Roman Timeline 4th Century AD

301 AD

Diocletion's maximum price edicts go into effect.

303 AD

Diocletion persecutes the Christians in earnest.

305 AD

Diocletian and Maximian abdicate the throne. Galerius and Constantius Chlorus co-Augusti

306 AD

Death of the Emperor Constantius Chlorus in the city of Ebaracum. Constantine named Augustus in the West.

306 AD

Emperor Fl. Valerius Severus revolts and invades Italy. His father Maximian comes out of retirement first in his support, then in favor of Constantine. Severus killed in Pannonia and Maximian recognized as co-emperor.

307 AD

Marcellus is appointed as the new bishop of Rome.

308 AD

The Conference of Carnutum, a meeting of all of the Caesars and Augusti, eventually setting off civil war.

308 AD

The historian and Christian Eusebius is placed as the new bishop of Rome after opposition to Marcellus forces him into exile.

310 AD

Death of Maximian after the siege of Masillia by Constantine.

311 AD

Publication of the Edict of Toleration by the Emperor Galerius, ending Christian persecution, followed shortly by his death. Death of Diocletion.

312 AD

Constantine leads his army from Gaul, investing several towns and winning the support of most of Italy. On the march to Rome, he claimed to have seen the sign of a cross of light, and the words "By this sign, conquer". This is the basis for speculation on Constantine's Christian conversion

312 AD

Death of the emperor Maxentius after Constantine's victory at the battle of the Milvian Bridge. Constantine disbands the Praetorian guard.

313 AD

Victory of Licinius over Maximinus Daia at the Hellespont is followed by reconciliation of Constantine and Maximinius. Edict of Milan is signed by Emperor Constantine the Great and the Emperor Licinius setting a tone for peace and Christian acceptance.

314 AD

Peace is interrupted once again when armed conflict breaks out between the co-emperors. Periods of war and peace follow for ten years with Constantine increasingly victorious.

315 AD

The arch of Constantine is erected in Rome.

316 AD

Battle of Campus Ardiensis in which Constantine defeats Licinius.

317 AD

Birth of Constantine II, in the city of Arelate.

320 AD

Birth of the Emperor Constans, in the city of Constantinople.

322 AD

St. Peter's Church is constructed in Rome.

323 AD

Constantine drives the Goths out of Thracia.

324 AD

Final victory for Constantine over Licinius at Adrianople and Chrysopolis. Constantine sole emperor.

325 AD

The Council of Nicaea makes Christianity the religion of the Empire

326 AD

Constantine executes his son, Crispus, followed by his wife Faustus a year later. She was boiled alive.

326 AD

Constantine chooses Byzantium as the new capital of the Empire and renames it Constantinople.

328 AD

Birth of the Emperor Valens, in the city of Cibalae.

332 AD

Birth of the Emperor Julian the Apostate.

336 AD

The Church of the Holy Sepulchre is built and dedicated in Jerusalem.

337 AD

Constantine had himself baptized by Eusebius, the bishop of Nicomedia. Shortly before his death. Division of the empire between Constantine's three sons: Constantine II (west), Constans (middle), Constantius (east).

339 AD

Birth of the bishop of Milan, Ambrose, in the city of Trier.

340 AD

Civil war once again. Death of Constantine II against Constans at the battle of Aquileia.

341 AD

Emperor Constans begins a successful campaign against the Franks.

343 AD

The Emperor Constans campaigns against the Picts and Scots in Britannia, whom he successfully drives back into Caledonia.

344 AD

Persian victory at Singara.

347 AD

Birth of the Emperor Theodosius the Great, in the town of Cauca, Northwestern Spain.

348 AD

Birth of Saint Jerome, the Christian writer.

350 AD

Death of the Emperor Constans after a revolt broke out under Magnentius. The Persians invade and take Armenia.

351 AD

Emperor Constantius II defeats the army of the pretender Magnentius in a battle near Mursa.

353 AD

Battle of Mons Seleucus in which Contantius defeats Magnentius in a bloody engagement.

357 AD

Julian defeats the Alemmani.

359 AD

Sapor II invades Mesopotamia. Constantius goes to the east. Birth of the Emperor Gratian, in the town of Sirmium.

360 AD

Julian's army proclaims him emperor and he marches east.

361 AD

Death of Constantius II, Julian the Apostate takes over.

362 AD

Julian outlaws the teaching of Christianity.

363 AD

Battle of Ctesiphon, in which Julian defeats Shapur II, but Julian is killed in the battle. Jovian emperor.

364 AD

Jovian reverses Julians anti-Christian edicts. Nominates Valentinian as his heir and dies. Valentinian makes his brother Valens eastern emperor and takes the west for himself. Permanent separation of the empire.

367 AD

Valentinian defeats the Alemmani at Solicinium.

368 AD

Valens at war with the Goths.

369 AD

Peace with Goths

369 AD

Huns invade Ostrogoth territory.

370 AD

Theodosius drives invading Picts out of Britain once again.

371 AD

Birth of the Emperor Valentinian II.

374 AD

Theodosius the Great campaigns against the Sarmatians along the Danube.

374 AD

Ambrose appointed bishop of Milan.

375 AD

Death of Valentinian. Followed by Gratian who also promoted his infant brother Valentinian II at Milan. Gratian is the first emperor to refuse the office of Pontifex Maximus.

376 AD

Theodosius the Elder is killed in Africa and his son, the Great retires from public service.

377 AD

Emperor Valens and Emperor Gratian combine against Visigoth and Ostrogoth armies along the Danube. Goths move into Thracia. Birth of the Emperor Arcadius, in Spain.

378 AD

Gratian defeats Alemanni. The Romans, under Valens are then defeated badly at Adrianople by Fritigern and the Goths. Perhaps the most terrible and unrecoverable defeat in Roman history. Valens killed.

379 AD

Gratian nominated Theodosius (the Great) to replace Valens.

380 AD

Theodosius the Great declares Christianity to be the sole religion of the empire.

382 AD

Treaty of Theodosius with Visigoths.

383 AD

Revolt of Maximus in Britain. Death of Gratian. Theodosius recognizes Maximus in the west and Valentinian II at Milan. Birth of the Emperor Honorius.

387 AD

Emperor Theodosius signs a treaty with the Persian King Shapur III, giving Persia four fifths of Armenia, and Rome one fifth. He then crushed Maximus at Aquileia.

390 AD

Birth of the Roman general Flavius Aetius.

391 AD

Paganism is officially ended with edicts published by Emperor Theodosius.

392 AD

Death of the Emperor Valentinian II. Eugenius replaces him, set up by the Germanic general Arbogast.

394 AD

The last showing of the ancient Olympic Games is held in this year after it is banned by Emperor Theodosius the Great. There are no games again until 1896.

394 AD

Theodosius and the Germanic Alaric defeat Arbogast at the River Frigidus.

395 AD

Death of Theodosius the Great. His sons Honorius takes the west, and Arcadius the east. The Huns invade Armenia, Cappadocia and Syria.

395 - 397 AD

Alaric invades the Balkans but is checked by Stilicho. Alaric set up as governor of Illyricum.

399 AD

Ostrogoths invade and capture Galatia, Pisidia, and Bithynia.