280

Year 280 was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Messalla and Gratus. The denomination 280 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

Roman usurper Proculus starts a rebellion at Lugdunum, and proclaims himself emperor.
Emperor Probus drives the Alans off to Asia Minor and suppresses the revolt in Gaul; Proculus is executed.
The Germans destroy the Roman fleet on the Rhine; Bonosus is proclaimed emperor at Colonia Agrippina.
Probus defeats the army under Bonosus. Bonosus sees no way out and hangs himself. His family is treated with honours.
Julius Saturninus, governor of Syria, is in Alexandria, charged with the defense of the East. He is declared emperor and withdraws to Apamea. Probus besieges the city and puts him to death.
Roman territory is under constant threat of raids from Franks. The cities in Gaul are reinforced with defensive walls.

Emperor Wu of the Jin dynasty completes the unification of China, which was previously divided between three contending powers during the Three Kingdoms period. The Jin dynasty's capital of Luoyang becomes a thriving centre of commerce as foreign diplomats and traders travel there.

King Bahram II of the Sassanid Empire sends envoys to seek peaceful relations with Rome.