215 CE
A coin, the Antoninianus, is introduced. The weight of this coin is a mere 1 / 50 of a pound. Copper disappears gradually, and by the middle of the third century, with Rome's economy in crisis, the Antonianus will be the only official currency. Caracalla's troops massacre the population of Alexandria, Egypt, beginning with the leading citizens after the Alexandrian Revolts. The emperor was angry about a satire, produced in Alexandria, mocking his claim that he killed Geta in self-defense. Zhang Liao holds off Sun Quan's invasion force at the Battle of Xiaoyao Ford in Hefei, China.
Geopolitics & Diplomacy
- Vachagan I becomes king of Caucasian Albania.source
Conflict & Security
- Caracalla's troops massacre the population of Alexandria, Egypt, beginning with the leading citizens after the Alexandrian Revolts. The emperor was angry about a satire, produced in Alexandria, mocking his claim that he killed Geta in self-defense.source
- Zhang Liao holds off Sun Quan's invasion force at the Battle of Xiaoyao Ford in Hefei, China.source
Economy & Finance
- A coin, the Antoninianus, is introduced. The weight of this coin is a mere 1 / 50 of a pound. Copper disappears gradually, and by the middle of the third century, with Rome's economy in crisis, the Antonianus will be the only official currency.source
Births
- Huangfu Mi (or Shi'an), Chinese physician and poet (d. 282)source
Deaths
- Fu Shou, Chinese empress of the Han Dynastysource
- Chen Wu, Chinese general serving under Sun Quansource
- Zhang Cheng, Chinese official serving under Cao Caosource
- Clement of Alexandria, Greek scholar and philosophersource
- Han Sui (or Wenyue), Chinese general and warlordsource
- Sun Yu, Chinese warlord and cousin of Sun Quan (b. 177)source