Year 249 (CCXLIX) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Gavius and Aquilinus (or, less frequently, year 1002 Ab urbe condita). The denomination 249 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.

• Trajan Decius puts down a revolt in Moesia and Pannonia. Loyal legionaries proclaim him emperor, and he leads them into Italy.
• Battle of Verona: Decius defeats and kills Emperor Philip the Arab.
• Decian persecution: Decius begins persecuting Christians, and others refusing to sacrifice publicly to the Roman gods for the well-being of the emperor.

• February 5 – Incident at Gaoping Tombs: In the Chinese state of Cao Wei, regent Sima Yi, in a coup d'état, forces his co-regent Cao Shuang to relinquish his power, after taking control of the capital city of Luoyang. Sima Yi issues a memorial, which lists the various crimes he and his associates has committed.

• In Alexandria, the populace pillages the homes of Christians.

• Shi Chong (or Jilun), Chinese politician and statesman

• February 9
  • Bi Gui (or Zhaoxian), Chinese politician
  • Cao Shuang, Chinese general and regent^[1]
  • Deng Yang (or Xuanmao), Chinese politician
  • He Yan (or Pingshu), Chinese philosopher
  • Huan Fan (or Yuanze), Chinese general
  • Li Sheng (or Gongzhao), Chinese politician
• May 18 – Jiang Ji (or Zitong), Chinese general
• Jotapianus (or Jotapian), Roman usurper
• Ma Zhong (or Dexin), Chinese general and politician
• Philip II (the Younger), Roman emperor (b. 237)
• Philip the Arab, Roman general and emperor (b. 204)
• Quan Cong, Chinese general and politician (b. 198)
• Wang Bi, Chinese philosopher and politician (b. 226)
• Xu Miao (or Jingshan), Chinese politician (b. 172)
• Zhu Ran, Chinese adviser and general (b. 182)