Edessa, Mesopotamia

16 dated entries naming Edessa, Mesopotamia, drawn from 16 separate years between 303 BCE and 1031 CE. Nothing here is written by us: each line is the sentence a Wikipedia year article used, and the link beside it opens the exact revision.

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4th century BC

303 BCESeleucus refounds the town of Orrhoa in northern Mesopotamia as a military colony and mixes Greek settlers with its eastern population. He names Edessa in memory of the ancient capital of Macedon.source

2nd century

179Abgar IX the Great becomes King of Edessa.source
195The Roman province of Syria is divided and the role of Antioch is diminished. The Romans annex the Syrian cities of Edessa and Nisibis. Severus re-establishes his headquarters and the colonies there.source
197A Christian council is held in Edessa.source

3rd century

201November – A flood in Edessa destroys a Christian church, killing over 2,000 people.source
204The Daysan River floods Edessa.source
232Relics of St. Thomas are brought to Edessa from India.source
259Emperor 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.source

4th century

305The Daysan River floods Edessa.source

5th century

411Rabbula becomes bishop of Edessa.source
415March 18 – The Daysan River floods Edessa, Mesopotamia.source
435Ibas is elected bishop of Edessa. He becomes associated with the growth of Nestorianism and openly preaching heretical doctrines in public.source

6th century

525The Daisan river, tributary of the Euphrates, floods Edessa, and within a couple of hours fills the entire city except for the highest parts. Eventually the pent-up waters break through the city walls. The Shroud of Turin is allegedly discovered during the rebuilding of the city (see Image of Edessa).source
526October 30 – Paul of Edessa, Syriac Orthodox bishop of Edessasource
541Jacob Baradaeus becomes bishop of Edessa (approximate date).source

11th century

1031The Byzantine general George Maniakes captures Edessa from the Arab Muslims and stabilizes the eastern frontier.source