Directory

217 CE

Caracalla is assassinated by his soldiers near Edessa. Marcus Opellius Macrinus, head of the Praetorian Guard, declares himself Roman emperor. The papacy of Zephyrinus ends. Callixtus I is elected as the sixteenth pope, but is opposed by the theologian Hippolytus who accuses him of laxity and of being a Modalist, one who denies any distinction between the three persons of the Trinity. According to a tradition noted by 19th-century historian Stephen Glover, the earliest recorded game of association football (soccer) took place in Derby, England as a celebration on Shrove Tuesday, the day before commencement of the Lent season on Ash Wednesday, and 47 days before Easter Sunday.

Conflict & Security

  • April 8 – Caracalla is assassinated by his soldiers near Edessa. Marcus Opellius Macrinus, head of the Praetorian Guard, declares himself Roman emperor.source
  • King Artabanus V signs a peace treaty with Rome after he receives 200 million sesterces, for the rebuilding of towns destroyed during the war in Parthia.source
  • Summer – Battle of Nisibis: A Roman army, under the command of Macrinus, is defeated in a three days' battle by the Parthians at Nisibis, in the province of Mesopotamia.source
  • Battle of Ruxu: Warlord Cao Cao once again clashes with his rival Sun Quan in Yang Province.source

Religion & Belief

  • December 20 – The papacy of Zephyrinus ends. Callixtus I is elected as the sixteenth pope, but is opposed by the theologian Hippolytus who accuses him of laxity and of being a Modalist, one who denies any distinction between the three persons of the Trinity.source
  • Hippolytus begins his "pontificate" as antipope and sets up a breakaway church for Christian followers.source

Technology & Infrastructure

  • Macrinus, of Mauretania, becomes the first equestrian Roman emperor.source

Health & Medicine

  • Empress Julia, wife of Septimius Severus and mother of Caracalla and Geta, commits suicide.source

Disasters & Accidents

  • The Colosseum is badly damaged by fire (lightning) which destroys the wooden upper levels of the amphitheater.source

Culture & Society

  • According to a tradition noted by 19th-century historian Stephen Glover, the earliest recorded game of association football (soccer) took place in Derby, England as a celebration on Shrove Tuesday, the day before commencement of the Lent season on Ash Wednesday, and 47 days before Easter Sundaysource

Births

  • Wang Yuanji, Chinese empress dowager (d. 268)source
  • Jia Chong, Chinese politician and general (d. 282)source
  • Hua He, Chinese official and historian (d. 278)source
  • Fu Xuan, Chinese historian and poet (d. 278)source

Deaths

  • April 8 – Caracalla, Roman emperor (b. 188)source
  • December 20 – Zephyrinus, pope of Romesource
  • Chen Lin, Chinese official and politiciansource
  • Dong Xi (or Yuanshi), Chinese generalsource
  • Ling Tong (or Gongji), Chinese general (b. 189)source
  • Lucius Valerius Datus, Roman prefectsource
  • Sima Lang, Chinese official and politician (b. 171)source
  • Wang Can, Chinese politician and poet (b. 177)source
  • Lu Su, Chinese general and politician (b. 172)source
  • Xu Gan, Chinese philosopher and poet (b. 171)source
  • Julia Domna, Roman empress (b. 160)source