Eastern Mediterranean 250: Decius’ Gothic War

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Political map of the Eastern Mediterranean on 09 Dec 250 (Crisis of the Third Century: Decius’ Gothic War), showing the following events: Decius’ Gothic War; Plague of Cyprian.

Decius had not been emperor for a year when, in 250, the Goths invaded the Balkans and sacked Philippopolis. The invaders would eventually kill Decius himself at Abritus after he attempted to intercept them as they left the empire in mid 251.

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Main Events

?? 250–Jun 251 Decius’ Gothic War ▲

In 250 the Gothic king Cniva led an army of Goths and Carpi into the Roman province of Moesia, crossing the Danube at Oescus (near the south eastern corner of Dacia). The invaders split into two columns, with the one under Cniva attacking Novae and Nicopolis ad Istrum and the other column advancing on Philippopolis in Thrace. The Roman emperor Decius responded to the threat and drove Cniva from Nicopolis, but was unable to prevent the two Gothic columns combining to sack Philippopolis. in wikipedia

Apr 250–?? 270 Plague of Cyprian ▲

In around Easter 250 a new plague—possibly a viral hemorrhagic fever like Ebola—appeared in Ethiopia and soon spread to Egypt, devastating the population of Alexandria. By mid 251 it was in Rome, where it reportedly killed as many as 5,000 people a day at its peak. Lasting for perhaps 20 years, the plague claimed the lives of the emperors Hostilian and Claudius Gothicus, compelled people to flee the cities for the countryside, and led to the collapse of trade and agricultural production. Among the few beneficiaries of the disaster was the nascent Christian church, which provided care for the ill and spoke of rewards in the afterlife. in wikipedia

250 250s Bulgaria Carpi December December 9 Ebola Egypt Ethiopia Goths Italy maps pandemic Roman Empire Thrace Tunisia

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