216 CE
Caracalla provokes a war with Artabanus V (of Parthia) to imitate his idol Alexander the Great. He crosses the Tigris, destroys towns and spoils the tombs of Arbela. The Roman army annexes Armenia. The Baths of Caracalla in Rome are completed with public baths (Thermae), reading rooms, auditoriums, running tracks, and public gardens that cover 20 acres. Mithraism, which had begun in Persia, is on course to be adopted by many Roman soldiers serving in Asia.
Conflict & Security
- Caracalla provokes a war with Artabanus V (of Parthia) to imitate his idol Alexander the Great. He crosses the Tigris, destroys towns and spoils the tombs of Arbela. The Roman army annexes Armenia.source
- Chinese warlord Cao Cao is made a vassal and ruler of Wei (Former Wei) by Emperor Xian, the last ruler of the Han Dynasty.source
- Mithraism, which had begun in Persia, is on course to be adopted by many Roman soldiers serving in Asia.source
Culture & Society
- The Baths of Caracalla in Rome are completed with public baths (Thermae), reading rooms, auditoriums, running tracks, and public gardens that cover 20 acres.source
- Emperor Caracalla tricks the Parthians by accepting a marriage proposal. He slaughters his bride and the wedding guests after the celebrations.source
- The basilica of Leptis Magna, ordered by Septimius Severus, is completed.source
Births
- Mani, prophet and founder of Manichaeism (d. 274)source
Deaths
- Narcissus of Jerusalem, patriarch of Jerusalemsource
- Huo Jun (or Zhongmiao), Chinese general and officialsource
- Zhang Lu, Chinese warlord and religious leadersource
- Mao Jie (or Xiaoxian), Chinese official and politiciansource
- Clement of Alexandria, Greek theologian (approximate date)source
- Pantaenus, Greek theologian (approximate date)source
- Cui Yan (or Jigui), Chinese official and politician (b. 165)source