Editing 238 (section)

== Events ==
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=== By place ===
==== Roman Empire ====
* Emperor [[Maximinus Thrax]] campaigns against the [[Carpi (people)|Carpians]] on the [[Danube]] in [[Moesia]] ([[Balkans]]). In spite of the payment of a [[tribute]], the Romans fail to persuade the [[Goths]] and the [[Germanic people|Germanic tribes]].
* {{Circa}} March &ndash; Roman subjects in [[Africa (Roman province)|Africa]] revolt against Maximinus. The elderly [[Gordian I|Gordian]] yields to public demand that he succeed Maximinus and rules jointly with his 46-year-old son [[Gordian II]].
* {{Circa}} April &ndash; [[Battle of Carthage (238)|Battle of Carthage]]: [[Numidia]]n forces loyal to Maximinus invade Africa with support of [[Legio III Augusta|Legio III ''Augusta'']].<ref name="Meckler">{{cite web |last=Meckler |first=Michael A. |date=26 June 2001 |title=Gordian I (238 A.D.) |url=http://www.roman-emperors.org/gordo1.htm |access-date=1 August 2012 |work=Die Imperatoribus Romanis |publisher=Salve Regina University}}</ref> Gordian II is killed  and after a [[siege]], Gordian I commits [[suicide]] by hanging himself with his [[belt (clothing)|belt]].
* {{Circa}} May &ndash; The Senate outlaws Maximinus for his bloodthirsty proscriptions in [[Ancient Rome]] and nominates two of its members, [[Pupienus]] and [[Balbinus]], to the [[throne]].
* Maximinus advances to the town [[Aquileia]] in northern [[Italy]]; his army suffers from [[famine]] and [[disease]], while the city is besieged. Soldiers of [[Legio II Parthica|Legio II ''Parthica'']] kill him in his tent, along with his son [[Gaius Julius Verus Maximus|Maximinus]] (who is appointed [[Caesar (title)|co-emperor]]). Their corpses are [[decapitation|decapitated]] and their heads carried to Rome.
* {{Circa}} August &ndash; The [[Praetorian Guard]] storms the palace and captures Pupienus and Balbinus. They are dragged naked through the streets of Rome and executed. On the same day [[Gordian III]], age 13, is proclaimed the new emperor.<ref>{{cite book |last=Drinkwater |first=John |title=The Cambridge Ancient History: The crisis of Empire, A.D. 193–337 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |year=2007 |isbn=9781139054393 |editor-last1=Bowman |editor-first1=Alan K. |edition=2nd |volume=XII |chapter=Maximinus to Diocletian and the 'Crisis' |editor-last2=Garnsey |editor-first2=Peter |editor-last3=Cameron |editor-first3=Averil}}</ref> [[Gaius Furius Sabinius Aquila Timesitheus|Timesitheus]] becomes his tutor and advisor.
* Future Emperor [[Valerian (emperor)|Valerian]] becomes ''[[princeps senatus]]''.
* The [[Colosseum]] is restored after being damaged.
* The Goths, coming from [[Ukraine]], cross the Danube and devastate the [[Roman Empire]] up to the border with [[Anatolia]]. 
* In [[North Africa]], Legio III ''Augusta'' is dissolved.  Until its reconstitution in [[253]], Africa is defended by [[auxiliaries (Roman military)|auxiliary]] forces only.

==== China ====
* [[Sima Yi]], a Chinese general of the [[Cao Wei]] state, destroys the outlying northeastern warlord [[Gongsun Yuan]] in the [[Sima Yi's Liaodong campaign|Liaodong campaign]].

=== By topic ===
==== Commerce ====
* The [[silver]] content of the Roman [[denarius]] falls to 28 percent under Emperor Gordian III, down from 35 percent under [[Alexander Severus]].
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