397

397 (CCCXCVII) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Julian calendar, the 397th year of the Common Era (CE) and Anno Domini (AD) designations, the 397th year of the 1st millennium, the 97th year of the 4th century, and the 8th year of the 390s decade. As of the start of 397, the Gregorian calendar was 1 day ahead of the Julian calendar, which was the dominant calendar of the time.

Events

• John Chrysostom becomes the patriarch of Constantinople

Deaths

• April 4 – Saint Ambrose, one of the Church Fathers and bishop of Milan
• November 11 – Saint Martin of Tours, an "apostle of Gaul" and bishop of Tours