knowledge or consent of Rufinus, Praetorian prefect of the East). His seven-year-old half-sister, Galla Placidia, is sent to Rome, where she spends her childhood in the household of Stilicho and his wife Serena.


date: January 17

text: January 17 – Emperor Theodosius I, age 48, dies of a disease involving severe edema in Milan. The Roman Empire is divided for the final time into an eastern and a western half. The Eastern Roman Empire is centered in Constantinople under Arcadius, son of Theodosius, and the Western Roman Empire in Mediolanum under his brother Honorius.


text: January 17 – Theodosius I, Roman emperor (b. 347)


text: November 27 – Rufinus, Roman consul and politician


text: Macarius of Alexandria, Christian monk


text: Gelasius of Caesarea, Christian bishop


text: Ausonius, Roman poet and rhetorician


text: Apa Bane, Christian hermit and saint


text: Stilicho, Roman general (magister militum), controls the young emperor Honorius as his regent, and becomes the de facto ruler of the Western Roman Empire. He enlists the Alemanni and the Franks, to defend the Rhine frontier.


text: Revolt of Alaric I: The Visigoths, led by Alaric I, rampage through Greece and plunder Corinth, Argos and Sparta. They destroy the Temple of Eleusis, and harry the Peloponnese. Stilicho makes peace with the Goths, and allows them to settle in Epirus (Balkans).


text: Lü Guang claims the title "Heavenly Prince" (Tian Wang), signifying his claim to the Later Liang Kingdom.


text: Emperor Jìn Ān Dì, age 14, succeeds his father Emperor Xiaowu as ruler of the Eastern Jin dynasty after he is murdered by his concubine Honoured Lady Zhang.


text: Petronius Maximus, Western Roman Emperor (approximate date)


text: Dowager Helan, mother of emperor Wei Daowudi (b. 351)


text: Murong Chui, general and founder of Later Yan (b. 326)


text: Jin Xiaowudi, emperor of the Eastern Jin Dynasty (b. 362)


text: Duan Yuanfei, empress and wife of emperor Murong Chui


text: Revolt of Alaric I: Stilicho traps the Visigoths under King Alaric in the Peloponnese, but decides to abandon the campaign against the Visigoths in Greece, thus allowing King Alaric to escape north to Epirus with his loot. Presumably, Stilicho has left Greece in order to prepare for military action in northern Africa, where a rebellion (see Gildonic Revolt in 398) seems imminent.


text: The Xiongnu occupy the Gansu area, an economically important province situated along the Silk Road.


text: August 28 – Council of Carthage: The biblical canon is definitely declared.


date: September 7

text: September 7 – First Council of Toledo: Hispanic bishops, including Lampius, condemn Priscillianism.


date: November 13

text: November 13 – John Chrysostom is appointed Archbishop of Constantinople.


text: Mor Gabriel Monastery is founded and located on the Tur Abdin plateau near Midyat (Turkey).


text: Scottish missionary Ninian establishes a church (Candida Casa) at Whithorn, and begins his work among the Picts.


text: Sulpicius Severus writes the earliest biography of Martin of Tours, the first known "life of a saint" ever written.


text: Augustine of Hippo begins his Confessions, an autobiography that recounts his intellectual and spiritual development.


text: Emperor Honorius passes a law making barbarian styles of dress illegal in the city of Rome. As a result of this law, everybody in Rome is forbidden from wearing boots, trousers, animal skins, and long hair. This law is passed in response to the increasing popularity of barbarian fashions among the people of Rome.


date: March 30

text: March 30 or March 31 – Kʼukʼ Bahlam I, king of Palenque (Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico)


date: April 4

text: April 4 – Aurelius Ambrosius, bishop of Milan


text: April 4 – Ambrose, Archbishop of Milan, dies in his diocese after 23 years in office, during which he dominated the political life of the Roman Empire.


text: November 8 – Martin of Tours, bishop and saint


text: Murong Long, general and prince of Later Yan


text: Empress She, wife of emperor Yao Chang


text: Murong Hui, imperial prince of Later Yan (b. 373)


text: Revolt of Alaric I: After Stilicho returns to Italy, the Eastern Roman Empire concludes a peace treaty with Alaric. The Visigoths are given a settlement area in Illyricum and their king is appointed magister militum per Illyricum.


text: An imperial edict obliges Roman landowners with plantations to yield 1/3 of their fields to the "barbarians" who have been settled in the Roman Empire.


text: Gildonic Revolt: Gildo, a Berber serving as a high-ranking official (comes) in Mauretania, rebels against the Western Roman Empire. The Gildonic Revolt is instigated by a powerful official in the Eastern Roman Empire named Eutropius, who wishes to undermine his enemies in the Western Roman Empire by cutting off the grain supply to Rome. After Gildo takes much of North Africa and cuts off the grain supply to Rome, Flavius Stilicho returns to Italy to raise troops against the rebels. After a short campaign in the desert, he defeats Gildo. Gildo flees and commits suicide by hanging himself.


text: Eutropius, Roman general (magister militum), celebrates his victory over the Huns ("the wolves of the North") in a parade through Constantinople (see 395).


text: Possible date for the Second Pictish War.


text: John Chrysostom, Archbishop of Constantinople, receives a delegation of clergy who want to close the pagan temples at Gaza (Palestine) where worshippers are openly defying the law. John works through the eunuch Eutropius, who has great power over emperor Arcadius, and within a week an imperial Constitution is issued closing the Roman temples, but the official appointed to execute this order is bribed.


text: Augustine of Hippo completes his Confessions, an autobiography that recounts his intellectual and spiritual development.


text: Emperor Honorius marries Stilicho's daughter Maria.


text: Fan Ye, Chinese historian (d. 445)


date: May 27

text: May 27 – Murong Bao, emperor of the Xianbei state Later Yan (b. 355)


date: August 15

text: August 15 – Lan Han, official of the Xianbei state Lan Yan


text: Nectarius, archbishop of Constantinople


text: Didymus the Blind, Alexandrian theologian


text: Murong Lin, Chinese prince of the Xianbei state Later Yan


text: Gildo, Moorish prince and comes Africae (governor)


text: Murong Nong, Chinese prince of the Xianbei state Later Yan


text: Gainas, a Gothic leader, is made magister militum and forms an alliance with deserters of Tribigild along the Bosphorus. He proclaims himself co-regent (usurper), and installs his forces in Constantinople. Gainas deposes anti-Gothic officials and has Eutropius, imperial advisor (cubicularius), executed.


text: Xianbei kingdom of Southern Yan conquers Qing Province (modern central and eastern Shandong) from the Eastern Jin.


text: Fa-Hien, Chinese Buddhist monk, travels to India, Sri Lanka and Kapilavastu (modern Nepal).


text: Anastasius I succeeds Siricius as the 39th pope. He seeks to reconcile the churches of Rome and Antioch. Anastasius also condemns the doctrine of Origen.


text: Flavius Mallius Theodorus becomes Roman consul and official at the imperial court of emperor Arcadius.


text: Flavian I is acknowledged as legitimate bishop of Antioch by the Church of Rome.


text: The Emperor Honorius of the Western Roman Empire, who is only 15 years old, closes the gladiatorial schools in Rome, and legally ends munera (gladiator games).


text: Narsai, Syriac poet and theologian (approximate date)


date: November 26

text: November 26 – Pope Siricius dies at Rome after a 15-year reign in which he has commanded celibacy for priests, asserted papal authority over the entire Western Church, and threatened to impose sanctions on those who do not follow his dictates.


text: Yuan Shansong, official and poet of the Jin Dynasty


text: Bahram IV, king of the Sassanid Empire (Persia)


text: Evagrius Ponticus, Christian monk and ascetic (b. 345)


text: King Bahram IV dies after an 11-year reign. He is succeeded by Yazdegerd I, who becomes the thirteenth Sassanid Emperor of Persia.

source_section: Events › By place › Middle East


text: Tufa Wugu, prince of the Xianbei state Southern Liang


text: Eutropius, Roman consul and eunuch


text: Tribigild, Ostrogothic general


year_label: 4 CE

text: AD 4 – Wang Mang is given the title "superior duke".

source_section: Events › China


text: AD 4 – A pact of non-aggression and friendship is signed between the Roman Empire, represented by Tiberius, and the German tribe the Cherusci, represented by their King Segimer. Arminius and Flavus, sons of Segimer, are brought into the Roman army as leaders of the auxiliary troops.

source_section: Events › Roman Empire


text: AD 4 – Tiberius also adopts Germanicus as his own heir.


text: AD 4 – Julia the Elder returns from exile to live in Rhegium in disgrace.


text: AD 4 – The Lex Aelia Sentia regulates the manumission of slaves.


text: AD 4 – King Phraataces and Queen Musa of Parthia are overthrown and killed, the crown being offered to Orodes III of Parthia—the beginning of the interregnum.

source_section: Events › Persia


text: AD 4 – Namhae Chachaung succeeds Bak Hyeokgeose as king of the Korean kingdom of Silla (traditional date).

source_section: Events › Korea


text: AD 4 – Nicolaus of Damascus writes the 15-volume History of the World.


text: AD 4 – Emperor Augustus summons Tiberius to Rome, and names him his heir and future emperor. At the same time, Agrippa Postumus, the last son of Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa, is also adopted and named as Augustus' heir.


text: AD 4 – Livilla marries Drusus Julius Caesar, son of Tiberius.


text: AD 4 – Emperor Ping of Han marries Empress Wang (Ping), daughter of Wang Mang, cementing his influence.


text: AD 4 – Daemusin, Korean king of Goguryeo (d. AD 44)


text: AD 4 – Columella, Roman Latin writer (d. AD 70)


text: AD 4 – Publius Quinctilius Varus the Younger, Roman nobleman (d. AD 27)


text: AD 4 – Lucius Cornelius Lentulus, Roman consul


text: AD 4 – February 21 – Gaius Caesar, son of Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa and Julia the Elder (b. 20 BC)


text: AD 4 – Gaius Asinius Pollio, Roman orator, poet and historian (b. 65 BC)


text: AD 4 – June 26 – Ariobarzanes II, Roman client king of Armenia (b. 40 BC)


text: AD 4 – Hyeokgeose, Korean king of Silla (b. 75 BC)


year_label: 40 CE

text: Noricum and Mauretania are incorporated into the Roman Empire.

source_section: Timeline › AD 40


text: Caligula reforms the principatus into a Hellenistic Autocracy. He distributes honors carelessly, declares himself a god and orders that all the heads of the Greek deity statues be replaced by his. He also appoints his horse, Incitatus, to the Senate.


text: Philo teaches that all men are born free.


text: Caligula starts on a campaign to conquer Britain, which fails miserably. He declares himself victorious regardless.


text: The Vietnamese Trưng Sisters rebel against the rule of the Chinese Emperor Guang Wu of Han.


text: Vardanes I becomes king of Parthia, opposed by his brother Gotarzes II.


text: The Germanic Quadi tribe begins settling in present-day Moravia and Slovakia.


text: An early Christian church is erected at Corinth (most probable date).


text: Emperor Caligula is consul without colleague.


text: Christianity comes to Egypt as a church is founded in Alexandria. Mark the Evangelist founds the Church of Alexandria as the first Patriarch (traditional date).


text: Construction begins on the Pont du Gard aqueduct in Gallia Narbonensis (approximate date).


text: The traditional date of Saint James the Great meeting Our Lady of the Pillar in Spain.


date: June 13

text: June 13 – Gnaeus Julius Agricola, Roman governor (d. AD 93)

source_section: Births › AD 40


text: Ma, Chinese empress of the Han dynasty (d. AD 79)


text: Titus Petronius Secundus, Roman prefect (d. AD 97)


text: Pedanius Dioscorides, Greek physician and pharmacologist (d. AD 90)


text: Claudia Octavia, daughter of Claudius and Messalina (d. AD 62)


text: Sextus Julius Frontinus, Roman general and military author (d. 103)


text: Dio Chrysostom, Greek philosopher and historian (d. c. 115)


text: Faustus Cornelius Sulla, Roman politician and suffect consul

source_section: Deaths › AD 40


text: Gnaeus Domitius Ahenobarbus, husband of Agrippina the Younger (b. 17 BC)


text: Tiberius Julius Abdes Pantera, Roman soldier (hypothesized by numerous scholars to have been the father of Jesus)


text: Ptolemy of Mauretania, Roman client king (executed by Caligula)


text: The Paeonians (Illyricum) lose their identity (approximate date).

source_section: Events › By place › Europe


text: Richū, the eldest son of Nintoku, becomes the 17th Emperor of Japan.

source_section: Events › By place › Asia


text: Winter – Gainas leads the remaining Goths back to their homeland across the Danube. They meet the Huns and are defeated; the Hunnic chieftain Uldin sends the head of Gainas to Constantinople, where Arcadius receives it as a diplomatic gift.

source_section: Events › By place › Roman Empire


text: Anthemius, praetorian prefect of the East, is sent on an embassy to the Persian capital, Ctesiphon, to congratulate King Yazdegerd I on his accession the year before.


text: A riot breaks out in Constantinople; the Great Palace is burned to the ground. Gainas, a Gothic leader, attempts to evacuate his soldiers out of the city, but 7,000 armed Goths are trapped and killed by order of Arcadius. After the massacre, Gainas tries to escape across the Hellespont, but his rag-tag ad hoc fleet is destroyed by Fravitta, a Gothic chieftain in imperial service.


text: The Vergilius Vaticanus, an illuminated manuscript containing fragments of Virgil's Aeneid and Georgics, is made in Rome.

source_section: Events › By topic › Literature


text: The mausoleum of Galerius in Salonica (Greece) is converted into a church.


text: Bishops from Gaza (Palaestina Prima) arrive at Constantinople to ask Arcadius that he close the pagan temple of Marnas.


text: Resurrection and "Two Marys with Angel near the Empty Tomb", panel of a diptych, found in Rome, is made. It is now kept at Castello Sforzesco, Milan (approximate date).

source_section: Events › By topic › Art


text: The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali are composed.


date: January 9

section: Economy & Finance

text: January 9 – Emperor Arcadius gives his wife Aelia Eudoxia the official title of Augusta. She is able to wear the purple paludamentum and is depicted in Roman currency.


text: Hypatia, Greek philosopher, distinguishes herself as one of the first female scientists and becomes head of the Neo-Platonist school at Alexandria.

source_section: Events › By topic › Physics


text: Caelius Aurelianus, Roman physician, is practising his work "De morbis acutis et chronicis" (Concerning Acute and Chronic Illness), a guide to acute and chronic diseases.

source_section: Events › By topic › Medicine


text: Bahram V, Sasanian King of Kings (shahanshah)

source_section: Births