23 events the sources record for this year, grouped by region.
What happened
China (14)
Sun Jian was killed attacking Liu Biao at Xiangyang, and at Jieqiao Gongsun Zan suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of Yuan Shao. (Book of the Later Han (Hou Hanshu), Annals 後漢書卷9 孝獻帝紀 初平3年)
Cao Cao took the post of Governor of Yanzhou and barely defeated the Qingzhou Yellow Turbans east of Shouzhang; Bao Xin fell in battle. (Records of the Three Kingdoms (Sanguozhi) 魏書 武帝紀 (卷01) 初平3년)
The Yellow Turbans surrendered, and from their elite they formed the Qingzhou army (over three hundred thousand surrendered soldiers, and over a million men and women). (Records of the Three Kingdoms (Sanguozhi) 魏書 武帝紀 (卷01) 初平3년)
Sun Jian, who was attacking Liu Biao of Jingzhou on Yuan Shu's orders, besieged Xiangyang; while going alone over Xianshan he was hit by an arrow from Huang Zu's troops and died. (Records of the Three Kingdoms (Sanguozhi) 吳書 孫破虜討逆傳 (卷46) 初平3년)
When an attempt to poison Commodus fails, he is strangled by a masseur in the gymnasium, and the Senate has his name erased. (Aurelius Victor, De Caesaribus Aur. Vict. Caes. 17.9)
Commodus held 14 consecutive days of spectacles in the amphitheater; on the first day he killed 100 bears single-handed while the Senate, Dio among them, watched (Cassius Dio, Roman History 73(72).18.1)
After poison failed, Laetus, Eclectus and Marcia had the athlete Narcissus strangle Commodus in his bath (reign of 12 years, 9 months and 14 days) (Cassius Dio, Roman History 73(72).22.5)
Commodus dies suddenly, with rumors that he was strangled or poisoned, and is condemned as an "enemy of mankind." (Eutropius, Breviarium Eutr. 8.15)
Commodus styles himself "Hercules, son of Jupiter" and goes about with a lion skin and club. He also renames the months. (Herodian, History of the Empire 1.14)
In the amphitheater Commodus fells beasts with spear and arrows from a high platform. He also stages a show of killing 100 lions with 100 spears. (Herodian, History of the Empire 1.15)
At the gladiator school Commodus prepares to greet the new year dressed as a gladiator, and leaves on his bed a death list naming Marcia, Laetus, Electus and others. (Herodian, History of the Empire 1.16)
A young boy carries off the list; Marcia reads it and poisons his wine. When Commodus vomits, Narcissus strangles him. His 13-year reign ends. (Herodian, History of the Empire 1.17)
Laetus, Electus and their companions go by night to Pertinax's house and urge him to take the throne. (Herodian, History of the Empire 2.1)