Year363 (CCCLXIII) was acommon year starting on Wednesday of theJulian calendar. At the time, it was known in Rome as theYear of the Consulship of Iulianus and Sallustius (or, less frequently,year 1116Ab urbe condita). The denomination 363 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when theAnno Dominicalendar era became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.
March 5 – EmperorJulian departs fromAntioch with his army (90,000 men) and heads north towards theEuphrates. En route he creates a diversion and sends a force of 30,000 soldiers under his cousinProcopius toArmenia.
June 16 – TheRoman army starts its retreat northward toCorduene (Armenia). Julian marches back up theTigris and burns his fleet of supply ships. During the withdrawal Julian's forces suffer several attacks from thePersians.
June 26 –Battle of Samarra: Julian is mortally wounded in a skirmish and dies from a wound received during the fighting nearSamarra (Iraq).Jovian, general of the Guard, succeeds him and is proclaimedEmperor by the troops.
TheCouncil of Laodicea, which deals with constricting the conduct of church members, is held. The majorcanon approved by this council is Canon 29, which prohibits resting on theSabbath (Saturday), restricting Christians to honoring theLord onSunday.
