394

Year 394 was a common year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known in Western Europe as the Year of the list of [Roman consuls|Consulship] of Flavianus without colleague. The denomination 394 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

September 6 – Battle of the Frigidus: Emperor Theodosius I defeats and kills the usurper Eugenius. The forces of Theodosius are bolstered by numerous auxiliaries, including 20,000 Visigoth federates under Alaric. The Frankish general Arbogast escapes into the Alps and commits suicide.
Late Roman army: The Notitia Dignitatum shows the development of forces in the Roman Empire. By now 200,000 soldiers guard the borders, and a reserve force of 50,000 is available for deployment. Many non-Roman soldiers are from Germanic tribes: Alamanni, Franks, Goths, Saxons and Vandals.
Winter – The Huns cross the frozen Danube and destroy the villages built by the Goths. Theodosius I, six hundred miles away in Italy, sends no reinforcements to defend the northern frontier.
In Rome, the sacred fire stops burning.

The last known hieroglyphic inscription, known as the Graffito of Esmet-Akhom, is written in Philae, Egypt.

The last ruler of Former Qin, Fu Chong, is killed in battle against an army of Western Qin, bringing Former Qin to an end.

Epiphanius of Salamis attacks Origen's followers and urges John [II, Bishop of Jerusalem|John II], Greek [Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem|Bishop of Jerusalem], to condemn his writings.
The Council of Bagaï in Africa brings 310 Donatist bishops together.