180-228 CE (Superpowers)

Death of Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius on 2 July 180 CE, in his quarters in Rome surrounded by his only surviving son (adopted) and his four surviving daughters. He had survived halfway through his last year with a bout of illness, holding on if only to see his loved son come onto the throne as well as possible. Marcus Aurelius was given a modest state funeral, befitting a true stoic, as his passing was mourned by the millions under his rule.

He is succeeded by his adopted son Gaius Corellus Sulla in a grand ceremony on 6 July 180, being crowned Imperator Sulla I of Rome. In the latter half of his reign, people would know him as Sulla the Great, the most successful of the Imperii Boni (a term coined by Emperor Valens in 767 CE). He starts off his year by the creation of a 3 mile wide buffer zone along the Carpathians, complete with a several hundred mile long ditch and dirt wall, several watch towers and one Castrum, completed the following year. This was done following a stunning victory by Praetorian Prefect Tarutenius Paternus against the Quadi tribes.

This year would also see the execution of the Scillitan Martyrs and the weakening of the various cults of Mithras by the new Emperor. Several writings of note were also published within the Roman Empire. These include the Meditations by Marcus Aurelius, made available to the community following his death. Several works on hygiene and the correlation between paralysis and the severing of the spine were also published by the Greek physician Galen.

Military, religious and political authorities around Eurasia were in a furor for much of the year as the sky turned red for an extended period of time following the eruption of Lake Taupo in New Zealand.

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