Directory

401 CE

Pope Anastasius I dies at Rome after a 2-year reign, and is succeeded by Innocent I as the 40th pope proclaiming his universal power over the whole of Christendom. Kumarajiva, Kuchean Buddhist monk, arrives in Chang'an and begins translating Buddhist texts into Chinese. The Mahabharata, an Indian Sanskrit epic, is finalised.

Conflict & Security

  • November 18 – The Visigoths, led by king Alaric I, cross the Alps and invade northern Italy.source
  • Stilicho, Roman general (magister militum), leads his army in an extensive campaign against the Vandals in Rhaetia (Switzerland).source
  • Emperor Honorius begins to use the city of Ravenna as a temporary center for certain administrative and military functions. The city is chosen because of its proximity to the bulk of the Western Roman army and due to the fact that its relative poverty makes it a less tempting target for barbarian invaders than cities such as Rome or Milan. This event is often misinterpreted as the establishment of Ravenna as a capital. In reality, the capital of the Western Roman Empire was not truly established at Ravenna until 408.source
  • The old Legio II Adiutrix, part of which had always been stationed at Aquincum (modern Budapest), is divided into two comitatenses, and shipped to Britannia.source
  • Emperor Arcadius sends many gifts to the Hunnic chieftain Uldin, in appreciation of his victory over the Goths and Gainas. Arcadius then allies himself with the Huns.source

Religion & Belief

  • Kumarajiva, Kuchean Buddhist monk, arrives in Chang'an and begins translating Buddhist texts into Chinese.source

Crime & Justice

  • Piracy is committed by slave-traders from Galatia (Anatolia), along the coasts of Africa.source

Disasters & Accidents

  • The Temple of Artemis near Selçuk in Ephesus is dismantled.source

Climate & Environment

  • The Chronicon Pachale (Paschal Chronicle) reports that the Black Sea is completely frozen.source

Culture & Society

  • The Mahabharata, an Indian Sanskrit epic, is finalised.source

Births

  • April 10 – Theodosius II, Roman emperor (d. 450)source
  • Leo I, Byzantine Emperor (d. 474)source
  • Aelia Eudocia, Roman empress and wife of Theodosius II (approximate date)source

Deaths

  • December 19 – Pope Anastasius I dies at Rome after a 2-year reign, and is succeeded by Innocent I as the 40th pope proclaiming his universal power over the whole of Christendom.source
  • Murong Sheng, emperor of the Xianbei state Later Yan (b. 373)source
  • Duan Ye, prince of the Chinese state Northern Liangsource
  • Lü Zuan, emperor of the Di state Later Liangsource