Editing 251

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{{About year|251|the chord progression|ii–V–I progression|incident|Li Hongyuan incident}}
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[[File:GothicInvasions250-251-en.svg|thumb|[[Gothic and Vandal warfare|Gothic Invasion 250-251]]]]
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Year '''251''' ('''[[Roman numerals|CCLI]]''') was a [[common year starting on Wednesday]] of the [[Julian calendar]]. At the time, in the Roman Empire, it was known as the '''Year of the Consulship of Traianus and Etruscus''' (or, less frequently, '''year 1004 ''[[Ab urbe condita]]'''''). The denomination 251 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the [[Anno Domini]] [[calendar era]] became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.

== Events ==
<onlyinclude>

=== By place ===
==== Roman Empire ====
* [[July 1]] &ndash; [[Battle of Abritus]]: The [[Goths]] defeat Emperor [[Decius]] and his son [[Herennius Etruscus]], on swampy ground in the [[Dobruja]] ([[Moesia]]).  
* [[May]] &ndash; The first [[Councils of Carthage|Synod of Carthage]], a pre-ecumenical council, is held under the presidency of [[Cyprian|Saint Cyprian]].   
* In [[Ancient Rome|Rome]], [[Hostilian]], son of Decius, succeeds his father, while [[Trebonianus Gallus]] is proclaimed [[Roman emperor|Emperor]] by the troops. Gallus accepts him as co-emperor, but an outbreak of [[Plague (disease)|plague]] strikes the city, and kills Hostilian.
* The prosperity of [[Roman Britain]] declines during this period, as the [[Germanic peoples|Germanic tribes]] of the [[Franks]] and [[Saxons]], whose homelands are in [[Friesland]] and the [[Low Countries]], make raids around the southeast coast.
* Gallus makes peace with the Goths; he permits them to keep their plunder, and offers them a bribe not to return.  
* A 15-year [[Antonine Plague#Plague of Cyprian|plague]] begins in the [[Roman Empire]].

==== Persia ====
* [[Sassanid]] King [[Shapur I]] orders an invasion of [[Syria]], with the intent of finally capturing the city of [[Antioch]] during the campaign of 251–[[254]].

==== China ====
* [[Wang Ling (Three Kingdoms)|Wang Ling]]'s rebellion against the Wei regent [[Sima Yi]] is quelled.
* Sima Yi passes away in [[Luoyang]].
* [[Sima Shi]], Sima Yi's eldest son, inherits his father's authority.

=== By topic ===
==== Religion ====
* March &ndash; [[Pope Cornelius]] succeeds [[Pope Fabian]] as the 21st [[pope]].
</onlyinclude>

== Births ==
* [[January 12]] &ndash; [[Anthony the Great]], Christian monk and saint (d. [[356]])

== Deaths ==
* [[February 5]] &ndash; [[Cao Lin (Prince of Donghai)|Cao Lin]], Chinese prince of the [[Cao Wei]] state
* June &ndash; August
** [[Decius]], Roman emperor (killed after the [[battle of Abritus]])<ref>{{Cite book |last=Southern |first=Patricia |title= The Roman Empire from Severus to Constantine |publisher=[[Taylor & Francis]] |isbn=9781134553815 |location=United Kingdom |publication-date=December 16, 2003 |pages=236}}</ref>
** [[Herennius Etruscus]], Roman emperor and son of Decius
* [[June 15]] &ndash; [[Wang Ling (Three Kingdoms)|Wang Ling]], Chinese general and politician
* [[August 22]] &ndash; [[Empress Zhen (Cao Fang)|Zhen]], Chinese empress of the Cao Wei state
* [[September 7]] &ndash; [[Sima Yi]], Chinese general and [[regent]] (b. [[179]])
* [[Agatha of Sicily]], Christian martyr and saint (approximate date)
* [[Cao Biao]], Chinese prince of the Cao Wei state (b. [[195]])
* [[Deng Zhi]], Chinese general, politician and diplomat
* [[Hostilian]], Roman emperor (of plague in [[Ancient Rome|Rome]])
* [[Lü Yi (Shu Han)|Lü Yi]], Chinese official, governor and politician

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

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[[Category:251| ]]