221 CE

Liu Bei, Chinese warlord and descendant of the imperial clan of the Han dynasty, proclaims himself emperor in Chengdu, Sichuan, and establishes the state of Shu Han. Emperor Elagabalus adopts his cousin Alexander Severus as his heir, and receives the title of Caesar. Elagabalus is forced to divorce Aquilia Severa, and marries his third wife Annia Faustina. After five months he returns to Severa, and claims that the original divorce is invalid. The marriage is symbolic, because Elagabalus appears to be homosexual or bisexual. According to the historian Cassius Dio, he has a stable relationship with his chariot driver, the slave Hierocles.

Geopolitics & Diplomacy

May 15 – Liu Bei, Chinese warlord and descendant of the imperial clan of the Han dynasty, proclaims himself emperor in Chengdu, Sichuan, and establishes the state of Shu Han.source

Culture & Society

June 26 – Emperor Elagabalus adopts his cousin Alexander Severus as his heir, and receives the title of Caesar.source
July – Elagabalus is forced to divorce Aquilia Severa, and marries his third wife Annia Faustina. After five months he returns to Severa, and claims that the original divorce is invalid. The marriage is symbolic, because Elagabalus appears to be homosexual or bisexual. According to the historian Cassius Dio, he has a stable relationship with his chariot driver, the slave Hierocles.source

Births

Yang Hu, Chinese general and politician (d. 278)source
Liu Ling, Chinese poet and scholar (d. 300)source

Deaths

August 4 – Lady Zhen, Chinese noblewoman (b. 183)source
Mi Zhu, Chinese general and politician (b. 165)source
Yu Jin, Chinese general serving under Cao Caosource
Dong He (or Youzai), Chinese official and politiciansource
Zhang Fei, Chinese general and politiciansource