Battle of Avarayr
Armenians under Vardan Mamikonian fight for their faith
On 26 May 451 Vardan Mamikonian's Armenian army fought the forces of Shah Yazdegerd II, who demanded a return to Zoroastrianism. The Armenians lost and Vardan was killed, but after years of resistance Persia recognised their right to practise Christianity in 484.
Wikipedia (Russian) · Wikipedia (English) · 5th century
Meanwhile around the world (±25 years)
Europe
- 455 Vandals sack Rome — 4 years later
- 476 Fall of the Western Roman Empire — 25 years later
Asia
- c. 427 Founding of Nalanda — 24 years earlier
Americas
- c. 431 Ilopango eruption — 20 years earlier
Alive at the time
- Attila (aged 45)