242 facts for kids

Year 242 (which is written as CCXLII in Roman numerals) was a common year that started on a Saturday, according to the Julian calendar used back then. It was a time when big empires like the Roman Empire and the Persian Empire were clashing.

Major Events of 242

Roman Empire's Actions

• The young Emperor Gordian III started a war against King Shapur I of the Persian Empire.
• A famous Greek thinker named Plotinus joined Emperor Gordian III on his journey. Plotinus hoped to learn more about the ideas and philosophies from Persia and India firsthand.
• Gordian III also had to leave some cities in the Bosporan Kingdom (an area near the Crimea today). This was because the Goths, a powerful group of people, had taken control of that land.

Persian Empire's Actions

• King Shapur I of Persia launched an attack on the city of Antioch. His goal was to push the Romans out of the area.

Religious Developments

• In the Christian church, a new leader was chosen for Constantinople (a major city). Patriarch Titus took over from Patriarch Eugenius I as the Patriarch of Constantinople.

People Born in 242

• Cao Mao: He later became the fourth emperor of a Chinese kingdom called Wei.
• Saloninus: He would become a Roman emperor for a short time.
• Sun Hao: He was the last emperor of another Chinese kingdom known as Wu.

People Who Died in 242

• Man Chong: He was an important adviser to the Chinese Kingdom of Wei.
• Sun Shao: He was a general who served the Wu Kingdom in China. He was born in the year 188.

Images for kids

• 

  A gold dinar coin showing Shapur I (who ruled from 240 to 270 AD).

See also

In Spanish: 242 para niños