Directory

364 CE

Emperor Jovian dies after a reign of eight months. He is found dead in his tent at Tyana (Asia Minor) en route back to Constantinople, in suspicious circumstances. Valentinian I is proclaimed Emperor by officers of the Roman army at Nicaea in Bithynia. He addresses the soldiers (who threaten to riot) in a speech. He founds the Valentinianic dynasty and rules the Western portion of the Roman Empire, from Caledonia (Scotland) to the Rhine frontier, ensuring it a few years of relative security. He settles in Lutetia (Paris) and establishes a militia to defend the region. Valens, brother of Valentinian I, is appointed co-emperor (Augustus) in the palace of Hebdomon (Turkey). He rules the Eastern portion of the Roman Empire, from the Danube to the Persian border, and begins the first anti-pagan persecutions.

Geopolitics & Diplomacy

  • February 26 – Valentinian I is proclaimed Emperor by officers of the Roman army at Nicaea in Bithynia. He addresses the soldiers (who threaten to riot) in a speech. He founds the Valentinianic dynasty and rules the Western portion of the Roman Empire, from Caledonia (Scotland) to the Rhine frontier, ensuring it a few years of relative security. He settles in Lutetia (Paris) and establishes a militia to defend the region.source

Conflict & Security

  • March 28 – Valens, brother of Valentinian I, is appointed co-emperor (Augustus) in the palace of Hebdomon (Turkey). He rules the Eastern portion of the Roman Empire, from the Danube to the Persian border, and begins the first anti-pagan persecutions.source
  • Britain is forced to endure fierce barbarian raids.source

Religion & Belief

  • The Council of Laodicea decides some disciplinary questions of the church and attempts to establish the Biblical canon, but fails.source

Science & Discovery

  • Theon of Alexandria, Greek mathematician, observes a solar eclipse (June 16) and a lunar eclipse (November 25).source

Births

  • Xu Xianzhi, Chinese official and regent (d. 426)source
  • Blaesilla, Roman noblewoman (d. 384)source
  • Sima Daozi, Chinese prince and regent (d. 403)source
  • Huiguo, Chinese Buddhist nun (d. 433)source

Deaths

  • February 17 – Emperor Jovian dies after a reign of eight months. He is found dead in his tent at Tyana (Asia Minor) en route back to Constantinople, in suspicious circumstances.source
  • February 17 – Jovian, Roman emperor (b. 331)source
  • Theophilos the Indian, Christian bishopsource
  • Ge Hong, Chinese scholar and taoist (b. 283)source