301

File:Tiridates III of Armenia-Baptism.jpg

Baptism of King Tiridates III (the Great)

Year 301 (CCCI) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Postumius and Nepotianus (or, less frequently, year 1054 Ab urbe condita). The denomination 301 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

• Caesar Galerius begins a major war against the Carpi and Bastarnae and wins the first of several victories.
• September: Emperor Diocletian issues a reform that revalues the Roman currency.
• November: Diocletian issues his Edict on Maximum Prices, which, rather than halting rampant inflation, causes widespread panic and an increase in inflation. The measure is quickly abandoned.

Armenia

• King Tiridates III (the Great) proclaims Christianity as the official state religion, making Armenia the first nation to adopt Christianity as its official religion (traditional date).<ref>C.W. Dugmore, The Journal of Ecclesiastical History (Cambridge University Press) p.268.</ref><ref>CNEWA.org</ref><ref>A. Dzh. (Arman Dzhonovich) Kirakosian, The Armenian Massacres, 1894–1896: 1894–1896 : U.S. media testimony, p.131.</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Johann Christian Wilhelm Augusti, Georg Friedrich Heinrich Rheinwald, Carl Christian Friedrich Siegel, The Antiquities of the Christian Church p.466.</ref> Construction of the original Etchmiadzin Cathedral by Gregory the Illuminator begins.

Europe

• September 3 – The republic of San Marino is established (approximate date).

Asia

• February 3 – May 30 – Sima Lun briefly usurps the Jin Dynasty.

Births

• Xie Ai, Chinese general of the Former Liang state (d. 354)

Deaths

• June 5 – Sima Lun, Chinese usurper (forced suicide)
• Sun Xiu (or Junzhong), Chinese official and politician