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Events

By Place

Roman Empire

* July 1 — In the Battle of Abrittus, the Goths defeat the Romans; emperors Decius and Herennius Etruscus are killed.
* In Rome, Hostilian, son of Decius, succeeds Decius, while Trebonianus Gallus is proclaimed Emperor by the troops. Gallus accepts Hostilian as co-emperor, but an outbreak of plague strikes the city and kills the young Hostilian.
* A fifteen-year plague begins in the Roman Empire.
* Gallus concludes a treaty with the Goths.

Europe

* The Sassanid king, Shapur I, intervenes in Armenia (251–254).

By Topic

Religion

* March — Pope Cornelius succeeds Pope Fabian as the 21st pope.

Births

* Anthony the Great, Christian saint

Deaths

* Saint Agatha
* July 1 — Decius, Roman emperor (killed after the battle of Abrittus)
* July 1 — Herennius Etruscus, Roman emperor (killed during the battle of Abrittus)
* Hostilian, Roman emperor (of plague in Rome)
* Origen (possible date)
* Sima Yi, strategist of Wei and rival of Zhuge Liang
* Empress Zhen, wife of Cao Fang
* Deng Zhi, minister under Liu Bei
* Tian Yu, general of the Kingdom of Wei