261 BC
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Year of the Metal Rat庚子(at the beginning of Earth Pig己亥)
Syria: 51/52 ( the year in October )
Events
Politics and World Affairs
Western Mediterranean
- Beginning of the year: Send The Carthaginians under Hanno a relief army to Sicily in order to liberate the besieged city of Agrigentum by the Romans ( Akragas ); this army but is defeated by the Romans under Lucius Postumius Megellus and Quintus Mamilius Vitulus in the Battle of Agrigentum in front of the city; Agrigento itself is conquered and plundered, enslaved its inhabitants.
- The Romans start building a fleet.
Eastern Mediterranean
- In Chremonidean war succeeds Antigonus Gonatas of Macedon II off the island of Kos a decisive victory against Athens allies Ptolemy II of Egypt, who had ensured the grain shipments to Athens. Athens, starved of Antigonus II Gonatas, must capitulate to Macedonia and accept a Macedonian garrison on the Museion Hill.
Asia
- Antiochus II Theos is king of the Seleucid empire succeeded his father Antiochus I Soter.
- The Indian Mauryan ruler Ashoka conquered by bloody campaigns of the territory of Kalinga ( Orissa ). The experience of the horrors of war means that he converted to Buddhism and henceforth is pursuing a policy of peace; in religion he has established a policy of tolerance.
Died
- Antiochus I, King of the Seleucid Empire (* 324 BC)