Editing 316

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[[File:Saint Blaise Louvre OAR504.jpg|upright=1.35|thumb|[[Saint Blaise|Blaise]] confronting the Roman governor, [[Soissons Cathedral]] ([[13th century]])]]
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Year '''316''' ('''[[Roman numerals|CCCXVI]]''') was a [[leap year starting on Sunday]] of the [[Julian calendar]]. At the time, it was known as the '''Year of the Consulship of Sabinus and Rufinus''' (or, less frequently, '''year 1069 ''[[Ab urbe condita]]'''''). The denomination 316 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 ==
<onlyinclude>

=== By place ===

==== Roman Empire ====
* Emperor [[Constantine the Great]] issues an edict, prohibiting the punishment of [[slavery|slaves]] by [[crucifixion]] and facial branding.
* Constantine I sends his half-brother [[Julius Constantius]] to [[Licinius]] at [[Sirmium]] ([[Pannonia]]), with the proposal to accept [[Bassianus (senator)|Bassianus]] as ''[[Caesar (title)|Caesar]]'' and give him power over [[Roman Italy|Italy]]. Licinius refuses, and forces a [[List of conspiracies (political)|conspiracy]] against Constantine. 
* Licinius elevates [[Valerius Valens]] to ''[[Augustus (title)|Augustus]]'', and mobilises an army against Constantine. Bassianus is accused of conspiracy and executed. 
* [[October 8]] &ndash; [[Battle of Cibalae]]: [[Constantine the Great]] defeats his rival [[Licinius]] near the town of ''Colonia Aurelia Cibalae'' (modern-day [[Vinkovci]], [[Croatia]]). Licinius is forced to flee to [[Sirmium]] and loses all of the [[Balkans]] except for [[Thrace]]. Peace negotiations are initiated between the two ''[[Augustus (title)|Augusti]]'', but they are unsuccessful.
* [[December]] &ndash; [[Battle of Mardia]]: Constantine I defeats his rival Licinius and senior officer Valerius Valens, near the town of [[Harmanli]] ([[Bulgaria]]).

==== Asia ====
* The [[Xiongnu]] sack [[Chang'an]], capital of the Chinese [[Jin Dynasty (265-420)|Western Jin Dynasty]]. Emperor [[Jin Mindi]] surrenders to [[Liu Yao]]. 
* The Western Jin Dynasty ends, and [[History of China#Ancient China|Ancient China]] is divided.

=== By topic ===

==== Religion ====
* At the request of the Christians, Constantine I attempts to end the [[schism (religion)|schism]] with the [[Donatist]] sect.
</onlyinclude>

== Births ==
* [[Constantine II (emperor)|Constantine II]], Roman emperor (d. [[340]])
* [[Martin of Tours]], bishop of [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Tours|Tours]] (d. [[397]])

== Deaths ==
* Diocletian, Roman emperor, commits suicide (b. 244)<ref>britannica.com/biography/Diocletian</ref> (most historians date his death to 311 or 312)
* [[Saint Blaise|Blaise]], bishop of [[Sivas|Sebastea]] (martyred)
* [[Bassianus (executed by Constantine)|Bassianus]], Roman advisor and politician
* [[Suo Chen]] (or '''Juxiu'''), Chinese general
* [[Tuoba Pugen]], Chinese chieftain of the [[Tuoba|Tuoba clan]]
* [[Tuoba Yilu]], Chinese chieftain of the Tuoba clan

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:316}}
[[Category:316| ]]