284

By place

Roman Empire

• November 20 - Emperor Numerian travels through Bithynia on his way home to Rome. Suffering from an inflammation of the eyes, he travels in a closed litter in which soldiers find his decaying corpse.
• November 20 - Diocletian, age 39, is proclaimed new emperor. He establishes himself at Nicomedia and accepts the purple imperial vestments, claiming that the praetorian prefect Arrius Aper murdered Numerian, killing him on the spot for the alleged deed. Diocletian carries out reforms of the Roman army, increasing conscription, and admitting large numbers of barbarian volunteers. In the winter he advances with his army across the Balkans.
• Sabinus Julianus, Roman usurper against Emperor Carinus, revolts in the Roman province of Pannonia on the edge of the Balkans. He invades northern Italy and declares himself emperor.
• The Bagaudae, a group of peasant insurgents, begin a revolt in Gaul against the Roman Empire.
• Diocletian declares the Dardani, a region located in Illyria, as a Roman province separate from Moesia.

  Korea

• Yurye becomes king of the Korean kingdom of Silla.

  By topic

Religion

• Rufinus succeeds Dometius as Bishop of Byzantium.

  Births

• Sima Chi, later Emperor Huai of Jin, Chinese emperor of the Jin dynasty

  Deaths

• November 20 - Numerian, Roman emperor
• Sun Hao, Chinese emperor of the Eastern Wu state