AD 311

File:Follis-Domitius Alexander-carthage RIC 68.jpg

Domitius Alexander (r. 308–311)

Year 311 (CCCXI) was a common year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Valerius and Maximinus (or, less frequently, year 1064 Ab urbe condita). The denomination 311 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

• April 30 – On his deathbed, Emperor Galerius declares religious freedom and issues the Edict of Serdica, ending the Diocletianic Persecution of Christians in the eastern half of the Roman Empire.
• May 5 – Galerius dies at age 51 from a gruesome disease, possibly colorectal cancer or Fournier gangrene.
• Maximinus Daza and Licinius divide the Eastern Empire between themselves.
• Maximinus recommences the persecution of Christians, having encouraged his subjects to petition him to do so.
• Fearing an alliance between Licinius and Constantine I, Maximinus forges a secret alliance with Emperor Maxentius.

China

• July 13 – Disaster of Yongjia: Xiongnu soldiers led by Liu Cong conquer and pillage the Jin dynasty capital at Luoyang and capture Emperor Huai; 30,000 residents in the city are massacred.

By topic

Religion

• July 2 – Pope Miltiades succeeds Eusebius as the 32nd pope of Rome.
• The Donatist schism begins in the African Church.

Deaths

• April 23 – Sima Yue (or Yuanchao), Chinese prince and regent
• May 5
  • Galerius, Roman emperor (b. c.258)
  • Wang Yan, Chinese official and politician (b. 256)
• October 7 – Gou Xi (or Daojiang), Chinese inspector and general
• November 25 – Peter I, patriarch of Alexandria
• December 3 – Diocletian, Roman emperor (b. 244)
• Domitius Alexander, Roman emperor and usuper
• Wang Mi (or Zigu), Chinese general and rebel leader