271

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Events

By Place

Roman Empire

* The Goths are forced to withdraw across the Danube.
* The Alamanni are repulsed from Italy, and forced back to the Alps.
* Emperor Aurelian withdraws troops to the Danube frontier, abandoning Dacia. (Note: this withdrawal may have lasted until 272. Both years are mentioned by various sources.)
* Aurelian begins construction of a new defensive wall, 16 meters high, to protect Rome.

Europe

* Victorinus, Emperor of the Gallic Empire, is assassinated by Attitianus, reportedly for reasons of personal revenge. Domitianus presumably serves as Emperor for a few days before being replaced by Tetricus I.

Asia

* Zenobia proclaims herself to be Empress, and breaks all relations with the Roman Empire.
* Zenobia gives her son Vaballatus the title of Augustus.

By Topic

Arts and Sciences

* A magnetic compass is first used in China.

Births

* Sima Wei

Deaths

* Ding Feng, general of the Wu Kingdom
* Liu Shan, last Emperor of the Kingdom of Shu
* Victorinus, Emperor of the Gallic Empire
* Domitianus, Emperor of the Gallic Empire (confirmed by two coins)
* Pei Xiu, Chinese minister of public works; played a role developing the methods of surveying and in advancing cartography
* Sima Wang, general of Jin Dynasty