Directory

270 CE

Lucius Domitius Aurelianus (or Aurelian), the cavalry commander who distinguished himself in the previous year at the Battle of Naissus (Serbia), usurps power in Sirmium and marches against Quintillus in Aquileia. Quintillus commits suicide. Emperor Claudius II Gothicus fights a drawn-out campaign against the Gothic raiders in the Balkans, with setbacks suffered on both sides. Eventually, many Goths die of plague and others are absorbed into the Roman legions. Claudius dies of plague in Sirmium while preparing to fight the Vandals and Sarmatians, who have invaded Pannonia. He is succeeded by his brother Quintillus, who briefly holds power over the Roman Empire.

Geopolitics & Diplomacy

  • Seocheon becomes ruler of the Korean kingdom of Goguryeo.source

Conflict & Security

  • Lucius Domitius Aurelianus (or Aurelian), the cavalry commander who distinguished himself in the previous year at the Battle of Naissus (Serbia), usurps power in Sirmium and marches against Quintillus in Aquileia. Quintillus commits suicide.source
  • Victorinus besieges and sacks the city of Autun, which had declared allegiance to Claudius.source
  • Zenobia seizes control of Roman Arabia and Egypt.source
  • Fan Hsiung, a.k.a. Pham Hung, comes to power in Champa and raids the Chinese-occupied territory of Tonkin.source
  • Aurelius defeats an incursion by the Iuthungi into Raetia, defeating them as they attempted to re-cross the Danube.source

Religion & Belief

  • Anthony the Great, a Christian saint from Egypt, regarded as "Father of All Monks", enters the wilderness to become ascetic.source

Economy & Finance

  • The Kingdom of Aksum (modern Ethiopia) begins minting its own gold coins to facilitate international trade, following the model of Roman coinage.source

Health & Medicine

  • Emperor Claudius II Gothicus fights a drawn-out campaign against the Gothic raiders in the Balkans, with setbacks suffered on both sides. Eventually, many Goths die of plague and others are absorbed into the Roman legions.source

Births

  • March 15 – Saint Nicholas (Santa Claus) (d. 343)source
  • Rabbah bar Nahmani, Babylonian 'amorasource
  • Saint Spyridon, bishop of Trimythous (d. 348)source
  • Liu Kun, Chinese general and poet (d. 318)source

Deaths

  • Claudius II (Gothicus), Roman emperor (b. 214)source
  • Shi Ji (or Zhu Ji), Chinese general and governorsource
  • Gregory Thaumaturgus, Christian bishop and theologiansource
  • Quintillus, Roman emperor and brother of Claudius IIsource
  • Luo Xian (or Lingze), Chinese general and politiciansource
  • Sun Fen, Chinese prince of the Eastern Wu statesource
  • Shapur I (the Great), ruler of the Sassanid Empiresource
  • Claudius dies of plague in Sirmium while preparing to fight the Vandals and Sarmatians, who have invaded Pannonia. He is succeeded by his brother Quintillus, who briefly holds power over the Roman Empire.source
  • Qiao Zhou (or Yunnan), Chinese official and politiciansource
  • Plotinus, Greek philosopher and founder Neoplatonismsource