Theodosius I vs Yu the Great

Theodosius I issued the Edict of Thessalonica, declaring Nicene Christianity the official state religion of the Roman Empire. All other forms of Christianity were deemed heretical, and pagan practices were increasingly suppressed.

Theodosius I ordered a massacre of thousands of citizens in Thessalonica in retaliation for the murder of a Roman general. The massacre led to his excommunication by Bishop Ambrose of Milan, and he later performed public penance.

Theodosius I issued a series of laws banning pagan worship, closing temples, and prohibiting sacrifices. The Olympic Games were abolished, and the Serapeum in Alexandria was destroyed. These actions accelerated the decline of paganism in the empire.

Theodosius I defeated the usurper Eugenius and his general Arbogast at the Battle of the Frigidus (modern River Vipava). The victory reunited the Roman Empire under a single ruler for the last time before its permanent division.

Upon his death, Theodosius I divided the Roman Empire between his two sons: Arcadius received the Eastern Empire and Honorius the Western Empire. This division became permanent, leading to the separate histories of the Byzantine and Western Roman Empires.

According to legend, Yu the Great devised a system of dredging and channeling to control the catastrophic flooding of the Yellow River. His success in flood control earned him the favor of the sage-king Shun, who later abdicated in his favor.

Yu the Great established the Xia dynasty, traditionally considered the first dynasty in Chinese history. He divided the realm into nine provinces and instituted a hereditary succession, breaking the previous system of abdication to the most capable.

Yu the Great ordered the casting of nine bronze tripod cauldrons, each symbolizing one of the nine provinces of China. These cauldrons became symbols of imperial authority and were passed down through successive dynasties.