WORLD HISTORY · TIMELINE 日本語
The 5th century401–500
What were the key events of the 5th century?
In the 5th century (401–500), the Visigoths sacked Rome, the Western Roman Empire eventually fell, and the Frankish Kingdom was founded. China entered the Northern and Southern dynasties period after the Northern Wei unified the north, the kings of Wa (early Japan) sent envoys to the southern dynasties, and potters and painters arrived from the Korean kingdom of Baekje.
- Visigoths sack RomeEurope
- Kings of Wa send envoys to China's southern dynastiesAsia
- Eastern Jin falls; Liu Song dynasty foundedAsia
- Northern Wei unifies north; Northern and Southern dynasties beginAsia
- Huns battle allied army at the Catalaunian PlainsEurope
- Potters and painters arrive from BaekjeAsia
- Western Roman Empire fallsEurope
- Clovis founds the Frankish KingdomEurope
Summaries are written by the site editors.
Key events of the 5th century (timeline · excerpt)
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Saint Telemachus tries to stop a gladiatorial fight in a Roman amphitheatre, and is stoned to death by the crowd. This act impresses the Christian Emperor Honorius, who issues a historic ban on gladiatorial fights.
The Western Roman army under Stilicho corners and defeats the Ostrogothic army in the battle of Faesulae.
The Southern Yan capital of Guanggu falls to the Jin dynasty general Liu Yu, ending the Southern Yan dynasty.
Emperor Honorius signs an edict providing tax relief for the Italian provinces Tuscia, Campania, Picenum, Samnium, Apulia, Lucania and Calabria, which were plundered by the Visigoths.
Aelia Pulcheria takes a vow of chastity and is proclaimed Augusta, thus becoming the regent of the Byzantine Empire for her 13-year-old brother Theodosius II after the death of the previous regent, praefect Anthemius.
Emperor Honorius forces Galla Placidia into marriage to Constantius, his famous general (magister militum) (probable).
Pope Innocent I declares Pelagius and his follower Caelestius excommunicated unless they return to orthodoxy.
Having usurped the throne of Emperor Gong of Jin, Liu Yu proclaims himself Emperor of the Liu Song dynasty.
Italian city Venice is founded with the dedication of the first church, that of San Giacomo di Rialto on the islet of Rialto.
The University of Constantinople is founded by Emperor Theodosius II at the urging of his wife Aelia Eudocia.
Deposed Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople Nestorius, considered the originator of Nestorianism, is exiled by Roman Emperor Theodosius II to a monastery in Egypt.
Valentinian III, Western Roman Emperor, marries Licinia Eudoxia, daughter of his cousin Theodosius II, Eastern Roman Emperor in Constantinople unifying the two branches of the House of Theodosius.
Consecration of pope Leo I, later called Leo the Great, following the death of pope Sixtus III in the month before.
Western Roman Emperor Valentinian III is assassinated while practising on the Campus Martius on behalf of Petronius Maximus.
A powerful earthquake destroys large portions of the Walls of Constantinople, including 57 towers.
Attila the Hun captures Metz in France, killing most of its inhabitants and burning the town.
Battle of Avarayr between Armenian rebels and the Sasanian Empire takes place. The Sasanids defeat the Armenians militarily but guarantee them freedom to openly practice Christianity.
Battle of Chalons: Flavius Aetius battles Attila the Hun. After the battle, which was inconclusive, Attila retreats. Despite suffering catastrophic losses that led to the collapse of their alliance with the Goths and the destruction of much of the Roman army, the Romans nevertheless proclaimed victory despite the lack of any clear military success.
The Chalcedonian Creed, regarding the divine and human nature of Jesus, is adopted by the Council of Chalcedon, an ecumenical council.
Attila leads a Hun army in the invasion of Italy, devastating the northern provinces as he heads for Rome.
Sack of Aquileia: After an earlier defeat on the Catalaunian Plains, Attila lays siege to the metropolis of Aquileia and eventually destroys it.
Western Roman Emperor Valentinian III murders his general Flavius Aetius on instigation of eunuch Heraclius and senator Petronius Maximus.
Petronius Maximus becomes, with support of the Roman Senate, emperor of the Western Roman Empire; he forces Licinia Eudoxia, the widow of his predecessor, Valentinian III, to marry him.
The elderly noble Avitus is proclaimed Roman emperor by Gothic king Theoderic II in Toulouse.
Western Roman Emperor Majorian is arrested near Tortona (northern Italy) and deposed by the Suebian general Ricimer.
Roman Emperor Majorian is beheaded near the river Iria in north-west Italy following his arrest and deposition by the magister militum Ricimer.
Libius Severus is declared emperor of the Western Roman Empire. The real power is in the hands of the magister militum Ricimer.
Potters and painters arrive from Baekje
Seven-year-old Leo II succeeds his maternal grandfather Leo I as Byzantine emperor. He dies ten months later.
Julius Nepos forces Roman usurper Glycerius to abdicate the throne and proclaims himself Emperor of the Western Roman Empire.
Emperor Leo II dies after a reign of ten months. He is succeeded by his father Zeno, who becomes sole ruler of the Byzantine Empire.
Verina, the Eastern Roman dowager Empress, instigates a riot in Constantinople and persuades emperor Zeno, her son-in-law, to flee. The Byzantine senate, however, acclaims Basiliscus as emperor and not her lover Patricius.
Byzantine Emperor Zeno is forced to flee his capital at Constantinople, and his general, Basiliscus gains control of the empire.
Byzantine Emperor Basiliscus issues a circular letter (Enkyklikon) to the bishops of his empire, supporting the Monophysite christological position.
The Roman general Orestes forces western Roman Emperor Julius Nepos to flee his capital city, Ravenna.
Western Roman Empire falls
Odoacer, chieftain of the Germanic tribes (Herulic – Scirian foederati), is proclaimed rex Italiae ("King of Italy") by his troops.
Romulus Augustulus is deposed when Odoacer proclaims himself "King of Italy", thus ending the Western Roman Empire.
King Huneric of the Vandals replaces Nicene bishops with Arian ones, and banishes some to Corsica.
Leontius, Roman usurper, is crowned Eastern emperor at Tarsus (modern Turkey). He is recognized in Antioch and makes it his capital.
Pope Felix III excommunicated patriarch Acacius of Constantinople for his support of the Henoticon and his support of the removal of patriarch John Talaia, leading to the Acacian schism.
Alaric II succeeds his father Euric and becomes king of the Visigoths. He establishes his capital at Aire-sur-l'Adour (Southern Gaul).
Theodoric, king of the Ostrogoths, defeats Odoacer at the Battle of Isonzo, forcing his way into Italy.
The Ostrogoths under Theoderic the Great defeat the forces of Odoacer for the second time.
Battle of Adda: The Goths under Theodoric the Great and his ally Alaric II defeat the forces of Odoacer on the Adda River, near Milan.
Empress Ariadne marries Anastasius I. The widowed Augusta is able to choose her successor for the Byzantine throne, after Zeno (late emperor) dies of dysentery.
Odoacer makes a night assault with his Heruli guardsmen, engaging Theoderic the Great in Ad Pinetam. Both sides suffer heavy losses, but in the end Theodoric forces Odoacer back into Ravenna.
Odoacer, the first barbarian King of Italy after the fall of the Western Roman Empire, is slain by Theoderic the Great, king of the Ostrogoths, while the two kings were feasting together.
After the death of Anastasius II, Symmachus is elected Pope in the Lateran Palace, while Laurentius is elected Pope in Santa Maria Maggiore.
Source: Wikipedia date pages ("January 1" … "December 31") / CC BY-SA 4.0. Regions are assigned by the site editors.
Dates and events are based on Wikipedia and other references. Summaries and regions are written by the site editors.