Directory

244 CE

Emperor Gordian III is murdered by mutinous soldiers in Zaitha (Mesopotamia). A mound is raised at Carchemish in his memory. Philip the Arab (Marcus Julius Philippus) declares himself co-emperor, and makes a controversial peace with the Sassanian Empire, withdrawing from their territory and giving Shapur 500,000 gold pieces. The Sassanians occupy Armenia. Plotinus, Greek philosopher, escapes the bloodshed that accompanies the murder of Gordianus III and makes his way to Antioch. Back in Rome he founds his Neoplatonist school and attracts disciples like Porphyry, Castricius Firmus and Eustochius of Alexandria.

Conflict & Security

  • February 11 – Emperor Gordian III is murdered by mutinous soldiers in Zaitha (Mesopotamia). A mound is raised at Carchemish in his memory.source
  • Philip the Arab (Marcus Julius Philippus) declares himself co-emperor, and makes a controversial peace with the Sassanian Empire, withdrawing from their territory and giving Shapur 500,000 gold pieces. The Sassanians occupy Armenia.source
  • Battle of Xingshi: Shu Han defeats the Chinese state of Cao Wei.source
  • Around February 11 – Battle of Misiche: King Shapur I and his Iranian army defeats the Roman army.source
  • The vassal Upper Mesopotamian kingdom of Osroene is absorbed into the Roman Empire, its last ruler being Abgar (XI) Farhat Bar Ma’nu.source
  • The Goguryeo–Wei War is fought between the Korean kingdom Goguryeo and the Chinese state Cao Wei.source

Religion & Belief

  • Philip the Arab is recognized by the Roman Senate as the new Roman Emperor with the honorific Augustus. He nominates his son Philippus, age 6, with the title of Caesar and makes him heir to the throne; gives his brother Priscus supreme power (rector Orientis) in the Eastern provinces; and begins construction of the city of Shahba (Syria) in the province of his birth.source

Economy & Finance

  • The silver content of the Roman denarius falls to 0.5 percent under emperor Philippus I, down from 28 percent under Gordian III.source

Crime & Justice

  • Plotinus, Greek philosopher, escapes the bloodshed that accompanies the murder of Gordianus III and makes his way to Antioch. Back in Rome he founds his Neoplatonist school and attracts disciples like Porphyry, Castricius Firmus and Eustochius of Alexandria.source

Culture & Society

  • 244–245 – Last phase of construction of the house-style Dura-Europos synagogue in Syria, one of the oldest to survive (wall-paintings in the National Museum of Damascus, Syria).source
  • 244–249 – Bust of Philip the Arab (in Braccio Nuovo, Vatican Museums, Rome).source

Births

  • December 22 – Diocletian, Roman emperor (d. 311)source
  • Alexander of Constantinople, bishop of Byzantium (approximate date)source

Deaths

  • February 11 – Gordian III, Roman emperor (b. 225)source
  • Cao Xun, Chinese prince of the Cao Wei state (b. 231)source
  • Ge Xuan (or Xiaoxian), Chinese Taoist (b. 164)source
  • Zhang Cheng (or Zhongsi), Chinese general (b. 178)source