Directory

366 CE

The Alamanni cross the frozen Rhine in large numbers, and invade the Gallic provinces. They capture Alsace and a large part of the Swiss Plateau. Battle of Thyatira: Emperor Valens defeats the troops of Procopius, bringing an end to his revolt; Serenianus and Marcellus are killed. Procopius flees the battlefield, but is executed by Valens. Pope Liberius dies after a 14-year reign and is succeeded by Damasus I as 37th pope. Romans unhappy with this choice elect the antipope Ursicinus.

Conflict & Security

  • January 2 – The Alamanni cross the frozen Rhine in large numbers, and invade the Gallic provinces. They capture Alsace and a large part of the Swiss Plateau.source
  • April – Battle of Thyatira: Emperor Valens defeats the troops of Procopius, bringing an end to his revolt; Serenianus and Marcellus are killed. Procopius flees the battlefield, but is executed by Valens.source
  • Winter – Emperor Valentinian I appoints Jovinus, his Master of the Horse (Magister Equitum), general of the army. He defeats the Alamanni in three successive battles, and pushes them out of Gaul.source

Exploration & Expansion

  • January 31 – Athanasius of Alexandria returns from his fifth exile. He has spent four months in his ancestral tomb outside Alexandria.source
  • Buddhist monk Lè Zūn has a vision of "golden rays of light shining down on 1,000 Buddhas", resulting in the creation of the Mogao Caves.source

Technology & Infrastructure

  • Valens builds a pontoon bridge across the Danube, and drives the Visigoths further north, where they will come under pressure from the advancing Huns.source

Science & Discovery

  • The Tabula Peutingeriana, a map showing Roman possessions and roads, is created about this time.source

Births

  • January 18 – Valentinianus Galates, Roman emperor (d. 370)source
  • Yao Xing, Chinese emperor of the Later Qin Dynasty (d. 416)source

Deaths

  • May 16 – Ajabel, Christian priest and martyrsource
  • May 27 – Procopius, Roman general and usurpersource
  • August 1 – Leo of Montefeltro, Christian bishop and saintsource
  • September 24 – Liberius, pope of the Catholic Church (b. 310)source
  • October 1 – Pope Liberius dies after a 14-year reign and is succeeded by Damasus I as 37th pope. Romans unhappy with this choice elect the antipope Ursicinus.source
  • Serenianus, Roman general of the Imperial Guardsource
  • Marinus, Christian hermit and saint (b. 275)source
  • Zhi Dun, Chinese Buddhist monk and philosopher (b. 314)source
  • Acacius of Caesarea, Christian bishopsource
  • Yu Daolian, Chinese empress and wife of Jin Feidisource
  • Marcellus, Roman general and usurpersource