Year 331 (CCCXXXI) was a common year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Bassus and Ablabius (or, less frequently, year 1084 Ab urbe condita). The denomination 331 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

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By place

Roman Empire

• Emperor Constantine the Great vigorously promotes Christianity, confiscating the property and valuables of a number of pagan temples throughout the Roman Empire.

• Constantine I dedicates the Church of the Holy Apostles in Constantinople.

• Constantine I promulgates a law against divorce.

Asia

• Gogugwon becomes ruler of the Korean kingdom of Goguryeo.

By topic

Art and Science

• Eusebius of Caesarea writes the Onomasticon.

Religion

• The Fifty Bibles of Constantine are commissioned for use in Constantinople.

• Gregory the Illuminator withdraws to a small sanctuary in the Daranali province (Armenia).

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Births

• Jovian, Roman consul and emperor (d. 364)

• (or 332) Julian the Apostate, Roman emperor (d. 363)

• Yao Chang, Chinese emperor of the Qiang state (d. 394)

• Yao Xiang (or Jingguo), Chinese warlord (d. 357)

Deaths

• Gregory the Illuminator, official head of the Armenian Apostolic Church

• Micheon of Goguryeo, Korean ruler of Goguryeo

References