Directory

310 CE

Pope Eusebius succeeds Pope Marcellus I as the 31st pope, but is banished on August 17 by the Emperor Maxentius to Sicily, where he dies, perhaps from a hunger strike. Maximian flees to Marseille where he is besieged and surrenders. Constantine encourages his suicide and Maximian, age 60, hangs himself. Emperor Maxentius condemns the killing of his father. At Trier, Constantine orders the minting of a new coin, the solidus, in an effort to offset the declining value of the denarius and bring stability to the imperial currency by restoring a gold standard. The solidus (later known as the bezant) will be minted in the Byzantine Empire without change in weight or purity until the 10th century.

Conflict & Security

  • July – Maximian flees to Marseille where he is besieged and surrenders. Constantine encourages his suicide and Maximian, age 60, hangs himself. Emperor Maxentius condemns the killing of his father.source
  • Maximian, retired emperor, rebels against Constantine I in Arles while the latter is campaigning against the Franks.source
  • Haelhae becomes the king of the Korean kingdom of Silla.source
  • Licinius campaigns with success against the Carpi.source

Religion & Belief

  • Maximinus Daza, caesar under Emperor Galerius, is acclaimed augustus by his troops. Galerius is forced to recognize him as co-ruler of the East. The Roman Empire is thus divided between seven simultaneous emperors: Galerius (East), Maximinus II (East), Licinius (Middle), Constantine I (West), Maximian (West), Maxentius (Italy), and Domitius Alexander (Africa).source

Economy & Finance

  • At Trier, Constantine orders the minting of a new coin, the solidus, in an effort to offset the declining value of the denarius and bring stability to the imperial currency by restoring a gold standard. The solidus (later known as the bezant) will be minted in the Byzantine Empire without change in weight or purity until the 10th century.source

Births

  • Epiphanius of Salamis, Church Father (d. 403)source
  • Ausonius, Roman poet and rhetorician (d. 395)source
  • Wulfila, Gothic bishop and missionary (d. 383)source

Deaths

  • April 18 – Pope Eusebius succeeds Pope Marcellus I as the 31st pope, but is banished on August 17 by the Emperor Maxentius to Sicily, where he dies, perhaps from a hunger strike.source
  • July – Maximian, Roman emperor (b. c. 250)source
  • August 17 – Eusebius, bishop of Romesource
  • Domnina, Berenice, and Prosdoce, Christian martyrssource
  • Liu He, Chinese emperor of Xiongnu (or Han-Zhao)source
  • Liu Yuan, Chinese emperor of Xiongnu (or Han-Zhao)source
  • Emperor Ōjin of Japan, according to legend.source
  • Luo Shang, Chinese general of the Jin dynasty (266–420)source
  • Dan, Chinese empress of Xiongnu (or Han-Zhao)source