Chronology

Chronology of Events

350 - The British general Magnentius revolts, and becomes acknowledged emperor throughout most of the western Roman Empire. Emperor Constantius invites Germanic tribes to cross the Rhine River to attack Gaul and the Roman Rhineland.
Romans cease building new roads in Britain.
Irish raiders make permanent settlements in South West Wales.

351 - Gallus marries emperor Constantius II's sister Constantia and named Caesar in the West. Emperor Constantius II crushes the usurper Magnentius at Mursa Maior (Dsijek, Yugoslavia) on September 28 to win one of the bloodiest battles in Roman history. Constantius' cavalry destroys Magnentius' right flank after a day of slaughter, and both sides lose almost 30,000 men each. Magnentius retreats to Aquileia.

353 - Magnentius commits suicide in Lugdunum (Lyons) on August 10, but the result of inviting Germanic intervention is that armed bands of Germanic tribesmen maraud through the Western Empire. Since Britain supported Magnentius, Constantius, now the sole emperor, decimates the British ruling class.

354 - Gallus, the tyrannical ruler of Antioch, put to death.

355 - Julian studies Greek philosophy in Athens for a few months before he is summoned to Milan to assume the rank of Caesar and marry the emperor's sister Helena.

359 - Gratian born. Constantius II attacks Mesopotamia.

360- The Picts and Scots cross Hadrian’s Wall and attack Roman Britain.
Roman literature describes the warring tribe based in Ireland as the "Scots".
In April, the emperor, alarmed at Julian's popularity, demanded that he should send some of his best troops to serve against the Persians, but his soldiers rose in insurrection and proclaimed him Augustus. Julian sets out for Constantinople with his troops.

361 - Julian declares himself a pagan at Sirmium on the Danube and discovers that his cousin was killed. Constantius II dies and Julian the Apostate becomes emperor. Julian restores the empire to paganism.

362 - Julian goes to Antioch and makes himself unpopular by fixing an arbitrary price on corn in order to stave off a threatened famine.

363 - Julian sets off against the Persians. He crosses the Tigris, advances to Ctesiphon, is enticed farther by a Persian traitor, is forced to retreat through barren country, and is harassed by swarms of Persian cavalry. Julian is mortally-wounded by a spear on June 26 and Jovian becomes emperor, who brings back Christianity.

364 - End of Jovian’s reign and Valens becomes emperor with his brother Valentinian.

367 - By his father Valentinian, Gratian is made Augustus in Gaul.
"A barbarian alliance brings Britain to her knees"; Nectaridus, Count of the Saxon Shore is killed, the general Fullofaudes ambushed. The Picts plunder at will, as do the warlike Atacotti and the Scotti Irish. The Franks, and their Saxon neighbors, raid the Gallic coast, breaking in where they can. The Roman border troops, Areani, ally with the barbarians.

368 - The Pict, Scot and Saxon tribes attack the Romans in London and plunder their treasures.

370 - Theodosius drives the Picts and Scots out of Britain.
Eutropius, Constantine's secretary and Latin historian dies. His Breviarium Historias Romanae, a narrative of Roman history from the founding of the city to 364 A.D., is written in a simple style, and probably intended for the use of schools.

372 - Huns sweep across Asia, invade the lower Volga valley, and move westward, pushing the Ostrogoths (Eastern Goths) and Visigoths (Western Goths) into the Roman Empire.

375 - The Huns cross the Volga River, attack the Germanic Visigoths living in Ukraine. Romans permit fleeing Visigoths to enter the Empire as Foederati, but so mistreat them that the Visigoths revolt.
Valentinian dies and Gratian & Valentinian II become joint emperors. Gratian's share is Gaul, Spain, and Britain, but since his brother is only four years old, he practically rules the whole western empire.

376 - Theodosius the Elder, father of Thedosius I, is executed in Carthage.

377 - Arcadius born in Spain.

378 - Valens and two-thirds of his army defeated and killed by Visigoths or Huns? at the battle of Adrianople in the far northwestern part of Turkey.
His nephew Gratian becomes emperor of the eastern empire as well as what he rules in the West.

379 - Theodosius I becomes Gratian's colleague.

380 - Theodosius I becomes seriously ill, which leads to his baptism as a Trinitarian and to edicts against Arianism. 381 - Theodosius I summons the second general council at Constantinople. 383 - Diocese in Britain declares Magnus Maximus as Roman Emperor. The Roman army begins the evacuation of Britain. The Roman legions leave Britain with Macsen Wledig (Magnus Maximus) who seeks to become Emperor. Gratian is defeated by Maximus near Paris and flees to Lyons, where he is executed. Decius Magnus Ausonius returns to his estate at Burdigala

384 - Flavius Honorius born.
M. Aurelius Clemens Prudentius born in the north of Spain.
Q. Aurelius Symmachus becomes prefect of Rome.

387 - Theodosius cancels the severe measures meted out to Antioch after a riot.

388 - Roman Emperor Theodosius defeats Magnus Maximus, using large contingents of Germanic soldiers, whose loyalty did not lie with Rome.

390 - Ammianus Marcellinus, Roman historian who was born of Greek parents at Antioch and wrote a history of the Roman empire in 31 books, of which only 18 are extant, comprising of the years 353–378, dies.
The governor of Thessalonica is lynched by a mob.

391 - Q. Aurelius Symmachus consul.

392 - Germanic leader of Rome's Rhineland forces revolts; the rebellion is suppressed by Theodosius I.
Decius Magnus Ausonius, the foremost Latin poet of the 4th century and Gratian's tutor, dies.
Valentinian II murdered.

393 - Flavius Honorius becomes emperor.

394 - Alaric I becomes leader of the Gothic auxiliaries of Theodosius I.
Theodosius I marches against the Franks and their puppet emperor Eugenius.

395 - Theodosius I dies in Ambrose's arms, the last emperor of the entire empire. Rome split into two parts with the Latin Western and the Greek Eastern or Byzantine empire, with its capital at Constantinople. Theodosius' sons rule each half; Honorius in West and Arcadius in East.
Alaric I invades and ravages Thrace, Macedon, Thessaly, and Illyria, but is driven out of the Peloponnesus by Stilicho and the troops of the Western empire.
Claudius Claudianus, the last of the great Latin poets, comes to Rome from Alexandria and becomes a patrician by favor of Stilicho.

396 - Arcadius makes Alaric I governor of Illyria.

397 - St Ninian in Galloway.

398 - Honorius marries the daughter of Flavius Stilicho.

400 - Visigoths, under Alaric I invades Upper Italy.
Cunedda moves from Manaw Gododdin to Gwynedd to eject the Irish.

401 - The Visigoths invade Italy. Theodosius II born

402 Romans, under Flavius Stilicho (a Vandal), repel Visigoth invasion of Italy led by Alaric I, at the Battle of Pollentia on the Tanarus. Alaric retires to Illyria.

403 Stilicho strips the western Roman frontier of forces, in attempt to contain Visigoth invasion of Italy, saving Italy but causing the Rhine frontier to collapse. Huge numbers of Vandals, Suebi, and Alan tribesmen flood across the Rhine frontier. Britain declares Constantine III as emperor, who ejects the invaders from Gaul. The invaders retreat into Spain, where the Suebi settle.
Emperor Honorius moves the capitol of the Empire to Ravenna.

404 - Arcadius' wife Eudoxia dies.

405 Stilicho repels barbarian invasion of Italy under Radagaisus in a battle near Fiesole.

406 The Vandals under Guderic invade Gaul. The Franks forbid them to settle, so in 409 A.D. they cross the Pyrenees Mountains into Spain, where they fight with Romans and Visigoths. Honorius attacks Constantine III in Gaul, killing many of Constantine's troops and generals. The peasants rise in revolt, and Roman order in Gaul disintegrates.
Roman legions are withdrawn from Britain.

408 - Stilicho murdered in Ravenna on August 23.
Arcadius dies and his son Theodosius II succeeds him.

410 Alaric I and the Visigoths sack Rome. The Visigoths leave with massive amounts of plunder, taking the Emperor's sister as hostage.
Alaric dies at Cosenza. His remains were supposedly deposited in the bed of the river Busento and the men who did the task were killed to keep his resting place secret from the Romans.
Britain asks aid from Honorius, which he states he cannot give. Honorius tells Britain to look to its own defense. Roman control of Britain collapses. Four hundred years of occupation end for Britain as the Romans leave.
Saxon invaders seize the opportunity and start invading. Archaelogical evidence suggests, however, relatively peaceful conditions in Britain, with only minor Anglo-Saxon incursions up to 440 A.D.
Q. Aurelius Symmachus dies.

413 - Gerontius, a Roman general of British birth, is defeated by Honorius and commits suicide.

418 - Theodoric I becomes king of the Visigoths.

419 - Augustus’s Mausoleum is plundered by Alaric.

421 - Theodoric I, king of the Visigoths and son of Alaric I, treacherously joins the Vandals and attacks the Roman troops from behind.

423 - Honorius dies at Ravenna.

425 Britain appears to have delegated defense to a Vortigern (overking).

429 The Vandals, living in Spain, pressed by the Goths, cross into Africa, where they defeat Roman general Boniface. By 435, the Vandals control most of Roman Africa.

432 Huns force Roman Emperor Theodosius to pay tribute.

434 Attila the Hun enters treaty with Roman Emperor Theodosius II.

435 Vandals capture Tripolitania (Western Libya).

440 Myth suggests that Picts, Scotti or Irish attack Britain, prompting the Vortigern to invite Saxon leaders Hengest and Horsa to assist as foederati (barbarian allies), giving them in return the right to settle permanently with their families in various parts of Britain.
The reign of Gwrtheyrn (Vortigern) and the arrival of the Jutes Hengist and Horsa and their mercenary band.

439 Vandals capture Carthage. Vandal pirates prey on Medeterranean shipping.

441 Attila invades Balkans, and devastates the city of Naissus.

442 Roman Emperor Valentinian III recognizes Gaiseric as an independent ruler. The Vandals develop a strong army and navy.

445 Archeological evidence of massive settlement of Anglo-Saxons in Britain.

446 Roman-British inhabitants of Britain, attacked by Anglo-Saxons, send plea for help to Roman Emperor Aetius. British are pushed across the English Channel into the land of the Armoricans in northern Gaul, forcing them out of their homeland, and leading to the establishment of what is today called the Brittany province of France.

447 Attila attacks Roman empire.

448 Greek writer Priscus visits Atilla the Hun's headquarters.

450 Rome refuses to pay further tribute to Huns, so Huns invade Italy and Gaul.

451 Attila moves through Gaul, destroying the countryside and the city of Metz. Attila lays seige to Orleans, but the city is saved by the arrival of the Roman general Aetius, accompanied by Theodoric, King of the Goths. Attila retires to the plain of Moirey, where he is defeated at Maurica, the Battle of Chalon. Attila flees but Aetius does not give chase.

452 Attila invades northern Italy, razing the city of Aquileia, and devastating and depopulating the Po River Valley. Pope Leo I meets Atilla and convinces him to leave Italy.

453 Attila dies.

455 Vandals under Gaiseric sack Rome, taking Empress Eudoxia and her two daughters hostage.

458 British leader Aurelianus Ambrosius forces partial Saxon retreat to the east in Britain.

476 Heruli, Sciri and Rugli (Germanic) mercenaries of Rome revolt and declare Odoacer (Odovacar) king. Odoacer invades Italy, and defeats the Roman general Orestes at Piacenza. Odoacer captures Ravenna (the western Roman capitol) and deposes Western Roman Emperor Romulus Augustulus, who thus becomes the last Western Roman Emperor until Charlemagne (800 A.D.). Odoacer takes over as ruler of Italy.

477 Vandal King Gaiseric dies, and Vandal power declines.

480 Burgundy area of France invaded by the Burgundii, a tribe from Savoy.

486 Frank King Clovis I (Chlodovech) defeats Roman general Syagrius near Soissons, and executes him. Clovis I defeats and kills Alaric, King of the Visigoths, at Vouille, near Poitiers, France.

488 Upon the invitation of Byzantine Emperor Zeno, Theodoric the Great leads an Ostrogothic army into Italy to expel Odoacer.

489 Theodoric wins at Isonzo and Milan.

490 Theodoric wins at the Adda.

493 Theodoric besieges and captures Ravenna. Theodoric enters into treaty with Odoacer to jointly rule Italy. Odoacer, his son and chief officers are invited to a banquet by Theodoric, where they are assassinated, initiating Theodoric's exclusive rule over northern Italy, which continues until his death in 526.

495 According to the Anglo-Saxon Chronicles, "two princes, Cerdic and Cynric his son, came to Britain with five ships, arriving at the place which is called Cerdicesora, and the same day they fought against the Welsh." Legend suggests exploits by British King Arthur, who fights Anglo-Saxons in Britain. Arthur is known at the time by the name Artorius. Arthur appears to have defeated the Anglo-Saxons at the Battle of Badon, or Mount Badon. This battle halts Anglo-Saxon advance in Britain for half a century. See map of the Britain vs. Anglo-Saxon stalemate accomplished by Arthur.

501-503 - The Scots from Ireland, a Gaelic-speaking people, Christian in religion establish their kingdom of Dalriada in Argyll on the West coast and Isles of Scotland.

507 Franks under Clovis I defeat and slay Visigothic King Alaric II at Vouillé. Visigoths lose most of their possessions in Gaul, including Aquitaine.

519 The battle of Mount Badon, a British victory traditionally associated with Arthur.
According to the Anglo-Saxon Chronicles: "In this year Cerdic and Cynric obtained the kingdom of the West Saxons, and the same year they fought against the Britons at a place now called Cerdices-ford. And from that day on the princes of the West Saxons have reigned."

532 Cerdic, first king of West Saxons, accedes to the throne of Wessex.

533 Byzantine Emperor Justinian I sends army under Belisarius, to attack the Vandals. Belisarius takes Carthage and captures the Vandal king. This brings the Vandal culture to an end.

534 Burgundy conquered by Franks.

536 Byzantine General Belisarius recaptures Naples and Rome from the Ostrogoths.

c.539 - The battle of Camlan, in which Arthur is killed.
542 Ostrogoths under Totila (Baduila) defeats Byzantine army at Faenza and Mugello.

543 Ostrogoths under Totila capture Naples.

546 Ostrogoths under Totila capture Rome.

547 Byzantines under Belisarius recapture Rome from the Ostrogoths.

550 Rome falls agains to the Ostrogoth.
Old Welsh emerges from the British language.

563 - St. Columba sails from Ireland to Argyll to found monasteries, chiefly on the Island of Iona.

577 - Brwydr Dyrham. The battle of Dyrham (Deorham), after which the Welsh lose contact with the Britons of Devon and Cornwall.

c.589 - The death of Dewi Sant.

c.595 - The battle of Catraeth, commemorated by Aneirin in 'Y Gododdin'