408

This article is about the year 408. For the French-built car, seePeugeot 408.For the Soviet-built car, seeMoskvitch 408.

Millennium:	1st millennium
Centuries:	4th century 5th century 6th century
Decades:	380s 390s 400s 410s 420s
Years:	405 406 407 408 409 410 411

408 in variouscalendars

Gregorian calendar	408 CDVIII
Ab urbe condita	1161
Assyrian calendar	5158
Balinese saka calendar	329–330
Bengali calendar	−185
Berber calendar	1358
Buddhist calendar	952
Burmese calendar	−230
Byzantine calendar	5916–5917
Chinese calendar	Đinh vịNiên (FireGoat) 3105 or 2898 — to — Mậu thân niên (EarthMonkey) 3106 or 2899
Coptic calendar	124–125
Discordian calendar	1574
Ethiopian calendar	400–401
Hebrew calendar	4168–4169
Hindu calendars
-Vikram Samvat	464–465
-Shaka Samvat	329–330
-Kali Yuga	3508–3509
Holocene calendar	10408
Iranian calendar	214 BP – 213 BP
Islamic calendar	221 BH – 220 BH
Javanese calendar	291–292
Julian calendar	408 CDVIII
Korean calendar	2741
Minguo calendar	1504 beforeROC Dân tiền 1504 niên
Nanakshahi calendar	−1060
Seleucid era	719/720AG
Thai solar calendar	950–951
Tibetan calendar	Âm hỏa dương niên (female Fire-Goat) 534 or 153 or −619 — to — Dương thổ hầu niên (male Earth-Monkey) 535 or 154 or −618

EmperorConstantine III(407–411)

Year408(CDVIII) was aleap year starting on Wednesday(link will display the full calendar) of theJulian calendar.At the time, it was known as theYear of the Consulship of Bassus and Philippus(or, less frequently,year 1161Ab urbe condita). The denomination 408 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when theAnno Dominicalendar erabecame the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.

Events

By place

Roman Empire

• May 1– EmperorArcadiusdies in his palace atConstantinople,after a weak 13-year reign. He is succeeded by his 7-year-old son,Theodosius II,who rules under the domination of his devoutChristiansisterPulcheriaandAnthemius,who acts asregent.
• Summer – EmperorHonoriusmarriesThermantia,second daughter ofStilicho,his famous general (magister militum).
• The Roman usurperConstantine IIIestablishes his headquarters atArles(SouthernGaul) and elevates his eldest son,Constans,to the rank ofCaesar.He sends him with an expeditionary force underGerontiustoHispania,in order to suppress the revolt of some members of theHouse of Theodosius,who are loyal to Honorius.
• August 22– Stilicho is accused oftreasonagainst Honorius and isdecapitatedatRavenna.HisHunbodyguard is killed; mass murders ofVandalsoldiers follow.
• TheHexamilion wallis constructed.Fortificationsare built across theIsthmus of Corinth,guarding the only land route into thePeloponnesepeninsula fromGreece.
• September– KingAlaric Iof theVisigothscrosses theJulian Alpswith an army of 30,000 men, and marches into theRomanheartland. He lays siege toRome,and Gothicauxiliariesdesert to join Alaric's forces. After much bargaining, theSenateagrees to pay him a ransom of 5,000 pounds ofgold,30,000 pounds ofsilver,4,000silkentunics, and 3,000hidesdyedscarlet.
• Alaric also demands, and obtains, the freedom of 30,000 people who had been enslaved in Rome.
• The Huns underUldincross the lowerDanubeand attack theEastern Roman Empire,setting fire to frontier forts and taking control of theCastra Martis(modernBulgaria). The Romans negotiate for peace, but Uldin demands an exorbitant goldtributein return for his withdrawal. This demand is rejected and Anthemius forces the Huns back across the Danube.
• Attila,age 2, is sent as a childhostageto the court at Rome and in return, theRomanssendFlavius Aetiusto the Huns.

Persia

• KingYazdegerd IofPersiamaintains cordial relations with theRoman Empire.He becomes an executor of Arcadius'willand 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 ofpepper.The spice is valued for allegedmedicinalvirtues and for disguisingspoilageinmeatthat is past its prime.

Births

• Tai Wu Di,emperor of theNorthern Wei Dynasty(d.452)

Deaths

• May 1–Arcadius,Roman Emperor
• May 4–Venerius,bishop of MilanandSaint
• August 22–Stilicho,Roman general