200s (9 events)
200
ID: 3808
Tertullian coins term 'Trinity' - creates Latin theological vocabulary, later joins Montanist heresy
ID: 3808
200
ID: 4843
Muratorian Canon lists New Testament books - Earliest known list, rejects Marcionite texts, includes most current NT
ID: 4843
200
ID: 4852
Rabbi Judah ha-Nasi compiles the Mishnah - Oral law codified in writing at Sepphoris, foundation of Talmud
ID: 4852
200
ID: 4871
Judah ha-Nasi and Christianity - Despite friendship with 'Antoninus' (possibly Marcus Aurelius), maintains strict separation
ID: 4871
200
ID: 4884
Tertullian's Prescription Against Heretics - Legal argument that heretics have no right to use Scripture
ID: 4884
200
ID: 5334
Roman mining techniques spread empire-wide - drainage wheels, Archimedes screws, fire-setting, and hydraulic mining used from Britain to Egypt
ID: 5334
200
ID: 5360
Peak Roman mining employment - estimated 100,000+ slaves and workers in Spanish mines alone, millions empire-wide
ID: 5360
200
ID: 5959
Christians compete with mysteries - both Mithraism and Christianity offer salvation, sacred meals, baptism, resurrection, fierce rivalry
ID: 5959
202
ID: 4990
Martyrdom of St. Irenaeus at Lyon - Doctor of the Church, established apostolic succession doctrine
ID: 4990
210s (10 events)
211
ID: 2531
Emperor Septimius Severus dies at York - after campaigning in Scotland, son Caracalla abandons conquests
ID: 2531
211
ID: 4038
Death of Severus at York - dies campaigning in Britain, tells sons 'Enrich soldiers, despise all others'
ID: 4038
211
ID: 4039
Caracalla murders brother Geta - kills him in mother's arms, massacres 20,000 supporters
ID: 4039
212
ID: 4040
Constitutio Antoniniana - Caracalla grants citizenship to all free inhabitants of empire
ID: 4040
215
ID: 3809
Origen begins Hexapla - massive six-column Bible comparing Hebrew and Greek texts, 6000 pages
ID: 3809
217
ID: 3850
St. Callixtus I becomes sixteenth pope - former slave, creates famous catacombs, emphasizes divine mercy
ID: 3850
217
ID: 4041
Caracalla assassinated - killed while urinating on campaign, Praetorian Prefect Macrinus takes power
ID: 4041
217
ID: 4671
Battle of Nisibis - Parthians defeat Macrinus, Rome pays huge indemnity
ID: 4671
218
ID: 4042
Elagabalus becomes emperor at 14 - Syrian sun-priest, most sexually scandalous emperor
ID: 4042
219
ID: 4853
Rav establishes Sura academy in Babylon - Returns from Palestine, creates major center of Jewish learning
ID: 4853
220s (10 events)
220
ID: 3810
Origen castrates himself - literal interpretation of Matthew 19:12, later regrets excessive zeal
ID: 3810
220
ID: 4707
Fall of Han Dynasty - begins Three Kingdoms period (Wei, Shu, Wu)
ID: 4707
220
ID: 4854
Samuel leads Nehardea academy - 'The law of the land is the law', accommodation with Persian rule
ID: 4854
222
ID: 3851
St. Urban I becomes seventeenth pope - declares Church property common to all Christians
ID: 3851
222
ID: 4043
Elagabalus murdered in latrine - killed with mother Julia Soaemias, bodies thrown in Tiber
ID: 4043
222
ID: 4044
Alexander Severus becomes emperor at 13 - dominated by mother Julia Mamaea, last Severan
ID: 4044
222
ID: 4883
Hippolytus writes Refutation of All Heresies - Traces heresies to pagan philosophy, describes 33 Gnostic groups
ID: 4883
224
ID: 4653
Ardashir I establishes Sassanid Empire - Zoroastrianism restored as state religion, fire temples rebuilt
ID: 4653
224
ID: 4672
Fall of Parthian Empire - Ardashir I defeats Artabanus IV at Hormozgan, founds Sassanid dynasty
ID: 4672
226
ID: 4673
Ardashir I crowned Shahanshah - 'King of Kings', establishes Sassanid Persian Empire
ID: 4673
230s (8 events)
230
ID: 3852
St. Pontian becomes eighteenth pope - first pope to abdicate, exiled to Sardinia mines
ID: 3852
235
ID: 3853
St. Anterus becomes nineteenth pope - collects acts of martyrs, shortest pontificate of 43 days
ID: 3853
235
ID: 4045
Alexander Severus murdered by troops - killed for buying peace from Germans, begins 50-year Crisis
ID: 4045
235
ID: 4046
Maximinus Thrax becomes emperor - first soldier from ranks, 8 feet tall, never visits Rome
ID: 4046
235
ID: 4148
St. Barbara martyred by her father Dioscorus - locked in tower, converted to Christianity, beheaded by father who was struck by lightning
ID: 4148
236
ID: 3854
St. Fabian becomes twentieth pope - dove lands on his head at election, divides Rome into 7 deaconries
ID: 3854
238
ID: 4047
Year of Six Emperors - Gordians I & II in Africa, Pupienus and Balbinus in Rome, all killed
ID: 4047
238
ID: 4048
Gordian III becomes emperor at 13 - youngest sole emperor, controlled by Praetorian Prefects
ID: 4048
240s (6 events)
240
ID: 4654
Mani begins preaching Manichaeism - syncretic religion combining Zoroastrian, Christian, Buddhist elements
ID: 4654
240
ID: 4837
Origen creates the Hexapla - Six-column Bible comparing Hebrew, transliteration, Aquila, Symmachus, LXX, Theodotion
ID: 4837
241
ID: 4674
Shapur I becomes king - expands empire, captures Roman Emperor Valerian
ID: 4674
244
ID: 4049
Philip the Arab becomes emperor - possibly first Christian emperor, celebrates Rome's 1000th year
ID: 4049
248
ID: 3811
St. Cyprian becomes Bishop of Carthage - writes On the Unity of the Church, 'Outside the Church no salvation'
ID: 3811
249
ID: 4050
Decius becomes emperor - requires all citizens sacrifice to gods, first systematic persecution
ID: 4050
250s (16 events)
250
ID: 3812
Origen tortured under Decius - survives but dies from injuries years later, prolific writer of 2000 works
ID: 3812
250
ID: 4149
St. Christopher martyred in Lycia - giant who carried travelers across river, converted after carrying Christ child, beheaded under Decius
ID: 4149
250
ID: 4844
Origen writes Contra Celsum - Defends Christian use of Old Testament against pagan and Jewish critics
ID: 4844
250
ID: 4872
Babylonian Jews and Manichaeism - New dualist religion challenges both Judaism and Christianity in Mesopotamia
ID: 4872
250
ID: 5341
Las Médulas abandoned - gold exhausted after producing 1,635,000 kg, landscape permanently scarred, mountains collapsed
ID: 5341
251
ID: 3855
St. Cornelius becomes twenty-first pope - faces Novatian schism over readmitting lapsed Christians
ID: 3855
251
ID: 4051
Decius killed at Abritus - first emperor to die in battle against barbarians, son also killed
ID: 4051
251
ID: 4052
Trebonianus Gallus becomes emperor - pays tribute to Goths, plague ravages empire
ID: 4052
253
ID: 3856
St. Lucius I becomes twenty-second pope - exiled then allowed to return by Emperor Valerian
ID: 3856
253
ID: 4053
Valerian becomes emperor - renews Christian persecution, will be captured by Persians
ID: 4053
254
ID: 3857
St. Stephen I becomes twenty-third pope - defends validity of baptism by heretics, martyred
ID: 3857
257
ID: 3858
St. Sixtus II becomes twenty-fourth pope - martyred with his deacons including St. Lawrence
ID: 3858
258
ID: 3813
St. Cyprian martyred - beheaded after caring for plague victims, reconciles with Pope before death
ID: 3813
258
ID: 4150
St. Denis (Dionysius) of Paris martyred - first bishop of Paris, beheaded at Montmartre, carried head 6 miles while preaching
ID: 4150
259
ID: 3859
St. Dionysius becomes twenty-fifth pope - reorganizes Church after persecution, clarifies Trinity doctrine
ID: 3859
259
ID: 4855
Nehardea destroyed, Pumbedita founded - After Palmyrene attack, academy relocates to Pumbedita
ID: 4855
260s (7 events)
260
ID: 4054
Valerian captured at Edessa - used as footstool by Shapur I, skinned after death
ID: 4054
260
ID: 4055
Gallienus sole ruler - ends persecution, faces 30 usurpers, creates mobile cavalry
ID: 4055
260
ID: 4675
Battle of Edessa - Shapur I captures Emperor Valerian alive, unprecedented humiliation for Rome
ID: 4675
264
ID: 4676
Valerian dies in captivity - used as footstool by Shapur, body stuffed and displayed
ID: 4676
268
ID: 4056
Gallienus assassinated - killed by officers at siege of Milan, capable but overwhelmed
ID: 4056
268
ID: 4057
Claudius II Gothicus - defeats 320,000 Goths at Naissus, dies of plague after 2 years
ID: 4057
269
ID: 3860
St. Felix I becomes twenty-sixth pope - appeals to Emperor Aurelian against Paul of Samosata
ID: 3860
270s (10 events)
270
ID: 3773
St. Anthony the Great goes to Egyptian desert - first Christian hermit, begins desert monasticism at age 20
ID: 3773
270
ID: 4058
Aurelian becomes emperor - 'Restorer of the World', builds Rome's walls, reunites empire
ID: 4058
271
ID: 5352
Dacia abandoned - Aurelian withdraws from Dacia, Roșia Montană gold mines lost, major economic blow to Rome
ID: 5352
274
ID: 4059
Aurelian defeats Zenobia and Tetricus - reunites empire, celebrates last great triumph
ID: 4059
274
ID: 4655
Execution of Mani - Zoroastrian priests have him killed as heretic, Kartir persecutes Manichaeans
ID: 4655
275
ID: 3861
St. Eutychian becomes twenty-seventh pope - personally buries 342 martyrs, peaceful pontificate
ID: 3861
275
ID: 4060
Aurelian assassinated - secretary's forged death list causes officers to kill him
ID: 4060
275
ID: 4061
Tacitus becomes emperor at 75 - Senate's choice, dies after 6 months
ID: 4061
275
ID: 4174
St. George slays dragon at Silene, Libya - saves princess from dragon living in lake, city converts to Christianity (Golden Legend)
ID: 4174
276
ID: 4062
Probus becomes emperor - great general, murdered by troops forced to drain swamps
ID: 4062
280s (8 events)
280
ID: 4656
Kartir's inscriptions - high priest documents persecution of Christians, Jews, Buddhists, Manichaeans
ID: 4656
282
ID: 4063
Carus becomes emperor - successful against Persia, mysteriously killed by lightning
ID: 4063
283
ID: 3862
St. Caius becomes twenty-eighth pope - establishes minor orders before priesthood, related to Diocletian
ID: 3862
283
ID: 4064
Carinus and Numerian co-emperors - sons of Carus, both dead within two years
ID: 4064
284
ID: 4065
Diocletian proclaimed emperor - ends Crisis, divides empire, comprehensive reforms
ID: 4065
285
ID: 3774
St. Anthony's intense spiritual warfare - battles demons in tomb, establishes pattern of ascetic combat
ID: 3774
286
ID: 2532
Carausius declares himself Emperor of Britain - Roman naval commander creates independent British Empire for seven years
ID: 2532
286
ID: 4151
St. Pantaleon martyred in Nicomedia - physician who treated poor for free, survived six execution attempts before beheading
ID: 4151
290s (4 events)
296
ID: 3863
St. Marcellinus becomes twenty-ninth pope - controversial for allegedly offering incense to idols under pressure
ID: 3863
296
ID: 4906
Birth of St. Athanasius in Alexandria - future Doctor of the Church and defender of divinity of Christ
ID: 4906
297
ID: 5062
Diocletian issues edict against Manichaeans - orders leaders burned alive with their scriptures, followers executed or sent to mines
ID: 5062
298
ID: 4677
Treaty of Nisibis - Rome gains five provinces from Persia after Galerius victories
ID: 4677