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Roman Empire

• First Gothic invasion: The Goths, originally from Scandinavia, with the Sarmatians, invade the Balkans and Greece. They ravage Moesia and Thrace.
• The Heruli invade the Black Sea coast; they unsuccessfully attack Byzantium and Cyzicus. The Roman fleet defeats the Herulian fleet but allows them to escape into the Aegean Sea, where they raid the islands of Lemnos and Skyros.
• The Goths sack several cities of southern Greece including Athens, Corinth, Argos and Sparta. After the Sack of Athens, an Athenian militia force, under the historian Dexippus, pushes the invaders to the north where they are intercepted by the Roman army under emperor Gallienus. He wins an important victory near the Nestos River, on the boundary between Macedonia and Thrace.
• Aureolus, charged with defending Italy, defeats Victorinus, is proclaimed emperor by his troops, and begins his march on Rome.

  Near East

• King Odaenathus of Palmyra makes plans for a campaign in Cappadocia against the Goths. He is assassinated, along with his eldest son, evidently on orders from emperor Gallienus. His wife Zenobia succeeds him, and rules Vaballathus with her young son.