293

By place

Roman Empire

• March 1 – Emperors Diocletian and Maximian appoint Constantius Chlorus and Galerius as Caesars. This is considered the beginning of the Tetrarchy, known as the Quattuor Principes Mundi.
• The four Tetrarchs establish their capitals close to the Roman frontier:
• * Nicomedia becomes the capital of Diocletian
• * Mediolanum becomes the capital of Maximian
• * Augusta Treverorum becomes the capital of Constantius Chlorus
• * Sirmium 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.
• 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.

  Armenia

• King Tiridates III of Armenia,, invades Assyria.

  Persia

• 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.

  China

• Tuoba Fu succeeds his uncle Tuoba Chuo, as chieftain of the Chinese Tuoba Clan.

  By topic

Religion

• Probus succeeds Rufinus, as Patriarch of Constantinople.