161

This article is about the year 161. For the number, see 161 (number). For other uses, see 161 (disambiguation).

Millennium:	1st millennium
Centuries:	1st century 2nd century 3rd century
Decades:	140s 150s 160s 170s 180s
Years:	158 159 160 161 162 163 164

161 in various calendars

Gregorian calendar	161 CLXI
Ab urbe condita	914
Assyrian calendar	4911
Balinese saka calendar	82–83
Bengali calendar	−432
Berber calendar	1111
Buddhist calendar	705
Burmese calendar	−477
Byzantine calendar	5669–5670
Chinese calendar	庚子年 (Metal Rat) 2858 or 2651     — to — 辛丑年 (Metal Ox) 2859 or 2652
Coptic calendar	−123 – −122
Discordian calendar	1327
Ethiopian calendar	153–154
Hebrew calendar	3921–3922
Hindu calendars
- Vikram Samvat	217–218
- Shaka Samvat	82–83
- Kali Yuga	3261–3262
Holocene calendar	10161
Iranian calendar	461 BP – 460 BP
Islamic calendar	475 BH – 474 BH
Javanese calendar	37–38
Julian calendar	161 CLXI
Korean calendar	2494
Minguo calendar	1751 before ROC 民前1751年
Nanakshahi calendar	−1307
Seleucid era	472/473 AG
Thai solar calendar	703–704
Tibetan calendar	阳金鼠年 (male Iron-Rat) 287 or −94 or −866     — to — 阴金牛年 (female Iron-Ox) 288 or −93 or −865

Year 161 (CLXI) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Caesar and Aurelius (or, less frequently, year 914 Ab urbe condita). The denomination 161 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.

Events

By place

Roman Empire

• March 7
  • Emperor Antoninus Pius dies, and is succeeded by Marcus Aurelius, who shares imperial power with Lucius Verus, although Marcus retains the title Pontifex Maximus.
  • Marcus Aurelius, a Spaniard like Trajan and Hadrian, is a stoical disciple of Epictetus, and an energetic man of action. He pursues the policy of his predecessor, and maintains good relations with the Senate. As a legislator, he endeavours to create new principles of morality and humanity, particularly favouring women and slaves.
• Aurelius reduces the weight of a goldpiece, the aureus, from 7.81 grams to 7.12 grams.
• Autumn
  • The Parthians invade Armenia, and install their own candidate on the throne. A legion (perhaps Legio IX Hispana) is destroyed at Elegia.

By topic

Arts and sciences

• Gaius' Institutiones are published.

Commerce

• The silver content of the Roman denarius falls to 68 percent under Emperor Marcus Aurelius, down from 75 percent under Antoninus Pius.

Births

• August 31 – Commodus, Roman emperor (d. 192)
• Liu Bei, founder of the Shu Han state in the Three Kingdoms period (d. 223)
• Lü Dai, general of the Eastern Wu state in the Three Kingdoms period (d. 256)

Deaths

• March 7 – Antoninus Pius, Roman Emperor (b. AD 86)