text: 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.


date: July 21

section: Religion & Belief

text: July 21 – Pope Pontian succeeds Pope Urban I, as the 18th pope of Rome.

source_section: Events › By topic › Religion


text: Seventy bishops hold the council of the Christian Church of Africa.


text: Patriarch Castinus succeeds Ciriacus I as patriarch Constantinople.


section: Births

text: Marcus Aurelius Carus, Roman emperor (d. 283)

source_section: Births


text: Gaius Vibius Volusianus, Roman emperor (d. 253)


date: May 23

section: Deaths

text: May 23 – Urban I, bishop of Rome (b. 175)

source_section: Deaths


date: July 9

text: July 9 – Bian, Chinese empress dowager (b. 159)


text: Zhang Wen, Chinese official and politician (b. 193)


text: Wu Zhi, Chinese official and general (b. 177)


text: Marius Maximus, Roman consul and biographer


text: Liang Xi, Chinese official and politician


text: Zhang Yi, Chinese official and politician (b. 167)


text: Zhong Yao, Chinese official and calligrapher (b. 151)


section: Geopolitics & Diplomacy

text: Origen, disciple of Ammonius Saccas, founder of Neoplatonism, is exiled in Caesarea.


date: March

section: Conflict & Security

text: March – August – Battle of Mount Qi: The Chinese state of Shu Han gains a tactical victory, and the state of Cao Wei a strategic victory.

source_section: Events › By place › China


text: Emperor Alexander Severus accompanies his mother Julia Mamaea to Syria, and campaigns against the Persians. Military command rests in the hands of his generals, but his presence gives additional weight to the empire's policy.

source_section: Events › By place › Roman Empire


text: Cao Xun, Chinese prince of the Cao Wei state (d. 244)


text: Cao Zhen, Chinese general of the Cao Wei state


text: Zhang He, Chinese general of the Cao Wei state


text: Li Hui (or De'ang), Chinese official and politician


text: Roman–Persian Wars: Emperor Alexander Severus launches a three-pronged counterattack against the Persian forces of King Ardashir I, who have invaded Mesopotamia. However, the Roman army advancing through Armenia is halted. Alexander gives the order to march to the capital at Ctesiphon, but the Romans are defeated, and withdraw to Syria. The result is an acceptance of the status quo, and after heavy losses on both sides, a truce is signed.


text: Origen founds a school of Christian theology in Palestine.


text: Pope Heraclas of Alexandria is the first Bishop of Alexandria to use the appellation of "Pope".


text: Relics of St. Thomas are brought to Edessa from India.


date: August 19

text: August 19 – Marcus Aurelius Probus, Roman emperor (d. 282)


text: Cao Fang, Chinese emperor of the Cao Wei state (d. 274)


text: Zhang Hua, Chinese official, scholar and poet (d. 300)


text: Sun Chen (or Zitong), Chinese general and regent (d. 259)


date: January 30

text: January 30 – Hua Xin, Chinese official and politician (b. 157)


date: October 22

text: October 22 – Demetrius I, patriarch of Alexandria (b. 127)


date: December 27

text: December 27 – Cao Zhi, Chinese prince and poet (b. 192)


text: Cao Hong, Chinese general of the Cao Wei state


text: Tiberius Julius Sauromates III, Roman client king


text: Sun Lü, Chinese general of the Cao Wei state


text: Emperor Alexander Severus celebrates a triumph in Rome to observe his "victory" the previous year over the Persians (in reality, Severus Alexander advanced towards Ctesiphon in 233, but as corroborated by Herodian, his armies suffered a humiliating defeat against Ardashir I). He is soon summoned to the Rhine frontier, where the Alamanni invade what is now modern-day Swabia. German tribes destroy Roman forts, and plunder the countryside at the Limes Germanicus.


text: Chen Shou, Chinese historian and writer of the Records of the Three Kingdoms (d. 297)


date: June 13

text: June 13 – Cao Rui, Chinese imperial prince of the Cao Wei state


text: Yu Fan, Chinese official and politician of the Eastern Wu state (b. 164)


text: Liu Ji, Chinese official and politician of the Eastern Wu state (b. 185)


text: Battle of Wuzhang Plains between the Chinese states of Shu Han and Cao Wei: The army of Shu Han retreats, following an inconclusive result.


text: Saban becomes king of the Korean kingdom of Baekje. He is succeeded by Goi of Baekje later in the same year.

source_section: Events › By place › Korea


section: Technology & Infrastructure

text: Emperor Alexander Severus and his mother Julia Mamaea move to Moguntiacum (modern Mainz), the capital of Germania Superior. His generals have planned a military offensive and built a bridge across the Rhine. Alexander prefers to negotiate for peace by buying off the Alemanni. This policy outrages the Roman legions and he loses the trust of the troops.


text: Wang Rong, Chinese general and politician (d. 305)


text: Porphyry, Phoenician Neoplatonic philosopher (d. c. 305)


date: April 21

text: April 21 – Xian of Han, Chinese emperor of the Han Dynasty (b. 181)


text: Sun Huan (or Jiming), Chinese nobleman and general


text: Zhuge Liang, Chinese statesman and strategist (b. 181)


text: Li Miao (or Hannan), Chinese official and politician


text: Liu Yan (or Weishuo), Chinese general and politician


text: Xiahou Hui (or Yuanrong), Chinese noblewoman (b. 211)


text: Wei Yan (or Wenchang), Chinese general and politician


text: Liu Ye (or Ziyang), Chinese court adviser and politician


text: Pan Zhang (or Wengui), Chinese general and politician


text: Li Yan (or Li Ping), Chinese general and politician


date: September 28

text: September 28 – Pope Pontian resigns, the first to abdicate, because he and Hippolytus, church leader of Rome, are exiled to the mines of Sardinia. Emperor Maximinus persecutes the Christians.


date: November 21

text: November 21 – Anterus succeeds Pontian as the nineteenth pope of Rome.


date: March 22

section: Crime & Justice

text: March 22 – Emperor Severus Alexander and his mother Iulia Mamaea are murdered by their own soldiers. The soldiers proclaim Maximinus Thrax as emperor. The Severan dynasty ends, marking the beginning of the Crisis of the Third Century.


text: Sun Xiu, Chinese emperor of the Eastern Wu state (d. 264)


text: March 22 – Severus Alexander, Roman emperor (b. 208)


text: Tiberius Julius Cotys III (or Kotys), Roman client king


text: Yang Yi (or Weigong), Chinese official and adviser


text: Gaius Petronius Magnus, Roman consul and usurper


text: Xin Pi (or Zuozhi), Chinese official and politician


text: Hippolytus, Christian theologian and writer (b. 170)


text: Chen Zhen (or Xiaoqi), Chinese official and politician


text: Titius Quartinus, Roman governor and usurper


text: Julia Avita Mamaea, mother of Severus Alexander (b. 180)


text: Tiberius Julius Rhescuporis IV, Roman client king


text: Cao Gun, Chinese imperial prince


text: Emperor Maximinus Thrax and Marcus Pupienus Africanus Maximus become Roman consuls.


text: Maximinus campaigns against Dacians and Sarmatians from his supply depot at Sirmium.


section: Exploration & Expansion

text: Fabian sends seven missionaries to Gaul to evangelize in the large cities.


date: January 10

text: January 10 – Pope Fabian succeeds Pope Anterus as the twentieth pope.


text: Fabian separates Rome into seven deaconships.


text: The Roman Senate appoints a twenty-man committee to co-ordinate operations against Maximinus.


text: Zhang Ti, Chinese official and chancellor (d. 280)


text: Wu of Jin (Sima Yan), Chinese emperor (d. 290)


text: Zhou Chu, Chinese general and politician (d. 297)


date: January 3

text: January 3 – Anterus, bishop of Rome


date: July 4

text: July 4 – Dong Zhao, Chinese official and politician (b. 156)


text: Zhang Zhao, Chinese general and politician (b. 156)


text: King Ardashir I of Persia renews his attacks on the Roman province of Mesopotamia.

source_section: Events › By place › Persia


text: Emperor Maximinus Thrax campaigns on the rivers Danube and Rhine in Germania, defeating the Alemanni, and never visits Rome. He is accepted by the Roman Senate, but taxes the rich aristocracy heavily, and engenders such hostility among them, that they plot against him. He had a road rebuilt in what is now the Golan Heights, between 236 and 237.


text: Saint Babylas becomes Patriarch of Antioch.


text: Patriarch Eugenius I succeeds Patriarch Castinus as Patriarch of Constantinople.


text: Alexander of Constantinople, patriarch of Constantinople


text: Guo Huai (or Yuhuang), Chinese noblewoman (d. 296)


text: Philip II (the Younger), Roman emperor (d. 249)


date: February 7

text: February 7 – Chen Qun, Chinese official and politician


date: September 22

text: September 22 – Mingdao (or Mao), Chinese empress


text: Wu Yi (or Ziyuan), Chinese general of the Shu Han state


text: Zhang (or Jing'ai), Chinese empress of the Shu Han state


text: Future Emperor Valerian becomes princeps senatus.


text: c. March – Roman subjects in Africa revolt against Maximinus. The elderly Gordian yields to public demand that he succeed Maximinus and rules jointly with his 46-year-old son Gordian II.


text: Emperor Maximinus Thrax campaigns against the Carpians on the Danube in Moesia (Balkans). In spite of the payment of a tribute, the Romans fail to persuade the Goths and the Germanic tribes.


text: The Goths, coming from Ukraine, cross the Danube and devastate the Roman Empire up to the border with Anatolia.


text: c. April – Battle of Carthage: Numidian forces loyal to Maximinus invade Africa with support of Legio III Augusta. Gordian II is killed and after a siege, Gordian I commits suicide by hanging himself with his belt.


text: Sima Yi, a Chinese general of the Cao Wei state, destroys the outlying northeastern warlord Gongsun Yuan in the Liaodong campaign.


text: c. August – The Praetorian Guard storms the palace and captures Pupienus and Balbinus. They are dragged naked through the streets of Rome and executed. On the same day Gordian III, age 13, is proclaimed the new emperor. Timesitheus becomes his tutor and advisor.


text: In North Africa, Legio III Augusta is dissolved. Until its reconstitution in 253, Africa is defended by auxiliary forces only.


text: c. May – The Senate outlaws Maximinus for his bloodthirsty proscriptions in Ancient Rome and nominates two of its members, Pupienus and Balbinus, to the throne.


section: Economy & Finance

text: The silver content of the Roman denarius falls to 28 percent under Emperor Gordian III, down from 35 percent under Alexander Severus.

source_section: Events › By topic › Commerce


text: The Colosseum is restored after being damaged.


section: Climate & Environment

text: Maximinus advances to the town Aquileia in northern Italy; his army suffers from famine and disease, while the city is besieged. Soldiers of Legio II Parthica kill him in his tent, along with his son Maximinus (who is appointed co-emperor). Their corpses are decapitated and their heads carried to Rome.


text: Wen Yang (or Ciqian), Chinese general (d. 291)


text: Yang Yan (or Wuyuan), Chinese empress (d. 274)


date: April 10

text: April 10 – Han Ji (or Gongzhi), Chinese politician


date: April 12

text: April 12 – Gordian I, Roman emperor (b. 159)


text: April 12 – Gordian II, Roman emperor (b. 192)


text: Maximinus Thrax, Roman emperor (b. 173)


text: Gongsun Yuan (or Wenyi), Chinese warlord


text: Bu Lianshi, Chinese noblewoman and concubine


text: Maximinus the Younger, Roman emperor


text: Zhu Huan (or Xiumu), Chinese general (b. 177)


text: Cao Fang succeeds his adoptive father Cao Rui as emperor of the Cao Wei state, in the Three Kingdoms period of China.

source_section: Events › By place › Asia


text: A Chinese expeditionary force from the Eastern Wu state discovers the island of Taiwan.


text: Origen publishes the Old Testament in five languages (approximate date).


section: Science & Discovery

text: Queen of Yamataikoku (Japan), Himiko was given Golden signature stamp by Cao Wei (China)


date: January 22

text: January 22 – Cao Rui (or Yuanzhong), Chinese emperor (b. 206)


text: Lu Mao (or Zizhang), Chinese official and politician


text: Pan Jun (or Chengming), Chinese official and general


year_label: 24 CE

date: June 30

text: June 30 – The terms of Servius Cornelius Cethegus and Lucius Visellius Varro as Roman consuls expire. During their terms, two laws pertaining to slavery had been passed, the lex Visellia de iure Quiritium Latinorum qui inter vigiles militaverant granting freed slaves Roman citizenship after six years service, and the Lex Visellia de poenis libertinorum qui ingenuorum honores usurpabant which penalized non-citizens who falsely claimed to be ingenui or freeborn Romans.

source_section: Events › 24 AD › Roman Empire


text: King Yuri ascends to the throne as ruler of Silla (Korea).

source_section: Events › 24 AD › Korea


text: The Masinissa line of the rulers of Carthage ends.

source_section: Events › 24 AD › North Africa


text: The revolt of Tacfarinas revolt in Africa is repressed.


text: The Roman war against Numidia and Mauretania ends with the annexation of the two African kingdoms.


date: July 1

text: July 1 – Midway through the Roman year 777 A.U.C., Gaius Calpurnius Aviola and Publius Lentulus Scipio begin the new consular year as the new suffect consuls.


section: Disasters & Accidents

text: The Senate expels actors from Rome.


text: In the Kingdom of Silla, which compromises most of the eastern Korean peninsula, Yuri of the House of Park becomes the new monarch (the chachaung). King Yuri takes the throne at the capital, Seorabeo (now Gyeongju in South Korea) upon the death of his father, King Namhae.


text: Tacfarinas, Numidian military leader

source_section: Deaths › 24 AD


text: Gaius Silius, Roman general and consul


text: Lucius Calpurnius Piso, Roman consul


text: Strabo, Greek geographer and historian


text: Maharaja Sri-Gupta becomes ruler of the Gupta Empire (approximate date).

source_section: Events › By place › India


text: The Roman Empire is threatened on several fronts at the same time. Africa revolts and tribes in northwest Germania, under the name of the Franks, are raiding the Rhine frontier.


text: Siege of Hatra: The Sasanians besiege the capital of the Kingdom of Hatra ruled by Sanatruq II.


text: Mani, a young mystic of Ctesiphon, proclaims himself a prophet at the court of Ardashir I. He preaches his doctrine, Manichaeism, throughout the Sassanid Empire.


section: Culture & Society

text: April 12 – Prince Shapur I becomes co-ruler of the Sasanian Empire with his father King Ardashir I.


text: Zenobia, queen of the Palmyrene Empire (d. 274)


text: Lucian of Antioch, Syrian theologian and martyr (d. 312)


text: Sporus of Nicaea, Greek mathematician (approximate date)


text: Herodian of Antioch, Roman historian and writer (b. 170)


text: Huang Quan (or Gongheng), Chinese general


text: Ammonius Saccas, Neoplatonic philosopher (approximate date)


text: Prince Shapur I succeeds his father Ardashir I as ruler of the Sassanid Empire. He begins his expansion in India.


text: Gaius Furius Sabinius Aquila Timesitheus becomes praetorian prefect and de facto ruler of the Roman Empire.


date: November 1

text: November 1 – The Battle of Samhain is fought in Ireland (approximate date).

source_section: Events › By place › Europe


text: Winter – Emperor Gordian III reaches Antioch and, with his army, prepares an offensive against the Sassanids.


text: Shapur I annexes parts of the Kushan Empire. The ancient city of Bagram (modern Afghanistan) is abandoned.


text: Fall of Hatra: Shapur I captures Hatra, the capital of the Kingdom of Hatra. The city is destroyed by the Sassanids.


text: The Dura-Europos church is converted from a house in Syria (approximate date).


text: Cao Mao, Chinese emperor of the Cao Wei state in the Three Kingdoms period (d. 260)


text: Sun Shao, Chinese general of the Eastern Wu state (b. 188)


text: Sun Deng, Chinese prince of the Eastern Wu state (b. 209)


text: Zhuge Jin, Chinese general of the Eastern Wu state (b. 174)


text: Sanatruq II, king of Hatra (Ending of the Kingdom of Hatra)


text: Emperor Gordian III begins a campaign against King Shapur I, and leads victories at Antioch, Carrhae, Nisibis, and Resaina.


text: Gordian III evacuates the Cimmerian cities in the Bosphorus (Crimea), as the territory is now controlled by the Goths.


text: Shapur I makes a pre-emptive attack on Antioch to drive out the Romans. Gordian's father-in-law, Timesitheus, leads a Roman army to defeat the Sassanids at Carrhae and Nisibis.


text: Patriarch Titus succeeds Eugenius I as Patriarch of Constantinople (until 272).


text: Saloninus, Roman emperor (d. 260)


text: Ammonius Saccas, Egyptian philosopher (b. 175)


text: Cao Hui, Chinese prince of the Cao Wei state


text: Ardashir I, king of the Sassanid Empire (b. 180)


text: King Ardashir I, founder of the Sassanid Empire, dies after a 30-year reign. He is succeeded by his son and co-ruler Shapur I.


text: Man Chong (or Boning), Chinese politician


text: Battle of Resaena: A Roman army under Timesitheus defeats the Sassanids at Resaena (modern Syria); King Shapur I is forced to flee to the Euphrates.


text: Cohors I Ubiorum, the garrison at Capidava in Scythia Minor, is replaced by Cohors I Germanorum Civium Romanorum, until the end of the 3rd century AD.


text: Fan Chan of Funan sends a tribute mission to China (approximate date).


text: Sun Liang, Chinese emperor of the Eastern Wu state (d. 260)


text: Sun Hao, Chinese emperor of the Eastern Wu state (d. 284)


text: Timesitheus, Roman advisor and praetorian prefect (b. 190)


text: Emperor Gordian III appoints Philip the Arab as his new praetorian prefect (after the death of Timesitheus) and proceeds with his campaign in Mesopotamia.


text: Hu Zong (or Weize), Chinese official and general (b. 183)


text: Gu Yong (or Yuantan), Chinese official and politician (b. 168)


text: Xue Zong (or Jingwen), Chinese official, politician and poet


text: Timesitheus becomes ill and dies under suspicious circumstances. Shapur I retreats to the Sassanid Empire, giving up all the territories he has conquered.


date: February 11

text: February 11 – Emperor Gordian III is murdered by mutinous soldiers in Zaitha (Mesopotamia). A mound is raised at Carchemish in his memory.


text: Philip the Arab (Marcus Julius Philippus) declares himself co-emperor, and makes a controversial peace with the Sassanian Empire, withdrawing from their territory and giving Shapur 500,000 gold pieces. The Sassanians occupy Armenia.


text: Battle of Xingshi: Shu Han defeats the Chinese state of Cao Wei.


text: Around February 11 – Battle of Misiche: King Shapur I and his Iranian army defeats the Roman army.


text: The vassal Upper Mesopotamian kingdom of Osroene is absorbed into the Roman Empire, its last ruler being Abgar (XI) Farhat Bar Ma’nu.


text: The Goguryeo–Wei War is fought between the Korean kingdom Goguryeo and the Chinese state Cao Wei.


text: Philip the Arab is recognized by the Roman Senate as the new Roman Emperor with the honorific Augustus. He nominates his son Philippus, age 6, with the title of Caesar and makes him heir to the throne; gives his brother Priscus supreme power (rector Orientis) in the Eastern provinces; and begins construction of the city of Shahba (Syria) in the province of his birth.


text: The silver content of the Roman denarius falls to 0.5 percent under emperor Philippus I, down from 28 percent under Gordian III.


text: Plotinus, Greek philosopher, escapes the bloodshed that accompanies the murder of Gordianus III and makes his way to Antioch. Back in Rome he founds his Neoplatonist school and attracts disciples like Porphyry, Castricius Firmus and Eustochius of Alexandria.

source_section: Events › By topic › Art and Science


text: 244–245 – Last phase of construction of the house-style Dura-Europos synagogue in Syria, one of the oldest to survive (wall-paintings in the National Museum of Damascus, Syria).


text: 244–249 – Bust of Philip the Arab (in Braccio Nuovo, Vatican Museums, Rome).


date: December 22

text: December 22 – Diocletian, Roman emperor (d. 311)


text: Alexander of Constantinople, bishop of Byzantium (approximate date)


text: February 11 – Gordian III, Roman emperor (b. 225)


text: Cao Xun, Chinese prince of the Cao Wei state (b. 231)


text: Ge Xuan (or Xiaoxian), Chinese Taoist (b. 164)


text: Zhang Cheng (or Zhongsi), Chinese general (b. 178)


text: Lady Triệu, a Vietnamese warrior, begins her 3-year resistance against the invading Chinese.


text: Emperor Philip the Arab entrusts Trajan Decius with an important command on the Danube.


text: The philosopher Plotinus goes to live in Rome.


text: In Britain, many thousands of acres of modern-day Lincolnshire are inundated by a great flood.


text: Iamblichus, Syrian Neoplatonist philosopher (approximate date)


text: Lu Xun (or Boyan), Chinese general and statesman (b. 183)


text: Wu (or Wu Xian), Chinese empress of the Shu Han state


text: Zhang Xiu (or Shusi), Chinese general and statesman (b. 205)


text: Zhao Yan (or Boran), Chinese official and general (b. 171)


text: Wu Can (or Kongxiu), Chinese official and politician


text: Ammonius Saccas, Alexandrian-Greek philosopher (approximate date)


text: Baekje Kingdom under King Goi of Baekje attacks the Chinese commandery of Daifang.


text: Emperor Philip the Arab fights the Germans along the Danube River.


text: The first of two Councils of Arabia in the Roman Christian Church is held in Bostra, Arabia Petraea.


text: Cao Huan, Chinese emperor of the Cao Wei state (d. 303)


text: Gu Tan (or Zimo), Chinese official and politician (b. 205)


text: Dong Yun (or Xiuzhao), Chinese general and politician


text: Jiang Wan (or Gongyan), Chinese general and statesman


text: Cheomhae becomes king of the Korean kingdom of Silla.


text: Marcus Julius Philippus Augustus and his 10-year-old son Marcus Julius Philippus Caesar become Roman Consuls.


text: The Goths appear on the lower Danube frontier; they invade Ukraine and Romania.


text: Himiko of Yamataikoku, in Japan, begins a war against King Himikoku of Kunukoku.


text: The last of the two Councils of Arabia in the Roman Christian Church is held in Bostra, Arabia Petraea.


text: Emperor Philip the Arab marks the millennium of Rome by holding the Ludi Saeculares.


text: Rome becomes 1,000 years old. The 1,000th anniversary is commemorated with the Ludi Saeculares festivals, celebrated throughout the Roman Empire.


text: Prisca, Roman empress and wife of Diocletian (d. 315)


text: Pan Yue, Chinese poet and writer of the Jin Dynasty (d. 300)


text: Zhang Chunhua, wife of Sima Yi, regent of the Cao Wei state (b. 189)


text: Bu Zhi (or Zishan), Chinese general, official and statesman


text: Abba Arikha, Babylonian Jewish scholar and rabbi (b. 175)


text: Xiang Lang (or Juda), Chinese general, official and politician


text: Jungcheon becomes ruler of the Korean kingdom of Goguryeo (until 270).


text: The revolts of Pacatianus in Moesia and Iotapianus in Syria are put down by Senator Trajan Decius, by order of Emperor Philip the Arab.


text: Origen writes an eight-volume work, criticizing the pagan writer Celsus.


text: The Roman Empire continues the celebration of the 1,000th anniversary of Rome, with the ludi saeculares, organized by Philip the Arab.


text: Li Liu (Cheng Han or Xuantong), Chinese Grand general (d. 303)


text: Sima You (or Dayou), Chinese prince and politician (d. 283)


text: Flavia Iulia Helena, Greco-Roman Augusta (empress), mother of Constantine I (approximate date) (d. 330)


text: Lady Triệu (Triệu Ẩu or Triệu Thị Trinh), Vietnamese female warrior (b. 226)


text: Wang Ping, Chinese general and politician


text: Himiko (or Shingi Waō), Japanese queen regnant (b. 170)


text: Dongcheon, Korean ruler of Goguryeo (b. 209)


text: Trajan Decius puts down a revolt in Moesia and Pannonia. Loyal legionaries proclaim him emperor, and he leads them into Italy.


date: February 5

text: February 5 – Incident at Gaoping Tombs: In the Chinese state of Cao Wei, regent Sima Yi, in a coup d'état, forces his co-regent Cao Shuang to relinquish his power, after taking control of the capital city of Luoyang. Sima Yi issues a memorial, which lists the various crimes he and his associates has committed.


text: Battle of Verona: Decius defeats and kills Emperor Philip the Arab.


text: Decian persecution: Decius begins persecuting Christians, and others refusing to sacrifice publicly to the Roman gods for the well-being of the emperor.


text: Cyprian, Christian writer of Berber descent, becomes bishop of Carthage.


text: In Alexandria, the populace pillages the homes of Christians.


text: Shi Chong (or Jilun), Chinese politician and statesman


date: February 9

text: February 9 – He Yan (or Pingshu), Chinese philosopher


text: February 9 – Huan Fan (or Yuanze), Chinese general


text: February 9 – Deng Yang (or Xuanmao), Chinese politician


text: February 9 – Bi Gui (or Zhaoxian), Chinese politician


text: February 9 – Cao Shuang, Chinese general and regent


text: February 9 – Li Sheng (or Gongzhao), Chinese politician


date: May 18

text: May 18 – Jiang Ji (or Zitong), Chinese general


text: Quan Cong, Chinese general and politician (b. 198)


text: Wang Bi, Chinese philosopher and politician (b. 226)


text: Jotapianus (or Jotapian), Roman usurper


text: Ma Zhong (or Dexin), Chinese general and politician


text: Xu Miao (or Jingshan), Chinese politician (b. 172)


text: Philip II (the Younger), Roman emperor (b. 237)


text: Zhu Ran, Chinese adviser and general (b. 182)


year_label: 25 CE

date: August 5

text: August 5 – The Han dynasty is restored in China as Liu Xiu proclaims himself Emperor Guangwu of Han, starting the Jianwu era (until AD 56).

source_section: Events › 25 AD › China


date: November 27

text: November 27 – Luoyang becomes the capital of the Houhan or Eastern Han dynasty.


text: Emperor Tiberius settles a dispute between Messenia and Sparta over the Ager Dentheliales on Mount Taygetus, awarding the land to Messenia.

source_section: Events › 25 AD › Roman Empire


text: Lucius Aelius Sejanus unsuccessfully attempts to marry Livilla.


text: Gaius Julius Civilis, Batavian military leader

source_section: Births › 25 AD


text: Quintus Volusius Saturninus, Roman consul


text: Lucius Antonius, grandson of Mark Antony (b. 20 BC)

source_section: Deaths › 25 AD


text: Ruzi Ying, Chinese emperor of the Western Han (b. AD 5)


text: Gnaeus Cornelius Lentulus, Roman consul (b. 54 BC)


text: Aulus Cremutius Cordus, Roman historian and writer


text: Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus, Roman consul (b. 49 BC)


text: Gengshi, Chinese emperor of the Han dynasty


text: Cniva lays siege to Philippopolis (modern Plovdiv). After a long resistance, Cniva conquers the city and slays its one hundred thousand inhabitants.


text: The Goths under King Cniva invade Moesia. They cross the Danube and lay siege to Novae and Marcianopolis.


text: Battle of Augusta Traiana: The Romans lose the battle against the Goths.


text: A group of Franks penetrate as far as Tarragona in Spain (approximate date).


text: The Kingdom of Aksum (Axum) takes control of commerce on the Red Sea.

source_section: Events › By place › Africa


text: The Alamanni drive the Romans from the modern area of Donau-Ries.

source_section: Events › By place › Roman Empire


date: January 3

text: January 3 – Decian persecution of Christians is initiated when Emperor Decius orders everyone in the Roman Empire (except Jews) to perform a sacrifice to the gods of religion in ancient Rome. On January 20, Pope Fabian becomes one of the first martyrs of this persecution.

source_section: Events › By topic › Religion


text: Possible date – Denis, a bishop of Paris, is martyred by beheading.


text: The Igel Column is erected at Trier in Germany.

source_section: Events › By topic › Art and science


text: Teotihuacán is rebuilt as a four-quartered cosmogram by Zapotec architects brought from Monte Albán in Oaxaca.

source_section: Events › By place › Mesoamerica


text: The earliest Chinese references to a device known as "emperor's south-pointing carriage" date to this period.

source_section: Events › By place › Asia


text: Classic period of Mesoamerican civilization begins.


text: Diophantus writes Arithmetica, the first systematic treatise on algebra.


section: Health & Medicine

text: An epidemic begins in Ethiopia, moves into Egypt and the Roman colonies in North Africa, and spreads through the Roman Empire (named the Plague of Cyprian, after St. Cyprian, bishop of Carthage).


text: The Ludovisi Battle sarcophagus, depicting battle between the Romans and the Barbarians, is made for use in Rome (it is later moved to the collection of the National Roman Museum).


text: The family portrait medallion, traditionally called the Family of Vunnerius Keramus, is made (it is later placed in the Brescia Cross, and then in the Museo Civico dell'Etá Cristiana, Brescia).


date: March 31

text: March 31 – Constantius Chlorus, Roman emperor (d. 306)

source_section: Births


text: Maximian (Herculius), Roman consul and emperor (d. 310)


text: Lu Jing (or Shiren), Chinese general and writer (d. 280)


text: Zuo Si (or Taichong), Chinese poet and writer (d. 305)


text: Gaius Galerius Valerius Maximianus, Roman emperor (d. 311)


date: January 20

text: January 20 – Fabian (or Fabianus), pope of Rome and martyr

source_section: Deaths


text: Faustus, Abibus and Dionysius, Christian martyrs


text: Peter, Andrew, Paul and Denise, Christian martyrs


text: Marcus Minucius Felix, Roman apologist and writer


text: Du Qiong (or Boyu), Chinese official and astronomer


text: Secundian, Marcellian and Verian, Christian martyrs


text: Tryphon, Respicius, and Nympha, Christian martyrs


text: Zhu Ju, Chinese general and chancellor (b. 194)


text: Sima Shi, Sima Yi's eldest son, inherits his father's authority.

source_section: Events › By place › China


text: Gallus makes peace with the Goths; he permits them to keep their plunder, and offers them a bribe not to return.


text: July 1 – Battle of Abritus: The Goths defeat Emperor Decius and his son Herennius Etruscus, on swampy ground in the Dobruja (Moesia).


text: Sassanid King Shapur I orders an invasion of Syria, with the intent of finally capturing the city of Antioch during the campaign of 251–254.

source_section: Events › By place › Persia


text: Wang Ling's rebellion against the Wei regent Sima Yi is quelled.


text: The prosperity of Roman Britain declines during this period, as the Germanic tribes of the Franks and Saxons, whose homelands are in Friesland and the Low Countries, make raids around the southeast coast.


date: March

text: March – Pope Cornelius succeeds Pope Fabian as the 21st pope.


date: May

text: May – The first Synod of Carthage, a pre-ecumenical council, is held under the presidency of Saint Cyprian.


text: A 15-year plague begins in the Roman Empire.


text: In Rome, Hostilian, son of Decius, succeeds his father, while Trebonianus Gallus is proclaimed Emperor by the troops. Gallus accepts him as co-emperor, but an outbreak of plague strikes the city, and kills Hostilian.


text: Sima Yi passes away in Luoyang.


date: January 12

text: January 12 – Anthony the Great, Christian monk and saint (d. 356)


text: February 5 – Cao Lin, Chinese prince of the Cao Wei state


date: June 15

text: June 15 – Wang Ling, Chinese general and politician


date: August 22

text: August 22 – Zhen, Chinese empress of the Cao Wei state


date: September 7

text: September 7 – Sima Yi, Chinese general and regent (b. 179)


text: Herennius Etruscus, Roman emperor and son of Decius


text: Cao Biao, Chinese prince of the Cao Wei state (b. 195)


text: Lü Yi, Chinese official, governor and politician


text: Decius, Roman emperor (killed after the battle of Abritus)


text: Agatha of Sicily, Christian martyr and saint (approximate date)


text: Hostilian, Roman emperor (of plague in Rome)


text: Deng Zhi, Chinese general, politician and diplomat


text: Sun Liang succeeds his father Sun Quan, as emperor of the Chinese state of Eastern Wu.


text: Shapur I invades Armenia, and appoints Artavazd VI as the new Armenian king.


text: Shapur I puts down the revolt in Khorasan (Iran and Turkmenistan), and rejoins his army.


text: Battle of Barbalissos: King Shapur I defeats the Roman army (some 70,000 men) at Barbalissos in Syria (approximate date).


text: Georgia submits peacefully to Shapur I, and becomes a vassal of the Sassanid Empire.


text: Pope Cornelius is exiled to Centumcellae, by Emperor Trebonianus Gallus.


text: Wang Jun (or Pengzu), Chinese general and warlord (d. 314)


text: Eusignius of Antioch, Roman general and martyr (d. 362)


text: Wei Huacun, founder of the Shangqing sect of Daoism (d. 334)


date: May 21

text: May 21 – Sun Quan, founder of the Eastern Wu state (b. 182)


text: Pan (or Pan Shu), Chinese empress of the Eastern Wu state


text: Tiridates II (or Khosrov), Roman client king of Armenia


text: Tian Yu (or Guorang), Chinese general and politician (b. 171)


text: Aemilianus rules the Roman Empire for three months; he promises to fight in Thrace and goes to war against Persia. The Senate gives him the rank of Pontifex Maximus.


text: Valerian reforms Legio III Augusta to fight the "five peoples", a dangerous coalition of Berber tribes in Africa.


text: Aemilianus is murdered at Spoletium and Publius Valerianus, age 60, is recognised as the new emperor by the Rhine legions. He gives his son Publius Licinius Egnatius Gallienus the title Augustus. Valerianus I dispatches him to the Danube where the Goths have violated the treaty signed with Rome and invaded Moesia.


text: The legions who have campaigned against the Goths on the Danube elect Marcus Aemilius Aemilianus as new emperor. He advances on Rome along the Flaminian Way, to meet his opponent emperor Trebonianus Gallus and his son Volusianus. For the most part, generals in the border regions are proclaimed emperor by their armies to halt the invasion of Germanic tribes.


text: Battle of Barbalissos: King Shapur I, defeats a Roman field army at Barbalissos in Syria.


text: Valerianus I splits the Roman Empire in two; Gallienus taking control of the West and his father ruling the East, where he faces the Persian threat.


date: June 25

text: June 25 – Pope Lucius I succeeds Pope Cornelius as the 22nd pope.


text: Pope Cornelius is sent into exile.


text: Aemilianus is proclaimed "enemy of the State" by the Roman Senate. Trebonianus Gallus is defeated at Interamna Nahars (Umbria); he flees with Volusianus to the north, but at Foligno they are killed by their own troops.


text: Lucius is arrested almost immediately following his election and also exiled.


text: Sun He, Chinese prince of the Eastern Wu state (b. 224)


text: Fei Yi, Chinese statesman, general and regent of the Shu Han state


text: Trebonianus Gallus, Roman emperor


text: Saint Babylas, Patriarch of Antioch


text: Origen, a Christian scholar from Alexandria (b. c. 184)


text: Zhuge Ke, Chinese general and regent of the Eastern Wu state (b. 203)


date: May 12

text: May 12 – Pope Stephen I succeeds Pope Lucius I.


date: March 5

text: March 5 – Lucius I, bishop of Rome


text: Zhang Ni (or Boqi), Chinese general, official and politician


text: Li Feng (or Anguo), Chinese official and politician


text: Tiberius Julius Pharsanzes, Roman client king


text: Xiahou Xuan (or Taichu), Chinese general and politician (b. 209)


text: Sima Zhao, Sima Shi's younger brother, inherits his brother's authority.


text: Sima Shi quells Guanqiu Jian and Wen Qin's rebellion.


text: Ma Jun, Chinese mechanical engineer from Cao Wei, invents the south-pointing chariot, a path-finding directional compass vehicle that uses a differential gear, not magnetics.

source_section: Events › By topic › Science


date: March 23

text: March 23 – Sima Shi passes away.


date: January 6

text: January 6 – Marcellus I, bishop of Rome (d. 309)


text: Dorotheus of Tyre, Syrian bishop and martyr (d. 362)


text: Zhang Gui, Chinese governor of the Jin Dynasty (d. 314)


text: Zuo Fen, Chinese poet of the Western Jin Dynasty (d. 300)


text: Saint Helena, Roman empress who was the reputed discoverer of Christ’s cross and mother of Emperor Constantine (d. 318)


date: February 23

text: February 23 – Guo Huai (or Boji), Chinese general


date: March 16

text: March 16 – Guanqiu Jian, Chinese general and politician


text: March 23 – Sima Shi, Chinese general and regent (b. 208)


text: Liu Zan (or Zhengming), Chinese general (b. 183)


text: Sun Luyu (or Xiaohu), Chinese princess


text: Fu Gu (or Lanshi), Chinese official and politician (b. 209)


text: The Goths invade Asia Minor. Dacia is lost for the Roman Empire, and the Goths appear at the walls of Thessalonica.


text: In Africa, the Berbers massacre Roman colonists.


text: King Shapur I of the Sasanian Empire invades Mesopotamia and Syria. He conquers and plunders Antioch, destroys Dura-Europos, and sacks the Anatolian city of Zeugma on the Euphrates. A devastating fire and an earthquake soon follow, causing Zeugma to be abandoned.


text: Cities in the Roman Empire begin to build walls, as the defense of the frontiers begins to crumble; future emperor Aurelian inspects along the Rhine.


text: Peace and unity are finally restored in China, with the victories of the Wei Kingdom in the north. The ruling dynasty is worn out by war, and the kingdom is ruled by ministers on their behalf.


text: The Franks cross the Rhine; the Alemanni reach Mediolanum (Milan) (disputed date).


date: February 28

text: February 28 – Papyrus Oxyrhynchus 3035, a warrant for the arrest of a Christian, is written.


text: Emperor Valerian persecutes Christians.


text: Pope Stephen I threatens to excommunicate Cyprian, bishop of Carthage, and other bishops in Africa and Asia Minor, unless they stop rebaptizing heretics. Cyprian attacks the Pope in a treatise that gains support from the Council of Carthage. He sends envoys to Rome, raising the specter of a schism between the Roman and Carthaginian Churches.


text: The great pandemic of the Roman world strikes violently in Pontus on the Black Sea, and causes enormous loss of life in Alexandria, encouraging thousands to embrace Christianity.

source_section: Events › By topic › Medicine


text: Arius, Egyptian priest and founder of Arianism (d. 336)


text: Wang Yan (or Yifu), Chinese official and politician (d. 311)


date: March 11

text: March 11 – Cao Lin, Chinese prince and son of Cao Cao


date: October 19

text: October 19 – Sun Jun (or Ziyuan), Chinese general and regent (b. 219)


date: October 21

text: October 21 – Lü Dai (or Dinggong), Chinese general (b. 161)


date: November 12

text: November 12 – Lü Ju (or Shiyi), Chinese general and politician


text: Guan Lu (or Gongming), Chinese diviner and politician (b. 209)


text: Wang Su (or Ziyong), Chinese scholar and official (b. 195)


text: Emperor Gallienus brings some order to the Danube area.


text: Valerian, under guardianship of Ingenuus, is established at Sirmium (Pannonia) to represent the Roman government in the troubled Illyrian provinces.


text: Emperor Valerian recovers Antioch, Syria from King Shapur I of Persia.


text: Future emperor Aurelian defeats the Goths and brings many prisoners back to Rome.


text: The Goths build a fleet on the Black Sea.


date: August 30

text: August 30 – Pope Sixtus II succeeds Pope Stephen I as the 24th pope.


text: Valerian's persecution of Christians begins: his edict orders bishops and priests to sacrifice according to the pagan rituals, and prohibits Christians, under penalty of death, from meeting at the tombs of their deceased.


text: The Goths separate into the Ostrogoths and the Visigoths.


text: In Bavaria the Limes Germanicus (Upper Raetian Limes) along the river Iller is abandoned by the Romans.


text: Gregory the Illuminator, Armenian religious leader (approximate date)


text: Jia Nanfeng (or Shi), Chinese empress (d. 300)


date: August 2

text: August 2 – Stephen I, bishop of Rome


date: September 26

text: September 26 – Zhu Yi (or Jiwen), Chinese general


text: Wen Qin (or Zhongruo), Chinese general and politician


text: Zhang Changpu, Chinese concubine (b. 199)


text: The Goths ravage Asia Minor and Trapezus.


text: Sima Zhao quells Zhuge Dan's rebellion, thereby also ending what are known as the Three Rebellions in Shouchun.


text: Sun Xiu succeeds his brother Sun Liang as emperor of the Chinese state of Eastern Wu.


text: Cyprian, bishop of Carthage, is martyred (decapitation).


text: A second Imperial edict prohibits Christianity in the Roman Empire. This edict divides Christians into four categories: priests, who are to be put to death; senators and equestrians, who are to be stripped of their positions and their property confiscated; nuns, who are to be exiled; and imperial civil servants, who are condemned to forced labour.


text: Pope Sixtus II, bishop of Rome, is martyred.


text: The amount of silver in the Roman currency of the denarius falls below 10%. The crisis ruins craftsmen, tradesmen, and small farmers, who are forced into bartering; landowners grow richer by buying up cheap land.


text: Clement of Ancyra, Christian bishop and martyr (d. 312)


date: August 6

text: August 6 – Sixtus II, bishop of Rome


date: September 14

text: September 14 – Cyprian, bishop of Carthage


text: Valerian II, eldest son of Gallienus, dies, possibly murdered by Pannonia's governor Ingenuus; Emperor Valerian bestows on another one of Gallienus's sons, Saloninus, the title of Caesar.


text: Zhuge Dan (or Gongxiu), Chinese general


text: Valerian II, son of co-emperor Gallienus


text: Anak the Parthian, Parthian nobleman


text: Novatian, Italian antipope and theologian


text: Chen Zhi (or Fengzong), Chinese politician


text: Postumus revolts against Gallienus in Gaul. The western provinces of Britain and Spain join his independent realm—which is called in modern times the Gallic Empire.


text: The Franks, who invaded the Roman Empire near Cologne in 257, reach Tarraco in Hispania.


text: Mesopotamia: Odaenathus, the ruler of the kingdom of Palmyra, sacks the city of Nehardea, destroying its great yeshiva.


text: Battle of Mediolanum: A Germanic confederation, the Alamanni (300,000 warriors), who crossed the Alps, are defeated by Roman legions under Gallienus, near Mediolanum (modern Milan).


text: Pope Dionysius is elected as the pope.


text: Emperor Valerian leads an army (70,000 men) to relieve Edessa, besieged by the forces of Persian King Shapur I. An outbreak of a plague kills many legionaries, weakening the Roman position in Syria.


text: The Roman fort of Wiesbaden (Germany) is captured by the Alamanni (possibly 260).


text: Postumus, governor of Gaul, declares himself Emperor, and continues to rule the Gallic Empire until 269, when he is killed by his soldiers.


text: Yang Zhi, Chinese empress of the Jin Dynasty (d. 292)


text: Tao Kan (or Shixing), Chinese general and politician (d. 334)


text: Hui of Jin, Chinese emperor of the Jin Dynasty (d. 307)


date: January 10

text: January 10 – Polyeuctus, Roman soldier and saint


date: January 18

text: January 18 – Sun Chen, Chinese general and regent (b. 232)


text: Wang Chang (or Wenshu), Chinese general and politician


text: Cao Jun (or Zi'an), Chinese prince and son of Cao Cao


text: Fructuosus of Tarragona, Christian bishop, martyr and saint


text: Augurius of Tarragona, Christian Hispano-Roman clergyman


year_label: 26 CE

text: Emperor Tiberius retires to Capri, leaving the Praetorian Guard under Lucius Aelius Sejanus in charge of the Roman Empire and the city of Rome.

source_section: Events › 26 AD › Roman Empire


text: Romans crush an uprising of Thracian tribesmen.


text: Pontius Pilate is appointed as prefect of the Roman imperial province of Judea.

source_section: Events › 26 AD › Palestine


text: Jesus is baptized in the Jordan River by John the Baptist and begins his public ministry, according to some scholars.


text: Xinlun is presented by author Huan Tan to Emperor Guangwu of Han with its final chapter (on zither music) still unfinished.

source_section: Events › 26 AD › Han dynasty


text: Claudia Pulchra, cousin and close friend to Agrippina the Elder (b. 14 BC)

source_section: Deaths › 26 AD


text: Quintus Haterius, Roman politician


text: Marcus Asinius Agrippa, Roman consul


text: Sun Deng, Chinese puppet emperor


text: Gallienus establishes himself at Mediolanum (modern Milan); he reorganizes the army, supported by elite cavalry, and dispatches troops to the Rhine frontier.


text: Gallienus becomes the sole emperor of Rome; during his reign the Pannonian governor Ingenuus revolts on the Danube.


text: The Franks take control over the Scheldt estuary (approximate date).


text: Postumus executes Saloninus and his adviser Silvanus after breaching the walls of Cologne. He is recognized as emperor and establishes his capital at Trier.


text: Postumus wins over all the Roman provinces west of the Alps, including Gaul, Britain and Hispania.


text: Saloninus, son of Gallienus, is proclaimed Augustus by his troops. Postumus besieges Cologne, where Silvanus is praetorian prefect and Roman ruler of Gaul.


date: June 2

text: June 2 – Cao Mao is killed in a coup d'état against Sima Zhao. The 14-year-old Cao Huan becomes ruler of Former Wei, but the Sima clan controls the state.


text: King Shapur I captures Valerian.


text: Battle of Edessa: With a large army, said to number 70,000 men, Valerian attempts to drive the Persians back from Edessa. The Roman army is surrounded and most of its troops are killed or captured. Valerian is taken prisoner for the remainder of his life.


text: The Roman fort of Wiesbaden (Germany) is captured by the Alamanni.


text: Postumus, Roman usurper, forms the Gallic Empire and protects the Rhine against an invasion of Germanic tribes.


text: Persian king Shapur I destroys Caesarea Mazaca in Asia Minor.


text: Emperor Cao Mao of Former Wei state attempts to lead a coup against the powerful regent Sima Zhao, but he himself is killed before it comes to a confrontation.


text: Gallienus evacuates the fortifications (limes) in the Agri Decumates (Germania Superior), covering the Black Forest area in the face of invading Alamanni.


text: Pope Dionysius convenes a synod at Rome to demand an explanation from bishop Dionysius of Alexandria, who has been charged with separating the members of the Trinity as three distinct deities.


text: Paul of Samosata becomes Patriarch of Antioch.


text: King Shapur I sends Valerian to Bishapur and uses the captured Roman army for engineering plans. They construct the Band-e Kaisar ("Bridge of Valerian").


text: Earliest known date of chess (approximate date).

source_section: Events › By topic › Art and Science


text: Eusebius of Caesarea, Greek bishop and historian (approximate date)


text: June 2 – Cao Mao, Chinese emperor of the Cao Wei state (b. 241)


date: July 2

text: July 2 – Cao Jie, Chinese empress of the Han Dynasty (b. 197)


text: Wang Guan (or Weitai), Chinese official and politician


text: Chen Tai (or Xuanbo), Chinese general and politician


text: Valerianus I, Roman consul and emperor (approximate date)


text: Regalianus (or Regalian), Roman general and usurper


text: Sun Liang, Chinese emperor of the Eastern Wu state (b. 243)


text: Saloninus, Roman emperor and son of Gallienus (b.242)


text: Shapur Meshanshah, Sasanian prince and governor


text: Wang Jing (or Yanwei), Chinese official and politician


text: Michu of Silla ascends to the Korean throne of Silla, becoming the first ruler of the Long Kim line.


text: Roman–Persian Wars: Balista, Roman usurper, collects ships from Cilician ports and defeats a Persian raiding force near Pompeiopolis.


text: Emperor Gallienus crushes the Alemanni at Milan (approximate date).


text: Gallienus usurpers: The rebellion of Macrianus Major, Macrianus Minor, and Quietus against Gallienus comes to an end. They march from Asia to Europe but they are defeated in Thrace by Gallienus' general Aureolus, and both Macrianus Major and Macrianus Minor are killed. Quietus flees to Emesa, where he is killed by Odaenathus of Palmyra.


text: Gallienus repeals the edict of 258, which led to the persecution of the Christians.


text: Lu Ji (or Shiheng), Chinese general and politician (d. 303)


date: June 9

text: June 9 – Wang Ji (or Boyu), Chinese general (b. 190)


text: Lucius Mussius Aemilianus, Roman usurper


text: Valens Thessalonicus, Roman usurper


text: Macrianus Major, Roman general and usurper


text: Yang Xi (or Wenran), Chinese politician


text: Macrianus Minor, Roman consul and usurper


text: Quietus, Roman consul and usurper


text: The Goths invade Asia Minor and destroy the Temple of Artemis in Ephesus.


text: The Heruls accompany the Goths, ravaging the coasts of the Black Sea and the Aegean.


text: An earthquake strikes Ephesus and Pergamon and another strikes Cyrene.


text: Valerian, Roman consul and emperor (approximate date)


text: Ji Kang (or Shuye), Chinese Daoist philosopher and poet (b. 223)


text: Marinus of Caesarea, Roman soldier and Christian martyr


text: King Odenathus of Palmyra declares himself ruler of the area west of the River Euphrates and is declared Dux Orientalis by the Roman emperor Gallienus.


text: Sima Zhao, regent of the Cao Wei state, receives and accepts the nine bestowments, state chancellorship, and the title Duke of Jin from Cao Huan.


text: Conquest of Shu by Wei: The Chinese state of Cao Wei conquers Shu Han, one of its two rival states.


text: Chinese mathematician Liu Hui writes a commentary on The Nine Chapters on the Mathematical Art, describing what will later be called Gaussian elimination, computing pi, etc.


text: Lady Li (or Lishi), Chinese noblewoman


text: Zhuge Zhan, Chinese general and politician (b. 227)


text: Gao Rou (or Wenhui), Chinese politician (b. 174)


text: Ruan Ji, Chinese poet and musician (b. 210)


text: Liu Chen, Chinese prince of the Shu Han state


text: Sun Hao succeeds Sun Xiu as emperor of the Chinese state of Eastern Wu.


date: March 1

text: March 1–3 – Zhong Hui's Rebellion in China is quelled.


text: Sima Zhao, regent of the Chinese state of Cao Wei, styles himself the "King of Jin", the penultimate step before usurpation.


date: March 3

text: March 3 – Zhang Yi (or Bogong), Chinese general and politician


text: March 3 – Jiang Wei (or Boyue), Chinese general and regent (b. 202)


date: September 3

text: September 3 – Sun Xiu (Jing of Wu), Chinese emperor (b. 235)


text: Zong Yu (or Deyan), Chinese general and politician


text: Puyang Xing (or Ziyuan), Chinese official and chancellor


text: Liu Xuan, Chinese prince of the Shu Han state (b. 224)


text: Zhong Hui, Chinese philosopher


text: Deng Ai (or Shizai), Chinese general and politician (b. 197)


text: Guo (or Mingyuan), Chinese empress of the Cao Wei state


text: Liao Hua (or Yuanjian), Chinese general and politician


text: Sima Zhao, who had been the regent and de facto primary authority of the state of Cao Wei for little over 10 years by this point, passes away, leaving his authority to his eldest son, Sima Yan, who will go on to disestablish the state of Cao Wei in February 266, founding the Jin dynasty.


text: Gallienus repels the invasion of the Goths in the Balkans.


text: Gallienus gives the order to fortify Milan and Verona.


text: Emperor Gallienus tries twice to crush the usurper Postumus, but on the first occasion Aureolus, commander of the elite cavalry, carelessly lets him escape. The second time, Gallienus sustains an arrow wound and has to break off his siege of a Gallic town where Postumus has holed up. He makes no other serious attempt to overcome his rival, instead devoting his attention to the political and military problems in the Danube and eastern parts of the Roman Empire.


text: A general of Gallienus' army, Victorinus, defects to Postumus.


text: Postumus makes no move to march on Rome and claim his territory south of Gaul.


text: Eusebius of Caesarea, Greek historian (approximate date)


date: September 6

text: September 6 – Sima Zhao, Chinese general and politician (b. 211)


text: Dionysius the Great, patriarch of Alexandria


text: Ma Jun, Chinese engineer and inventor of the south-pointing chariot


text: Zhu (or Jing), Chinese empress of the Eastern Wu state


date: February 4

text: February 4 – Sima Yan, regent of the Chinese state of Cao Wei, forces the last Cao Wei emperor Cao Huan to abdicate in his favour. The Cao Wei state's existence comes to an end. Sima Yan establishes the Jin Dynasty, and becomes its first emperor on 8 February, and is historically known as "Wu of Jin". He establishes his capital at Luoyang, and gives his male relatives independent military commands throughout his empire.


text: The rule of High King Cormac mac Airt ends (approximate date).

source_section: Events › By place › Ireland


text: King Odaenathus of Palmyra invades Persia to conquer the capital, Ctesiphon, and twice comes as far as the walls of the Persian capital, but fails to take it. After his victories in the East, he pronounces himself with the title "king of kings".

source_section: Events › By place › Roman Empire


text: A powerful tropical volcanic eruption around this year brings a below-average flood of the Nile next year.


text: Wang Dun (or Chuzhong), Chinese general and warlord (d. 324)


text: Galeria Valeria, Roman empress and wife of Galerius (d. 315)


text: Zu Ti (or Shizhi), Chinese general and adviser (d. 321)


text: Wang Chen (or Chudao), Chinese general and politician


text: Wang Fan, Chinese astronomer and mathematician (b. 228)


text: Aureolus, charged with defending Italy, defeats Victorinus (co-emperor of Gaul), is proclaimed emperor by his troops, and begins his march on Rome.


text: First Gothic invasion: The Goths, originally from Scandinavia, with the Sarmatians (from modern Iran), invade the Balkans and Greece. They ravage Moesia and Thrace.


text: The Heruli invade the Black Sea coast; they unsuccessfully attack Byzantium and Cyzicus. The Roman fleet defeats the Herulian fleet (500 ships) but allows them to escape into the Aegean Sea, where they raid the islands of Lemnos and Skyros.


text: The Goths sack several cities of southern Greece including Athens, Corinth, Argos and Sparta. After the Sack of Athens, an Athenian militia force (2,000 men), under the historian Dexippus, pushes the invaders to the north where they are intercepted by the Roman army under emperor Gallienus. He wins an important victory near the Nestos River, on the boundary between Macedonia and Thrace.


text: King Septimius Odaenathus of Palmyra makes plans for a campaign in Cappadocia against the Goths. He is assassinated, along with his eldest son, most probably by his nephew due to a previous altercation between him and Odaenathus. His wife Zenobia succeeds him, and rules Vaballathus (the Palmyrene Empire) with her young son.

source_section: Events › By place › Near East


text: Pei Wei (or Yimin), Chinese philosopher and politician (d. 300)


text: Septimius Odaenathus, king of Palmyra (assassinated)


text: Septimius Herodianus, co-king of Palmyra (assassinated)


text: The Visigoths first appear as distinct people.


date: September

text: September – Battle of Naissus: Emperor Gallienus, aided by Aurelian, defeats a Gothic coalition (50,000 warriors) near Naissus (Niš, modern Serbia).


date: November

text: November – Battle of Lake Benacus: A Roman army (35,000 men) under emperor Claudius II defeats the Germanic tribes of the Alamanni along the banks of Lake Garda.


text: The Alamanni invade Italy north of the Po River.


text: Claudius II asks the Senate to spare the lives of Gallienus's family and political supporters. Emperor Gallienus is deified and buried in a family tomb on the Appian Way.


text: Marcus Aurelius Claudius, who may have murdered Gallienus, becomes the new emperor of Rome and will reign as Claudius II.


text: Victorinus is declared emperor of the Gallic Empire by the legions at Augusta Treverorum (Trier), following the murders of his predecessors. He is recognized by the provinces of Gaul and Britain, but Hispania might have reunited with the Roman Empire.

source_section: Events › By place › Europe


text: Gallienus is killed by his senior officers at Mediolanum (Milan) while besieging his rival Aureolus. Aureolus is murdered in turn by the Praetorian guard.


date: December 26

text: December 26 – Pope Dionysius dies in Rome after a 9-year reign and is succeeded by Felix I.

source_section: Events › By Topic › Religion


text: December 26 – Dionysius, bishop of Rome


text: Marcus Aurelius Marius, Roman emperor (Gaul)


text: Gallienus, Roman emperor (b. 218)


text: Postumus, Roman emperor of the Gallic Empire


text: The Heruli capture Athens and raid the Aegean Islands as far as Crete and Rhodes.


text: Second Gothic invasion: The Goths and other German tribes attack Bosphorean towns on the coast of the Black Sea. Some 2,000 ships and 320,000 men from the Danube enter Roman territory. Emperor Claudius II defeats the invaders and receives the title Gothicus for his triumph. Many of the prisoners will serve in the Roman legions and settle in vacant lands in the Danubian provinces.


text: Queen Zenobia conquers Syria, Palestine, Lebanon, parts of Mesopotamia and Anatolia and Egypt, giving her control of Rome's grain supply. The library at Alexandria is partly burned during a raid by Zabdas, general of Zenobia.


text: Claudius II travels to Sirmium and prepares a war against the Vandals, who raid Pannonia.


date: January 5

text: January 5 – Pope Felix I succeeds Dionysius as the 26th pope of Rome.

source_section: Events › By topic › Religion


text: Paul of Samosata is deposed as Patriarch of Antioch (though he is not removed until 272).


text: Marcus Cassianius Latinius Postumus is killed by his own troops, after not allowing them to sack the city of Mogontiacum.


text: Chi Jian (or Daohui), Chinese general (d. 339)

source_section: Births


text: Murong Hui, Chinese general and politician (d. 333)


text: Ulpius Cornelius Laelianus, Gallic emperor and usurper

source_section: Deaths


text: Wang Xiang (or Xiuzheng), Chinese politician (b. 185)


text: Marcus Cassianius Latinius Postumus, Gallic emperor


text: Lu Kai (or Jingfeng), Chinese general and politician (b. 198)


text: Liu Yin (or Xiuran), Chinese general and administrator


text: Xin Xianying, Chinese noblewoman and advisor (b. 191)


text: Jingū, Japanese empress and regent (b. 169)


text: Marcus Aurelius Marius, Gallic general and emperor


text: Justin the Confessor, Christian priest and martyr


year_label: 27 CE

text: Using the dates and ranges listed in the Gospel of Luke, this year can be established as when John the Baptist begins preaching. It is also argued that Jesus was baptised by John in the final months of this year before his temptation and the first of three Passovers listed in the Gospel of John (another possibility is AD 29).

source_section: Events › 27 AD › Palestine


text: A poorly built amphitheatre in Fidenae collapses, killing 20,000 of the 50,000 spectators.

source_section: Events › 27 AD › Roman Empire


text: An Arc of Triumph is erected in Rimini, in honor of the former Emperor Augustus.


text: Wang Chong, Chinese astronomer and philosopher (d. AD 100)

source_section: Births › 27 AD


text: Herod Agrippa II, king of Judea


text: Petronius, Roman writer and suffect consul (d. AD 66)


text: Publius Quinctilius Varus the Younger, Roman nobleman (b. AD 4)

source_section: Deaths › 27 AD


text: Seocheon becomes ruler of the Korean kingdom of Goguryeo.

source_section: Events › By place › Asia


text: Lucius Domitius Aurelianus (or Aurelian), the cavalry commander who distinguished himself in the previous year at the Battle of Naissus (Serbia), usurps power in Sirmium and marches against Quintillus in Aquileia. Quintillus commits suicide.


text: Victorinus besieges and sacks the city of Autun, which had declared allegiance to Claudius.


text: Zenobia seizes control of Roman Arabia and Egypt.


text: Fan Hsiung, a.k.a. Pham Hung, comes to power in Champa and raids the Chinese-occupied territory of Tonkin.


text: Aurelius defeats an incursion by the Iuthungi into Raetia, defeating them as they attempted to re-cross the Danube.


text: Anthony the Great, a Christian saint from Egypt, regarded as "Father of All Monks", enters the wilderness to become ascetic.

source_section: Events › By place › Africa


text: The Kingdom of Aksum (modern Ethiopia) begins minting its own gold coins to facilitate international trade, following the model of Roman coinage.


text: Emperor Claudius II Gothicus fights a drawn-out campaign against the Gothic raiders in the Balkans, with setbacks suffered on both sides. Eventually, many Goths die of plague and others are absorbed into the Roman legions.


date: March 15

text: March 15 – Saint Nicholas (Santa Claus) (d. 343)


text: Rabbah bar Nahmani, Babylonian 'amora


text: Saint Spyridon, bishop of Trimythous (d. 348)


text: Liu Kun, Chinese general and poet (d. 318)


text: Claudius II (Gothicus), Roman emperor (b. 214)


text: Shi Ji (or Zhu Ji), Chinese general and governor


text: Gregory Thaumaturgus, Christian bishop and theologian


text: Quintillus, Roman emperor and brother of Claudius II


text: Luo Xian (or Lingze), Chinese general and politician


text: Sun Fen, Chinese prince of the Eastern Wu state


text: Shapur I (the Great), ruler of the Sassanid Empire


text: Claudius dies of plague in Sirmium while preparing to fight the Vandals and Sarmatians, who have invaded Pannonia. He is succeeded by his brother Quintillus, who briefly holds power over the Roman Empire.


text: Qiao Zhou (or Yunnan), Chinese official and politician


text: Plotinus, Greek philosopher and founder Neoplatonism


text: Aurelian withdraws Rome's administrative and military presence from Dacia (modern Romania), thereby rationalizing the Danube frontier and freeing resources for the forthcoming campaign against Zenobia.


text: After an indecisive battle, Emperor Aurelian defeats the Vandals, and forces them from Pannonia, and across the Danube.


text: Aurelian defeats a Gothic raid into the Balkans and then invades the Gothic homeland. Here he defeats the Goths again, killing one of their leaders, Cannabas, who may be Cniva, the Goth who had won the battle of Abritus, at which Emperor Decius was killed.


text: Battle of Placentia: The Iuthungi invade Italy and sack the city of Piacenza. A Roman army under Emperor Aurelian is ambushed and defeated.


text: Following Aurelian's execution of Felicissimus, the financial minister of the state treasury, on the charge of corruption, the mint workers of the city of Rome, with senatorial support, lead an uprising against Aurelian. In bitter street-fighting on the Caelian Hill the rebels are defeated. The revolt is followed by a purge of Aurelian's senatorial opponents, including Urbanus.


text: Battle of Fano: The Iuthungi move towards a defenseless Rome. Aurelian rallies his men and defeats the Germanic tribes on the Metauro River, just inland of Fano.


text: Victorinus, Emperor of the Gallic Empire, is assassinated by one of his officers, Attitianus, reportedly for reasons of personal revenge. He is succeeded by Tetricus I, who is elevated with the help of Victorinus' mother Victoria.


text: Zenobia invades Asia Minor and seizes control of Cilicia and Galatia before being stalled in Bithynia.


text: Around this time, generals loyal to Aurelian defeat the usurpers Septimius in Dalmatia and Domitian II in southern Gaul. The Iuthungian invasion may have encouraged the spate of revolts.


text: Battle of Pavia: The Roman army pursues the Alamanni in Lombardy. Aurelian closes the passes in the Alps and encircles the invaders near Pavia. The Alamanni are destroyed and Aurelian receives the title Germanicus Maximus.


text: Perhaps around this time, Aurelian increases Rome's daily bread ration to nearly 1.5 pounds and adds pig fat to the list of foods distributed free to the populace.


text: Aurelian begins construction of a new defensive wall to protect Rome. The Aurelian Walls, 19 km mi, enclose the city with fortifications.


text: A magnetic compass is first used in China.


text: King Shapur I builds the Academy of Gundishapur (Iran), which becomes the intellectual center of the Sassanid Empire.


text: Sima Wei, Chinese prince of the Jin Dynasty (d. 291)


text: Hormizd I (or Ohrmazd), ruler of the Sassanid Empire


text: Pei Xiu, Chinese official, writer, geographer and cartographer (b. 224)


text: Shapur I of the Sasanian Empire dies, and his successor, his son Hormizd I, leads an army against nomads in Sogdiana, perhaps taking command of a war that had begun under his father. (Note: Some scholars date Shapur's death to 270 or 272)


text: Liu Shan, Chinese emperor of the Shu Han state (b. 207)


text: Felicissimus, Roman financial minister (rationalis)


text: Sima Wang, Chinese general and prince of the Jin dynasty (b. 205)


text: Victorinus, emperor of the Gallic Empire


text: Domitian II, emperor of the Gallic Empire


text: Ding Feng, Chinese general and politician


text: Emperor Aurelian launches a two-pronged invasion of the Palmyrene Empire, sending his commander Marcus Aurelius Probus to restore Roman rule in Egypt while he marches into Asia Minor.


text: As part of a strategy of clemency, Aurelian spares Tyana after capturing the city. This strategy encourages units under Zenobia to defect to Aurelian.


text: Battle of Immae: Aurelian defeats the Palmyrene heavy cavalry (clibanarii) near Antioch. Queen Zenobia flees under cover of darkness to Emesa (Syria).


text: Aurelian besieges Palmyra. Zenobia attempts to escape to Persia but is captured on the Euphrates. Palmyra surrenders soon after.


text: Battle of Emesa: Aurelian decisively defeats the Palmyrene army.


text: Dometius succeeds Titus as Patriarch of Constantinople.


text: Paul of Samosata is deposed as Patriarch of Antioch.


text: Aurelian supports the bishops of Italy in deposing the bishop of Antioch, Paul of Samosata, who had been a supporter of Zenobia. This is the first recorded instance of an imperial intervention in an ecclesiastical dispute.


text: Saint Denis, first Bishop of Paris, and two of his disciples are beheaded on the road to the Temple of Mercury that stands atop a hill outside of the city. The hill will later be called Montmartre (Mountain of Martyrs) in Lutetia (modern Paris).


text: Following a series of trials held in Emesa, Cassius Longinus and other advisors of Zenobia are executed for conspiring against Aurelian.


date: February 27

text: February 27 – Constantine the Great, Roman emperor (d. 337)


text: Wei Shuo (or Mouyi), Chinese calligrapher (d. 349)


text: Sabbas Stratelates, Roman general and martyr


text: Wan Yu, Chinese chancellor and politician


text: Sima Fu, Chinese prince and statesman (b. 180)


text: Shapur I (the Great), king of the Sassanid Empire


text: In bitter street-fighting, Aurelian crushes a rebellion in Alexandria by Firmus, a sympathizer of Palmyra. Firmus is strangled to death.


text: Aurelian sacks the city of Palmyra, after putting down a second revolt.


text: Emperor Aurelian defeats an incursion by the Carpi into Moesia and Thrace.


text: Marcus Claudius Tacitus, future Roman Emperor, is consul in Rome.


date: June 1

text: June 1 – Reverianus, Christian bishop


text: Callinicus, Greek historian and sophist


text: King Hormizd I of Persia dies after a brief reign in which he has shown tolerance toward the ascetic, anti-materialist Manichean faith. He is succeeded by his brother Bahram I, who has been governing the province of Atropatene. Bahram proceeds to crush a rebellion by various vassal kings.

source_section: Events › By place › Persia


text: Dexippus, Greek general and historian


text: Septimius Antiochus, Roman usurper


text: Wei Zhao, Chinese historian and scholar (b. 204)


text: Hormizd I, king of the Sassanid Empire


text: Cassius Longinus, Greek philosopher


text: Battle of Châlons: The Emperor Aurelian invades Gaul to campaign against the Gallic Empire (Gaul and Britain). In the Catalaunian Plains, the Romano-Gallic Emperor Tetricus I surrenders to Aurelian and leaves his army without an emperor. The Gallic army is then crushed by Aurelian in a major battle. With the conquests of the Palmyrene Empire and the Gallic Empire, the Roman Empire is united again. However, the heavy losses incurred by the Gallic forces compromises the Rhine frontier.


text: Germanic tribes take advantage of the destroyed Roman forces of the Rhine to raid Gaul.


text: The Kingdom of Aksum attains great prosperity thanks to its control of Red Sea trade.


date: December 25

text: December 25 – Aurelian has the Temple of the Sun dedicated to Sol Invictus, on the third day after the solstice and day of rebirth of the sun. This religion, which is in essence monotheistic, becomes the state religion of Rome.


text: Aurelian reforms the Roman currency, replacing the denarius with a new version of the antoninianus that has a slightly improved silver-to-copper ratio. This overhaul of the currency system causes hyper-inflation.


text: Japanese shipwrights build a 100-foot oar-powered vessel for Emperor Ōjin. The Japanese will not use sails for another seven centuries.

source_section: Events › By topic › Transportation


text: Rome greets Aurelian as Restitutor Orbis ("Restorer of the World") and accords him a magnificent triumph (victory procession), which is graced by his captives Zenobia, Tetricus I, and his son Tetricus II.


text: Shi Le, Chinese emperor of the Jie state (d. 333)


text: Li Xiong, Chinese emperor of Cheng Han (d. 334)


date: March 2

text: March 2 – Mani, a sage of Persia, dies at Gundeshapur after 30 years of preaching his "heresy" at the court of the late Sassanian King Shapur I and on long journeys to Khorasan, India and China. He is executed or allowed to die in prison, and claims to be a prophet of God. Mani combines Zoroastrian dualism with Christian theology, and his disciples gain wide support for Manichaeism, despite opposition from Roman Emperors.


text: March 2 – Mani, prophet and founder of Manichaeism (b. 216)


date: June 19

text: June 19 – Xun Yi (or Jingqian), Chinese official and politician


date: August 25

text: August 25 – Yang Yan (or Qiongzhi), Chinese empress (b. 238)


date: August

text: August/September – Lu Kang (or Youjie), Chinese general and politician (b. 226)


text: September – Bahram I, king of the Sassanid Empire


date: December 30

text: December 30 – Felix I, bishop of Rome


text: December 30 – Pope Felix I dies in Rome after a 5-year reign.


text: Cao Fang, deposed Chinese emperor of the Cao Wei state (b. 232)


text: After 274 – Septimia Zenobia, queen of the Palmyrene Empire (b. 240)


text: The Pallava dynasty begins in Southern India.


text: Emperor Aurelian puts down unrest in Gaul, and defeats Germanic incursions into Gaul and Raetia (these problems had been caused by Aurelian's defeat and overthrow of the Gallic Empire).


text: Tacitus marches into Asia Minor to fight the Goths and track down the faction responsible for assassinating Aurelian.


text: The Goths begin to raid Thrace and Asia Minor. Aurelian begins a campaign against the Goths in Thrace.


text: c. November – Aurelian is assassinated near Byzantium (Turkey). Aurelian had developed a reputation for punishing corruption with severity, and his secretary Eros was under suspicion. As a result, Eros, fearing for his life, forged a list of high-ranking officers marked for execution. In this way, the secretary tricked the officers into assassinating Aurelian. They then flee into Asia Minor to avoid the wrath of the soldiers.


text: Approximate date – Himyar king Shammar Yahri'sh conquers Hadhramaut, Najran and Tihamah, unifying the territory later known as Yemen.


date: January 4

text: January 4 – Eutychian succeeds Felix I as the 27th pope of Rome.


text: November/December – Marcus Claudius Tacitus is proclaimed Emperor by the imperial field army (other sources give him as proclaimed September 25 by the Senate). His half brother Marcus Annius Florianus becomes praetorian prefect.


text: Approximate date – Saint George of Lydda, Cappadocian Greek Roman soldier and Christian martyr (k. 303)


text: Peroz I Kushanshah, ruler of the Sasanian Kingdom


text: c. November – Aurelian, Roman emperor (b. 214 or 215)


text: Approximate date – Septimia Zenobia, queen of the Palmyrene Empire (b. c. 240)


text: Probus returns the aurelianianus to the tariffing of Aurelian.


text: Tacitus campaigns successfully against the Goths who have invaded Asia Minor, and his half-brother, the praetorian prefect Marcus Annius Florianus, continues the campaign.


text: Florianus becomes Roman Emperor with the support of the Senate, but a general in the east, Marcus Aurelius Probus, usurps power against him. Florianus breaks off his campaign against the Goths and marches east from the Bosporus with support from the Roman legions in Britain, Gaul, Spain and Italy.


text: Tacitus' cousin Maximinus administers Syria in a harsh manner, and is assassinated by local men of power, who are joined in the conspiracy by the faction responsible for having assassinated Aurelian in the previous year.


text: Florianus holds power for some weeks and fights indecisively against Probus in Cilicia, but his soldiers, many of whom are from the colder Rhine and Danube frontiers, suffer from heat and disease. He is overthrown and then assassinated by his own troops near Tarsus (Turkey), in collusion with Probus. Probus, age 44, is proclaimed new Emperor of Rome.


text: Emperor Tacitus doubles the silver content of the aurelianianus, and halves its tariffing to 2.5 d.c. They carry the value marks X.I.


text: Probus invites the faction responsible for the murders of Aurelian and Tacitus to a banquet, only to massacre them. He then arrests a surviving conspirator and has him burned alive.


text: Mahasena reigns in Ceylon. Orthodox and unpopular, he tries to introduce Mahayana Buddhism to the country.


text: Wang Dao, Chinese politician and statesman (d. 339)


text: Guo Pu, Chinese historian, poet and writer (d. 324)


text: Gregory the Elder, bishop of Nazianzus (approximate date)


text: Yuan of Jin, Chinese emperor of the Jin Dynasty (d. 323)


text: Bahram I, king of the Sassanid Empire


text: Marcus Claudius Tacitus, Roman Emperor


text: King Bahram I of Persia dies after a 3-year reign, in which the Zoroastrian priests at Ctesiphon (Iran) put pressure on him to persecute Buddhists, Christians, and Manichaeans. He is succeeded by his son Bahram II.

source_section: Events › By place › Sassanid Empire


text: Marcus Annius Florianus, Roman emperor


text: Tacitus dies in Tyana, Cappadocia. He either dies of illness, or is murdered by the faction responsible for having assassinated Aurelian and Maximinus.


text: Tiberius Julius Synges, Roman client king


text: Probus enters Rome, to have his position as Emperor ratified by the Senate.


text: Emperor Probus travels with his army west across the Sea of Marmara (Turkey), and through the provinces of Thrace, Moesia, and Pannonia to defeat the Goths along the lower Danube. He acquires from the troops the title of Gothicus.


text: Tuoba Xilu succeeds his father Tuoba Liwei, as chieftain of the Tuoba clan.

source_section: Events › By place › China


text: Sima Ai, Chinese prince of the Jin Dynasty (d. 304)


text: Zhang Mao, Chinese ruler of Former Liang (d. 324)


text: Justus of Beauvais, Gallo-Roman martyr (approximate date)


text: Tuoba Liwei, chieftain of the Tuoba clan (China)


text: Probus resettles the Germanic tribes in the devastated provinces of the Roman Empire. He adopts the titles of Gothicus Maximus and Germanicus Maximus.

source_section: Events › By place › Roman Empire


text: Emperor Probus defeats the Alamanni, advancing through the Neckar Valley. He expels the Franks from Gaul, and reorganizes the Roman defenses on the Rhine.


text: Piracy along the coast of Lycia et Pamphylia: The Romans besiege the city of Cremna (Pisidia) and kill the Isaurian robber Lydius.


text: Sima Yu, Chinese crown prince of the Jin Dynasty (d. 300)


date: December 27

text: December 27 – Yang Hu (or Shuzi), Chinese general and politician (b. 221)


text: Fu Xuan (or Xiuyi), Chinese historian, poet and politician (b. 217)


text: Yang Huiyu, Chinese empress of the Jin Dynasty (b. 214)


text: Cao Yu (or Pengzu), Chinese prince of the Cao Wei state (b. 211)


text: Xi Zheng (or Lingxian), Chinese essayist, poet and politician


text: Sima Ying, Chinese prince of the Jin Dynasty (d. 306)


text: Johanan bar Nappaha, Jewish compiler of the Talmud


text: Tiberius Julius Teiranes, Roman prince and client king


text: Tufa Shujineng, Chinese chieftain of Jin Dynasty


year_label: 28 CE

text: Frisians revolt against Roman authorities, hanging tax collectors and besieging a local fort. Frisians achieve victory and gain considerable prestige among other local tribes.

source_section: Events › 28 AD › Germania


text: The Frisians negotiate a treaty with the Roman Empire at the River Rhine.


text: King Daru of Baekje succeeds to the throne of Baekje in the Korean peninsula.

source_section: Events › 28 AD › Korea


text: Roman legions in Germania are transported by fleet to the fortress of Flevum on the Rhine, to operate against the rebellious Frisians.


date: June 15

text: June 15 – Ming of Han, Chinese emperor (d. AD 75)

source_section: Births › 28 AD


text: Julia Berenice, Jewish client queen of the Roman imperial province of Judea


text: Silius Italicus, Roman consul and epic poet


text: King Bahram II of the Sassanid Empire (Persia) sends envoys to seek peaceful relations with Rome.


text: The Germans destroy the Roman fleet on the Rhine; Bonosus is proclaimed emperor at Colonia Agrippina (Cologne).


text: Emperor Probus drives the Alans off to Asia Minor and suppresses the revolt in Gaul; Proculus is executed.


text: Emperor Wu of the Jin dynasty completes the unification of China, which was previously divided between three contending powers during the Three Kingdoms period. The Jin dynasty's capital of Luoyang becomes a thriving centre of commerce as foreign diplomats and traders travel there.


text: Probus defeats the army under Bonosus. Bonosus sees no way out and hangs himself. His family is treated with honours.


text: Julius Saturninus, governor of Syria, is in Alexandria, charged with the defense of the East. He is declared emperor and withdraws to Apamea. Probus besieges the city and puts him to death.


text: Roman usurper Proculus starts a rebellion at Lugdunum (Lyon, France), and proclaims himself emperor.


text: Roman territory is under constant threat of raids from Franks. The cities in Gaul are reinforced with defensive walls.


text: The Thuringi, a Germanic tribe, appears in the Harz Mountains (Thuringia) of central Germania.

source_section: Events › By place › Europe


text: The Gupta Empire (India) is founded (approximate date).

source_section: Events › By place › India


text: Approximate date – Saint George, Cappadocian Greek-born Roman soldier and Christian martyr

source_section: Births


text: Yao Yizhong, Chinese general and warlord (d. 352)


date: March 23

text: March 23 – Lu Jing, Chinese general and writer, killed in action (b. 250)

source_section: Deaths


date: April 4

text: April 4 – Zhang Ti (or Juxian), Chinese chancellor


text: Bonosus, Roman general and usurper, suicide


text: 280 or 281 – Julius Saturninus, Roman usurper


text: Approximate date – Gupta, founder of the Gupta Empire


text: Kang Senghui, Chinese monk and translator


text: Early – Yu Zhong (or Shifang), Chinese general, killed in action


text: c. April – Cen Hun, Chinese official and politician


text: Tiberianus served his first of two terms as Consul.


text: Emperor Probus returns to Rome, where he celebrates his triumph over the Vandals and the usurpers (Bonosus, Julius Saturninus and Proculus).


text: The tombs of King Zhao of Zhou and King Mu of Zhou were "rifled".


text: Cai Mo (or Daoming), Chinese official and politician (d. 356)


text: Theodore Stratelates, Roman general and martyr (d. 319)


text: Proculus, Roman general and usurper


text: Carus defeats the Quadi and Sarmatians on the Danube; for his victories he is given the title Germanicus Maximus.


text: Emperor Probus travels towards Sirmium (Serbia). He tries to employ his troops in peaceful projects, such as draining the swamps in Pannonia.


text: The Patriarch Theonas of Alexandria becomes one of the first bishops to use the title Pope.

source_section: Events › By topic › Religion


text: Carus appoints his sons Carinus and Numerian as Caesar.


text: A new city is constructed in Fuzhou, slightly south of the original city Ye (the main street of the city has remained unchanged since that time).


text: The praetorian prefect Marcus Aurelius Carus usurps power in Raetia. Probus attempts to organise a campaign against Carus but is murdered by his discontented troops in Sirmium.


text: Xue Ying (or Daoyan), Chinese politician and poet


text: Jia Chong, Chinese politician and statesman (b. 217)


text: Huangfu Mi (or Shi'an), Chinese historian (b. 215)


text: Marcus Aurelius Probus, Roman emperor (b. 232)


text: The corrector Aurelius Julianus usurps power in Pannonia but is defeated by Carinus.


text: Carinus campaigns with success in Britain and on the Rhine frontier.


text: Spring: Emperor Carus makes his son Carinus the Augustus in the west.


text: The officer Diocles, the future Emperor Diocletian, distinguishes himself in the war against the Persians.


text: Exploiting the Persian civil war, Carus leaves Carinus in charge of much of the Roman Empire and, accompanied by his younger son Numerian, invades the Sassanid Empire. They sack Seleucia and Ctesiphon, the capital of the Persian kingdom, and they press on beyond the Tigris. For his victories, Carus receives the title of Persicus Maximus.


text: Carinus and Numerian succeed their father Carus. Numerian, who had accompanied his father into the Persian Empire, leads the army back to Roman territory.


text: The King of Kings Bahram II fights a civil war against his brother Hormizd, the king of Sakastan.

source_section: Events › By place › Persian Empire


date: December 17

text: December 17 – Pope Caius succeeds Eutychian as the 28th pope of Rome.


text: Eusebius of Vercelli, Christian bishop and saint (d. 371)


text: Ge Hong, Chinese scholar and philosopher (d. 343)


date: December 7

text: December 7 – Etychian, bishop of Rome


text: Marcus Aurelius Carus, Roman emperor (b. 224)


text: Sima Zhou (or Zijiang), Chinese prince (b. 227)


text: Summer: Carus dies in mysterious circumstances during the war against the Persians. Various sources claim he died of illness, was struck by lightning or was killed in combat.


text: Sima You (or Dayou), Chinese prince (b. 248)


text: Shan Tao, Chinese scholar and politician (b. 205)


text: Yurye becomes king of the Korean kingdom of Silla.

source_section: Events › By place › Korea


text: 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.


date: November 17

text: November 17 – Diocletian becomes emperor of Rome


text: Rufinus succeeds Dometius as Bishop of Byzantium.


text: 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.


date: November 20

text: 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.


text: Sabinus Julianus, the praetorian prefect of Emperor Carinus, exploits the instability and usurps the throne in northern Italy.


text: Fu Hong (or Pu Hong), Chinese general and prince (d. 350)


text: Huai of Jin, Chinese emperor of the Jin Dynasty (d. 313)


text: November 20 – Numerian, Roman emperor (b. 254)


text: Sun Hao, Chinese emperor of the Eastern Wu state (b. 243)


text: Lucius Flavius Aper, Roman general and praetorian prefect


text: Spring – Emperor Carinus marches from Britain to northern Italy, and defeats the army of usurper Sabinus Julianus at Verona.


text: Summer – Battle of the Margus: Emperor Diocletian defeats the forces of Carinus in the valley of the Margus (Serbia). Numerous soldiers desert Carinus during the battle. Carinus then flees to the Pannonian fort of Cornacum, but he is soon slain by his officers.


text: Maximian is sent to pacify Gaul, where the Bagaudae, a band of peasants, are revolting against the Roman Empire.


text: Carausius, naval commander at Bononia (modern-day Boulogne), is given the task of clearing the English Channel of Frankish and Saxon pirates.


date: July 21

text: July 21 or July 25 – Diocletian appoints his fellow-officer Maximian to the office of caesar, or junior co-emperor.


text: Marcus Aurelius Carinus, Roman consul and emperor


text: Sabinus Julianus, Roman usurper (approximate date)


text: Du Yu (or Yuankai), Chinese general and politician (b. 222)


date: April 1

text: April 1 – Diocletian rewards Maximian by elevating him to co-emperor, giving him the title Augustus.


text: Tuoba Chuo succeeds his brother Tuoba Xilu as chieftain of the Tuoba clan.

source_section: Events › By place › Asia


text: Emperor Diocletian campaigns successfully against Sarmatian raids. The future emperor Constantius defeats the 'Bosporian Sarmatians'.


text: Chaekgye becomes king of the Korean kingdom of Baekje.


text: Winter/Spring: The Caesar Maximian defeats the Bagaudae rebellion in Gaul. He then defeats a Germanic invasion into Gaul, defeating an army of Burgundians and Alemanni and another army of Chaibones and Heruli.


text: Summer: Carausius, commander of the Classis Britannica, is accused of piracy by Maximian and is sentenced to death. He responds by declaring himself emperor of Britain and Northwestern Gaul. His forces consist of the newly built Roman fleet and three legions in Britain. The Carausian Revolt is supported by Gaulish merchant ships and Frankish mercenaries.


text: Mark and Marcellian, Christian martyrs (approximate date)


text: Crispin and Crispinian, Roman cobblers and martyrs


text: Tuoba Xilu, chieftain of the Tuoba clan (modern Mongolia)


text: Domnina of Anazarbus, Christian martyr and saint


text: Diocletian signs a peace treaty with King Bahram II of Persia, and installs the pro-Roman Arsacid Tiridates III as king over the western portion of Armenia.


text: Around this time, the future emperor Constantius defeats and captures a Germanic king, the latter having prepared an ambush against the Romans.


text: On the same day that he is made consul, Maximian launches a campaign against an invasion of Gaul by the Alemanni. After defeating this invasion, he then invades Alemannia itself, entering across the Upper Rhine and returning to Roman territory via the Upper Danube.


date: September

text: September – The first Indiction begins.


text: Victoricus, Fuscian, and Gentian, Christian martyrs


text: Quentin, Christian missionary and martyr


text: Justa and Rufina, Christian martyrs


text: Valerius and Rufinus, Christian martyrs


text: Maurice (or Mauritius), Christian martyr


text: Maximian makes an alliance with the Frankish king Gennobaudes.


text: Around this time, an army loyal to Maximian, probably led by the future emperor Constantius, defeats the usurper Carausius or his Frankish allies in northern Gaul. In this or the following year, Carausius withdraws his military forces and administrative presence from Gaul, confining himself to Roman Britain.


text: Emperor Diocletian launches a campaign into Germanic territory from the province of Raetia (Switzerland).


text: Far from Carausius' fleet, in the rivers of Gaul, Maximian builds a fleet to contest control of the North Sea and re-take Britain.


text: Around this time, Constantius marries Maximian's stepdaughter, Theodora, and it may also be around this time that the general Galerius marries Diocletian's daughter Galeria Valeria.


text: Wen Jiao (or Taizhen), Chinese politician (d. 329)


text: Li Ban, Chinese emperor of Cheng Han (d. 334)


text: Sebastian, Roman soldier and Christian martyr


text: Teng Xiu, Chinese general and governor


text: Maximilian of Lorch, Christian missionary and martyr


text: In this or the following year, Emperor Diocletian campaigns with success against the Sarmatians. The future emperor Galerius may have distinguished himself during this campaign.


text: In this or the following year, Maximian attempts to reconquer Britain from the usurper Carausius but is defeated at sea.


text: Flavia Maxima Fausta, Roman empress (d. 326)


text: Yu Liang (or Yuangui), Chinese politician (d. 340)


text: Kyriaki the Great, Christian martyr


text: Alexander of Rome, Christian martyr


text: Xun Xu (or Gongzeng), Chinese official


year_label: 29 CE

text: Agrippina the Elder is exiled to the island of Pandataria, and her sons (except Caligula) are imprisoned by Lucius Aelius Sejanus.

source_section: Events › 29 AD › Roman Empire


text: Aulus Plautius, later military leader of the invasion of Britain under Emperor Claudius, becomes suffect consul alongside Lucius Nonius Asprenas.


text: Jesus is executed by crucifixion, according to Roman Catholic tradition and Tertullian's chronology.

source_section: Events › 29 AD › Palestine


text: According to the Gospel of Luke (Luke 3:1-2), the ministries of John the Baptist and Jesus is thought to have started this year.


text: Livia, wife of Augustus and mother of Tiberius (b. 58 BC)

source_section: Deaths › 29 AD


text: Gaius Fufius Geminus, Roman plebeian tribune and consul


text: Julia the Younger, granddaughter of Augustus (b. 19 BC)


text: Following his victory over Emperor Maximian's fleet, the usurper Carausius invades the European mainland and re-establishes his military and administrative presence in northern Gaul.


text: Emperor Diocletian campaigns with success against Arabic enemies.


text: Pappus of Alexandria, Greek mathematician (d. 350)


text: Abramios the Recluse, Christian hermit and ascetic (d. 360)


text: Vitus (or Guido), Roman hagiographer and martyr


date: May 16

text: May 16 – Wu of Jin, Chinese emperor of the Jin Dynasty (b. 236)


text: May 16 – Emperor Wu of Jin, founder of the Western Jin Dynasty, dies after a 25-year reign. He reunified north and south, but gave away many dukedoms to his kinsmen. Crown Prince Sima Zhong succeeds his father, and has to deal with conflicts among the aristocratic families in China.


text: Tao Huang (or Shiying), Chinese general and politician


text: An uneasy peace is established between the emperors Diocletian and Maximian on the one hand, and the rival emperor Carausius on the other.


text: Perhaps in cooperation with the forces of Maximian, Carausius campaigns successfully against Germanic raids in Gaul and Britain. Also during his reign, Carausius begins building the forts of the Saxon Shore.


text: Winter: The emperors Diocletian and Maximian convene in Milan.


text: A force of Goths defeat the Burgundians.

source_section: Events › By place › Northern Europe


text: The Tervingian Goths and Taifali fight the Vandals and Gepids.


text: The Alemanni, having been expelled from part of their territory by the Burgundians, seek to regain their lost lands. These peoples had unsuccessfully invaded Gaul in tandem in 285/6, and the Alemanni had likely been weakened by the Roman counter-invasions of 287 and 288.


text: King Bahram II fights against a coalition consisting of his brother Hormizd of Sakastan, the Kushano-Sasanians, and the Gilans.


text: The Blemmyes invade the Kingdom of Kush.

source_section: Events › By place › Africa


text: Li Xiu, female general during the Jin Dynasty


text: Saint Philomena, Christian martyress (d. c. 304)


text: Saint Hilarion, anchorite and saint (d. 371)


text: Saint Agnes, Christian martyress (d. c. 304)


text: Wen Yang, general of the Kingdom of Wei (b. 238)


text: Wei Guan, general of the Kingdom of Wei (b. 220)


text: War of the Eight Princes: After the death of Emperor Sima Yan (Jin Wudi), a civil war breaks out among the princes and dukes of the Jin Dynasty. The struggle devastates and depopulates the provinces of northern China.

source_section: Events › By place › China


text: Sima Liang, regent during the reign of Sima Yan


text: Yang Jun, official during the reign of Sima Yan


text: Sima Wei, prince during the Jin Dynasty (b. 271)


text: Bongsang becomes ruler of the Korean kingdom of Goguryeo.


text: The Upper Egypt revolts of (292–293) outbreak in Egypt, centralized in the city of Thebes, primarily involving other Egyptian cities such as Busiris and Coptos. A precursor to the much larger national Egyptian rebellion that followed a few years later.

source_section: Events › By place › Egypt


text: The oldest known Mayan stele is erected at the capital Tikal (modern Guatemala).

source_section: Events › By place › Mesoamerica


text: The jurist Gregorius, at the court of Emperor Diocletian, produces the Gregorian Code, the first codification of Roman law (approximate date).

source_section: Events › By place › Roman Empire


text: He Chong (or Cidao), Chinese politician (d. 346)


text: Zhu Jingjian, Chinese Buddhist nun (d. 361)


text: Pachomius, Christian theologian and writer (d. 348)


text: Yang Zhi, Chinese empress of the Jin Dynasty (b. 259)


text: Constantius retakes some of the Gallic territories from the usurper Carausius. He conquers the crucial port of Bononia (modern Boulogne).


text: In this or the following year, Constantius defeats the Franks in Batavia (Netherlands).


text: Galerius begins a series of two campaigns in Upper Egypt against the rebel cities of Coptos and Boresis as well as the Blemmyes and Meroitic Nubians.


text: Tuoba Fu succeeds his uncle Tuoba Chuo, as chieftain of the Chinese Tuoba Clan.


date: March 1

text: March 1 – Emperors Diocletian and Maximian appoint Constantius I and Galerius as Caesars. This is considered the beginning of the Tetrarchy, known as the Quattuor Principes Mundi ("Four Rulers of the World"). (Some sources and scholars date Galerius' elevation to May 21.)


text: Probus succeeds Rufinus, as Bishop of Byzantium.


text: Towards the end of the year, Carausius is murdered by his finance minister Allectus, who proclaims himself the new emperor of Britain.


text: Bahram III, king of the Sassanid Empire


text: King Bahram II of the Persian Empire dies after a 17-year reign; his son Bahram III ascends to the throne. After four months, Bahram III's great-uncle Narseh, the king of Persarmenia, marches on the Persian capital Ctesiphon with the support of a faction of the nobility and the eastern Satraps. Bahram is overthrown and Narseh is declared the new King of Kings.

source_section: Events › By place › Persia


text: Tuoba Chuo, Chinese chieftain of the Tuoba tribe


text: Carausius, Roman general and usurper


text: Yuwen Mohuai, Chinese chieftain of the Yuwen tribe


text: Bahram II, king of the Sassanid Empire


text: Tuoba Luguan succeeds his nephew Tuoba Fu, as chieftain of the Chinese Tuoba clan.


text: Sima Bao, Chinese prince of the Jin Dynasty (d. 320)


text: Tuoba Fu, chieftain of the Chinese Tuoba clan


text: Tuoba Luguan divides the territory of the Tuoba clan into three areas. His nephews Tuoba Yilu and Tuoba Yituo become chieftains of the western and central areas of (Shanxi province). Tuoba Luguan dominates the eastern area (near Hohhot).


text: Emperor Diocletian defeats the Carpi.


text: Caesar Galerius completes a series of two campaigns in Upper Egypt, against the rebel cities of Coptos and Boresis, as well as the Blemmyes and Meroitic Nubians.


text: Petra rejoins the province of Palestine, and is converted to Christianity by the Syrian monk Barsauma.


text: Diocletian, perhaps through Galerius, issues an edict against incest.


text: The jurist Hermogenianus, at the court of Diocletian, produces the Hermogenian Code. This new codification of Roman law complements the Gregorian Code of c. 292.


text: Shi Hu, Chinese emperor of Later Zhao (d. 349)


text: Maximilian of Tebessa, Berber Christian saint and martyr


text: Having supervised the Rhine frontier during Constantius' invasion of Britain, Maximian then marches into Spain, where he fights Frankish pirates. He then crosses into North Africa to contend with the rebellion of the Quinquegentiani.


text: The Persian king Narseh invades Roman-held Upper Mesopotamia and Arsacid western Armenia, the latter territory being under the leadership of the pro-Roman king Tiridates III. With only a small army, Caesar Galerius fights three holding actions against Narseh's army in Mesopotamia. Somewhere in the open plains between Carrhae and Callinicum, Galerius' army suffers a defeat against the Persian army, which is both more numerous and contains superior numbers of high-quality cavalry. Nevertheless, Galerius succeeds in blunting the Persian offensive.


text: Yu Bing (or Jijian), Chinese politician (d. 344)


date: April 22

text: April 22 – Caius, bishop of Rome


text: April 22 – Pope Caius dies after a 13-year reign and is succeeded by Marcellinus as the 29th pope of Rome.


text: Allectus, Roman treasurer and usurper-emperor


text: Guo Huai (or Yuhuang), Chinese noblewoman (b. 237)


text: Battle of Satala: Galerius launches a surprise attack against Narseh's camp in western Armenia. The Romans sack the camp and capture Narseh's wives, sisters and daughters, including his Queen of Queens Arsane. Narseh is wounded and escapes to his empire.


text: Diocletian watches over the Syrian provinces while Caesar Galerius makes preparations for a campaign against the Persian king Narseh. He recruits veterans from Illyria and Moesia, recruits new soldiers, and strengthens his army with Gothic mercenaries and the Armenian units of Tiridates III.


text: Autumn: Diocletian besieges the rebels in Alexandria, Egypt.


text: Emperor Diocletian introduces a new tax system and other economic reforms.