280s

The 280s decade ran from January 1, 280, to December 31, 289.

Events

280

By place

Roman Empire

Roman usurper Proculus starts a rebellion at Lugdunum (Lyon, France), and proclaims himself emperor.^[1]
Emperor Probus drives the Alans off to Asia Minor and suppresses the revolt in Gaul; Proculus is executed.^[1]
The Germans destroy the Roman fleet on the Rhine; Bonosus is proclaimed emperor at Colonia Agrippina (Cologne).
Probus defeats the army under Bonosus. Bonosus sees no way out and hangs himself. His family is treated with honours.^[2]
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.^[3]
Roman territory is under constant threat of raids from Franks. The cities in Gaul are reinforced with defensive walls.^[4]

Europe

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

China

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.^[5]

Persia

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

India

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

281

By place

Roman Empire

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

282

By place

Roman Empire

Emperor Probus travels towards Sirmium (Serbia). He tries to employ his troops in peaceful projects, such as draining the swamps in Pannonia.
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.
Carus defeats the Quadi and Sarmatians on the Danube; for his victories he is given the title Germanicus Maximus.
Carus appoints his sons Carinus^[6] and Numerian as Caesar.

China

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).

By topic

Religion

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

283

By place

Roman Empire

Spring: Emperor Carus makes his son Carinus the Augustus in the west.^{[citation needed]}
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.^{[citation needed]}
The officer Diocles, the future Emperor Diocletian, distinguishes himself in the war against the Persians.^{[citation needed]}
Carinus campaigns with success in Britain and on the Rhine frontier.^{[citation needed]}
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.^{[citation needed]}
Carinus and Numerian succeed their father Carus. Numerian, who had accompanied his father into the Persian Empire, leads the army back to Roman territory.^{[citation needed]}
The corrector Aurelius Julianus usurps power in Pannonia but is defeated by Carinus.^{[citation needed]}

Persian Empire

The King of Kings Bahram II fights a civil war against his brother Hormizd, the king of Sakastan.^[7]

By topic

Religion

December 17 – Pope Caius succeeds Eutychian as the 28th pope of Rome.^[8]

284

By place

Roman Empire

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.
November 17 – Diocletian becomes emperor of Rome^[9]
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.
Sabinus Julianus, the praetorian prefect of Emperor Carinus, exploits the instability and usurps the throne in northern Italy.

Persian Empire

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.

Korea

Yurye becomes king of the Korean kingdom of Silla.^[10]

By topic

Religion

Rufinus succeeds Dometius as Bishop of Byzantium.

285

By place

Roman Empire

Spring – Emperor Carinus marches from Britain to northern Italy, and defeats the army of usurper Sabinus Julianus at Verona.^[11]
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.
July 21 or July 25 – Diocletian appoints his fellow-officer Maximian to the office of caesar, or junior co-emperor.
Carausius, naval commander at Bononia (modern-day Boulogne), is given the task of clearing the English Channel of Frankish and Saxon pirates.
Maximian is sent to pacify Gaul, where the Bagaudae, a band of peasants, are revolting against the Roman Empire.

286

By place

Roman Empire

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.
Emperor Diocletian campaigns successfully against Sarmatian raids. The future emperor Constantius defeats the 'Bosporian Sarmatians'.
April 1 – Diocletian rewards Maximian by elevating him to co-emperor, giving him the title Augustus.
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.

Asia

Tuoba Chuo succeeds his brother Tuoba Xilu as chieftain of the Tuoba clan.
Chaekgye becomes king of the Korean kingdom of Baekje.^[12]

287

By place

Roman Empire

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.
Around this time, the future emperor Constantius defeats and captures a Germanic king, the latter having prepared an ambush against the Romans.
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.
Diocletian re-organizes the Mesopotamian frontier, and fortifies various locations including the city of Circesium (modern Busayrah) on the Euphrates. Around this time, he begins the construction of the Strata Diocletiana. Throughout his reign, similar fortification efforts are conducted on the other frontiers as well, with fortifications constructed or restored behind, on and beyond the borders. Conscription and the number of legions increase, although the legions themselves are reformed into smaller and more flexible units. At some point in time, Diocletian may have also established the late Roman military system of Comitatenses (field army units) and Limitanei (border units), but some scholars date this development to the reign of Constantine I (r. 306–337).
September – The first Indiction begins.

288

By place

Roman Empire

Emperor Diocletian launches a campaign into Germanic territory from the province of Raetia (Switzerland).^[13]
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.
Maximian makes an alliance with the Frankish king Gennobaudes.
Far from Carausius' fleet, in the rivers of Gaul, Maximian builds a fleet to contest control of the North Sea and re-take Britain.
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.

289

By place

Roman Empire

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. ^[14]
In this or the following year, Maximian attempts to reconquer Britain from the usurper Carausius but is defeated at sea. ^[15]

Significant people

Births

280

Saint George, Roman soldier and Christian martyr (approximate date)
Yao Yizhong, Chinese general and warlord (d. 352)

281

Cai Mo (or Daoming), Chinese official and politician (d. 356)
Theodore Stratelates, Roman general and martyr (d. 319)

283

Eusebius of Vercelli, Christian bishop and saint (d. 371)
Ge Hong, Chinese scholar and philosopher (d. 343)

284

Fu Hong (or Pu Hong), Chinese general and prince (d. 350)
Huai of Jin, Chinese emperor of the Jin Dynasty (d. 313)

285

St. Sylvester, Italian bishop (d. 335)

288

Li Ban, Chinese emperor of Cheng Han (d. 334)
Wen Jiao (or Taizhen), Chinese politician (d. 329)

289

Flavia Maxima Fausta, Roman empress (d. 326)^[16]
Yu Liang (or Yuangui), Chinese politician (d. 340)^[17]

Deaths

280

Bonosus, Roman general and usurper^[2]
Cen Hun, Chinese official and politician
Julius Saturninus, Roman usurper
Kang Senghui, Chinese monk and translator
Lu Jing, Chinese general and writer (b. 250)
Maharaja Sri-Gupta of the Gupta Empire
Yu Zhong (or Shifang), Chinese general
Zhang Ti (or Juxian), Chinese chancellor

281

Proculus, Roman general and usurper

282

Huangfu Mi (or Shi'an), Chinese historian (b. 215)
Jia Chong, Chinese politician and statesman (b. 217)
Marcus Aurelius Probus, Roman emperor (b. 232)
Xue Ying (or Daoyan), Chinese politician and poet

283

December 7 – Etychian, bishop of Rome
Marcus Aurelius Carus, Roman emperor (b. 224)
Shan Tao, Chinese scholar and politician (b. 205)
Sima You (or Dayou), Chinese prince (b. 248)
Sima Zhou (or Zijiang), Chinese prince (b. 227)

284

November 20 – Numerian, Roman emperor (b. 254)
Lucius Flavius Aper, Roman general and praetorian prefect
Sun Hao, Chinese emperor of the Eastern Wu state (b. 243)

285

Marcus Aurelius Carinus, Roman consul and emperor
Du Yu (or Yuankai), Chinese general and politician (b. 222)
Sabinus Julianus, Roman usurper (approximate date)

286

Crispin and Crispinian, Roman cobblers and martyrs^[18]
Domnina of Anazarbus, Christian martyr and saint
Mark and Marcellian, Christian martyrs (approximate date)
Tuoba Xilu, chieftain of the Tuoba clan (modern Mongolia)

287

Justa and Rufina, Christian martyrs
Maurice (or Mauritius), Christian martyr
Quentin, Christian missionary and martyr
Valerius and Rufinus, Christian martyrs
Victoricus, Fuscian, and Gentian, Christian martyrs

288

Maximilian of Lorch, Christian missionary and martyr
Sebastian, Roman soldier and Christian martyr
Teng Xiu, Chinese general and governor

289

Alexander of Rome, Christian martyr^[19]
Kyriaki the Great, Christian martyr ^[20]
Xun Xu (or Gongzeng), Chinese official^[21]

References

^ ^a ^b Sellars, Ian J. (2013). The Monetary System of the Romans: A description of the Roman coinage from early times to the reform of Anastasius. Ian J. Sellars. p. 374.
^ ^a ^b Vulic, Vladimir (25 December 2021). "Emperor Probus". Roman Empire. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
^ Balty, Jean (1988). "Apamea in Syria in the Second and Third Centuries AD". Journal of Roman Studies. 78: 91–104. doi:10.2307/301452. JSTOR 301452.
^ Hornblower, Simon (9 November 2023). "Ancient Rome". Britannica. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
^ Lotha, Gloria (9 August 2020). "Wudi". Britannica. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
^ Jones, A.H.M; Martindale, J.R.; Morris, J. (March 2, 1971). The Prosopography of the Later Roman Empire: Volume 1, AD 260-395. Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press. p. 977.
^ Yarshater, Ehsan; Fisher, William Bayne, eds. (1968). "Iran under the Sasanians". The Cambridge History of Iran. Vol. 3. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. p. 128. ISBN 978-0-52106-935-9.
^ Thomas, P. C. (1992), A Compact History of the Popes, Mumbai: Bombay Society of St Paul, p. 19, ISBN 978-8-17109-142-3
^ Cousin, Jean. "Diocletian". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
^ "List of Rulers of Korea". www.metmuseum.org. Retrieved 21 April 2019.
^ "Carinus (283-285 A.D.) – Roman Emperors – An Online Encyclopedia of Roman Rulers and Their Families". Retrieved 2022-12-12.
^ "List of Rulers of Korea". www.metmuseum.org. Retrieved 20 April 2019.
^ Southern, Pt (December 16, 2003). The Roman Empire from Severus to Constantine. United Kingdom: Taylor & Francis. p. 143. ISBN 9781134553815.
^ Charles Odahl, Constantine and the Christian Empire ISBN 0415174856 Archived
^ Panegyrici Latini 8(5)12.2; Barnes, Constantine and Eusebius, 7, 288
^ Flavia Maxima Fausta (289 - 326), Geni
^ According to Yu Liang's biography in Book of Jin, he was 52 (by East Asian reckoning) when he died. (咸康六年薨，时年五十二。) Jin Shu, vol.73. Thus by calculation, his birth year should be 289.
^ "Saints Crispin and Crispinian | Christian saint". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 21 March 2019.
^ https://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/distributed/O/bo22340843.html. Eastern Christian Texts. University of Chicago Press. Retrieved 2020-07-07.
^ Megas, G.A. (1958). Greek Calendar Customs. Press and Information Department, Prime Minister's Office. p. 140.
^ (十一月，丙辰，尚書令濟北成侯荀勗卒。) Zizhi Tongjian vol. 82.

[Sellars-1] Sellars, Ian J. (2013). The Monetary System of the Romans: A description of the Roman coinage from early times to the reform of Anastasius. Ian J. Sellars. p. 374.

[:1-2] Vulic, Vladimir (25 December 2021). "Emperor Probus". Roman Empire. Retrieved 11 November 2023.

[3] Balty, Jean (1988). "Apamea in Syria in the Second and Third Centuries AD". Journal of Roman Studies. 78: 91–104. doi:10.2307/301452. JSTOR 301452.

[4] Hornblower, Simon (9 November 2023). "Ancient Rome". Britannica. Retrieved 11 November 2023.

[5] Lotha, Gloria (9 August 2020). "Wudi". Britannica. Retrieved 11 November 2023.

[6] Jones, A.H.M; Martindale, J.R.; Morris, J. (March 2, 1971). The Prosopography of the Later Roman Empire: Volume 1, AD 260-395. Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press. p. 977.

[7] Yarshater, Ehsan; Fisher, William Bayne, eds. (1968). "Iran under the Sasanians". The Cambridge History of Iran. Vol. 3. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. p. 128. ISBN 978-0-52106-935-9.

[8] Thomas, P. C. (1992), A Compact History of the Popes, Mumbai: Bombay Society of St Paul, p. 19, ISBN 978-8-17109-142-3

[9] Cousin, Jean. "Diocletian". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved February 23, 2024.

[10] "List of Rulers of Korea". www.metmuseum.org. Retrieved 21 April 2019.

[11] "Carinus (283-285 A.D.) – Roman Emperors – An Online Encyclopedia of Roman Rulers and Their Families". Retrieved 2022-12-12.

[12] "List of Rulers of Korea". www.metmuseum.org. Retrieved 20 April 2019.

[13] Southern, Pt (December 16, 2003). The Roman Empire from Severus to Constantine. United Kingdom: Taylor & Francis. p. 143. ISBN 9781134553815.

[14] Charles Odahl, Constantine and the Christian Empire ISBN 0415174856 Archived

[15] Panegyrici Latini 8(5)12.2; Barnes, Constantine and Eusebius, 7, 288

[16] Flavia Maxima Fausta (289 - 326), Geni

[17] According to Yu Liang's biography in Book of Jin, he was 52 (by East Asian reckoning) when he died. (咸康六年薨，时年五十二。) Jin Shu, vol.73. Thus by calculation, his birth year should be 289.

[18] "Saints Crispin and Crispinian | Christian saint". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 21 March 2019.

[19] ttps://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/distributed/O/bo22340843.html. Eastern Christian Texts. University of Chicago Press. Retrieved 2020-07-07.

[20] Megas, G.A. (1958). Greek Calendar Customs. Press and Information Department, Prime Minister's Office. p. 140.

[21] (十一月，丙辰，尚書令濟北成侯荀勗卒。) Zizhi Tongjian vol. 82.

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