284 CE

The commander of Numerian's domestici (household troops), Diocles, is chosen to be the new emperor. In a military assembly outside Nicomedia (modern İzmit, Turkey), Diocles claims that the praetorian prefect (and rival for the throne) Arrius Aper murdered Numerian, and he personally stabs and kills the prefect on the spot. The new emperor changes his name to the Latinised 'Diocletian'. Building on existing trends, Diocletian presents his rule as that of a god-like dominus or autocrat. Emperor Numerian travels through Bithynia (Asia Minor) on his way home to Rome. Suffering from an inflammation of the eyes, he travels in a closed litter in which soldiers find his decaying corpse. King of Kings Bahram II installs Mirian III, of the House of Mihran, on the throne of the Kingdom of Iberia. Mirian would rule the kingdom until his death in c. 361.

In the 280s, the 3rd century.

Geopolitics & Diplomacy

  • Yurye becomes king of the Korean kingdom of Silla.source

Exploration & Expansion

  • Emperor Numerian travels through Bithynia (Asia Minor) on his way home to Rome. Suffering from an inflammation of the eyes, he travels in a closed litter in which soldiers find his decaying corpse.source

Religion & Belief

  • November 17 – Diocletian becomes emperor of Romesource
  • Rufinus succeeds Dometius as Bishop of Byzantium.source
  • King of Kings Bahram II installs Mirian III, of the House of Mihran, on the throne of the Kingdom of Iberia. Mirian would rule the kingdom until his death in c. 361.source

Crime & Justice

  • November 20 – The commander of Numerian's domestici (household troops), Diocles, is chosen to be the new emperor. In a military assembly outside Nicomedia (modern İzmit, Turkey), Diocles claims that the praetorian prefect (and rival for the throne) Arrius Aper murdered Numerian, and he personally stabs and kills the prefect on the spot. The new emperor changes his name to the Latinised 'Diocletian'. Building on existing trends, Diocletian presents his rule as that of a god-like dominus or autocrat.source
  • Sabinus Julianus, the praetorian prefect of Emperor Carinus, exploits the instability and usurps the throne in northern Italy.source

Births

  • Fu Hong (or Pu Hong), Chinese general and prince (died 350)source
  • Huai of Jin, Chinese emperor of the Jin Dynasty (died 313)source

Deaths

  • November 20 – Numerian, Roman emperor (born 254)source
  • Sun Hao, Chinese emperor of the Eastern Wu state (born 243)source
  • Lucius Flavius Aper, Roman general and praetorian prefectsource