260s

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The 260s decade ran from January 1, 260, to December 31, 269.

Significant events

• Crisis of the Third Century

The Roman Empire

• Gallienus, Roman Emperor
• Claudius II, Roman Emperor

Asia

America

Religion

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• • —The Juthungi are finally defeated in Raetia by Emperor Gallienus near Augusta Vindelicorum.
  • —Regalianus revolts against Gallienus in Carnuntum.
  • —Regalianus defeats an invasion of Sarmatians in the Pannonian province.
  • —Paul of Samosata becomes Patriarch of Antioch.
  • —The Berber tribes in North Africa are finally defeated by the Romans.
  • —The Roman fort of Wiesbaden (Germany) is captured by the Alamanni (possibly 259).
  • —The Franks take control over the Scheldt estuary (approximate date).
  • —Regalianus is killed by his own troops and his Roxolani allies.
  • —During a peace negotiation, near Edessa, between The Sassanid King Shapur I and the Roman Emperor Valerian, the Emperor is ambushed and captured by the enemy forces and taken prisoner to the Sassanid capital Ctesiphon.
  • —The Sassanians plunder and destroy the Cappadocia province including the great city of Caesarea Mazaca
  • —After the pillage of Antioch the Sassanian army is attacked by surprise by the Palmyrene forces of Odaenathus. Defeated, the Sassanids leave their booty behind and flee home.
  • —Being deep within the enemy territory, the Eastern Roman Army proclaim emperor Fulvius Macrianus as their emperor. Because of his age, he refuses and passes the throne to his sons Macrianus Minor and Quietus.
  • —Fulvius Macrianus and his son Macrianus Minor are defeated in Thrace against a Roman Army sent by Emperor Gallienus and commanded by general Aureolus.
  • —Odaenathus, taking the side of Gallienus, defeats and kills Quietus in Emessa.
  • —Postumus defeats Frankish and Alamanni tribes that have crossed the Rhine frontier.
  • —With the defeat of Fulvius Macrianus, the praefect of Aegyptus Mussius Aemilianus proclaims himself Roman Emperor.
  • —The arch of Gallienus is built in Rome.
  • —Gallienus recovers the province of Raetia from the Gallic Empire.
  • —The Goths enter the Aegean Sea, first by pillaging the city of Byzantium, and then by plundering and destroying many coastal cities in the provinces of Asia, Macedonia and Achaia.
  • —Aureolus is sent to Aegyptus and successfully crushes the Imperial usurper.
  • —Odaenathus forces, under Roman name, recover the cities of Edessa, Carrhae and Nisibis to the Empire.
  • —Odaenathus forces besiege the Sassanid capital of Ctesiphon .
  • —Gallienus commemorates his Decennalia with a Triumph march in Rome.
  • —A Christian synod is held in Antioch.
  • —Odaenathus defeats the Sassanid forces outside their capital Ctesiphon.
  • —Odaenathus is killed by his nephew Maeonius in Palmyra, which is also killed very soon leaving the leadership of the trading city to Zenobia.
  • —Goths and Heruli invade the provinces of Dacia and Moesia.
  • —The Gothic and Heruli tribes pillage the cities of Athens, Corinth, Argos, Sparta and Olympia.
  • —The general Aureolus revolts against Emperor Gallienus establishing his base in Mediolanum by abandoning his forts and garrisons of Raetia.
  • —The Alamanni under king Chrocus invade Raetia and go into Italy as far as Ravenna. They are stopped from going deeper into the Peninsula by Emperor Gallienus.
  • —The Agri Decumates is evacuated and abandoned for the lack of troops to deal with the Alamannic invasion.
  • —A force of Goths is beaten off while trying to sack the cities of Tomi and Marcianopolis, while another Gothic force tries unsuccessfully to pillage the cities of Byzantium and Cyzicus.
  • —Aureolus is defeated by Emperor Gallienus in the battle of River Adda. He the escapes to Mediolanum.
  • —Aureolus, after surrender, is murdered by the Praetorian Guard of the new Emperor Claudius II.
  • —The Alamanni are heavily crushed and defeated by Emperor Claudius II in the Battle of Lake Benacus.
  • —A huge earthquake destroys the cities of Cyrenaica. Cyrene and Apollonia are rebuilt by Emperor Claudius II but with little success. Cyrene changes its name to Claudiopolis.
  • —Zenobia and her Palmyrene Empire distance themselves from Roman rule and invade and conquer Aegyptus. She then proclaims herself "Queen of Egypt".