221 CE

Liu Bei, Chinese warlord and descendant of the imperial clan of the Han dynasty, proclaims himself emperor in Chengdu, Sichuan, and establishes the state of Shu Han. Emperor Elagabalus adopts his cousin Alexander Severus as his heir, and receives the title of Caesar. Elagabalus is forced to divorce Aquilia Severa, and marries his third wife Annia Faustina. After five months he returns to Severa, and claims that the original divorce is invalid. The marriage is symbolic, because Elagabalus appears to be homosexual or bisexual. According to the historian Cassius Dio, he has a stable relationship with his chariot driver, the slave Hierocles.

In the 220s, the 3rd century.

Geopolitics & Diplomacy

  • May 15 – Liu Bei, Chinese warlord and descendant of the imperial clan of the Han dynasty, proclaims himself emperor in Chengdu, Sichuan, and establishes the state of Shu Han.source

Culture & Society

  • June 26 – Emperor Elagabalus adopts his cousin Alexander Severus as his heir, and receives the title of Caesar.source
  • July – Elagabalus is forced to divorce Aquilia Severa, and marries his third wife Annia Faustina. After five months he returns to Severa, and claims that the original divorce is invalid. The marriage is symbolic, because Elagabalus appears to be homosexual or bisexual. According to the historian Cassius Dio, he has a stable relationship with his chariot driver, the slave Hierocles.source

Births

  • Yang Hu, Chinese general and politician (died 278)source
  • Liu Ling, Chinese poet and scholar (died 300)source

Deaths

  • August 4 – Lady Zhen, Chinese noblewoman (born 183)source
  • Mi Zhu, Chinese general and politician (born 165)source
  • Yu Jin, Chinese general serving under Cao Caosource
  • Dong He (or Youzai), Chinese official and politiciansource
  • Zhang Fei, Chinese general and politiciansource