Directory

280 CE

Julius Saturninus, governor of Syria, is in Alexandria, charged with the defense of the East. He is declared emperor and withdraws to Apamea. Probus besieges the city and puts him to death. The Germans destroy the Roman fleet on the Rhine; Bonosus is proclaimed emperor at Colonia Agrippina (Cologne). The Thuringi, a Germanic tribe, appears in the Harz Mountains (Thuringia) of central Germania.

Geopolitics & Diplomacy

  • King Bahram II of the Sassanid Empire (Persia) sends envoys to seek peaceful relations with Rome.source
  • The Germans destroy the Roman fleet on the Rhine; Bonosus is proclaimed emperor at Colonia Agrippina (Cologne).source
  • Emperor Probus drives the Alans off to Asia Minor and suppresses the revolt in Gaul; Proculus is executed.source
  • Emperor Wu of the Jin dynasty completes the unification of China, which was previously divided between three contending powers during the Three Kingdoms period. The Jin dynasty's capital of Luoyang becomes a thriving centre of commerce as foreign diplomats and traders travel there.source

Conflict & Security

  • Probus defeats the army under Bonosus. Bonosus sees no way out and hangs himself. His family is treated with honours.source
  • Julius Saturninus, governor of Syria, is in Alexandria, charged with the defense of the East. He is declared emperor and withdraws to Apamea. Probus besieges the city and puts him to death.source
  • Roman usurper Proculus starts a rebellion at Lugdunum (Lyon, France), and proclaims himself emperor.source
  • Roman territory is under constant threat of raids from Franks. The cities in Gaul are reinforced with defensive walls.source

Exploration & Expansion

  • The Thuringi, a Germanic tribe, appears in the Harz Mountains (Thuringia) of central Germania.source

Economy & Finance

  • The Gupta Empire (India) is founded (approximate date).source

Births

  • Approximate date – Saint George, Cappadocian Greek-born Roman soldier and Christian martyrsource
  • Yao Yizhong, Chinese general and warlord (d. 352)source

Deaths

  • March 23 – Lu Jing, Chinese general and writer, killed in action (b. 250)source
  • April 4 – Zhang Ti (or Juxian), Chinese chancellorsource
  • Bonosus, Roman general and usurper, suicidesource
  • 280 or 281 – Julius Saturninus, Roman usurpersource
  • Approximate date – Gupta, founder of the Gupta Empiresource
  • Kang Senghui, Chinese monk and translatorsource
  • Early – Yu Zhong (or Shifang), Chinese general, killed in actionsource
  • c. April – Cen Hun, Chinese official and politiciansource