230 CE

Pope Pontian succeeds Pope Urban I, as the 18th pope of Rome. Seventy bishops hold the council of the Christian Church of Africa. King Ardashir I of the Persian Empire invades the Roman province of Mesopotamia, and unsuccessfully besieges the fortress town of Nisibis (Turkey). His army threatens the border outposts of Syria and Cappadocia.

In the 230s, the 3rd century.

Geopolitics & Diplomacy

  • Emperor Alexander Severus decides that Thessaly should be a separate province from Macedonia. He increases taxes, in order to maintain the war against the Sassanids, and strengthen the defenses of the Roman Empire.source
  • Jobun becomes king of the Korean kingdom of Silla.source

Conflict & Security

  • Alexander Severus assembles the Roman army, and establishes his headquarters at Antioch. He attempts a diplomatic solution, but the Persians decline and choose war.source
  • King Ardashir I of the Persian Empire invades the Roman province of Mesopotamia, and unsuccessfully besieges the fortress town of Nisibis (Turkey). His army threatens the border outposts of Syria and Cappadocia.source

Religion & Belief

  • July 21 – Pope Pontian succeeds Pope Urban I, as the 18th pope of Rome.source
  • Seventy bishops hold the council of the Christian Church of Africa.source
  • Patriarch Castinus succeeds Ciriacus I as patriarch Constantinople.source

Births

  • Marcus Aurelius Carus, Roman emperor (died 283)source
  • Gaius Vibius Volusianus, Roman emperor (died 253)source

Deaths

  • May 23 – Urban I, bishop of Rome (born 175)source
  • July 9 – Bian, Chinese empress dowager (born 159)source
  • Zhang Wen, Chinese official and politician (born 193)source
  • Wu Zhi, Chinese official and general (born 177)source
  • Marius Maximus, Roman consul and biographersource
  • Liang Xi, Chinese official and politiciansource
  • Zhang Yi, Chinese official and politician (born 167)source
  • Zhong Yao, Chinese official and calligrapher (born 151)source