Events treated at length are here indicated in large type; the numerals following give volume and page.
Separate chronologies of the various nations, and of the careers of famous persons, will be found in theIndex Volume, with volume and page references showing where the several events are fully treated.
* Denotes date uncertain.
A.D.
13. A fifth ten-year term of imperial rule is voted to Augustus at Rome.
Roman invasion of Germany under Germanicus. See "Germanicus in Germany," iii,1.
14. Death of Augustus; succeeded by his adopted son, Tiberius, as emperor of Rome.
16. Germanicus successful in his campaign against Arminius. He is recalled to Rome by Tiberius. See "Germanicus in Germany," iii,1.
17. Ephesus, Magnesia, and other cities in Asia destroyed by an earthquake.
Germanicus fêted in Rome.
18. Herod the Tetrarch builds the city of Tiberias in Galilee.
Wealthy women of Jerusalem provide wine medicated with opiates for crucified malefactors. See "The Crucifixion," iii,23.
19. Death of Germanicus.
Jews and Egyptians expelled from Rome; four thousand of them colonize in Sardinia.
21. The theatre of Pompey, at Rome, destroyed by fire.
23. Birth of Pliny the Elder.
26. Tiberius leaves Rome to the government of Sejanus.
27. The Roman Pantheon completed.
30 (29-33). Death of Jesus. See "The Crucifixion," iii,23.
31. Downfall and execution of Sejanus.
33. Great impetus of Christianity. See "The Rise and Spread of Christianity," iii,40.
37. Caius, called Caligula, succeeds Tiberius as emperor of Rome.
41. Emperor Caligula murdered; Claudius elevated to the throne.
The Herodian kingdom of Judea restored under Herod Agrippa.
43. Beginning of the Roman conquest of Britain under Aulus Plautius and Claudius.
44. Plautius is appointed the first Roman governor of Britain.
Death of Herod Agrippa; end of the kingdom of Judea.
51. Caractacus, King of the Trinobantes in Britain, captured by Ostorius and sent in chains to Rome.
52. Aqueducts of the Aqua Claudia in Rome, begun ina.d.38, completed.
54. Agrippina poisons Claudius; Nero, her son, becomes emperor.
55.* Birth of Tacitus.
59. Agrippina murdered at Nero's order.
61. Boadicea in Britain revolts against the Romans; the uprising quelled by Suetonius Paulinus.
62.* Birth of Pliny the Younger.
64. The burning of Rome. See "Burning of Rome under Nero," iii,108.
First persecution of Christians. See "Persecution of the Christians under Nero," iii,134.
65. The conspiracy of Piso against Nero. Execution of Lucan and Seneca by command of Nero.
66. Revolt of the Jews against the Roman government.
67. Victorious campaigns of Vespasian against the rebellious Jews.
68. Rise of the Roman commanders against Nero. Galba's march upon Rome. Suicide of Emperor Nero; accession of Galba.
69. Galba murdered. Otho becomes emperor; vanquished by Vitellius, who ascends the throne. Vespasian overthrows Vitellius and succeeds him.
Uprising of the Batavians under Claudius Civilis.
70. The Roman Capitol rebuilt by Vespasian.
Jerusalem besieged and destroyed by Titus. See "The Great Jewish Revolt," iii,150.
76. Birth of the emperor Hadrian.
78. Agricola succeeds Julius Frontinus in Britain; extends the Roman dominion to the Tyne and introduces the useful arts.
79. Death of Vespasian; Titus on the throne.
Destruction of Herculaneum and Pompeii by an eruption of Vesuvius; Pliny the Elder, writer of theStudiosus, loses his life. See "Destruction of Pompeii," iii,207.
80. The Roman Empire swept by pestilence.
The Colosseum, the work of Vespasian, dedicated by Titus.
81. Death of Titus; Domitian, his brother, becomes emperor.
Agricola extends Roman dominion in Britain.
84. Successful campaigns of Agricola against the Caledonians under Galgacus. Agricola builds a wall of defence between the Clyde and the Forth, and sails around the north of Scotland for the first time.
85. Agricola recalled to Rome through jealousy of Domitian, who appoints Sallustius in his stead.
86. Successful onslaught of the Dacians, under the Decebalus, against the Romans.
Capitoline games instituted by Domitian at Rome.
87. Dacian wars led Rome to agree to pay tribute and provoked the cruelties of Domitian.
88. Celebration of the secular games at Rome.
Tacitus appointed prætor.
91. Domitian concludes a peace with the Dacians.
94. Domitian's wholesale slaughter of his subjects appalls Rome.
95. Jews and Christians refusing to pay taxes to rebuild the temple of Jupiter at Rome are severely punished. These cruelties are sometimes called the "second persecution."
96. The tyrannies of Domitian finally provoke a conspiracy which accomplishes his death. Nerva succeeds him as emperor. Exiles recalled and the unjustly imprisoned freed.
97. Tacitus, the historian, becomes consul at Rome. Nerva adopts Trajan.
98. Nerva dies and is succeeded by Trajan; Pliny and Plutarch are highly distinguished by him.
99. Julius Servius becomes governor of Britain.
101. Trajan discontinues the annual payment to the Dacians; they invade the Roman provinces; Trajan attacks and drives them over the Danube.
102. Rome continues the war in Dacia. Trajan's Empress, Plotina Pompeia, and his sister, Marciana, by their example reform the manners and character of the Roman women.
103. Trajan dictates a treaty of peace to Decebalus, the Dacian leader.
104. Rome renews the Dacian war; Trajan again in command; Hadrian serves under him.
Pliny writes his famous letter to the Roman Emperor in regard to the Christians.
105. Trajan's bridge over the Danube constructed.
Plutarch is governor of Illyricum.
106. Decebalus falling in battle, the Dacian war ends; Dacia becomes a Roman province beyond the Danube.
107. Trajan drains the Pontine marshes and constructs a road through them; he erects a school for poor children and performs other meritorious works.
Great discontent is aroused by the progress of Christianity among the numerous classes of those whose livelihood is derived from the services and ceremonies of the heathen temples. The third persecution of Christians begins.
114. Trajan's Column erected; it was made of twenty-four huge blocks of marble so closely united that they seem like one piece; it is still in existence, although Trajan's statue, surmounting it, was replaced by one of St. Peter.
115. War of Rome with Parthia; Trajan adds Armenia and Mesopotamia to the Roman domains. Rome attains its greatest extension.
Great earthquake at Antioch.
116. Great revolt of the Jews in Cyrene, Cyprus, and Egypt; they slaughter many thousands of Greeks and Romans.
117. Death of Trajan, who is succeeded by Hadrian; the Asiatic conquests are relinquished by him.
118. Hadrian, who was with Trajan at the time of his death, returns to Rome; a plot against him is discovered and four conspiring senators are put to death. Hadrian conciliates the people with large gifts. He enters upon his campaign in Mœcia.
119. Hadrian begins a personal survey of his dominions; he visits Campania, Gaul, and Britain.
121. Birth of Marcus Aurelius Antoninus.
131. Birth of Galen, long the supreme authority in medical science.
132. Insurrection of the Jews under Bar Cocheba; their final dispersion follows. See "The Jews' Last Struggle for Freedom: Their Final Dispersion," iii,222.
138. Death of Hadrian and succession of Antoninus Pius.
155.* About this time Polycarp and Justin suffer martyrdom. See "Martyrdom of Polycarp and Justin Martyr," iii,231.
161. Death of Antoninus Pius; Marcus Aurelius Antoninus succeeds to the Roman throne and makes Lucius Verus his associate in the Empire.
Roman war with Parthia begins.
162. Volagases, with a Parthian army, invades Syria and defeats the Romans.
163. Verus, the Roman Emperor, enjoys himself at Antioch and Daphne while his generals reap successes in Armenia and Media.
165. Seleucia and Ctesiphon are captured by the Romans; end of the Parthian war; Rome acquires Mesopotamia.
166.* Great plague throughout the Roman Empire.
War begins between Rome and the Germanic tribes of the Marcomanni and Quadi, which had invaded Roman territories.
168. The Marcomanni retire into their own country, but M. Aurelius pursues his preparations against them, in order to safeguard Italy.
169. Sudden death of Verus, while in his chariot, on his journey to Rome.
174. Aurelius makes a short visit to Rome; when he rejoins the army the German tribes are signally defeated; this gives rise to the fable of the "Thundering Legion."
177. Persecution of the Christians in Gaul begins; Pothinus, Bishopof Lyons, suffers martyrdom. See "Persecution of the Christians in Gaul," iii,246.
180. Death of Marcus Aurelius; his son, Commodus, succeeds him on the Roman throne. See "Beginning of Rome's Decline: Commodus," iii,263.
183. Lucilla, the sister of Commodus, having conspired against her brother, is exiled from Rome; Commodus vents his rage on the senators.
184. The Caledonians break through the wall on the northern borders of Britain; they are driven back by Ulpius Marcellus.
185. Marcia, the favorite of Commodus, protects the Christians.
Birth of Origen, one of the early Church fathers, at Alexandria.
186. Many prominent Roman citizens are put to death, by order of Commodus.
187. Commodus degrades himself by acting as a gladiator and slaying wild beasts in the Circus at Rome. See "Beginning of Rome's Decline: Commodus," iii,263.
188. Lightning strikes the Capitol at Rome; the library and many adjacent buildings are burned.
189. Revolt of Maternus in Spain and Gaul subdued by Pescennius Niger.
Famine and pestilence in Rome; popular commotions; the guards are overcome and Commodus is driven to Lanuvium; the populace is appeased by the sacrifice of Cleander. See "Beginning of Rome's Decline: Commodus," iii,263.
191. Great fire at Rome; the temples of Vesta and of Peace are burned; many valuable libraries destroyed, in which some works of Galen's are lost.
192. Murder of Commodus.
193. Pertinax elected emperor by the Roman senate; he is later assassinated by the prætorians. The Imperial dignity is purchased by Didius Julianus; he is slain the same year. Albinus in Britain, Niger in Syria, and Septimus Severus in Pannonia are proclaimed emperors by their respective legions. Fall of Didius Julianus and accession of Severus.
194. In the East, Severus triumphs over his rival, Niger. Byzantium resists Severus.
196. Byzantium falls before Severus.
197. Albinus in Gaul is crushed by Severus.
198. Septimus Severus proceeds against the Parthians; he besieges and captures Ctesiphon.
208. Successful campaign of Severus against the Caledonians in Britain and Caledonia.
211. Death of Septimus Severus at York; his sons Caracalla and Geta succeed him.
212. Caracalla slays his brother Geta.
213. Caracalla, universally detested for his cruelties, goes into Gauland assumes the surname of Germanicus. He leads the first attack of the Romans against the Alemanni.
215. Having proceeded through Dacia, Thrace, and Antioch to Alexandria, Caracalla orders a massacre of the Egyptians.
216. By a delusive offer of marriage with the daughter of Artabanus, Caracalla decoys the Parthians into his camp, where he treacherously attacks and slays a great number of them.
217. Caracalla is assassinated; Macrinus is proclaimed emperor; he purchases peace with the Parthians. Julia Domna, the mother of Caracalla and Geta, being banished to Antioch, starves herself to death.
218. Macrinus is overthrown by Elagabalus, who succeeds him as emperor of Rome. This was accomplished by Mœsa, sister of Julia Domna, bribing a portion of the army to espouse the cause of her grandson Elagabalus.
219. Elagabalus arrives at Rome; he brings with him his Syrian idol, which he places in a stately temple.
220. The highest offices of the State are filled by Elagabalus with his vilest associates.
222. Alexander Severus (Alexianus) succeeds Elagabalus, who is slain by the prætorians; his mother, Soœmias, is killed with him.
223. All persecution of the Christians ceases in Rome.
Alexander Severus guided by his mother, Marnæa, who is created augusta.
224. The Persians, under Ardashir (known by the Greeks as Artaxerxes), revolt against the Parthians.
225. Marriage of Alexander Severus to Sulpitia Memmia.
226. Ardashir overthrows the Parthian kingdom; he founds the new Persian kingdom of the Sassanidæ.
228. Ulpian, prætorian prefect, endeavors to restrain the licentiousness of the guards; a mutiny ensues and he is put to death.
229. Dion Cassius having, as governor of Dalmatia and Pannonia, offended the army by his strictness, the Emperor testifies his approbation by making him his colleague in the consulship.
230. Artaxerxes, now at the head of a powerful empire and great army, lays claim to all the former territories of Persia.
231. Alexander Severus, at Antioch, prepares to resist the Persian demands by arms.
232. After a campaign in Mesopotamia without decisive results, but in which the Romans claim the victory, Alexander returns to Antioch.
233. Close of the Persian war.
234. Alexander musters his forces in Gaul to repel the German tribes that had invaded the province.
235. Alexander Severus and his mother, Mamæa, are murdered in a mutiny of the army, near Mainz (or Mentz).
Maximin is proclaimed emperor.
Ambrosius assists the labors of Origen by paying clerks to copy for him.
236. Maximin defeats the Germans and drives them across the Rhine.
237. Maximin proceeds to Sirmium, with the design of attacking the Sarmatians. His ferocious tyranny excites universal horror.
238. A rebellion against Maximin in Africa; Gordian, the proconsul, and his son are proclaimed emperors; they are overthrown by Capelianus and slain, Maximus and Balbinus are elected by the senate as joint emperors; they are murdered by the prætorians. On his march to Rome, Maximin is assassinated by his soldiers; his son is also slain. The Third Gordian is associated with Maximus and Capelianus in the empire. The two latter are slain, and Gordian becomes ruler of the Roman domain.
239. The young emperor of Rome, at first deceived by the eunuchs of the palace, is extricated from their pernicious influence by Misitheus.
240. Various tribes of Germany confederate under the name of Franks. This is the first time they are mentioned in history.
241. Victorious advance of Sapor I against the Roman dominions. See "Eventful Reign of Sapor I, King of Persia," iii,277.
242. The Persians are defeated by Gordian; Misitheus, his general, recovers Mesopotamia. Plotinus accompanies the Roman army, in the hope of reaching India.
244. Gordian, aged nineteen, is murdered, near Circesium (Carchemish); a lofty mound is there raised to his memory.
Philip the Arabian becomes emperor of Rome; he makes peace with Sapor.
249. The Roman legions revolt in several provinces; some proclaim Jotapianus, and others Marinus, both of whom are killed by their own men. Decius, who is sent to appease the mutineers, is compelled by them to assume the purple and lead them into Italy. Battle of Verona. Philip is defeated and slain, and his son murdered at Rome. Decius is emperor.
250. Decius orders the persecution of the Christians.
The Goths cross the Danube, enter the Roman dominions as far as Thrace, and capture Philippopolis.
251. Victory of the Goths; Decius, at the head of the Romans, is defeated and slain. Gallus ascends the throne.
253. Barbarians invade Mœsia and Pannonia; they are defeated by Æmilianus, who is hailed as emperor by his army; he marches against Gallus, who, with his son, is assassinated by his soldiers. On the approach of Valerian, at the head of the Gallic legions, Æmilianus is slain, near Spoleto. Valerian becomes emperor.
254. Franks invade the northern provinces of Gaul.
An eruption of Mount Ætna.
Persecution of the Christians recommences.
256. The Roman Empire is assailed on all sides. The Franks pass through Gaul and sack Tarraco in Spain; the Alemanni attack Italy; the Sarmatians and Quadi force their way into Pannonia; Macedon and Greece are ravaged by the Goths; Persians invade Syria and Mesopotamia.
Cyprian, one of the early fathers of the Church, assembles another council at Carthage, which provokes angry disputes.
258. Valerian goes into the East against the Persians. The invaders of Gaul are checked by Postumus. The Goths capture Trebizond.
260. Roman war with Persia; defeat and capture of Valerian by Sapor. Outbreaks continue throughout the provinces. Gallienus ascends the throne.
261. Manes originates the Manichæan heresy, which taught among other things that there were two souls or spirits in man, one good and the other evil; also that the soul at death went first to the moon and then to the sun, and thence to God.
267. Various Gothic bands, called by some Scythians, ravage Greece and Asia. One section is driven out of Asia by Odenathus; later he is assassinated by his nephew, Mæonius. His widow, Zenobia, avenges his death and fills with glory his vacant throne of Palmyra.
268. Murder of the emperor Gallienus; accession of Claudius II.
269. Claudius signally defeats the Goths at Naissus, Mœsia.
Zenobia rules in Egypt in the name of Claudius.
270. The Goths are again defeated by Claudius; shortly after, he dies of the plague at Sirmium. His brother assumes the purple, but dies by his own hand seventeen days later. Aurelian is universally acknowledged as emperor; he makes peace with the Goths, and relinquishes Dacia to them, transferring that name to another province south of the Danube.
271. The Alemanni who had invaded Italy are overwhelmed by Aurelian.
272. Aurelian attacks Zenobia, Queen of Palmyra; he captures Tyana, Emesa, and Antioch.
273. Palmyra surrenders to Aurelian, and Queen Zenobia is made prisoner.
274. Aurelian, having reunited the Roman Empire, celebrates a splendid triumph at Rome. Queen Zenobia is treated generously and passes her life in peace and affluence.
275. On his march to attack Persia, Aurelian is assassinated; Tacitus is elected by the senate.
276. Aurelian's murderers are punished by Tacitus; he dies while leading an expedition against the Goths, who had invaded Asia. Florian, his brother, succeeds him; he is slain. Probus is proclaimed emperor by the army; the senate confirms it.
277. Probus drives out the Franks, Burgundians, and other German tribes that had overrun Gaul. A number of his prisoners, removed to Pontus, seize a fleet in the Euxine, escape through the Bosporus, plunder many cities on the shores of the Mediterranean, and reach Germany again.
278. Probus repairs the fortified line from the Rhine to the Danube, expels the Goths from Thrace, represses the Isaurian robbers, and arrives in Syria, where he arranges terms of peace with Persia.
282. Probus, successful since 276 against the enemies of Rome, is killed in a mutiny of the army at Sirmium.
Accession of Carus; he gives the title of cæsar to each of his two sons, Carinus and Numerianus.
283. Carus wages a successful campaign against Persia; he dies mysteriously in his tent, near Ctesiphon, during a violent storm. Carinus and Numerianus become joint emperors of Rome.
284. Murder of Numerianus; Diocletian proclaimed emperor.
285. Carinus is murdered.
286. Maximian made Imperial colleague of Diocletian.
287. The Bagauds revolt in Gaul.
288. Carausius, in command of the Roman fleet at Gessoriacum, revolts and establishes an independent sovereignty in Britain.
292. Constantius Chlorus and Galerius are appointed cæsars by Diocletian and Maximian; the Roman Empire is divided among the four.
293. Carausius is treacherously murdered by Allectus, who assumes the government of Britain.
296. Athanasius, the "Father of Orthodoxy," born.*
297. Achillius having revolted in Egypt, Diocletian in person suppresses the insurrection; Alexandria is captured and the inhabitants slaughtered.
298. Rome makes a victorious peace with Persia; extension of the Roman Empire.
300. From this date paganism declines. See "Conversion of Constantine," iii,289.
303. Diocletian persecutes the Christians; the fiercest and most systematic persecution which they had yet suffered.
304. Severe illness of Diocletian, imputed to his long journey in the winter, but attributable rather to his vexation at the disorders caused by his change of policy toward the Christians, and to his finding it impossible to extirpate their religion. See "Conversion of Constantine," iii,289.
305. The dilemma in which Diocletian is placed by the rash counsels of Galerius determines him to abdicate. He resigns the purple at Nicomedia, and persuades Maximian to follow his example on the same day at Milan. Constantius and Galerius take the title of augustus, and that of cæsar is given to Severus and Maximian.
306. Death of Constantius Chlorus; Constantine the Great, his son, is made cæsar; Severus becomes augustus; Maxentius, son of Maximian, assumes the purple. Maximian resumes the rank of augustus. Civil war begins between Constantine and his rivals. The Salian Franks are defeated by Constantine.
307. Licinius is made augustus on the fall of Severus.
308. There are five emperors actually ruling in the Roman Empire, with Maximian, as a sixth, holding nominal power in the court of his son-in-law, Constantine.
310. Maximian is slain by order of Constantine.
311. Galerius issues an order to stop the persecution of the Christians; his death occurs soon afterward.
312. Constantine vanquishes Maxentius in Italy, and becomes sole ruler of the Western Roman Empire. See "Conversion of Constantine," iii,289.
313. Constantine and Licinius proclaim toleration for the Christians.
Maximian is overthrown by Licinius, who unites the Roman Empire of the East under his rule.
314. Constantine and Licinius have their first war; the latter is vanquished. See "Conversion of Constantine," iii,289.
315. Constantine issues an edict against infanticide; another edict condemns to be burned alive any Jews who persecute or ill-treat converts from their sect to Christianity.
318. Beginning of the Arian controversy.
321. Constantine makes an edict ordering the Aruspices to be consulted in certain cases, according to the ancient form. Two others prescribe the observance of Sunday.
323. Licinius is overcome by Constantine, who becomes sole master of the Roman Empire. See "Conversion of Constantine," iii,289.
324. Constantine, who had promised his sister not to injure Licinius, orders Licinius to be strangled.
325. Council of Nice, the first general council of the Church; the followers of Athanasius pronounce the condemnation of the Arians. See "First Nicene Council," iii,299.
326. Helena, saint and Empress, visits Palestine and founds churches there.
329. Frumentius preaches Christianity to the Abyssinians.
330. Removal of the capital of the Roman Empire from Rome to Byzantium. See "Foundation of Constantinople," iii,320.
331. Birth of Hieronymus (St. Jerome).
333. The title of cæsar given by Constantine to his youngest son, Constans.
An edict of Constantine's exempts medical men and professors of literature from military service. This confirmed the procedure of certain former emperors.
337. Death of Constantine, soon after his baptism by Eusebius, an Arian bishop. Partition of the Roman Empire between his sons, Constantine, Constans, and Constantius.
340. Constantine II makes war upon Constans; the former is slain, and Constans becomes ruler of the greater part of the Roman Empire. Constantius rules in the East.
341. Gaul is invaded by the Franks, who resist Constans.
Ulfilas becomes bishop of the Goths.*
Violent earthquakes in Syria. The Synod of Antioch assents to anArian creed, deposes Athanasius, and appoints Gregory bishop of Alexandria.
347. A general council is held at Sardica. The majority approves the Nicene faith; the deposition of Arian bishops voted, and the restoration of Athanasius and Marcellus to episcopal honors. The minority secede to Philippopolis and annul their acts; the two bodies mutually excommunicate each other.
348. Sapor, at the head of the Persians, defeats the Romans at Singara.
350. Magentius proclaims himself emperor; Constans flees into Spain, where he is assassinated.
351. Constantius defeats Magentius at the battle of Mursa.
352. Italy declares against Magentius, who gains a useless victory at Pavia.
353. Constantius sole emperor, Magentius being overthrown by him.
Constantius convokes the Council of Arles, which condemns Arianism.
354. Birth of St. Augustine.
355. Julian, being appointed cæsar, takes command of the Roman troops in Gaul.
Athanasius is deposed by the Council of Milan.
356. Julian is successful against the Alemanni and Franks in Gaul.
357. Constantius visits Rome; he presents an obelisk from Egypt to the city.
Julian has a great victory at Strasburg.
358. Julian winters in Paris, after which he resumes his campaign and defeats the Franks.
359. Again the Rhine is crossed by Julian, who conquers all before him.
360. The Cathedral of St. Sophia is dedicated at Constantinople.
Julian is elected emperor in Gaul. See "Julian the Apostate Becomes Emperor of Rome," iii,333.
361. Death of Constantius while on his way to oppose Julian.
A revival of paganism.
362. Julian proclaims universal toleration and recalls the exiled bishops to their sees.
363. Expedition of Julian against the Persians, under Sapor II; Julian retreats and is slain; Jovian succeeds him in the purple; he purchases peace of Sapor by allotting him the Roman frontiers.
Christianity again in the ascendant.
364. Death of Emperor Jovian; Valentinian succeeds him in the West, and Valens in the East.
365. Great earthquake in the Roman dominions.
Gaul is harassed by the Alemanni; Britain by the Picts, Scots, and Saxons.
367. First campaign of Theodosius against the Picts and Scots in Britain.
368. The Alemanni repulsed from Gaul.
369. Theodosius, having subdued a revolt in Britain, returns to Gaul.
370. Saxons infest the coast of Gaul; they are driven back to their ships by Severus.
374. Huns cross the Volga and proceed westward, overpowering the Alani. See "The Huns and Their Western Migration," iii,352.
St. Ambrose is elected bishop of Milan.
375. Death of Valentinian I; he is succeeded by his son Gratian and Valentinian II, his infant brother.
376. Driven by the Huns, the Visigoths are admitted into the Roman Empire south of the Danube.
378. Death of Emperor Valens in an encounter with the Visigoths at Adrianople.
Gaul is invaded by the Alemanni; they are repulsed by Gratian.
379. Theodosius is recalled from his retirement in Spain and awarded the sovereignty of the East by Gratian.
380. Theodosius is baptized by the Bishop of Thessalonica.
381. Second general council, held at Constantinople.
382. Theodosius makes a treaty with the Visigoths; their final settlement in Thrace and Mœsia.
383. Rebellion of Maximus in Britain; he lands in Gaul, where he is joined by the forces there; he overthrows Gratian.
387. Maximus invades Italy. Valentinian flees with his mother and sister, Galla, to Thessalonica; Theodosius meets them, marries Galla, and prepares to meet Maximus.
388. Maximus is defeated and slain.
A formal vote of the senate establishes Christianity in the Roman Empire.
389. Theodosius visits Rome; he commands the destruction of the heathen temples. Valentinian becomes sole ruler of the West.
390. Sedition at Thessalonica, and massacre of its inhabitants, by order of Theodosius.
392. Paganism in the Roman Empire is finally suppressed by law.
Murder of Valentinian II by Arbogast; Eugenius usurps the throne in the West.
394. Eugenius and Arbogast are vanquished by Theodosius the Great, who unites the whole Roman Empire under his sceptre.
395. Death of Theodosius the Great; final division of the Empire. See "Final Division of Roman Empire," iii,364.
399. The Ostrogoths, under Tribigild, revolt and ravage Phrygia.
Stilicho sends additional forces into Britain, and fortifies the coast against the Saxons.
402. Alaric advances in Italy, and Stilicho prepares to resist him.
403. Honorius, on the approach of Alaric, flees from Milan.
Alaric, King of the Visigoths, encounters Stilicho, Honorius' general, at Pollentia; the Romans claim the victory, but Alaric continues his advance toward Rome. Stilicho defeats and drives him back, near Verona; Alaric retires from Italy.*
404. Triumph of Honorius and Stilicho at Rome. Combats of gladiators exhibited for the last time.
The capital of the Western Empire is removed from Rome to Ravenna.*
Chrysostom, the patriarch, is banished Constantinople; the Church of St. Sophia, probably kindled by the angry adherents of Chrysostom, burned to the ground.
405. Radagaisus collects a great horde of Ostrogoths, Vandals, Suevi, and other Barbarians, and leads them into Italy. He is defeated by Stilicho near Florence, and surrenders on condition of having his life spared. He is, however, treacherously put to death.
St. Jerome completes his Latin translation of the Bible.*
406. German tribes break down the Rhine barrier and establish themselves in Gaul.
Vigilantius, a presbyter of Barcelona, condemns celibacy, the worship of relics, etc.; St. Jerome attacks him in a furious epistle, saying that he ought to be put to death.
407. Constantine usurps authority in Britain and Gaul.
408. Arcadius is succeeded by his son Theodosius II in the Byzantine empire.
Honorius orders Stilicho to be put to death, accusing him of treacherously treating with Alaric, who is besieging Rome.
409. Alaric receives a large ransom from the citizens of Rome and withdraws into Tuscany. Deceived in his negotiations with Honorius, he again lays siege to Rome, which is again spared on condition of Attalus being made emperor.
Owing to the passes of the Pyrenees being left unguarded, the Vandals, Suevi, and Alani enter Spain.