Part 1228

250. Decian persecution of Christians in the Roman Empire. Gothic invasion of Mœsia.

251. Victory of the Goths over the Romans; death of Decius in battle; accession of Gallus to the imperial throne.

253. Murder of the Emperor Gallus; accession of Æmilianus. First appearance of the Franks in the Empire. Murder of Æmilianus and accession of Valerian.

259. Invasion of Gaul and Italy by the Alemanni.

260. Roman war with Persia. Defeat and capture of the Emperor Valerian; accession of Gallienus.

267. Accession of Zenobia, queen of Palmyra.

268. Murder of the Emperor Gallienus; accession of Claudius II. Invasion of Thrace and Macedonia by the Goths checked by Claudius.

270. Death of the Emperor Claudius II.; accession of Aurelian. Dacia yielded to the Goths. Italy invaded by the Alemanni.

273. Defeat and capture of Zenobia, queen of Palmyra, by the Emperor Aurelian.

275. Murder of the Emperor Aurelian; accession of Tacitus.

276. Death of the Emperor Tacitus; accession of Probus.

277. Roman repulse of the Franks. Invasion of Germany by Probus.

282. Murder of the Emperor Probus; accession of Carus.

283. War of Rome with Persia. Death of Carus; accession of Numerian.

284. Murder of the Emperor Numerian; accession of Diocletian.

286. Maximian made imperial colleague of Diocletian.

287. Insurrection of the Bagauds in Gaul.

288. Revolt of Carausius in Britain.

292. Galerius and Constantius Chlorus created "Cæsars."

296. Revolt of the African provinces of Rome; siege of Alexandria. Birth of Athanasius [Uncertain date] (d. 373).

297. Roman war with Persia; defeat of Galerius.

298. Victorious peace of Rome with Persia; extension of the Empire.

Fourth Century.

303. Persecution of Christians by the Emperor Diocletian.

305. Abdication of the Emperors Diocletian and Maximian; Galerius and Constantius Chlorus become "Augusti"; Maximin and Severus made "Cæsars."

306. Constantius Chlorus succeeded as "Cæsar" by his son Constantine; beginning of civil war between Constantine and his rivals; defeat of the Salian Franks by Constantine.

312. Conversion of the Emperor Constantine to Christianity.

313. Constantine and Licinius share the Empire. Toleration Edict of Milan.

316. Birth of Saint Martin of Tours (d. 397).

318. Opening of the Arian controversy.

325. First general Council of the Church at Nicæa.

330. Removal of the capital of the Empire from Rome to Byzantium (Constantinople).

337. Death of the Emperor Constantine; partition of the Empire.

340. Beginning of Civil War between the three sons of Constantine.

348. Defeat of the Romans by the Persians at Singara.

353. Constantius sole Emperor. Synod of Aries.

354. Birth of Saint Augustine, bishop of Hippo (d. 430).

355. Julian made Cæsar; his defense of Gaul.

361. Death of the Emperor Constantius and accession of Julian; revival of Paganism.

363. Expedition of Julian into Persia; his retreat and death; accession of Jovian; Christianity again ascendant.

364. Death of the Emperor Jovian; accession of Valentinian I. in the West and of Valens in the East.

365. Great earthquake in the Roman world.

367. First campaigns of Theodosius against the Picts and Scots.

368. Repulse of the Alemanni, from Gaul.

375. Death of Valentinian; accession of Gratian and Valentinian II. in the West.

376. The Visigoths, driven by the Huns, admitted to the Empire.

377. Rising of the Goths in Mœsia and indecisive battle of Ad Salices.

378. Death of the Emperor Valens in battle with the Goths at Adrianople. Invasion of Gaul by the Alemanni and their repulse by Gratian.

379. Theodosius named Emperor in the East by Gratian.

380. Trinitarian edict of Theodosius.

381. Second general council of the Church, at Constantinople.

382. Conclusion of peace with the Goths by the Emperor Theodosius; final settlement of the Goths in Mœsia and Thrace.

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388. Overthrow of the usurper, Maximus. Formal vote of the Senate establishing Christianity in the Roman Empire.

389. Destruction of the Serapeum at Alexandria.

390. Sedition at Thessalonica and massacre ordered by Theodosius.

392. Final suppression of Paganism in the Empire, by law. Murder of Valentinian II., Emperor in the West; usurpation of Eugenius.

394. Overthrow of the usurper Eugenius.

395. Death of the Emperor Theodosius; accession of his sons, Arcadius and Honorius; final division of the Empire. Invasion of Greece by Alaric; capture of Athens.

398. Suppression by Stilicho of Gildo's revolt in Africa.

400. Alaric's invasion of Italy.

Fifth Century.

402. Defeat of Alaric by Stilicho. Birth of Phocion [Uncertain date] (d. 317).

404. Removal of the capital of the Western Empire from Rome to Ravenna. [Uncertain date] Banishment of the Patriarch, John Chrysostom, from Constantinople; burning of the Church of St. Sophia.

406. Barbarian inroad of Radagaisus into Italy. Breaking of the Rhine barrier by German tribes; overwhelming invasion of Gaul by Vandals, Alans, Suevi, and Burgundians.

407. Usurpation of Constantine in Britain and Gaul.

408. Death of the Eastern Emperor, Arcadius, and accession of Theodosius II. Execution of Stilicho at Ravenna; massacre of barbarian hostages in Italy; blockade of Rome by Alaric.

409. Invasion of Spain by the Vandals, Suevi, and Alans.

410. Siege, capture and pillage of Rome by Alaric; his death. Abandonment of Britain by the Empire. The barbarian attack upon Gaul joined by the Franks.

412. Gaul entered by the Visigoths. Cyril made Patriarch of Alexandria.

414. Title of Augusta taken by Pulcheria at Constantinople.

415. Visigothic conquest of Spain begun. Persecution of Jews at Alexandria; death of Hypatia.

418. Founding of the Gothic kingdom of Toulouse in Aquitaine.

420. Death of Saint Jerome, in Palestine.

422. War between Persia and the Eastern Empire; partition of Armenia.

423. Death of Honorius, Emperor in the West; usurpation of John the Notary.

425. Accession of the Western Emperor, Valentinian III., under the regency of Placidia; formal and legal separation of the Eastern and Western Empires.

428. Conquests of the Vandals in Spain. Nestorius made Patriarch of Constantinople.

429. Vandal conquests in Africa begun.

430. Siege of Hippo Regius In Africa; death of Saint Augustine, bishop of Hippo.

431. Third general Council of the Church, held at Ephesus.

433. Beginning of the reign of Attila, king of the Huns. [Uncertain date]

435. Nestorius exiled to the Libyan desert.

439. Carthage taken by the Vandals.

440. Leo the Great elected Pope.

441. Invasion of the Eastern Empire by Attila and the Huns.

443. Conquest and settlement of Savoy by the Burgundians.

446. Thermopylæ passed by the Huns; humiliating purchase of peace with them by the Eastern Emperor.

449. Landing in Britain of the Jutes under Hengist and Horsa. [Uncertain date] Meeting of the so-called Robber Synod at Ephesus.

450. Death of the Eastern Emperor, Theodosius II., and accession of Pulcheria.

451. Great defeat of the Huns at Chalons; retreat of Attila from Gaul. Fourth General Council of the Church, held at Chalcedon.

452. Invasion of Italy by Attila; origin of Venice.

453. Death of Attila; dissolution of his empire. Death of Pulcheria, Empress in the East.

455. Murder of Valentinian III., Emperor in the West; usurpation of Maximus. Rome pillaged by the Vandals. Birth of Theodoric the Great (d. 526).

456. Supremacy of Ricimer, commander of the barbarian mercenaries, in the Western Empire; Avitus deposed.

457. Marjorian, first of the imperial puppets of Ricimer, raised to the throne of the Western Empire. Accession of Leo I., Emperor in the East.

461. Marjorian deposed; Severus made Emperor in the West. Death of Pope Leo the Great and election of Pope Hilarius.

467. Anthemius made Emperor in the West.

472. Siege and storming of Rome by Ricimer; death of Anthemius, and of Ricimer; Olybrius and Glycerius successive emperors.

473. Ostrogothic invasion of Italy diverted to Gaul.

474. Julius Nepos Emperor in the West; accession of Zeno in the Eastern Empire.

475. Romulus Augustulus made Emperor in the West.

476. Romulus Augustulus dethroned by Odoacer; extinction for more than three centuries of the Western line of emperors.

477. Beginning of Saxon conquests in Britain.

480. Birth of Saint Benedict (d. 543).

481. Founding of the Frank kingdom by Clovis.

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483. Election of Pope Felix II.

486. Overthrow of the kingdom of Syagrius, the last Roman sovereignty in Gaul.

488. Theodoric, king of the Ostrogoths, commissioned by the Eastern Emperor to invade Italy.

489. Defeat of Odoacer by Theodoric at Verona.

491. Accession of Anastasius, Emperor in the East. Capture of Anderida by the South Saxons.

492. Election of Pope Gelasius I.

493. Surrender of Odoacer at Ravenna; his murder: Theodoric king of Italy.

494. Landing of Cerdic and his band of Saxons in Britain. [Uncertain date]

496. Defeat of the Alemanni at Tolbiac by Clovis, king of the Franks; baptism of Clovis. Election of Pope Anastasius II.

Sixth Century.

504. Expulsion of the Alemanni from the Middle Rhine by the Franks.

505. Peace between Persia and the Eastern Empire.

501. Overthrow of the Gothic kingdom of Toulouse by Clovis.

511. Death of Clovis; partition of the Frank kingdom among his sons. Monophysite riot at Constantinople.

512. Second Monophysite riot at Constantinople.

515. Publication of the monastic rule of Saint Benedict.

518. Death of the Eastern Emperor, Anastasius, accession of Justin I.

519. Cerdic and Cynric become kings of the West Saxons.

525. Execution of Boethius and Symmachus by Theodoric, king of Italy.

526. Death of Theodoric and accession of Athalaric. Great earthquake at Antioch. War between Persia and the Eastern Empire.

527. Accession of Justinian in the Eastern Empire.

528. Conquest of Thuringia by the Franks.

529. Defeat of the Persians, at Dara, by the Roman general Belisarius. Closing of the schools at Athens. Publication of the Code of Justinian.

531. Accession of Chosroes, or Nushirvan, to the throne of Persia.

532. End of war between Persia and the Eastern Empire. Nika sedition at Constantinople.

533. Overthrow of the Vandal kingdom in Africa by Belisarius. Publication of the Pandects of Justinian.

534. Conquest of the Burgundians by the Franks.

535. Recovery of Sicily from the Goths by Belisarius.

536. Rome taken from the Goths by Belisarius for Justinian.

537. Unsuccessful siege of Rome by the Goths.

539. Destruction of Milan by the Goths. Invasion of Italy by the Franks.

540. Surrender of Ravenna to Belisarius; his removal from command. Invasion of Syria by Chosroes, king of Persia; storming and sacking of Antioch. Formal relinquishment of Gaul to the Franks by Justinian. Vigilius made Pope.

541. Gothic successes under Totila, in Italy. End of the succession of Roman Consuls. Defense of the East by Belisarius.

542. Great Plague in the Roman Empire.

543. Surrender of Naples to Totila. Death of Saint Benedict. Invasion of Spain by the Franks.

544. Belisarius again in command In Italy.

546. Totila's siege, capture and pillage of Rome.

547. The city of Rome totally deserted for six weeks. Founding of the kingdom of Bernicia (afterward included in Northumberland) in England. Subjection of the Bavarians to the Franks.

548. Death of the Eastern Empress, Theodora.

549. Second siege and capture of Rome by Totila. Beginning of the Lazic War.

552. Totila defeated and killed by the imperial army under Narses.

553. End of the Ostrogothic kingdom in Italy; restoration of the imperial sovereignty. Fifth General Council of the Church, at Constantinople. Establishment of the Exarch at Ravenna, representing the Emperor at Constantinople.

555. Pelagius I. made Pope.

558. Reunion of the Frank empire under Clothaire I.

560. John III. made Pope.

563. Founding of the monastery of Iona, in Scotland, by Saint Columba.

565. Death of Belisarius and of the Eastern Emperor Justinian; accession of Justin II.

566. Conquest of the Gepidæ in Dacia by the Lombards and Avars.

567. Division of the Frank dominion into the three kingdoms of Austrasia, Neustria and Burgundy.

568. Invasion of Italy by the Lombards; siege of Pavia.

570. Birth of Mahomet. [Uncertain date]

572. Renewed war of the Eastern Empire with Persia.

573. Murder of Alboin, king of the Lombards. Subjugation of the Suevi by the Visigoths in Spain.

574. Benedict I. made Pope.

578. Accession of the Eastern Emperor Tiberius Constantinus. Pelagius II. made Pope.

582. Accession of Maurice, Emperor in the East.

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588. Kingdom of Northumberland, in England, founded by the union of Bernicia and Deira under Æthelric.

589. Abandonment of Arianism by the Goths in Spain.

590. Gregory the Great elected Pope.

591. Peace between Persia and the Eastern Empire.

597. Mission of Saint Augustine to England. Death of Saint Columba.

Seventh Century.

602. Revolt in Constantinople; fall and death of Maurice; accession of Phocas.

604. Death of Pope Gregory the Great. Death of St. Augustine of Canterbury. [Uncertain date]

608. Invasion of Asia Minor by Chosroes II., king of Persia.

610. Death of the Eastern Emperor Phocas; accession of Heraclius. Venetia ravaged by the A vars.

614. Invasion of Syria by Chosroes II.; capture of Damascus.

615. Capture of Jerusalem by Chosroes; removal of the supposed True Cross.

616. First expulsion of the Jews from Spain. Advance of the Persians to the Bosphorus.

622. The flight of Mahomet from Mecca (the Hegira). Romans under Heraclius victorious over the Persians.

626. Siege of Constantinople by Persians and Avars.

627. Victory of Heraclius over Chosroes of Persia, at Nineveh. Conversion of Northumbria to Christianity.

628. Recovery of Jerusalem and of the supposed True Cross, from the Persians, by Heraclius.

630. Submission of Mecca to the Prophet.

632. Death of Mahomet; Abu Bekr chosen caliph.

634. Death of Abu Bekr; Omar chosen caliph. Battle of Hieromax or Yermuk; Battle of the Bridge. [Uncertain date] Defeat of Heraclius. Compilation and arrangement of the Koran. [Uncertain date]

635. Siege and capture of Damascus by the Mahometans; invasion of Persia; victory at Kadisiyeh. [Uncertain date] Defeat of the Welsh by the English in the battle of the Heavenfield.

636. Mahometan subjugation of Syria; retreat of the Romans.

637. Siege and conquest of Jerusalem by the Moslems; their victories In Persia.

639. Publication of the Ecthesis of Heraclius.

640. Capture of Cæsarea by the Moslems: invasion of Egypt by Amru.

641. Death of the Eastern Emperor Heraclius; three rival emperors; accession of Constans II. Victory at Nehavend and final conquest of Persia by the Mahometans; end of the Sassanian kingdom; capture of Alexandria [Uncertain date]; founding of Cairo.

643. Publication of the Lombard Code of Laws.

644. Assassination of Omar: Othman chosen caliph.

646. Alexandria recovered by the Greeks and lost again.

648. Publication by Constans II. of the edict called "The Type."

649. Mahometan invasion of Cyprus.

650. Conquest of Merv, Balkh, and Herat by the Moslems. [Uncertain date]

652. Conversion of the East Saxons in England.

653. Seizure and banishment of Pope Martin I. by the Emperor Constans II.

656. Murder of Caliph Othman; Ali chosen caliph; rebellion of Moawiyah; civil war; Battle of the Camel.

657. Ali's transfer of the seat of government to Kufa.

658. Syria abandoned to Moawiyah; Egypt in revolt.

661. Assassination of Ali; Moawiyah, first of the Omeyyads, made caliph; Damascus his capital.

663. Visit of the Emperor Constans to Rome.

668. Assassination of Constans at Syracuse [Uncertain date]; accession of Constantine IV. to the throne of the Eastern Empire. Beginning of the siege of Constantinople by the Saracens.

670. The founding of Kairwan, or Kayrawan. [Uncertain date]

673. First Council of the Anglo-Saxon Church, at Hereford. Birth of the Venerable Bede (d. 735).

677. The raising of the siege of Constantinople; treaty of peace. [Uncertain date]

680. Sixth General Council of the Church, at Constantinople; condemnation of the Monothelite heresy. Massacre at Kerbela of Hoseyn, son of Ali, and his followers.

685. Death of the Eastern Emperor, Constantine IV., and accession of Justinian II. The Angles of Northumbria, under King Ecgfrith, defeated by the Picts at Nectansmere.

687. Battle of Testri; victory of Pippin of Heristal over the Neustrians.

695. Fall and banishment of Justinian II.

696. Founding of the bishopric of Salzburg.

697. Election of the first Doge of Venice.

698. Conquest and destruction of Carthage by the Moslems. [Uncertain date]

Eighth Century.

704. Recovery of the throne by the Eastern Emperor Justinian II.

705. Accession of the Caliph Welid.

709. Accession of Roderick to the Gothic throne in Spain.

711. Invasion of Spain by the Arab-Moors. Moslem conquest of Transoxiana and Sardinia. Final fall and death of the Eastern Emperor Justinian II.

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712. Surrender of Toledo to the Moslem invaders of Spain.

717. Elevation of Leo the Isaurian to the throne of the Eastern Empire. Second siege of Constantinople by the Moslems. Great defeat of the Moslems at the Cave of Covadonga in Spain.

718. Victory of Charles Martel at Soissons; his authority acknowledged in both Frankish kingdoms.

719. Mahometan conquest and occupation of Narbonne.

721. Siege of Toulouse; defeat of the Moslems.

725. Mahometan conquests in Septimania.

726. Iconoclastic edicts of Leo the Isaurian; tumult and insurrection in Constantinople.

731. Death of Pope Gregory II.; election of Gregory III.; last confirmation of a Papal election by the Eastern Emperor.

732. Great defeat of the Moslems by the Franks under Charles Martel at Poitiers, or Tours. Council held at Rome by Pope Gregory III.; edict against the Iconoclasts.

733. Practical termination of Byzantine imperial authority.

735. Birth of Alcuin (d. 804).

740. Death of Leo the Isaurian, Emperor in the East; accession of Constantine V.

741. Death of Charles Martel. Death of Pope Gregory III.; election of Zacharias.

742. Birth of Charlemagne (d. 814).

744. Defeat of the Saxons by Carloman; their forced baptism. Death of Liutprand, king of the Lombards.

747. The Plague in Constantinople. Pippin the Short made Mayor in both kingdoms of the Franks.

750. Fall of the Omeyyad dynasty of caliphs and rise of the Abbassides.

751. Extinction of the Exarchate of Ravenna by the Lombards.

752. End of the Merovingian dynasty of Frankish kings; assumption of the crown by Pippin the Short. Death of Pope Zacharias; election of Stephen II.

754. First invasion of Italy by Pippin the Short. Rome assailed by the Lombards.

755. Subjugation of the Lombards by Pippin; his donation of temporalities to the Pope. Martyrdom of Saint Boniface in Germany.

756. Founding of the caliphate of Cordova by Abderrahman.

757. Death of Pope Stephen II.; election of Paul I.

758. Accession of Offa, king of Mercia.

759. Loss of Narbonne, the last foothold of the Mahometans north of the Pyrenees.

763. Founding of the capital of the Eastern Caliphs at Bagdad. [Uncertain date]

767. Death of Pope Paul I.; usurpation of the anti-pope, Constantine.

768. Conquest of Aquitaine by Pippin the Short. Death of Pippin; accession of Charlemagne and Carloman. Deposition of the anti-pope Constantine; election of Pope Stephen III.

771. Death of Carloman, leaving Charlemagne sole king of the Franks.

772. Charlemagne's first wars with the Saxons. Death of Pope Stephen III.; election of Hadrian I.

774. Charlemagne's acquisition of the Lombard kingdom; his enlargement of the donation of temporalities to the Pope. Forgery of the "Donation of Constantine." [Uncertain date]

775. Death of the Eastern Emperor Constantine V.; accession of Leo IV.

778. Charlemagne's invasion of Spain; the "dolorous rout" of Roncesvalles.

780. Death of the Eastern Emperor Leo IV.; accession of Constantine VI.; regency of Irene.

781. Italy and Aquitaine formed into separate kingdoms by Charlemagne.

785. Great struggle of the Saxons against Charlemagne; submission of Wittikind.

786. Accession of Haroun al Raschid in the eastern caliphate.

787. Seventh General Council of the Church (Second Council of Nicæa). First incursions of the Danes in England.

788. Subjugation of the Bavarians by Charlemagne. Death of Abderrahman.

790. Composition of the Caroline books. [Uncertain date]

791. Charlemagne's first campaign against the Avars.

794. Accession of Cenwulf, king of Mercia.

795. Death of Pope Hadrian I.; election of Leo III.

797. Deposition and blinding of the Eastern Emperor Constantine VI., by his mother Irene.

800. Imperial coronation of Charlemagne; revival of the Empire. Accession of Ecgberht, king of Wessex, the first king of all the English.

Ninth Century.