Directory

185 CE

The rebels of the Yellow Turban are defeated by the imperial army, but only two months later, the rebellion breaks out again. It spreads to the Taihang Mountains on the western border of Hebei Province. Irenaeus writes that there are only four Gospels (approximate date). Cleomedes discovers the refraction of light by the Earth's atmosphere.

Conflict & Security

  • February – The rebels of the Yellow Turban are defeated by the imperial army, but only two months later, the rebellion breaks out again. It spreads to the Taihang Mountains on the western border of Hebei Province.source
  • Publius Helvius Pertinax is made governor of Britain and quells a mutiny of the British Roman legions who wanted him to become emperor. The disgruntled usurpers go on to attempt to assassinate the governor.source

Religion & Belief

  • Nobles of Britain demand that Emperor Commodus rescind all power given to Tigidius Perennis, who is eventually executed.source
  • Zhi Yao, a Kushan Buddhist monk of Yuezhi ethnicity, translates Buddhist texts into the Chinese language during the Han dynasty.source
  • Irenaeus writes that there are only four Gospels (approximate date).source

Science & Discovery

  • A supernova now known as SN 185 is noted by Chinese astronomers in the Astrological Annals of the Houhanshu, making it the earliest recorded supernova.source
  • Cleomedes discovers the refraction of light by the Earth's atmosphere.source

Health & Medicine

  • Tigidius Perennis, his family and many others are executed for conspiring against Commodus.source

Crime & Justice

  • Commodus drains Rome's treasury to put on gladiatorial spectacles and confiscates property to support his pleasures. He participates as a gladiator and boasts of victory in 1,000 matches in the Circus Maximus.source

Births

  • Liu Ji (or Jingyu), Chinese official and minister (d. 233)source
  • Origen, Christian scholar and theologian (approximate date)source
  • Wang Xiang, Chinese minister of the Cao Wei state (d. 269)source

Deaths

  • April 21 – Apollonius the Apologist, Christian apologistsource
  • Pharasmanes III (or P'arsman), Georgian king of Iberiasource
  • Tigidius Perennis, Roman praetorian prefect (executed)source