316

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.

By place

Roman Empire

• Emperor Constantine the Great issues an edict, prohibiting the punishment of 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 as Caesar and give him power over Italy. Licinius refuses, and forces a conspiracy against Constantine.
• Licinius elevates Valerius Valens to Augustus, and mobilises an army against Constantine. Bassianus is accused of conspiracy and executed.
• October 8 – 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 Augusti, but they are unsuccessful.
• December – 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 Western Jin Dynasty. Emperor Jin Mindi surrenders to Liu Yao.
• The Western Jin Dynasty ends, and Ancient China is divided.

By topic

Religion

• At the request of the Roman Catholic Church, Constantine I attempts to end the schism with the Donatist church.

• Constantine II, Roman emperor (d. 340)
• Martin of Tours, bishop of Tours (d. 397)

• Diocletian, Roman emperor, commits suicide (b. 244) (most historians date his death to 311 or 312)
• Blaise, bishop of Sebastea (martyred)
• Bassianus, Roman advisor and politician
• Suo Chen (or Juxiu), Chinese general
• Tuoba Pugen, Chinese chieftain of the Tuoba clan
• Tuoba Yilu, Chinese chieftain of the Tuoba clan