Year 438 (CDXXXVIII) 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 Theodosius and Glabrio (or, less frequently, year 1191 Ab urbe condita). The denomination 438 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.

• Emperor Theodosius II forbids the divulging of secrets of naval carpentry, probably to avoid its spread to the rising Vandal power in North Africa.^{[citation needed]}
• February 15 – The Codex Theodosianus, a collection of edicts of Roman law, is published.
• Aelia Eudocia, wife of Theodosius II, goes on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, bringing back with her holy relics to prove her faith.

• The last gladiatorial fights are held in the Colosseum in Rome.^{[citation needed]}
• King Hermeric of the Suebic Kingdom of Galicia is forced to retire after a seven-year illness. He hands the government over to his son Rechila.
• In the Gothic War (436-439) besieges Aetius over the Visigoths in the Battle of Mons Colubrarius.

• Bahram V dies after an 18-year reign as Sassanid king of the Persian Empire. He is succeeded by his son Yazdegerd II.^[1]

• Relics of John Chrysostom are transported to Constantinople.

• Basina, queen of Thuringia (approximate date)
• Epiphanius, bishop of Pavia (d. 496)

• Bahram V, king of the Persian Empire
• Feng Hong, last emperor of Northern Yan