The world in 203 BC — what happened that year

24 events the sources record for this year, grouped by region.

What happened

China (14)

Xiang Yu also stationed troops at Guangwu facing Han; the two armies faced each other across the Guangwu ravine and exchanged words across it. (Book of Han (Hanshu), Imperial Annals 漢書卷001 漢高祖四年(月 불명))
When the King of Han listed Xiang Yu's ten crimes, Xiang Yu shot him in the chest with a hidden crossbow; the King stroked his foot, saying the barbarian had hit his toe, and ran into Chenggao. (Book of Han (Hanshu), Imperial Annals 漢書卷001 漢高祖四年(月 불명))
The Hong Canal treaty: the world was divided in two, the land west of the Hong Canal going to Han and the east to Chu, and the father of the king and the Empress Lü were returned. (Book of Han (Hanshu), Imperial Annals 漢書卷001 漢高祖四年九月)
The King of Han pursued Xiang Yu south to the Yangxia; at Guling, Han Xin, King of Qi, and Peng Yue, Chancellor of Wei, failed to arrive at the agreed rendezvous, and Chu routed the Han army. (Book of Han (Hanshu), Imperial Annals 漢書卷001 漢高祖五年十月)
Liu Jia entered Chu territory and besieged Shouchun; Zhou Yin, Grand Marshal of Chu, betrayed Chu, welcomed Ying Bu, and massacred the fortress. (Book of Han (Hanshu), Imperial Annals 漢書卷001 漢高祖五年十一月)
The King of Han surrounded Xiang Yu at Gaixia; at night he heard the Han troops singing Chu songs on all sides, and Xiang Yu fled with several hundred riders; his army was routed. (Book of Han (Hanshu), Imperial Annals 漢書卷001 漢高祖五年十二月)
Guan Ying pursued Xiang Yu to Dongcheng and killed him. (Book of Han (Hanshu), Imperial Annals 漢書卷001 漢高祖五年十二月)
Only Lu refused to surrender to the end; when the King of Han showed Xiang Yu's head, it surrendered. (Book of Han (Hanshu), Imperial Annals 漢書卷001 漢高祖五年十二月)
He buried Xiang Yu at Gucheng with the rites due to a Duke of Lu; the King of Han declared mourning, wept, and left. (Book of Han (Hanshu), Imperial Annals 漢書卷001 漢高祖五年十二月)
At Guangwu the two sides faced each other; Xiang Yu threatened to boil the Taigong on a high chopping block, and the King of Han replied, 'Please share me a bowl of soup'; a crossbow shot by Xiang Yu wounded the King of Han in the chest. (Records of the Grand Historian (Shiji), Annals 史記卷007 項羽本紀)

Egypt & North Africa (6)

In the fire 40,000 of the enemy died, over 5,000 were captured alive, and 174 standards were taken (Livy, History of Rome (Ab Urbe Condita) 30.6)
Sophoniba begs Masinissa not to hand her over to the Romans but to save her by death instead (Livy, History of Rome (Ab Urbe Condita) 30.12)
Scipio set out peace terms, including the return of prisoners and deserters and withdrawal from Italy and Gaul (Livy, History of Rome (Ab Urbe Condita) 30.16)
Scipio was greatly angered that the side that had asked for peace had broken the truce (Livy, History of Rome (Ab Urbe Condita) 30.25)
In spring Scipio completes preparations to attack Utica by land and sea (Polybius, Histories 14.2)
Carthage plots against the lives of the Roman envoys (Polybius, Histories 15.2)

Southern Europe (4)

Scipio sets fire to the enemy camp in a surprise attack (Polybius, Histories 14.4)
At daybreak Andaga surrenders to Rome (Polybius, Histories 14.6)
Battle of the Great Plains — Scipio wins (Polybius, Histories 14.9)
The Alexandria mob massacres Agathocles' family (Polybius, Histories 15.33)

Changes of power ◆

Places where the world territory data shows a change of borders in this year.

◆ Eighteen Kingdoms ends
◆ Eighteen Kingdoms ends
◆ Qi (state) ends
◆ Yan (state) ends
◆ Eighteen Kingdoms ends
◆ Ancient Carthage takes 164,800 km² of former Roman Republic land
◆ Roman Republic takes 138,800 km² of former Ancient Carthage land
◆ Chu–Han Contention takes 101,300 km² of former Eighteen Kingdoms land

Same events recorded in this year

← 204 BC · 202 BC →

Show on the map — 203 BC