217 facts for kids

The year 217 (written as CCXVII in Roman numerals) was a common year that started on a Wednesday in the Julian calendar. It was a time of big changes, especially in the powerful Roman Empire.

Key Events of 217

Changes in the Roman Empire

• On April 8, the Roman Emperor Caracalla was killed by his own soldiers near a place called Edessa.
• After Caracalla's death, Macrinus, who was in charge of the emperor's bodyguards (called the Praetorian Guard), declared himself the new Roman emperor.
• During the summer, the Roman army fought a big battle against the Parthians at Nisibis (which is in modern-day southern Turkey). The Romans lost this three-day battle.
• Later, King Artabanus IV of Parthia signed a peace treaty with Rome, ending the fighting for a while.
• Macrinus, who came from Mauritania, became the first Roman emperor who was an "equestrian". This meant he came from a social class that was not noble by birth, which was unusual for an emperor.
• Empress Julia Domna, Caracalla's mother, sadly took her own life.
• The famous Colosseum in Rome was badly damaged by a fire. The fire destroyed the wooden upper parts of the huge amphitheater.

Religious Happenings

• On December 20, the time when Pope Zephyrinus was the leader of the Christian church ended.
• Pope Callixtus I was then chosen to be the sixteenth pope.
• However, a writer named Hippolytus disagreed with this choice and started his own group, acting as an "antipope" (a person who claims to be pope but is not recognized by the main church).
• Ciriacus became the new leader of the church in Constantinople, taking over from Philadelphus.

People Born in 217

• Fu Xuan, a Chinese poet.
• Hua He, an important minister in the Kingdom of Wu in China.
• Jia Chong, a general who served the Jin Dynasty in China.
• Empress Dowager Wang Yuanji, who would later become the wife of a powerful Chinese leader named Sima Zhao.

Important People Who Died in 217

• April 8 – Caracalla, the Roman Emperor, who was killed. (born in 188)
• Julia Domna, a Roman Empress. (born in 170)
• December 20 – Pope Zephyrinus, the former pope.
• Chen Lin, a minister of the Han Dynasty in China.
• Lu Su, an advisor to Sun Quan in China. (born in 172)
• Wang Can, a Chinese poet, scholar, and statesman. (born in 177)
• Sima Lang, an official of the Han Dynasty in China. (born in 171)

See also

In Spanish: 217 para niños