04th Century

Events 390s – Hypatia Alexandria during 390s

Hypatia Alexandria during the 390s Roman Empire 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. Theodosius I brings an obelisk from Egypt to the Hippodrome of Constantinople. Theodosius I demands the destruction of pagan temples, holy sites, and ancient objects throughout the Roman Empire 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). Late Roman army: The Notitia Dignitatum shows the development of forces in the Roman Empire. By now 200,000 […]

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Events 380s – Gothic Tribes

Gothic Tribes Roman Empire 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. 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. Hadrian’s Wall, the northern Roman frontier in Britain, is overrun by the Picts and falls into ruin All pagan buildings in Alexandria, including the library, are destroyed by fire Europe The Visigothic chieftain Fritigern dies after ravaging the Balkans; his rival Athanaric becomes king of the entire Gothic nation. The Gallaeci or Gallic woman Egeria concludes her Christian pilgrimage to the Holy Land at about this date; her narrative of […]

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Events 300s – The Four Tetrarchs

The Four Tetrarchs Roman Empire The republic of San Marino is established Great Persecution: Emperor Diocletian launches the last and largest major persecution of Christians in the Empire. Caesar Galerius and Hierocles are said to have been the instigators. In a series of four edicts published from February 23, 303, to 304, the Christians are forbidden to worship in groups, are made to perform sacrifices, and must surrender sacred texts. Churches are destroyed, and the clergy are arrested en masse. The persecution lasts in some parts of the empire until 313, and thousands of Christians are killed. Those put to death include Agnes of Rome, a 12-year-old Christian girl who has refused marriage and […]

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Events 370s – Young Augustine of Hippo

Augustine of Hippo Roman Empire Germanic Invasions: The German peoples surround the north borders of the Roman Empire, while the Huns are destroying everything in their path–villages, cities, even empires. A law of Valentinian I and Valens bans marriages between Romans and barbarians under penalty of death. An edict issued by Valentinian I and Valens bans the importation of wine and olive oil from areas controlled by the barbarians. 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 […]

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Events 360s – Huns starting to invade Europe

The Huns starting to invade Europe  Roman Empire February – Julian, Roman Caesar, is proclaimed emperor by the Gallic legions in Lutetia (modern Paris), at the Thermes de Cluny. They refuse to support the eastern campaign against King Shapur II of Persia, and revolt. The Alamanni raid Raetia (Switzerland), but are pushed back behind the Rhine by Julian, into the Black Forest. King Shapur II continues his campaign against the Roman fortresses, capturing Singara, Bezabde and Nisibis. Emperor Constantius II and Julian exchange several letters, both hoping to avoid a civil war. Europe The Huns invade Europe by the thousands, spreading terror as they take over territories held for generations by Alans, Heruls, Ostrogoths and Visigoths. Science Theon of Alexandria, Greek mathematician, observes a solar eclipse (June 16) and a lunar eclipse (November 25). He gains some renown […]

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Events 350s – The Roman Calendar is drawn up

History of the Roman Calendar Roman Empire January 18 – Western Roman Emperor Constans I makes himself extremely unpopular; one of his generals, Magnentius, is proclaimed emperor at Augustodunum in the Diocese of Galliae, with the support of the army on the Rhine frontier. January – Constans I flees towards Spain, where he is subsequently assassinated at Castrum Helenae. Magnentius rules the Western portion of the Roman Empire and is far more tolerant towards Christians and Pagans alike. June 3 – Nepotianus, Roman usurper, proclaims himself emperor and enters Rome with a group of gladiators. Constantius II defeats the usurper Magnentius along the valley of the Drava. The battle is one of the bloodiest in Roman military history. During the fighting Marcellinus, a general […]

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Events 340s – The Picts Who Scared Even the Romans

The Picts Who Scared Even the Romans Roman Empire Constantinople, capital of Emperor Constantius II, becomes the largest city in the world, taking the lead from Rome, capital of his brother Constans I. Constantine II, emperor of the western part of the Roman Empire (Britain, Gaul, the Rhine provinces and Iberia), crosses the Alps and attacks the army of his brother Constans I, emperor of the central part of the Roman Empire (Upper Danube, Italy and middle Africa). They clash at Aquileia in northern Italy. Constantine is killed in a skirmish by an ambush of Constans’ troops. Constans is left sole ruler of the Western part of the Roman Empire, with […]

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Events 330s – Church of the Holy Sepulchre

Church of the Holy Sepulchre  Roman Empire May 11 – Emperor Constantine the Great dedicates the Column of Constantine and Constantinople, or Nova Roma (modern-day Istanbul). He had spent four years expanding the city of Byzantium, having chosen the site for its strategic location on the Bosporus. The city is later the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire. The Goths devastate the city of Tanais, in the Don River Delta. Constantine I announces a free distribution of food to the citizens in Constantinople, similar to the food given out in the city of Rome. The amount is approximately 80,000 rations a day, doled out from 117 distribution points around the city. Emperor Constantine the Great reauthorises gladiatorial combat. 337 – Constantine II, Constantius […]

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312 A cross of light leads Constantine to victory

AT THE END of October AD 312, the streets of Rome seethed with discontent. “The customary rains and showers of the winter season ceased to fall in their wonted abundance upon the earth and an unexpected famine made its appearance, and in addition to this a pestilence,” wrote the Christian chronicler Eusebius. “Some people, wasted away like ghosts and at the very point of death, stumbled and tottered here and there, and too weak to stand fell down in the middle of the streets.” As was traditional, many people blamed the emperor, Maxentius – in this age of intense political […]

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