Year 341 (CCCXLI) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Marcellinus and Probinus (or, less frequently, year 1094 ab Urbe condita). The denomination 341 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 or dates.

Events

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By place

Roman Empire

• Emperor Constans I bans pagan sacrifices and magic rituals, under penalty of death.

• Constans I begins a successful campaign against the Franks.

India

• Samudragupta of the Gupta Empire, during a decade, extends his kingdom and his influence. A pillar found at Allahabad sings his praises.

By topic

Religion

• The Council of Encaenia is held in Antioch.

• Paul I is restored as Patriarch of Constantinople.

• Thousands of Christians are executed at Seleucia in Mesopotamia.

• Coptic Christianity is introduced into Ethiopia by the Syrian apostle Frumentius. He and his colleague Aedesius ware captured by Ethiopians a year or two ago, and have become civil servants at the Aksumite court of King Ezana. Ezana is impressed with Frumentius' teachings and converts to Christianity. Frumentius becomes the first Bishop of Axum and encourages the Christian merchants present in the country to practise their faith openly.

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Births

• Ai of Jin (or Qianling), Chinese emperor (d. 365)

Deaths

• Asterius of Cappadocia, Christian theologian and writer

• Du Lingyang (or Du Ling), Chinese empress (b. 321)

• Eusebius of Nicomedia, archbishop of Constantinople

• Ge Hong (or Ko Hung), Chinese taoist (approximate date)

• Paul of Thebes, Christian hermit (approximate date)

• Potamon of Heraclea, Christian bishop and martyr

References