Directory

250 CE

Decian persecution of Christians is initiated when Emperor Decius orders everyone in the Roman Empire (except Jews) to perform a sacrifice to the gods of religion in ancient Rome. On January 20, Pope Fabian becomes one of the first martyrs of this persecution. The Ludovisi Battle sarcophagus, depicting battle between the Romans and the Barbarians, is made for use in Rome (it is later moved to the collection of the National Roman Museum). Teotihuacán is rebuilt as a four-quartered cosmogram by Zapotec architects brought from Monte Albán in Oaxaca.

Conflict & Security

  • Cniva lays siege to Philippopolis (modern Plovdiv). After a long resistance, Cniva conquers the city and slays its one hundred thousand inhabitants.source
  • The Goths under King Cniva invade Moesia. They cross the Danube and lay siege to Novae and Marcianopolis.source
  • Battle of Augusta Traiana: The Romans lose the battle against the Goths.source
  • A group of Franks penetrate as far as Tarragona in Spain (approximate date).source

Exploration & Expansion

  • The Kingdom of Aksum (Axum) takes control of commerce on the Red Sea.source
  • The Alamanni drive the Romans from the modern area of Donau-Ries.source

Religion & Belief

  • January 3 – Decian persecution of Christians is initiated when Emperor Decius orders everyone in the Roman Empire (except Jews) to perform a sacrifice to the gods of religion in ancient Rome. On January 20, Pope Fabian becomes one of the first martyrs of this persecution.source
  • Possible date – Denis, a bishop of Paris, is martyred by beheading.source

Technology & Infrastructure

  • The Igel Column is erected at Trier in Germany.source
  • Teotihuacán is rebuilt as a four-quartered cosmogram by Zapotec architects brought from Monte Albán in Oaxaca.source
  • The earliest Chinese references to a device known as "emperor's south-pointing carriage" date to this period.source

Science & Discovery

  • Classic period of Mesoamerican civilization begins.source
  • Diophantus writes Arithmetica, the first systematic treatise on algebra.source

Health & Medicine

  • An epidemic begins in Ethiopia, moves into Egypt and the Roman colonies in North Africa, and spreads through the Roman Empire (named the Plague of Cyprian, after St. Cyprian, bishop of Carthage).source

Culture & Society

  • The Ludovisi Battle sarcophagus, depicting battle between the Romans and the Barbarians, is made for use in Rome (it is later moved to the collection of the National Roman Museum).source
  • The family portrait medallion, traditionally called the Family of Vunnerius Keramus, is made (it is later placed in the Brescia Cross, and then in the Museo Civico dell'Etá Cristiana, Brescia).source

Births

  • March 31 – Constantius Chlorus, Roman emperor (d. 306)source
  • Maximian (Herculius), Roman consul and emperor (d. 310)source
  • Lu Jing (or Shiren), Chinese general and writer (d. 280)source
  • Zuo Si (or Taichong), Chinese poet and writer (d. 305)source
  • Gaius Galerius Valerius Maximianus, Roman emperor (d. 311)source

Deaths

  • January 20 – Fabian (or Fabianus), pope of Rome and martyrsource
  • Faustus, Abibus and Dionysius, Christian martyrssource
  • Peter, Andrew, Paul and Denise, Christian martyrssource
  • Marcus Minucius Felix, Roman apologist and writersource
  • Du Qiong (or Boyu), Chinese official and astronomersource
  • Secundian, Marcellian and Verian, Christian martyrssource
  • Tryphon, Respicius, and Nympha, Christian martyrssource
  • Zhu Ju, Chinese general and chancellor (b. 194)source