218 CE
Julia Maesa, an aunt of the assassinated Emperor Caracalla, is banished to her home in Syria by the self-proclaimed emperor Macrinus, and declares her grandson Elagabalus, age 14, emperor of Rome. Battle of Antioch: Elagabalus defeats, with the support of the Syrian legions, the forces of Macrinus. Macrinus flees, but is captured near Chalcedon and later executed in Cappadocia. Diadumenianus, son of Macrinus, escapes to the Parthian court, but is captured at Zeugma and also put to death.
Conflict & Security
- May 16 – Julia Maesa, an aunt of the assassinated Emperor Caracalla, is banished to her home in Syria by the self-proclaimed emperor Macrinus, and declares her grandson Elagabalus, age 14, emperor of Rome.source
- June 8 – Battle of Antioch: Elagabalus defeats, with the support of the Syrian legions, the forces of Macrinus. Macrinus flees, but is captured near Chalcedon and later executed in Cappadocia.source
- Spring – Ji Ben (or Ji Ping), Chinese court physician, plots a rebellion in the imperial capital Xu (modern-day Xuchang), but the revolt is suppressed and the conspirators are captured and executed.source
Economy & Finance
- The silver content of the Roman denarius falls to 43 percent under the reign of Elagabalus, down from 50 percent under Septimius Severus, as he empties the treasury.source
Crime & Justice
- Diadumenianus, son of Macrinus, escapes to the Parthian court, but is captured at Zeugma and also put to death.source
Births
Deaths
- June 8 – Macrinus, Roman emperor (b. 165)source
- Ji Ben (or Ji Ping), Chinese physiciansource
- Cao Zizheng, Chinese marquis and warlordsource
- Yue Jin (or Wenqian), Chinese generalsource
- Gu Shao, Chinese official and politiciansource
- Diadumenian, son of Macrinus (b. 208)source
- Theoclia, Syrian Roman noblewomansource