356

By place

Roman Empire

• February 19 - Emperor Constantius II issues a decree closing all pagan temples in the Roman Empire, and ordering the banishment once again of the anti-Arian patriarch of Alexandria, Athanasius. He tries to have him arrested during a vigil service, but Athanasius flees to the Nitrian desert in Upper Egypt.
• The veneration of non-Christian images is banned in the Roman Empire.
• Siege of Autun: Julian receives a report that Augustodunum is under attack by the Alemanni. The city walls are in poor state and in danger of falling.
• Battle of Reims: Julian is defeated by the Alemanni at Reims.
• Battle of Brumath: Roman forces pursue Germanic warbands through the Gallic countryside. Julian wins an open battle near Brumath.
• Rhaetia is invaded by the Alemanni.
• Winter - Siege of Senonae: Julian over-winters at Senonae. German federated troops desert and hostile warbands besiege the town.

  Asia

• Naemul becomes king of the Silla dynasty.

  By topic

Religion

• Anthony the Great dies at his hermitage near the Red Sea in mid-January at age 105, having preached against Arianism, and having tried to codify guidelines for monastic life. His followers subsequently establish the Monastery of Saint Anthony, beginning the tradition of Coptic monasticism.
• Construction begins on the first basilica of Saint Peter in Rome.

  Births

• 31 March – Aelia Flaccilla, Roman empress and first wife of the Roman Emperor Theodosius I
• John II, Bishop of Jerusalem

  Deaths

• Anthony the Great, Christian saint and Desert Father
• Amasius, Bishop of Teano
• Empress Qiang, wife of Chinese emperor Fú Jiàn
• Rav Nachman bar Yitzchak, rabbi of the Talmud
• Vetranio, Roman Emperor
• Yin Hao, politician of the Jin Dynasty