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 Gaul
and 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 Moesa, 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, Sooemias, 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 Moesia 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, Moesia.
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 an Arian
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 Moesia.
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.
END OF VOLUME III