AD 420
Year 420 was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Theodosius and Constantius. The denomination 420 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
- The Franks cross the Rhine and invade Northern Gaul. In Italia an army is prepared to campaign with Castinus as chief.
- Comes Asterius conducts campaign in Gallaecia and ends the usurpation of Maximus.
- A Roman army under command of vicar Maurocellus suffers a defeat at Braga in Gallaecia.
Persia
- Yazdegerd I dies after a 21-year reign, and is succeeded by his son Bahram V, who becomes head of the Persian Empire.
- Abdas, bishop of Susa, is accused of burning down one of the fire temples of Ahura Mazda, and after refusing to rebuild it, he is executed, under orders of Shah Yazdegerd I.
Asia
- July 10 - The Jin Dynasty ends in China. Liu Yu becomes the first ruler of the Liu Song Dynasty. The capital of the dynasty is Nanjing.
- The Southern Dynasties begin in China.
- Guisin becomes king of the Korean kingdom of Baekje.
- The Gupta Empire reaches its peak territorial extent under Chandragupta II and his son Kumaragupta I.