494

Year 494 (CDXCIV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Rufius and Praesidius (or, less frequently, year 1247 Ab urbe condita). The denomination 494 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.

Byzantine Empire

 * An earthquake devastates the port town of Latakia (modern Syria).

China

 * Emperor Xiao Wen Di moves the capital of Northern Wei from Datong to Luoyang. He makes Chinese the official language of his court, and orders his nobility to adopt Chinese names.

Religion

 * Gelasius I delineates the relationship between church and state.
 * The Decretum Gelasianum is attributed.
 * Gelasius I canonizes Saint George.

Births

 * Gildas, British historian and priest (approximate date)

Deaths

 * Xiao Zhaowen, emperor of Southern Qi (b. 480)
 * Xiao Zhaoye, emperor of Southern Qi (known as the Prince of Yulin) (b. 473)