Events

By place

Roman Empire

• March 5—Emperor Julian moves from Antioch with an army of 90,000 against the Sassanid Empire.

• Perisapora is destroyed by Julian.

• May 29—Battle of Ctesiphon: Julian arrives under the walls of the Sassanid capital and defeats the Sassanid army of Shapur II of Persia, but is unable to put the city under siege.

• June 16—The Roman army starts its retreat from the Sassanid Empire, suffering attacks from the Sassanid forces.

• June 26—Julian is killed in battle. Jovian, a general, is proclaimed Emperor by the troops on the battlefield.

• Nisibis is given to Persia by Jovian.

• Christianity is reestablished as the official religion of the Roman Empire by Jovian.

Europe

• The Huns reach the Caspian Sea.

Asia

• Petra is damaged by an earthquake.

By topic

Religion

• The Council of Laodicea, which deals with constricting the conduct of church members, is held. The major canon approved by this council is Canon 29, which prohibits resting on the Sabbath (Saturday), restricting Christians to honoring the Lord on Sunday.

Births

• Emperor Wu of Liu Song

Deaths

• June 26—Julian, Roman Emperor (mortally wounded in battle)

• Zhang Xuanjing

• Consort Zhou