Year 221 (CCXXI) was a common year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Gratus and Vitellius (or, less frequently, year 974 Ab urbe condita). The denomination 221 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Dominicalendar era became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.
July – Elagabalus is forced to divorce Aquilia Severa, and marries his third wife Annia Faustina. After five months he returns to Severa, and claims that the original divorce is invalid. The marriage is symbolic, because Elagabalus appears to be homosexual or bisexual. According to the historian Cassius Dio, he has a stable relationship with his chariot driver, the slave Hierocles.
^Dion Cassius; Scott, Andrew G. (2018). Emperors and usurpers: an historical commentary on Cassius Dio's Roman history books 79(78)-80(80)-(A.D. 217-229). American classical studies. New York (N.Y.): Oxford University Press. p. 106. ISBN978-0-19-087960-0.
