Emperor
Diocletian begins construction of a palace that will become the city of
Split (approximate date). Diocletian, who plans on abdicating, intends to use this palace as his place of retirement.
The
Mayan civilization reaches its most prolific period, the classic period, in what is now
Guatemala,
Belize and parts of southern
Mexico adjacent to the former two. During most of this period,
Tikal dominates the Mayan world.
November: Diocletian issues his
Edict on Maximum Prices, which, rather than halting rampant
inflation, causes widespread panic and an increase in inflation. The measure is quickly abandoned.
Caesar
Galerius wins his second victory over the
Carpi.
An invasion of
Gaul by the
Alemannic Lingones almost traps Caesar
Constantius I between the enemy and the walls of a town. Constantius himself is carried onto the wall via a crane. However, within the same day, Constantius sallies forth from the walls and defeats the enemy in a major battle.
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 consecrated her
virginity to
God. Hailed as a
martyr, she will be honored as the
patron saint of
chastity,
gardeners,
rape victims and virgins.
November 20 – The
Augusti Diocletian and
Maximian reunite in
Rome to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Diocletian's accession, which is now treated as a joint anniversary for both emperors. A series of columns in the
Roman Forum and a triumphal arch are dedicated to the emperors. The two emperors also agree on a plan of abdication.
Galerius wins his third victory over the
Carpi and is perhaps joined on campaign by Diocletian. The
Arch of Galerius is dedicated in
Thessaloniki.[8]
Caesar
Galerius, perhaps accompanied by Emperor
Diocletian, wins his fourth and final victory over the
Carpi. Many of the surviving Carpi and
Bastarnae are resettled in the Roman Empire, where they are split up. The Bastarnae are not attested after this time, and the Carpi are attested only once more in the 310s.
Diocletian, while inspecting the
Danube border, becomes seriously ill.
Caesar
Constantius I besieges a Germanic raiding force on an island in the Rhine and forces their surrender.
Constantius requests leave for his son
Constantine I to join him in the west, who has been living at the courts of Diocletian and Galerius as a hostage. Galerius allows Constantine to return.
Galerius begins a series of campaigns against the
Sarmatians, winning his first victory before the end of the year.
Maximinus Daza persecutes the Christians of
Egypt, many of whom take refuge in the
desert. In time, this refuge leads to the
monastic life. In these monasteries,
Coptic writing develops, supporting the propagation of Christian texts.
Landowners dominate the
Roman Empire, and enjoy the title of senator, which exempts them from the crushing
taxes imposed on the rest of the population. The
Senate has lost all its power and the landowners almost never attend Senate sessions. Members of municipal senates (curiales or decuriones) are charged with the responsibility of collecting taxes and paying
arrears; smaller landowners are held responsible for providing recruits for the
Roman army, and with keeping wastelands under cultivation.
Religion
Catherine makes a public confession of the Christian gospel at a
sacrificial feast ordered by
Maximinus Daza at
Alexandria. A
virgin of royal descent, she is tortured on a spiked wheel (later called the "Catherine Wheel") and
beheaded; her remains are spirited to
Mount Sinai.
The
Council of Illiberis decrees that priests must be
celibate. Additionally, it condemns visiting the homes of
Jews and prohibits Christian women from marrying Jews, unless they have converted.
Constantine institutes toleration of the
Christians in his territories.
Constantine establishes his capital in
Augusta Treverorum (
Trier). He begins a major expansion of the city, strengthening the
walls, expanding the palace complex and building the
Imperial Baths.
Building on the efforts of
Diocletian, Galerius introduces the poll tax to central and southern Italy and truncates the size of the
Praetorian Guard, with plans to disband the Guard altogether.
The
Synod of Elvira concludes with the issue of various
canons, including one declaring that killing through a magic
spell is a sin and the work of the devil.
Galerius sends
Valerius Severus with the army of
northern Italy, to suppress the rebellion in Rome. However, faced with their former emperor
Maximian, the soldiers desert him, and Severus flees to
Ravenna. Maximian besieges Severus in Ravenna, who then surrenders. Maxentius makes Severus a hostage, in an attempt to keep Galerius at bay.
Summer: Anticipating an offensive by Galerius, Maximian travels to
Gaul to make an alliance with
Constantine I.
Late summer or autumn: Galerius invades Italy but Maxentius remains behind the walls of
Rome. Galerius finds he cannot besiege the city, and the image of an emperor making efforts against Rome hurts Galerius' image among the troops. The fact that Maxentius is his son-in-law does not help, and Maxentius makes an effort to bribe Galerius' troops. Galerius unsuccessfully attempts to negotiate, and recognizing Maxentius' attempts at bribery and the danger of being trapped in Italy by Maximian and Constantine, Galerius chooses to withdraw from Italy. To satiate his troops during the withdrawal, he pillages the Italian countryside. Meanwhile, Maxentius executes Severus.
January 8 – Emperor
Hui of Jin dies after a 16-year reign, in which eight
dukes of the imperial family have conducted a civil war (
War of the Eight Princes) against each other in a struggle for power.
Huai of Jin, age 23, succeeds his father and becomes the third ruler of the
Jin Dynasty.
Winter: Emperor
Galerius wins his third and final victory over the
Sarmatians.
April: In
Rome, Emperor
Maximian attempts to depose his son
Maxentius, but the soldiers in Rome side with Maxentius and force Maximian to flee to the court of
Constantine I.
Constantine raids the territory of the Bructeri and builds a bridge across the
Rhine at
Cologne.
November 11 – The Conference of
Carnuntum: Attempting to keep peace within the
Roman Empire, Galerius recalls
Diocletian briefly from retirement, and they convene with Maximian. Diocletian persuades Maximian to return to retirement, and he and Galerius declare Maxentius a public enemy.
Licinius is proclaimed
Augustus of the west, while rival contender Constantine I is again declared
Caesar.
Bereft of his father's support, Maxentius increasingly presents himself as the Conservator Urbis Suae (Preserver of His Own City). Construction of the
Basilica of Maxentius (or Basilica Nova), the largest building in the
Roman Forum, is begun.
Maxentius institutes toleration of the
Christians in his territories.
King
Hormizd II, ruler of the
Sassanid Empire, demands that the king of the
Ghassanids pays tribute. After the king refuses, Hormizd invades Ghassanid territory. The Ghassanids seek aid from
Maximinus Daza, but before a Roman army can arrive, Hormizd defeats the Ghassanid army and kills their king. A Ghassanid force then ambushes Hormizd's small retinue while the latter is on a hunting trip, and the Sasanian king is mortally wounded. He dies after a 7-year reign.[14]
Hormizd is succeeded by his infant son
Shapur II following the brief reign and murder of
Adur Narseh.[15]
April 18 –
Eusebius succeeds Marcellus I as the 31st pope, but is himself banished on
August 17 to
Sicily (these events may have also taken place in
310).[17]
East Asia
In Yamato (Japan), the
Kofun period dominated during this decade. It was an
animistic culture which existed prior the introduction of
Buddhism. A legend of the 4th century Prince
Yamato Takeru alludes to the borders of the
Yamato and battlegrounds in the area. A frontier was obviously somewhere close to the later
Izumo province (the eastern part of today's
Shimane Prefecture). Another frontier, in
Kyūshū, was apparently somewhere north of today's
Kumamoto prefecture. The legend specifically states that there was an eastern land in Honshū "whose people disobeyed the imperial court", against whom
Yamato Takeru was sent to fight. That rivalling country may have been located rather close to the Yamato nucleus area itself, or relatively far away. The today
Kai province is mentioned as one of the locations where prince Yamato Takeru sojourned in his said military expedition.
Northern frontier of this age was also explained in Kojiki as the legend of Shido Shōgun's (四道将軍: Shōguns to four ways) expedition. Out of four shōguns, Ōbiko set northward to Koshi and his son Take Nunakawawake set to eastern states. The father moved east from northern Koshi while the son moved north on his way, and they finally met at Aizu (current western
Fukushima). Although the legend itself is not likely to be a historical fact, Aizu is rather close to southern Tōhoku, where the north end of keyhole kofun culture as of late 4th century is located.
Significant people
This section is empty. You can help by
adding to it. (March 2016)
^Smith Williams, Henry (March 16, 2019). The Historians' History of the World. Creative Media Partners.
ISBN9781010421023.
^Johann Joseph Ignaz, von Doellinger; Baur, Ferdinand Christian; Gieseler, Johann Carl Ludwig; Plummer, Alfred; Wordsworth, Christopher (1876). Hippolytus and Callistus: or, the Church of Rome in the first half of the third century. p. 66.
^Bower, Archibald (1844). The History of the Popes: From the Foundation of the See of Rome to A.D. 1758 · Volume 1. Griffith and Simon. p. 41.
Emperor
Diocletian begins construction of a palace that will become the city of
Split (approximate date). Diocletian, who plans on abdicating, intends to use this palace as his place of retirement.
The
Mayan civilization reaches its most prolific period, the classic period, in what is now
Guatemala,
Belize and parts of southern
Mexico adjacent to the former two. During most of this period,
Tikal dominates the Mayan world.
November: Diocletian issues his
Edict on Maximum Prices, which, rather than halting rampant
inflation, causes widespread panic and an increase in inflation. The measure is quickly abandoned.
Caesar
Galerius wins his second victory over the
Carpi.
An invasion of
Gaul by the
Alemannic Lingones almost traps Caesar
Constantius I between the enemy and the walls of a town. Constantius himself is carried onto the wall via a crane. However, within the same day, Constantius sallies forth from the walls and defeats the enemy in a major battle.
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 consecrated her
virginity to
God. Hailed as a
martyr, she will be honored as the
patron saint of
chastity,
gardeners,
rape victims and virgins.
November 20 – The
Augusti Diocletian and
Maximian reunite in
Rome to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Diocletian's accession, which is now treated as a joint anniversary for both emperors. A series of columns in the
Roman Forum and a triumphal arch are dedicated to the emperors. The two emperors also agree on a plan of abdication.
Galerius wins his third victory over the
Carpi and is perhaps joined on campaign by Diocletian. The
Arch of Galerius is dedicated in
Thessaloniki.[8]
Caesar
Galerius, perhaps accompanied by Emperor
Diocletian, wins his fourth and final victory over the
Carpi. Many of the surviving Carpi and
Bastarnae are resettled in the Roman Empire, where they are split up. The Bastarnae are not attested after this time, and the Carpi are attested only once more in the 310s.
Diocletian, while inspecting the
Danube border, becomes seriously ill.
Caesar
Constantius I besieges a Germanic raiding force on an island in the Rhine and forces their surrender.
Constantius requests leave for his son
Constantine I to join him in the west, who has been living at the courts of Diocletian and Galerius as a hostage. Galerius allows Constantine to return.
Galerius begins a series of campaigns against the
Sarmatians, winning his first victory before the end of the year.
Maximinus Daza persecutes the Christians of
Egypt, many of whom take refuge in the
desert. In time, this refuge leads to the
monastic life. In these monasteries,
Coptic writing develops, supporting the propagation of Christian texts.
Landowners dominate the
Roman Empire, and enjoy the title of senator, which exempts them from the crushing
taxes imposed on the rest of the population. The
Senate has lost all its power and the landowners almost never attend Senate sessions. Members of municipal senates (curiales or decuriones) are charged with the responsibility of collecting taxes and paying
arrears; smaller landowners are held responsible for providing recruits for the
Roman army, and with keeping wastelands under cultivation.
Religion
Catherine makes a public confession of the Christian gospel at a
sacrificial feast ordered by
Maximinus Daza at
Alexandria. A
virgin of royal descent, she is tortured on a spiked wheel (later called the "Catherine Wheel") and
beheaded; her remains are spirited to
Mount Sinai.
The
Council of Illiberis decrees that priests must be
celibate. Additionally, it condemns visiting the homes of
Jews and prohibits Christian women from marrying Jews, unless they have converted.
Constantine institutes toleration of the
Christians in his territories.
Constantine establishes his capital in
Augusta Treverorum (
Trier). He begins a major expansion of the city, strengthening the
walls, expanding the palace complex and building the
Imperial Baths.
Building on the efforts of
Diocletian, Galerius introduces the poll tax to central and southern Italy and truncates the size of the
Praetorian Guard, with plans to disband the Guard altogether.
The
Synod of Elvira concludes with the issue of various
canons, including one declaring that killing through a magic
spell is a sin and the work of the devil.
Galerius sends
Valerius Severus with the army of
northern Italy, to suppress the rebellion in Rome. However, faced with their former emperor
Maximian, the soldiers desert him, and Severus flees to
Ravenna. Maximian besieges Severus in Ravenna, who then surrenders. Maxentius makes Severus a hostage, in an attempt to keep Galerius at bay.
Summer: Anticipating an offensive by Galerius, Maximian travels to
Gaul to make an alliance with
Constantine I.
Late summer or autumn: Galerius invades Italy but Maxentius remains behind the walls of
Rome. Galerius finds he cannot besiege the city, and the image of an emperor making efforts against Rome hurts Galerius' image among the troops. The fact that Maxentius is his son-in-law does not help, and Maxentius makes an effort to bribe Galerius' troops. Galerius unsuccessfully attempts to negotiate, and recognizing Maxentius' attempts at bribery and the danger of being trapped in Italy by Maximian and Constantine, Galerius chooses to withdraw from Italy. To satiate his troops during the withdrawal, he pillages the Italian countryside. Meanwhile, Maxentius executes Severus.
January 8 – Emperor
Hui of Jin dies after a 16-year reign, in which eight
dukes of the imperial family have conducted a civil war (
War of the Eight Princes) against each other in a struggle for power.
Huai of Jin, age 23, succeeds his father and becomes the third ruler of the
Jin Dynasty.
Winter: Emperor
Galerius wins his third and final victory over the
Sarmatians.
April: In
Rome, Emperor
Maximian attempts to depose his son
Maxentius, but the soldiers in Rome side with Maxentius and force Maximian to flee to the court of
Constantine I.
Constantine raids the territory of the Bructeri and builds a bridge across the
Rhine at
Cologne.
November 11 – The Conference of
Carnuntum: Attempting to keep peace within the
Roman Empire, Galerius recalls
Diocletian briefly from retirement, and they convene with Maximian. Diocletian persuades Maximian to return to retirement, and he and Galerius declare Maxentius a public enemy.
Licinius is proclaimed
Augustus of the west, while rival contender Constantine I is again declared
Caesar.
Bereft of his father's support, Maxentius increasingly presents himself as the Conservator Urbis Suae (Preserver of His Own City). Construction of the
Basilica of Maxentius (or Basilica Nova), the largest building in the
Roman Forum, is begun.
Maxentius institutes toleration of the
Christians in his territories.
King
Hormizd II, ruler of the
Sassanid Empire, demands that the king of the
Ghassanids pays tribute. After the king refuses, Hormizd invades Ghassanid territory. The Ghassanids seek aid from
Maximinus Daza, but before a Roman army can arrive, Hormizd defeats the Ghassanid army and kills their king. A Ghassanid force then ambushes Hormizd's small retinue while the latter is on a hunting trip, and the Sasanian king is mortally wounded. He dies after a 7-year reign.[14]
Hormizd is succeeded by his infant son
Shapur II following the brief reign and murder of
Adur Narseh.[15]
April 18 –
Eusebius succeeds Marcellus I as the 31st pope, but is himself banished on
August 17 to
Sicily (these events may have also taken place in
310).[17]
East Asia
In Yamato (Japan), the
Kofun period dominated during this decade. It was an
animistic culture which existed prior the introduction of
Buddhism. A legend of the 4th century Prince
Yamato Takeru alludes to the borders of the
Yamato and battlegrounds in the area. A frontier was obviously somewhere close to the later
Izumo province (the eastern part of today's
Shimane Prefecture). Another frontier, in
Kyūshū, was apparently somewhere north of today's
Kumamoto prefecture. The legend specifically states that there was an eastern land in Honshū "whose people disobeyed the imperial court", against whom
Yamato Takeru was sent to fight. That rivalling country may have been located rather close to the Yamato nucleus area itself, or relatively far away. The today
Kai province is mentioned as one of the locations where prince Yamato Takeru sojourned in his said military expedition.
Northern frontier of this age was also explained in Kojiki as the legend of Shido Shōgun's (四道将軍: Shōguns to four ways) expedition. Out of four shōguns, Ōbiko set northward to Koshi and his son Take Nunakawawake set to eastern states. The father moved east from northern Koshi while the son moved north on his way, and they finally met at Aizu (current western
Fukushima). Although the legend itself is not likely to be a historical fact, Aizu is rather close to southern Tōhoku, where the north end of keyhole kofun culture as of late 4th century is located.
Significant people
This section is empty. You can help by
adding to it. (March 2016)
^Smith Williams, Henry (March 16, 2019). The Historians' History of the World. Creative Media Partners.
ISBN9781010421023.
^Johann Joseph Ignaz, von Doellinger; Baur, Ferdinand Christian; Gieseler, Johann Carl Ludwig; Plummer, Alfred; Wordsworth, Christopher (1876). Hippolytus and Callistus: or, the Church of Rome in the first half of the third century. p. 66.
^Bower, Archibald (1844). The History of the Popes: From the Foundation of the See of Rome to A.D. 1758 · Volume 1. Griffith and Simon. p. 41.