The Christian Empire

Death of Numerian; Diocletian proclaimed emperor at Nicomedia.

Battle of the Margus; death of Carinus; Diocletian sole emperor. Appoints Maximian as colleague.

Carausius seizes power in Britain.

Constantius I and Galerius made Caesars; creation of the Tetrarchy.

Hermogenian Code issued.

Constantius defeats Allectus, who had assassinated Carausius.

Revolt in Egypt; suppressed by Diocletian.

Galerius defeats Persians.

Edict on Maximum Prices.

Start of the Great Persecution

Diocletian and Maximian abdicate.
Constantius and Galerius become Augusti; Severus and Maximinus Daia become Caesars.
End of the ‘First Tetrarchy’ and start of the ‘Second Tetrarchy’.

The birth of Constantine.

Constantine proclaimed Augustus at York; first act to end persecutions. Maxentius proclaimed emperor at Rome.

Severus dispatched to invade Italy and deal with Maxentius; Constantine married Fausta; Severus defeated and captured.

Maximian attempted to overthrow Maxentius but fled to Constantine; Galerius held a conference at Carnuntum. Licinius promoted to Augustus.

Maximian attempted to overthrow Constantine but was defeated and forced to commit suicide; Constantine’s vision.

Galerius died, issuing an edict of toleration; Licinius and Maximinus divided his empire; Maximinus continued persecutions.

Constantine invaded Italy, defeated Maxentius at the Milvian Bridge in October.

Constantine and Licinius met at Milan; Licinius defeated Maximinus; Edict of Milan issued.

Rough date for the completion of Lactantius’ On the Deaths of the Persecutors.

Council of Nicaea.

Civil war between Constantine and Licinius; battles of Cibalae and Campus Ardiensis.

Crispus and Constantine, sons of Constantine, and Licinius, son of Licinius, made Caesars.

Civil war between Constantine and Licinius; battle of Adrianople; Licinius' fleet destroyed by Crispus; Licinius abdicated. Constantius II made Caesar.

Foundation of Constantinople.

Council of Nicaea; Licinius executed.

Execution of Crispus and death of Fausta (May).

Dedication of Constantinople.

Constans proclaimed Caesar.

Dalmatius, Constantine’s nephew, proclaimed Caesar.

Death of Constantine (May).

Constantine died near Nicomedia on his way to campaign against Persia.

Massacre at Constantinople; Constantine’s nephews and half-brothers killed.

Athanasius returned from exile; war with Persia began, continued to 350.

Constantine’s sons divided the empire; Constantine II received Gaul, Spain, and Britain. Constans got Italy, Africa, and the Balkans. Constantius II took Asia Minor, the East, and Egypt.

Athanasius exiled again.

Constantine II invaded Italy and was killed by Constans’ troops near Aquileia.

Constans campaigned on the Rhine, visited Britain.

Themistius delivered a panegyric on Constantius II at Ancyra.

Church council at Serdica in the Balkans.

Firmicus Maternus wrote On the Error of the Profane Religions.

Libanius delivered a panegyric on Constantius II and Constans at Nicomedia.

Constans campaigned in the Balkans, continued to c. 350.

Athanasius recalled from exile.

Athanasius returned to Alexandria.

Constans overthrown and killed; Magnentius became emperor.

Constans killed, Magnentius proclaimed emperor in Gaul. Vetranio proclaimed emperor in the Balkans. Nepotian proclaimed emperor at Rome.

Gallus made Caesar.

Battle of Mursa.

Magnentius finally defeated.

Gallus executed.

Julian made Caesar.

Battle of Strasbourg.

Julian proclaimed Augustus at Paris.

Civil war between Julian and Constantius; Constantius died on 3rd November. Julian entered Constantinople.

Julian travelled to Antioch.

Julian departed for Persia in March.

Julian fatally wounded on 26th June.

Death of Julian on 26th June.

Jovian made emperor on 27th June.

Jovian died at Dadastana in Turkey on 7th February.

Valentinian made emperor at Nicaea on 26th February.

Battle of Adrianople on 9th August; Valens killed.

Rome sacked on 24th August.