Pope Fabian succeeds Anterus to become the twentieth pope of Rome.

Pope Fabian was the bishop of Rome from 10 January 236 until his death on 20 January 250, succeeding Anterus. A dove is said to have descended on his head to mark him as the Holy Spirit's unexpected choice to become the next pope. He was succeeded by Cornelius.

Pope Anterus was the bishop of Rome from 21 November 235 until his death on 3 January 236.

In modern historiography, ancient Rome is the Roman civilisation from the founding of the Italian city of Rome in the 8th century BC to the collapse of the Western Roman Empire in the 5th century AD. It encompasses the Roman Kingdom (753–509 BC), the Roman Republic (509‍–‍27 BC), and the Roman Empire until the fall of the western empire.

January 10 is the 10th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar; 355 days remain until the end of the year.