阴火羊年 (female Fire-
Goat) 534 or 153 or −619 — to — 阳土猴年 (male Earth-
Monkey) 535 or 154 or −618
Year 408 (CDVIII) was a
leap 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 Bassus and Philippus (or, less frequently, year 1161 Ab urbe condita). The denomination 408 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the
Anno Dominicalendar era became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.
The Roman usurper
Constantine III establishes his headquarters at
Arles (Southern
Gaul) and elevates his eldest son,
Constans, to the rank of Caesar. He sends him with an expeditionary force under
Gerontius to
Hispania, in order to suppress the revolt of some members of the
House of Theodosius, who are loyal to Honorius.
September – King
Alaric I of the
Visigoths crosses the
Julian Alps with an army of 30,000 men, and marches into the
Roman heartland. He lays siege to
Rome, and Gothic
auxiliaries desert to join Alaric's forces. After much bargaining, the
Senate agrees to pay him a ransom of 5,000 pounds of
gold, 30,000 pounds of
silver, 4,000
silken tunics, and 3,000
hides dyed
scarlet.
Alaric also demands, and obtains, the freedom of 30,000 people who had been enslaved in Rome.
The Huns under
Uldin cross the lower
Danube and attack the
Eastern Roman Empire, setting fire to frontier forts and taking control of the
Castra Martis (modern
Bulgaria). The Romans negotiate for peace, but Uldin demands an exorbitant gold
tribute in return for his withdrawal. This demand is rejected and Anthemius forces the Huns back across the Danube.
King
Yazdegerd I of
Persia maintains cordial relations with the
Roman Empire. He becomes an executor of Arcadius'
will and is entrusted with the care of the young Theodosius II until he comes of age.
By topic
Medicine
Alaric I exacts a tribute from Rome that includes 3,000 pounds of
pepper. The spice is valued for alleged
medicinal virtues and for disguising
spoilage in
meat that is past its prime.