321 Explained

Year 321 (CCCXXI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar. In the Roman Empire, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Crispus and Constantinus (or, less frequently, year 1074 Ab urbe condita). The denomination 321 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 topic

Roman Empire

• Emperor Constantine I expels the Goths from the Danube frontier and repairs Trajan's Bridge. He leads an expedition into the old province Dacia (modern Romania) and makes peace with the barbarians.
• March 7 - Constantine I signs legislation directing urban residents to refrain from work, and businesses to be closed, on the "venerable day of the Sun". An exception is made for agriculture.

Asia

• Tuoba Heru launches a coup d'état against his cousin Tuoba Yulü and becomes the new Prince of Dai.

By topic

Art and Science

• Calcidius translates Plato into Latin.

Food and Drink

• Constantine I assigns convicts to grind Rome's flour, in a move to hold back the rising price of food in an empire whose population has shrunk as a result of plague.

Religion

• The Christian Church is allowed to hold property.
• A synod held in Alexandria condemns Arianism.
• History of the Jews in Germany: Jews in modern-day Germany are documented for the first time, in Colonia Agrippinensium (modern-day Cologne).

Births

• Cheng of Jin (or Shigen), Chinese emperor (d. 342)
• Du Lingyang (or Chenggong), Chinese empress (d. 341)
• Valentinian I ("the Great"), Roman emperor (d. 375)^[1]

Deaths

• Tuoba Yulü, Chinese prince of the Tuoba Dai
• Zu Ti (or Shizhi), Chinese general and adviser (b. 266)

Notes and References

1. Book: Lenski, Noel . Failure of Empire: Valens and the Roman State in the Fourth Century A.D. . . 2003 . 0520928539 . 56.