WORLD HISTORY · TIMELINE 日本語
The 3rd century201–300
What were the key events of the 3rd century?
In the 3rd century (201–300), the Eastern Han fell and China entered the Three Kingdoms period, until the Western Jin conquered Wu and reunified the country. In Japan, Queen Himiko sent envoys to the Wei kingdom and keyhole-shaped burial mounds were built, while the Sasanian Empire arose in the west and Rome entered the era of the soldier emperors.
- Zhou Yu defeats Cao Cao's fleet at Red CliffsAsia
- Caracalla issues the Antonine ConstitutionEurope
- Eastern Han falls; Three Kingdoms period beginsAsia
- Sasanian Empire founded in IranMiddle East
- Era of the soldier emperors begins in RomeEurope
- Himiko sends envoys to WeiAsia
- Keyhole tombs built as Yamato power growsAsia
- Western Jin conquers Wu and unifies ChinaAsia
Summaries are written by the site editors.
Key events of the 3rd century (timeline · excerpt)
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Zhou Yu defeats Cao Cao's fleet at Red Cliffs
Following the death of the Roman Emperor Septimius Severus at Eboracum (modern York, England) while preparing to lead a campaign against the Caledonians, the empire is left in the control of his two quarrelling sons, Caracalla and Geta, whom he had instructed to make peace.
Caracalla issues the Antonine Constitution
Roman emperor Caracalla is assassinated and is succeeded by his Praetorian Guard prefect, Marcus Opellius Macrinus.
Battle of Antioch: With the support of the Syrian legions, Elagabalus defeats the forces of emperor Macrinus.
Eastern Han falls; Three Kingdoms period begins
Emperor Xian of Han is forced to abdicate the throne by Cao Cao's son Cao Pi, ending the Han dynasty.
Liu Bei, Chinese warlord, proclaims himself emperor of Shu Han, the successor of the Han dynasty.
Roman emperor Elagabalus adopts his cousin Alexander Severus as his heir and grants him the title of Caesar.
Roman emperor Elagabalus is murdered alongside his mother, Julia Soaemias. He is replaced by his 14-year old cousin, Severus Alexander.
The Battle of Hormozdgan is fought. Ardashir I defeats and kills Artabanus V, effectively ending the Parthian Empire.
Pope Pontian succeeds Urban I as the eighteenth pope. After being exiled to Sardinia, he became the first pope to resign his office.
Roman emperor Severus Alexander is murdered, marking the start of the Crisis of the Third Century.
Pope Pontian resigns. He is exiled to the mines of Sardinia, along with Hippolytus of Rome.
During the year of Six Emperors, forces of Gordian I and Gordian II are defeated by those of Maximinus Thrax in the battle of Carthage.
Himiko sends envoys to Wei
Emperor Decius orders everyone in the Roman Empire (except Jews) to make sacrifices to the Roman gods.
Pope Stephen I succeeds Pope Lucius I, becoming the 23rd pope of the Catholic Church, and immediately takes a stand against Novatianism.
Pope Sixtus II is arrested while celebrating mass and then beheaded with several of his deacons.
Election of Pope Dionysius after the death of Pope Sixtus II in the persecutions of Emperor Valerian in the previous year.
Sima Zhao's regicide of Cao Mao: The figurehead Wei emperor Cao Mao personally leads an attempt to oust his regent, Sima Zhao; the attempted coup is crushed and the emperor killed.
For the last time, the Roman Senate chooses an emperor; Marcus Claudius Tacitus is elected.
Western Jin conquers Wu and unifies China
Emperor Diocletian and Maximian appoint Constantius Chlorus and Galerius as Caesars. This is considered the beginning of the Tetrarchy, known as the Quattuor Principes Mundi ("Four Rulers of the World").
Roman Emperors Diocletian and Maximian appoint Galerius as Caesar to Diocletian, beginning the period of four rulers known as the Tetrarchy.
Roman Emperor Maximian concludes his campaign in North Africa and makes a triumphal entry into Carthage.
Source: Wikipedia date pages ("January 1" … "December 31") / CC BY-SA 4.0. Regions are assigned by the site editors.
Dates and events are based on Wikipedia and other references. Summaries and regions are written by the site editors.