The First Millenium

[Vince]

425 is a rough year for the Western Empire.

The Eastern Empire invades the West, captures Western Emperor Joannes, and executes him. Six-year-old Valentinian III is made Western Emperor. His mother, Galla Placidia, is made regent.


Remember young Flavius Aetius, who was sent last year to persuade the Huns to help the Western Empire against the Eastern Empire? He arrives with an army of Huns, too late to prevent the West's defeat. He negotiates a peace treaty with Galla Placidia: in return for leaving peacefully, he is made commander of all Roman troops in Gaul. Keep an eye on Flavius Aetius. He will become one of the greatest heroes of the Roman Empire.

The Sanhedrin, which had sentenced Jesus to death, still exists. But the Eastern Empire orders it disbanded.

 

[Vince]

If this were the year 2010, I would wish you all a "Merry Christmas!" But it's the year 426.

In Spain, after suffering a major defeat by the Visigoths, the Alans, who were once a powerful German tribe, ask to be joined to the Vandals. The Vandals accept. The Vandals and their allies had seized Spain from the Romans, but they are now outnumbered by the invading Visigoths.

Saint Augustine publishes "The City of God." With the Roman Empire collapsing and the city of Rome itself having been sacked by the Visigoths, Saint Augustine urges Catholics to consider themselves part of the Heavenly City, rather than citizens of Rome.

And I hope that you all have a Merry Christmas regardless of the year.

 

[Vince]

And now we are at 427.

The Huns had been settled in Pannonia Prima, which includes parts of Austria, Hungary, Slovakia, and surrounding areas. The Huns now seize the province, and it is lost to Rome forever.

The great Japanese Emperor Nintoku dies. Under his competent reign, Japan had grown and prospered into a powerful kingdom that controls much of modern Japan’s four main islands. It is possible that “Nintoku” refers to his descendants who ruled after him. He is replaced by Richu (427-432).

 

[Vince]

Welcome to 428.

Genseric ("Spear King") becomes king of the combined Vandals and Alans for the next fifty years. He had already started building a fleet, after his people had been pushed into southern Spain by the more numerous Visigoths. With the approval of his people, he plans to abandon Spain and invade Africa.

The Persian Empire seizes all of Armenia.

Nestorius becomes Patriarch of Constantinople. He strongly resists calling Mary the "Mother of God," and he continues to insist that Jesus had two natures, one human and one Divine.

Earth, Venus, and Jupiter line up in a row on October 26. From Earth, it appears that Venus has passed directly in front of Jupiter. These things happen often, and then, as now, it doesn't affect anything.

Theodore of Mopsuestia dies. Regarded by the Eastern Emperor as the greatest living preacher, Theodore held strongly that the Scriptures must be interpreted to mean what they literally said, without putting philosophical definitions into Biblical words. He is regarded as a strong fundamentalist today. Theodore refused to persecute the Nestorians, and as a minor part of his theology, believed that people in Hell would eventually turn to Christ and be saved.

 

[Vince]

Things get rough in the year 429.

Under their new king, Geiseric, the Vandals abandon Spain. 80,000 Vandals and their allies sail eight miles across the Strait of Gibraltar and land in Africa. Taken by surprise, the Roman defenders are easily overcome. The province of Africa is bounded on the south by desert, and had never needed to be heavily-defended, so the Vandals win rapid and easy victories.

Eastern Emperor Theodosius II confiscates money raised by Jews to support their schools.

Hilary becomes bishop of Arles in France. A pious but power-hungry man, he claims control of all of southern France, even deposing a bishop who refused to recognize Hilary's authority. Eventually, the Pope had to step in, declaring that the Pope, not any bishop, was the spiritual ruler of southern France.

About this time, Germanus of Auxerre, a French bishop, is sent to Britain to keep the Pelagians from taking control of the Catholic Church there. After persuading the population to back him, Germanus organizes an army that plunges into battle against the Picts and Saxons yelling “Halleluia!†This drove their enemies into retreat without fighting. Germanus thus helped stabilize the new post-Roman government.

 

[Vince]

Welcome to the year 430.

Feng Ba, Emperor of Norther Yuan, dies. He had successfully held on to his territory as China re-assembled itself, but he had been unable to seize any additional territory. His brother becomes the new Emperor and promptly executes all of Feng Ba's sons. Under the new Emperor, Feng Hong, Northern Yuan begins a rapid collapse.

About this time, Saint Patrick arrives in Ireland.

The victorious Vandals surround the city of Hippo in northern Africa, where St. Augustine is bishop. However, he dies of natural causes. Hippo is the closest part of Africa to Italy, the Vandals have a fleet, and this presents yet another threat to the tottering Empire.

Saint Augustine left behind a different Roman Catholicism than he had found. He had strengthened statue worship, Mary worship, infant baptism, and a powerful priesthood. His doctrine of unconditional election, however, would be rejected for another eleven centuries. His defenses of persecution and murder would later help justify the Inquisition.

Sometimes called "The Saint Augustine Passage," 1 Timothy 2:5-6 tells us "For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time,"

 

[Vince]

And now it is the year 431.

A variety of conflicting dates and names about this time show that the Catholic Church begins attempting to gain control of Christianity in Ireland. The Pope sends Palladius, who is rejected by the Irish as their bishop. There are three different men whom this could be, and he seems to be confused in some accounts with Saint Patrick.

Flayius Aetius, the general in command of all Roman troops in France, defeats the Franks, driving them back into northern France.

The Vandals capture Hippo and make it their capital. In a bizarre story, they capture a Roman commander named Marcian. Geiseric, king of the Vandals, releases him unharmed. Years later, Marcian will claim that an omen had told Geiseric that Marcian would one day be Emperor of the East, so Geiseric released him in return for swearing not to harm the Vandals.

In Mexico, K'uk B'alam I (March 31, 397-435?) founds a dynasty at the Maya city of Palenque. Three centuries later, Palenque becomes a major city.

The First Council of Ephesus rejects Nestorianism and deposes Nestorius as Patriarch of Constantinople. The new Patriarch, Maximianus, successfully re-unites most of the various factions in the East.

 

[Vince]

It is time for the year 432.

Sixtus III (432-440), a former Pelagian, becomes Pope. A devout worshipper of Mary, he conducts an ambitious church construction program.

Boniface had become the second most powerful man in the Western Empire. Fearing that Boniface would demote him, Flavius Aetius, commander of Roman troops in France, invades Italy. At the Battle of Ravenna, Boniface wins, but dies of his wounds, and Flavius returns to France.

It's a disaster for the Empire when Rugila manages to unite all the Huns under himself as king.

 

[Vince]

433 is a quiet year.

The Council of Ephesus ends, having re-united much of Christianity after the Nestorian controversy. Nestorius, who had begged the Eastern Emperor to call the council in order to justify himself, retired to a monastery. But his followers fled to the east, and the Assyrian Church of the East still rejects the council's decision. The Council also declared that Mary would be called "The Mother of God."

After a few deaths, overthrows, and elections, Attila the Hun becomes sole ruler of the Huns.

 

[Vince]

And now it is 434.

Talk about "the Comeback Kid"! Having been defeated by Boniface, Flavius Aetius
returns to Rome, buys all of Boniface's property, marries his widow, and is made commander of all armies of the Western Empire. He is made "protector" of Western Emperor Valentinian III (who is still a child) and for the next twenty years, Aetius rules the Western Empire.

Bleda and his younger brother Attila share the leadership of the Huns. The Huns are allied with the West, and they had even helped put Aetius in power. Angered that several German tribes allied with the Huns had deserted to the Eastern Empire, they head east to demand their return.

Proclus becomes Patriarch of Constantinople. A moderate leader, and a friend and disciple of John Chrysostom, he re-unites many of the remaining hold-outs to the Church. His teaching that anyone who disagreed with certain doctrines but remained in the Church would still go to Heaven might explain why the Catholic Church does not consider him a saint.

 

[Vince]

Welcome to 435.

In southern Mexico, "Casper" (August 8, 422 - 487?), becomes ruler of the Maya city of Palenque from 435 to 487. He was the immediate successor of K'uk' B'alam I, who founded the ruling dynasty.
Casper came to power in August 435 at the age of 13 and ruled the city for 52 years. Only Pacal the Great is recorded to have ruled Palenque longer.
The real name of the ruler has not been deciphered. He was given the nickname "Casper" because his name glyph is said to resemble the cartoon character Casper the Friendly Ghost.

The Romans make a treaty with the Vandals, granting them land in northern Africa.

 

[Vince]

Welcome to 436.

The Huns are pretty happy. They made a new treaty with the Eastern Empire, in which the Huns got back all the tribes who had defected to the Romans, plus they got a large increase in the tribute paid to them by the Eastern Empire. Plus, their friend Flavius Aetius, the general who actually rules the Western Empire, urges them to attack the Burgundians.

The Burgundians were a German tribe who had made a treaty with Rome and occupied part of eastern Germany, In violation of the treaty, they had been raiding Belgium, which was part of the Western Empire. The Huns are happy to oblige. They kill most of the Burgundians, including their entire royal family.

Gunabhadra, a Buddhist monk from India, had arrived in China, where he was courteously welcomed by the emperor. He translates various Buddhist writings into Chinese.

 

[Vince]

And now it is 437.

Western Emperor Valentinian II marries the daughter of his cousin, Eastern Emperor Theodosius II, uniting the two branches of the Theodocian Dynasty. Valentinian's mother resigns as regent of the West. Effectively, General Flavius Aetius is still ruler of the Western Empire.

The Huns, encouraged by Flavius Aetius, attack the city of Worms in Germany, which was then part of the Burgundian kingdom. The massacre provides the basis of the Nibelungenlied. The Nibelungenlied is an epic German poenmabout Sigmund the dragon slayer, combining literal events over a period of several centuries into one great epic.

 

[Vince]

Welcome to the year 438.

The Empress Eudocia removes the ban on Jews' praying at the Temple site and the heads of the Community in Galilee issue a call "to the great and mighty people of the Jews": "Know that the end of the exile of our people has come"!

The new King of Persia, Yazdegerd II, attacks nearby Roman fortifications, fearing that the Empire plans to attack him. After several years of warfare, he and the Eastern Empire make peace.

It had taken him nine years to do it, but Eastern Emperor Theodosius II finally publishes his sixteen volume collection of all laws written by Christian Roman Emperors over the last few centuries. This stabilizes the governments of both halves of the Empire.

 

[Scotth1960]

13 AD

Tiberius wins! They hold a triumphal parade in his honor in Rome after he beats the Germans.

Strabo ("Squinty-Eyed") writes that the earth is a sphere, whose surface is curved by gravity. Strabo's 17-volume "Geography" is an outstanding record of the ancient world.

Determined to prevent civil war after he died, Augustus kept Tiberius (his chosen successor) in Rome and sent Germanicus, with eight legions, away on military missions.

History does not record anything from Israel this year, suggesting that things were going well. Ananias was still High Priest, and work on Herod's Temple was continuing.

Friends,

30 AD.


Friday, April 7, 30 AD. Jesus Christ crucified on Calvary for us sinners, for us and for our salvation.

Sunday, April 9, 30 AD. Jesus Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and upon those in the tombs, bestowing life! Christ is Risen: ALLELUIA! Worship Him! All love to all my love to Jesus Christ always. Amen. Christ risen from death for us and for our salvation.


In Erie PA USA Scott R. Harrington

 

[Vince]

Thank you, Scot. Folks, EVERYONE is welcome to post on this thread. And it's been three centuries since anybody else did.

 

[Vince]

And now it is the year 439 AD.

In northern Africa, Carthage falls to the Vandals. Not too far from the Italian island of Sicily, Carthage has been a major source of grain for the Empire. The Vandals were Arians, and they promised toleration to the Catholic majority, making it easier for the city to give up without being destroyed.

Northern China unites under one ruler. They begin a period of prosperity and an increase in Buddhism that lasts for a century and a half.

Sabbas the Sanctified founds a monastery near Bethlehem. Known as Mars Sabba, it is one of the oldest continuous monasteries still in existence. Much of the liturgy of the Orthodox Church is developed here.

 

[Vince]

Welcome to the year 440 AD!

Leo I (the Great) (440-461) becomes Pope. Determined to overturn previous Papal degrees granting authority to bishops over other bishops, Leo declares that the Pope is the sole authority over everything. As a result, some sources claim that he is the first Pope. So many bishops refuse his authority that he relies on civil authorities to enforce his authority. Pope Leo successfully forced the pope of Alexandria to submit to his authority, as well as dissident bishops in Spain, Africa, France, and even Constantinople.


Racked by invaders and civil war, Britain is dividing into tiny kingdoms.

About this time, a man on the island of Crete announces that he is the Messiah. Naming himself Moses, he promises Cretan Jews that he will part the waters of the Mediterranean Sea and lead them back to Israel. His followers abandon their property and follow him to the Sea, where he commands them to throw themselves in. Many drown, many are rescued, and Moses is never heard from again.

The Vandals are doing well with their north African kingdom, restoring old buildings and building manufacturing industries. So they invade Sicily and the Romans are unable to stop them.

The White Huns were a confederation of Iranian, Turkish, Indian, Chinese, and German tribes. They had settled into a prosperous kingdom east of the Eastern Empire, but now they invade southwards, attacking Persia and India.

 

[Vince]

441 has arrived!

The French bishop, Hilary of Arles, leads the Council of Orange. It affirms celibacy among priests and deacons, resists some Roman influences, and makes rules regulating the authority of bishops.

In south-eastern Europe, the Huns invade the Balkans.

Eastern Emperor Theodosius II had been heavily influenced by his sister Pulcheria, a devout Christian. He dismisses her, replacing her with Chrysaphius. One of the most evil figures in Roman history, Chrysaphius amasses a fortune in bribes, while using bribes to appease the Huns. His unsuccessful policies cost the Eastern Empire more money than a war with the Huns would have cost. He began demanding bribes from church leaders or he would remove them from office.

 

[Vince]

And now it is 442.

Battered by too many Germans, the Romans make a treaty with the Vandals. The Romans recognize the Vandal conquest of North Africa, and the Vandal Kingdom becomes prosperous.

Saint Patrick baptizes the Irish king Eoghan mac Néill. He had founded the kingdom of Ailech, located in Northern Ireland.