The Massacre of Thessalonica occurred in April 390 when resentment among the citizens of Thessalonica (Thrace) over the arrest of a popular charioteer broke out into violence.
Butheric, military commander of Illyricum, was murdered.
Emperor Theodosius I orders vengeance, despite the pleas of Ambrose, bishop of Milan, for mercy, and more than 7,000 inhabitants are massacred by the Roman army.
