Years: 256 257 258 259 - 260 - 261 262 263 264

Decades: 230s 240s 250s - 260s - 270s 280s 290s

Centuries: 2nd century - 3rd century - 4th century 260 (number)

Events

• Valerian I captured by the Persian king Shapur I; Gallienus becomes sole Roman emperor.
• Shapur destroys Caesarea Mazaca in Asia Minor.
• Cao Huan succeeds Cao Mao as ruler of the Chinese Kingdom of Wei.
• Syria, Egypt and Palestine break off from the Roman Empire to form the Persia-supported Palmyran Empire.
• Roman fort of Wiesbaden (Germany) captured by the Alamanni (possibly 259).
• Franks took control over the Scheldt estuary (approximate date).
• Earliest known date of chess.
• Paul of Samosata becomes Patriarch of Antioch.

Births

• Emperor Hui of Jin China (approximate date)

Deaths

• Cao Mao, ruler of the Chinese Kingdom of Wei, is killed in an abortive coup d'état against Sima Zhao
• Emperor Valerian I (approximate date)