Directory

197 CE

Battle of Lugdunum: Emperor Septimius Severus defeats the self-proclaimed emperor Clodius Albinus at Lugdunum (modern Lyon). Albinus commits suicide; legionaries sack the town. Septimius Severus forms new naval units, manning all the triremes in Italy with heavily armed troops for war in the East. His soldiers embark on an artificial canal between the Tigris and Euphrates. Septimius Severus, who had spared the Senate at the beginning of his reign, now excludes it from controlling the Roman Empire by declaring a military dictatorship.

Geopolitics & Diplomacy

  • Septimius Severus, who had spared the Senate at the beginning of his reign, now excludes it from controlling the Roman Empire by declaring a military dictatorship.source
  • Septimius Severus reconstitutes the Province of Mesopotamia under an equestrian governor commanding two legions.source
  • Sansang becomes ruler of the Korean kingdom of Goguryeo.source

Conflict & Security

  • February 19 – Battle of Lugdunum: Emperor Septimius Severus defeats the self-proclaimed emperor Clodius Albinus at Lugdunum (modern Lyon). Albinus commits suicide; legionaries sack the town.source
  • Battle of Wancheng: Zhang Xiu launches a surprise attack at Cao Cao.source
  • Yuan Shu declares himself emperor of the short-lived Zhong dynasty.source
  • Legio I, II, and III Parthica are levied by Septimius Severus for his Parthian campaign.source
  • The Roman army marches east to repel a Parthian invasion of Mesopotamia; they loot the royal palace at Ctesiphon and capture an enormous number of its inhabitants as slaves.source

Religion & Belief

  • A Christian council is held in Edessa.source

Technology & Infrastructure

  • Septimius Severus forms new naval units, manning all the triremes in Italy with heavily armed troops for war in the East. His soldiers embark on an artificial canal between the Tigris and Euphrates.source

Crime & Justice

  • Septimius Severus returns to Rome and has about 30 of Albinus's supporters in the Senate executed. After his victory he declares himself the adopted son of the late Marcus Aurelius.source

Culture & Society

  • Galen's major work on medicines, Pharmacologia, is published.source

Births

  • Deng Ai, Chinese general of the Cao Wei state (d. 264)source
  • Cao, Chinese empress of the Han Dynasty (d. 260)source

Deaths

  • February 19 – Clodius Albinus, Roman general and usurpersource
  • Guo Si (or Guo Duo), Chinese general and regentsource
  • Titus Flavius Claudius Sulpicianus, Roman statesmansource
  • Yang Feng, Chinese general serving under Li Juesource
  • Li Jue, Chinese general serving under Dong Zhuosource
  • Gaius Julius Erucius Clarus Vibianus, Roman politiciansource
  • Liu Chong, Chinese nobleman and Prince of Chensource
  • Cao Ang (or Zixiu), eldest son of Cao Cao (b. 177)source
  • Gogukcheon of Goguryeo, Korean ruler of Goguryeosource
  • Dian Wei, Chinese general serving under Cao Caosource