Editing 303

{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2011}}
{{About year|303}}
{{More citations needed|date=September 2020}}
{{Year nav|303}}
{{M1 year in topic}}
[[File:Jean-Léon Gérôme - The Christian Martyrs' Last Prayer - Walters 37113.jpg|thumb|''[[The Christian Martyrs' Last Prayer]]'', by [[Jean-Léon Gérôme]] (1883)]] 
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Year '''303''' ('''[[Roman numerals|CCCIII]]''') was a [[common year starting on Friday]] of the [[Julian calendar]]. It was known in the [[Roman Empire]] as the '''Year of the Consulship of Diocletian and Maximian''' (or, less frequently, '''year 1056 ''[[Ab urbe condita]]'''''). The denomination 303 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the [[Anno Domini]] [[calendar era]] became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.

== Events ==

=== By place ===

==== Roman Empire ====
* [[Diocletianic Persecution|Great Persecution]]: Emperor [[Diocletian]] launches the last and largest major persecution of [[Christians]] in the Empire. Caesar [[Galerius]] and [[Hierocles (proconsul)|Hierocles]] are said to have been the instigators. In a series of four edicts published from [[February 23]], 303, to 304, the Christians are forbidden to worship in groups, are made to perform sacrifices, and must surrender sacred texts. Churches are destroyed, and the clergy are arrested en masse. The persecution lasts in some parts of the empire until 313, and thousands of Christians are killed. Those put to death include [[Agnes of Rome]], a 12-year-old Christian girl who has refused [[marriage]] and consecrated her [[virginity]] to [[God]]. Hailed as a [[martyr]], she will be honored as the [[patron saint]] of [[chastity]], [[Gardening|gardeners]], [[rape]] victims and virgins.
* [[September 25]] &ndash; On a voyage preaching the [[gospel]], [[Saint Fermin]] of [[Pamplona]] is [[Decapitation|beheaded]] in [[Amiens]] (Modern day [[France]]).
* [[November 20]] &ndash; The [[Augustus (title)|Augusti]] Diocletian and [[Maximian]] reunite in [[Ancient Rome|Rome]] to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Diocletian's accession, which is now treated as a joint anniversary for both emperors. A series of columns in the [[Roman Forum]] and a triumphal arch are dedicated to the emperors. The two emperors also agree on a plan of abdication.
* Galerius wins his third victory over the [[Carpi (people)|Carpi]] and is perhaps joined on campaign by Diocletian. The [[Arch of Galerius]] is dedicated in [[Thessaloniki]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Tuck |first1=Steven L. |title=A History of Roman Art |year=2015 |publisher=John Wiley & Sons |isbn=978-1-4443-3026-7 |page=313 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kaObBgAAQBAJ&pg=PA313 |language=en}}</ref>
* Caesar [[Constantius I]] wins a victory over Germanic invaders in the battle of [[Vindonissa]].

==== Armenia ====
[[File:Էջմիածնի Մայր Տաճար.jpg|thumb|Etchmiadzin cathedral]]
* [[Etchmiadzin Cathedral]] is completed by [[Gregory the Illuminator]] and [[Tiridates III of Armenia|Tiridates III, king of Armenia]].
* [[January 6]] &ndash; Baptism of [[Tiridates III of Armenia]].

==== America ====
* In [[Mexico]], the civilization of [[Teotihuacan]] flourishes.

=== By topic ===

==== Religion ====
* [[March 4]] &ndash; [[Adrian and Natalia of Nicomedia]] are [[Martyrdom|martyred]].

== Births ==
* [[Magnentius]], Roman [[usurper]] (d. [[353]])<ref>{{cite book |last1=Vagi |first1=David |title=Coinage and History of the Roman Empire |date=2016 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-135-97125-0 |page=476 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dIEYDQAAQBAJ&pg=PT476 |language=en}}</ref>
* [[Wang Xizhi]], Chinese [[Chinese calligraphy|calligrapher]] (d. [[361]])
* [[Xun Guan]], Chinese warrior and general <ref>{{cite book |last1=Lee |first1=Lily Xiao Hong |last2=Stefanowska |first2=A. D. |last3=Wiles |first3=Sue |title=Biographical Dictionary of Chinese Women: Antiquity Through Sui, 1600 B.C.E. – 618 C.E |date=26 March 2015 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-317-47591-0 |page=366 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0oCsBwAAQBAJ&pg=PA366 |language=en}}</ref>

== Deaths ==
[[File:Hans Süß von Kulmbach (zugeschr.) - Heiliger Georg.jpg|thumb|100px|[[Saint George|Saint George of Lydda]]]]
* [[April 23]] &ndash; [[Saint George|George of Lydda]], Roman soldier and martyr
* [[Acacius of Byzantium]], Roman [[centurion]] and martyr
* [[Anthimus of Rome]], Christian priest and martyr
* [[Cao Huan]], Chinese emperor of [[Cao Wei]] (b. [[246]])
* [[Cessianus]], Christian child martyr
* [[Crescentinus]], Roman soldier and martyr
* [[Cyriacus]], Roman [[Nobility|nobleman]] and martyr
* [[Devota]], Corsican woman and martyr
* [[Erasmus of Formiae]], Christian martyr
* [[Expeditus]], Roman centurion and martyr
* [[Felix and Adauctus]], Christian martyrs
* [[Fermin]], Christian bishop and martyr
* [[Lu Ji (Shiheng)|Lu Ji]], Chinese general and writer (b. [[261]])<ref>{{cite web |title=Lu Ji's (261–303) Essay on Literature dated 1544 and 1547 |url=https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/45780 |website=www.metmuseum.org |access-date=5 January 2020}}</ref>
* [[Li Liu (Cheng Han)|Li Liu]], Chinese spiritual leader (b. [[248]])
* [[Li Te]] (or Xuanxiu), Chinese general
* [[Saint Pantaleon|Pantaleon]], Christian wonderworker and martyr
* [[Romanus of Caesarea]], Christian martyr 
* [[Victor Maurus]] ("the Moor"), Christian martyr
* [[Vitus (saint)|Vitus]] (or Guido), Christian martyr

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

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