page_title: 4th century
section_title: Significant people
hierarchical_section_title: 4th century / Significant people
caption_attribution_description: English: Portrait of Emperor Arcadius (?). Marble, from the foundation trench excavation at the Faculty of Letters, Beyazit. Late 4th century. Inv. 5028 T.
context_page_description: The 4th century was the time period which lasted from 301 to 400. In the West, the early part of the century was shaped by Constantine the Great, who became the first Roman emperor to adopt Christianity. Gaining sole reign of the empire, he is also noted for re-establishing a single imperial capital, choosing the site of ancient Byzantium in 330 to build the city soon called Nova Roma; it was later renamed Constantinople in his honor.
  The last emperor to control both the eastern and western halves of the empire was Theodosius I. As the century progressed after his death it became increasingly apparent that the empire had changed in many ways since the time of Augustus. The two emperor system originally established by Diocletian in the previous century fell into regular practice, and the east continued to grow in importance as a centre of trade and imperial power, while Rome itself diminished greatly in importance due to its location far from potential trouble spots, like Central Europe and the East. Late in the century Christianity became the official state religion, and the empire's old pagan culture began to disappear.
context_section_description: Aelia Eudoxia, Roman Empress (before 385-404).
  Alaric I, King of the Visigoths
  Albia Dominica, Roman Empress and regent (c. 337-after 378).
  Arbogast, Roman general and rebel (d. 394).
  Arcadius, Roman Emperor (377-408, reigned 383-408).
  Atlatl Cauac, ruler of Teotihuacan (?-439)
  Bassianus, Roman candidate for the position of Caesar (d. 316).
  Calocaerus, Roman usurper (d. 334, reigned 333-334).
  Chak Tok Ich'aak I reign (360–378) 14th dynastic ruler of Tikal
  Chandragupta I, (320-335), Gupta emperor
  Chandragupta II, (380-415), Gupta emperor
  Claudius Silvanus, Roman general and usurper (d. 355, reigned 355).
  Constans, Roman Emperor (c. 323-350, reigned 337-350).
  Constantina, Roman Augusta (between 307 and 317 - 354).
  Constantine the Great, Roman Emperor (272-337, reigned 306-337).
  Constantine II, Roman Emperor (316-340, reigned 337-340).
  Constantius Chlorus, Roman Emperor (c. 250-306, reigned 293-306).
  Constantius II, Roman Emperor (317-361, reigned 337-361).
  Constantius Gallus, Roman Caesar (c. 325/326-354, reigned 351-354).
  Crispus, Roman Caesar (between 295 and 305- 326, reigned 317-326).
  Dalmatius, Roman Caesar (d. 337, reign 335-337).
  Decentius, Roman usurper (d. 353, reigned 350-353).
  Diocletian, Roman Emperor (244-312, reigned 284-305).
  Domitius Alexander, Roman usurper (died c. 311, reigned 308-311).
  Eugenius, Roman usurper (d. 303/304, reigned 303-304).
  Eugenius, Roman usurper (d. 394, reigned 392-394).
  Eutropius, Roman politician, chief advisor to the emperor (d. 399).
  Ezana Aksumite Emperor.
  Faxian, Chinese Buddhist monk.
  Firmus, Roman usurper (d. 375, reigned 372-375).
  Fu Jian, founding emperor of Former Qin
  Fu Jian, Emperor of Former Qin
  Gainas, Roman magister militum, briefly seized control of Constantinople (d. 400).
  Galerius, Roman Emperor (c. 260-311, reigned 293-311).
  Gildo, Roman general and rebel, instigator of the Gildonic War (d. 398).
  Godigisel, king of the Vandals (359–406)
  Gratian, Roman Emperor (359-383, reigned 367-383).
  Hannibalianus, Roman politician, King of Kings, candidate for the throne of a restored Kingdom of Pontus (d. 337).
  Honorius, Roman Emperor (384-423, reigned 393-423).
  John Chrysostom, Syrian-born Patriarch of Constantinople.
  Jovian, Roman Emperor (331-364, reigned 363-364).
  Julian, Roman Emperor (331/332-363, reigned 360-363).
  Justina, Roman Empress and regent (c. 340-c. 388).
  K'inich Muwaan Jol I  reign ? –359 13th dynastic ruler of Tikal
  Licinius, Roman Emperor (c. 263-325, reigned 308-324).
  Licinius II, Roman Caesar (c. 315-326, reigned 317-324).
  Magnentius, Roman usurper (303-353, reigned 350-353).
  Magnus Maximus, Roman Emperor (c. 335-388, reigned 383-388).
  Marcellus, Roman usurper d. 366, reigned 366).
  Martinian, Roman Emperor (d. 325, reigned 324).
  Maxentius, Roman Emperor (c. 278-312, reigned 306-312).
  Maximian, Roman Emperor (c. 250-310, reigned 285-305, 306-308, 310).
  Maximinus II, Roman Emperor (c. 270-313, reigned 305-312).
  Nepotianus, Roman usurper (d. 350, reigned 350).
  Procopius, Roman usurper (c. 325/326-366, reigned 365-366).
  Valerius Romulus, Roman consul, son and heir to an emperor (c. 292/295- 309).
  Rufinus, Roman politician, Praetorian prefect of the East, power behind the throne of the Eastern Roman Empire (d. 395).
  Salutius, Roman politician, Praetorian prefect of the East, candidate for the imperial throne.
  Samudragupta, (335-380), Gupta emperor
  Flavius Severianus, Roman politician, son and heir to an emperor (d. 313). Executed for allegedly trying to become a usurper.
  Flavius Valerius Severus, Roman Emperor (3rd century-307, reigned 305-307).
  Shapur II the Great, king (shah) of the Sasanian Empire
  Siyaj K'ak' Teotihuacano, warrior
  Stilicho, Roman magister militum
  Theodorus, Roman usurper (reigned c. 372).
  Theodosius I, Roman Emperor (347-395, reigned 379-395).
  Valerius Valens, Roman Emperor (d. 317, reigned 316-317).
  Valens, Roman Emperor (328-378, reigned 364-378).
  Valentinian I, Roman Emperor (321-375, reigned 364-375).
  Valentinian II, Roman Emperor (371-392, reigned 375-392).
  Valentinianus Galates, Roman consul, son and heir to a Roman Emperor (366-c. 370
caption: Arcadius
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