View source for 391

{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2011}}
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[[File:Temple of Vesta (Rome).jpg|thumb|The [[Temple of Vesta]] ([[Rome]])]]
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Year '''391''' ('''[[Roman numerals|CCCXCI]]''') was a [[common year starting on Wednesday]] (link will display the full calendar) of the [[Julian calendar]]. At the time, it was known as the '''Year of the Consulship of Tatianus and Symmachus''' (or, less frequently, '''year 1144 ''[[Ab urbe condita]]'''''). The denomination 391 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 [[Theodosius I]] establishes [[Christianity]] as the official [[state religion]]. All non-[[Christianity|Christian]] temples in the [[Roman Empire]] are closed. The [[Sacred fire of Vesta|eternal fire]] in the [[Temple of Vesta]] at the [[Roman Forum]] is extinguished, and the [[Vestal Virgin]]s are disbanded.
* [[Quintus Aurelius Symmachus]], ''[[Praefectus urbi|urban prefect]]'' of [[Rome]], pleads for traditional [[cult (religious practice)|cult practices]]. He petitions Theodosius I to re-open the [[paganism|pagan]] temples, but is opposed by [[Ambrose]].
* [[Saint Telemachus]] dies after being stoned to death. His date of death is also given to the year 404.
==== Asia ====
* A [[Rouran]] chief named Heduohan (曷多汗) is defeated and killed in battle against the Toba [[Northern Wei]] Dynasty. Surviving Rouran move west towards the [[Gaoche]], led by Heduohan's son and successor, Shelun.
* King [[Gwanggaeto the Great]] of [[Goguryeo]] ([[Korea]]) ascends to the throne.<ref>{{cite web |title=List of Rulers of Korea |url=https://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/koru/hd_koru.htm |website=www.metmuseum.org |access-date=19 April 2019}}</ref>
=== By topic ===
==== Literature ====
* Flames destroy the great [[Library of Alexandria]], established in the [[Musaeum|Mouseion]] in the fourth century BC. Among the items lost in the [[fire]] are works of [[science]], including [[parchment]]s by the Greek astronomer [[Aristarchus of Samos]] asserting that the [[Earth]] orbits the [[Sun]], and dozens of dramatic works by [[Euripides]] and [[Sophocles]].
==== Religion ====
* Patriarch [[Theophilus I of Alexandria|Theophilus]] destroys all pagan temples in [[Alexandria]] under orders from Theodosius I. [[Christians]] go on an [[Iconoclasm|iconoclastic]] rampage, smashing [[Religion|religious]] symbols or monuments through the city and destroying the [[Serapeum of Alexandria|Temple of Serapis]]. The "Order of Monks" known as the [[Parabalani]] take charge of patrolling the streets.
</onlyinclude>
== Births ==
*[[Flavius Aetius]], Roman general ([[Magister militum]]) of part Gothic heritage. (d.[[454]])
== Deaths ==
* Heduohan, chief of the [[Rouran]] tribes (killed in battle against the [[Northern Wei]])
* [[Justina (empress)|Justina]], Roman empress (approximate date)
* [[Macarius of Egypt]], [[Christians|Christian]] [[Monasticism|monk]] and [[hermit]]
* [[Peter of Sebaste]], [[bishop]] of [[Armenia]]
* [[Zhai Liao]] "Heavenly Prince" (''[[Tian Wang]]''), founder of the [[Dingling]] state [[Wei (Dingling)|Wei]]
== References ==
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[[Category:391| ]]