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Roman Empire
Emperors Diocletian and Maximian meet in Milan on the five-year anniversary of their rule to discuss politics and war. Rome becomes a ceremonial capital.
Carausius, who has established himself as king of Britain, is also reluctantly acknowledged by Diocletian and Maximian as third emperor. During his reign, he defeats Frankish and Saxon raids on the English coast.
Carausius begins to build a series of fortifications on the Saxon Shore in south-east England.
Asia
May 17 – Emperor Jin Wudi, founder of the Western Jin Dynasty, dies after a 25-year reign. He reunifies north and south, but gives away many dukedoms to his kinsmen. Crown Prince Jin Huidi succeeds his father and has to deal with conflicts among the aristocratic families in China.
Roman Empire
Emperor Diocletian signs peace treaties with the kingdoms of Aksum and Nubia.
China
War of the Eight Princes: After the death of Emperor Sima Yan (Jin Wudi), a civil war breaks out among the princes and dukes of the Jin Dynasty. The struggle devastates and depopulates the provinces of northern China.
Roman Empire
Achilleus, Roman general, is proclaimed emperor in Alexandria. For two years he rules over Egypt, but in the end the rebellion is crushed by Emperor Diocletian.
America
The oldest known Mayan stele is erected at the capital Tikal (Guatemala).
Roman Empire
March 1 – 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").
The four Tetrarchs establish their capitals close to the Roman frontier:
Nicomedia (northwestern Asia Minor) becomes the capital of Diocletian
Mediolanum (Milan, near the Alps) becomes the capital of Maximian
Augusta Treverorum (Trier, in Germany) becomes the capital of Constantius Chlorus
Sirmium (Serbia, on the Danube border) becomes the capital of Galerius
Diocletian's Palace is built at a small bay on the Dalmatian coast, four miles from Salona, today's Split, Croatia.
Constantius Chlorus retakes some of the Gallic territories and conquers the crucial port of Bononia (modern Boulogne).
Carausius, Roman usurper, is murdered by his finance minister Allectus, who proclaims himself "emperor" of Britain.
Constantius Chlorus defeats the Franks on the Rhine frontier in Batavia (Netherlands).
Asia
King Tiridates III of Armenia, (with Rome as suzerainty), invades Assyria.
King Bahram II of the Persian Empire dies after a 17-year reign; his son Bahram III ascends to the throne. After four months he is murdered by viceroy Narseh with support of the nobility.
Narseh becomes king of Persia and engages Rome in eight years of constant warfare.
Tuoba Fu succeeds his uncle Tuoba Chuo as chieftain of the Chinese Tuoba clan.
Religion
Probus succeeds Rufinus as Patriarch of Constantinople.
Roman Empire
Galerius, Roman Caesar in the Balkans, proves his worth in campaigning on the Danube frontier, fighting the Goths, Marcomanni, Sarmatians, and Carpi.
Galerius is given the unspectacular job of land reclamation and repopulation, moving the entire tribe of the Carpi to settlements within the Roman Empire.
Emperor Diocletian goes with the young Constantine I the Great (later the first Christian Roman Emperor) on his staff to Egypt. He besieges Alexandria, and deposes "emperor" Achilleus.
Asia
Tuoba Luguan succeeds his nepnew Tuoba Fu as chieftain of the Tuoba clan.
Roman Empire
Galerius, Roman Caesar in the Balkans, is dispatched to Egypt to fight against the rebellious cities Busiris and Coptos.
Asia
King Narseh, Shah of the Sassanid Empire, declares war on Rome and invades Armenia with his army.
Tuoba Luguan divides the territory of the Tuoba clan into three areas. His nephews Tuoba Yilu and Tuoba Yituo become chieftains of the western and central areas of (Shanxi province). Tuoba Luguan dominates the eastern area (near Hohhot).
Religion
Petra rejoins the province of Palestine, and is converted to Christianity by the Syrian monk Barsauma.
Roman Empire
Constantius Chlorus assembles two invasion fleets with the intent of crossing the English Channel. The first is under the command of Asclepiodotus, Constantius' long serving Praetorian Prefect. He sails from the mouth of the Seine, and lands near the Isle of Wight, where his forces defeat the usurper Allectus in Hampshire. Constantius leaves with his fleet Boulogne and occupies London, saving the city from an attack by Frankish mercenaries who are roaming the province.
Maximian, emperor (Augustus) of the Roman Empire, mobilises an army, consisting of Praetorian cohorts, Aquileian, Egyptian, and Danubian legionaries, marching through Spain. He crosses the Strait of Gibraltar into Mauretania (modern Morocco) to protect the area against Frankish pirates.
Constantius Chlorus reconquers Britain; he rebuilds the cities Eboracum (York), Londinium (London), and Verulamium (St Albans).
Persia
Emperor Diocletian dispatches his son-in-law Galerius with a large army to Armenia. He invades Mesopotamia, but suffers a complete defeat outside Ctesiphon against the Persian king Narseh, and is forced to retreat. Galerius crosses the Euphrates into Syria to join Diocletian at Antioch.
Religion
April 22 – Pope Caius dies at Rome after a 13-year reign and is succeeded by Pope Marcellinus as the 29th pope.
Roman Empire
Emperor Maximian begins an offensive against the Berbers in Mauritania, driving them back into their homelands in the Atlas Mountains. He spends the rest of the winter in Carthage (Africa).
Persia
Galerius makes preparations in Syria for a campaign against the Persian king Narseh. He recruites veterans from Illyria and Moesia, and strengthens his bodyguard with Gothic auxiliaries.
Roman Empire
Battle of Lingones: Constantius Chlorus defeats the Alamanni in the territory of the Lingones (Langres) in Gaul. He strengthens the border along the Rhine frontier.
Battle of Vindonissa: Constantius I defeats the Alamanni at Vindonissa (modern Switzerland).
March 10 – Emperor Maximian concludes his campaign in North Africa against the Berbers, and makes a triumphal entry into Carthage.
The Baths of Diocletian are commissioned by Maximian in honor of Emperor Diocletian.
Christians are expelled from the Roman army.
Persia
Galerius invades Armenia with an army of 25,000 men. He makes personal reconnaissances, and marched deep in occupied Mesopotamia.
Battle of Satala: Galerius decisively defeats king Narseh. He captures the Persian camp, including Narseh's family, harem and treasure.
King Tiridates III is restored as ruler of Armenia.
Asia
The manufacture of cultured silk becomes popular from Korea to Japan.
Roman Empire
Peace of Nisibis: Galerius signs a treaty with the Persian king Narseh that will last for 40 years. The Persians accept Roman dominion over Armenia and northern Mesopotamia. The Tigris becomes the boundary between Rome and the Sassanid Empire.
Galerius commissions the Arch of Galerius in Thessaloniki (Greece). The structure is built to celebrate the war and victory over the Sassanid Persians.
Asia
Empress Jia Nanfeng frames Crown Prince Yu for treason and has him deposed.
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