View source for 279 BC

{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2011}}
{{Year nav|-279}}
{{BC year in topic|279}}
[[File:West Mediterranean Areas 279 BC.png|thumb|The west Mediterranean in 279 BC.]]
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Year '''279 BC''' was a year of the [[Roman calendar|pre-Julian Roman calendar]]. At the time it was known as the '''Year of the Consulship of Publius Sulpicius Saverrio and [[Publius Decius Mus (consul 279 BC)|Publius Decius Mus]]''' (or, less frequently, '''year 475 ''[[Ab urbe condita]]'''''). The denomination 279 BC for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the [[Anno Domini]] [[calendar era]] became the prevalent method in Europe for many years.

== Events ==
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=== By place ===

==== Greece ====
* An army of [[Gaul]]s under [[Brennus (3rd century BC)|Brennus]] [[Gallic Invasion of Greece|invade Greece]]. A section of the army, commanded by [[Bolgios]], crushes a [[Macedon]]ian army led by [[Ptolemy Keraunos]], who is killed in the battle. At the narrow pass of [[Thermopylae]], on the east coast of [[Central Greece (geographic region)|Central Greece]], Brennus' forces suffer heavy losses while trying to break through the Greek defence comprising the [[Phocians]] and the [[Aetolians]]. Eventually Brennus finds a way around the pass but the Greeks escape by sea. Brennus pushes on to [[Delphi]] where he is defeated and forced to retreat, after which he dies of wounds sustained in the battle. His army falls back to the river [[Spercheios River|Spercheios]] where it is routed by [[Thessaly|Thessalians]] and [[Malians (Greek tribe)|Malians]]. Some of the survivors settle in a part of [[Asia Minor]] that will eventually be called [[Galatia]], while some settle in [[Thrace]], founding a short-lived city-state named [[Tylis]].
* With the death of Ptolemy Keraunos, the previous King of Macedonia, [[Antipater II of Macedon|Antipater II]] becomes king again. However, his new reign lasts only a few months before he is killed by his cousin [[Sosthenes of Macedon|Sosthenes]] who becomes the new King of Macedonia.
* The Phocians are readmitted into the [[Amphictyonic League]] after they have joined in the defence of Delphi against the Gauls.

==== Roman Republic ====
* The [[Carthage|Carthaginians]] and the [[Roman Republic|Romans]] agree to support each other against a common foe. The Carthaginians give Rome money and ships in their fight against [[Pyrrhus of Epirus|Pyrrhus]], the king of [[Epirus]].
* Pyrrhus realizes that he cannot capture Rome and suggests peace terms to the Romans. Pyrrhus sends his chief advisor, [[Cineas]], to Rome to negotiate a peace. Cineas demands that the Romans halt their aggression against the [[Magna Graecia|Greeks]] of southern [[Italy]] and restore the lands the Romans have taken from the [[Bruttii]], the [[Apulia]]ns, and the [[Samnites]]. The Romans reject his demands, largely at the instigation of the former Roman censor, [[Appius Claudius Caecus]].
* In renewed fighting, Pyrrhus of Epirus, leading the combined [[Taranto|Tarantine]], [[Oscan]], Samnite, and [[Greece|Greek]] forces, wins a '[[Pyrrhic victory]]' against the Romans led by consul [[Publius Decius Mus (279 BC)|Publius Decius Mus]] at the [[Battle of Asculum]], called such because his victory comes at a great cost to his own forces. Pyrrhus is reported to have said afterwards, "One more victory against the Romans and we shall be utterly ruined!" Disheartened, Pyrrhus retires to [[Taranto|Tarentum]] and sends Cineas to make renewed peace overtures to Rome. These talks are inconclusive.

==== Egypt ====
* The aggression of [[Ptolemy II Philadelphus|Ptolemy II]] of [[Ancient Egypt|Egypt]] continues to cause friction with [[Antiochus I Soter|Antiochus]] as he takes [[Miletus]] in south-western Asia Minor from him.

==== The Balkans ====
* [[Scordisci]] Celts found a city called Singidon (Roman [[Singidunum]]) which is today the [[Serbia]]n city of [[Belgrade]].

====China====
* General [[Bai Qi]] of the [[State of Qin]] attacks the [[State of Chu]] and captures the cities of Yan and Deng.<ref>{{cite book|first=Sima|last= Qian|title=Records of the Grand Historian, Section: Basic Annals of Qin, Section: Bai Qi}}</ref>
* General [[Lian Po]] of the [[State of Zhou]] defeats an army of the [[State of Qi]].<ref>{{cite book|first=Sima|last= Qian|title=Records of the Grand Historian, Section: Lian Po}}</ref>
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== Births ==
* [[Chrysippus]], Greek [[Stoicism|Stoic]] [[Philosophy|philosopher]] (approximate date)

== Deaths ==
* [[Brennus (3rd century BC)|Brennus]], leader of the army of Gauls who in 279 BC invaded [[Macedon]]ia and northern [[Greece]]
* [[Ptolemy Keraunos]], king of [[Macedon]]ia from [[281 BC|281]] to 279 BC

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:279 Bc}}
[[Category:279 BC| ]]