238 facts for kids

Emperor Gordian I

Year 238 (CCXXXVIII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar.

Events

By place

Roman Empire

• Emperor Maximinus Thrax battles against the Carpians on the Danube in Moesia (Balkans).
• March 7 – Romans in Africa go against Maximinus and elect Marcus Antonius Gordianus (Africanus) as emperor.
• April 12 – Battle of Carthage: Numidian forces loyal to Maximinus invade Africa. Gordian II is killed. Gordian I commits suicide.
• April 22 – Year of the Six Emperors: The Senate outlaws Maximinus. Pupienus and Balbinus go to the throne.
• Maximinus gets to the town Aquileia in northern Italy. His army has famine and disease.
• July 29 – The Praetorian Guard kill Pupienus and Balbinus. On the same day Gordian III, age 13, is made new emperor.
• Future Roman Emperor Valerian becomes princeps senatus.
• The Colosseum is restored after being damaged.
• The Goths, coming from Ukraine, cross the Danube and ruin the Roman Empire up to the border with Anatolia.

Asia

• The Cao Wei general Sima Yi destroys the northeastern Chinese warlord Gongsun Yuan.

Births

• Empress Yang Yan, first wife of Emperor Wu (d. 274)
• Wen Yang, general of the Kingdom of Wei (d. 291)

Deaths

• April 12 – Roman emperors Gordian I and Gordian II (killed in battle)
• June 24 – Maximinus Thrax, Roman Emperor
• Maximinus the Younger, Roman Emperor
• July 29 – Pupienus and Balbinus, Roman Emperors
• Gongsun Yuan, warlord of Liaodong
• Lun Zhi, general of Liaodong
• Jia Fan, advisor Liaodong
• Chosroes I, King of Armenia (assassinated)

See also

In Spanish: 238 para niños