Sextus Afranius Burrus, Roman praetorian prefect (d. AD 62)

Tags: Roman Empire, Ancient rome, Imperial Administration, Nero, Death

Birth of Jesus, as assigned by Dionysius Exiguus in his anno Domini era according to at least one scholar. However, most scholars think that Dionysius...

Tags: Christianity, Jesus Christ, Biblical History

Emperor Augustus summons Tiberius to Rome, and names him his heir and future emperor. At the same time, Agrippa Postumus, the last son of Marcus Vips...

Tags: Roman Empire, Succession, Emperor, Augustus, Tiberius, Monarchy, Ancient rome

Tiberius also adopts Germanicus as his own heir.

Tags: Roman Empire, Succession, Tiberius, Germanicus, Imperial Politics, Principate, Augustus

Possible date – Jesus, Jewish preacher and religious leader (executed c. AD 30/33)

Tags: Jesus Christ, Christianity, Jewish History, Roman Empire, Religious Leadership, Gospels, Religious Violence, Ancient rome

Paul the Apostle, Jewish leader of the Christians

Tags: Christianity, Apostle, Roman Empire, Religious Leader, Evangelism, Ancient greece

Iudaea and Moesia become Roman provinces.

Tags: Roman Empire, Provinces, Administration, Moesia, Ancient rome, Territorial Control, Military

John the Apostle, Jewish Christian mystic (d. AD 100)

Tags: Christianity, Apostle, Mysticism, Early Church, Biblical Figures, Roman Empire

Publius Quinctilius Varus is appointed governor of Germania, charged with organizing Germania between the Rhine and Elbe rivers. He carries out a cens...

Tags: Roman Empire, Ancient rome, Roman Governance, Colonialism, Province, Tribes, Varus

Roman poet Ovid is banished from Rome and exiled to the Black Sea near Tomis (modern-day Constanța).

Tags: Roman Empire, Poetry, Exile, Augustus, Literature, Classical Antiquity, Ancient rome, Latin Literature

An edict is issued effecting an empire-wide ban on divinatory practices, especially astrology. The edict requires any consultation between a customer ...

Tags: Roman Empire, Religion, Divination, Astrology, Imperial Decree, Ancient rome, Legal Reform

Emperor Augustus initiates his third census of the Roman Empire after 20 years.

Tags: Roman Empire, Augustus, Census, Governance, Administration, Taxation, Population, Ancient rome, Political History

Augustus' third (and final) 20-year census of the Roman Empire reports a total of 4,973,000 citizens.

Tags: Roman Empire, Census, Augustus, Governance, Population, Ancient rome, Administration, Citizenship

September 18 – Tiberius succeeds his stepfather Augustus as Roman emperor.

Tags: Roman Empire, Ancient rome, Emperor, Tiberius, Augustus, Succession

August 19 – Augustus, the first Roman emperor, dies and is declared to be a god.

Tags: Roman Empire, Augustus, Emperor, Religion, Imperial Cult, Ancient rome, Death, Hellenistic World

In Rome, the election of magistrates passes from the people to the Emperor and the Senate.

Tags: Roman Empire, Ancient rome, Emperor, Augustus, Governance, Centralization

Lucius Aelius Sejanus becomes Praetorian prefect.

Tags: Roman Empire, Ancient rome, Power Struggle, Military, Imperial Administration

Germanicus Julius Caesar, commander in chief of the Roman legions in the East and beloved by the legionaries, falls ill and dies. On his deathbed he a...

Tags: Roman Empire, Imperial Politics, Germanicus, Gnaeus Calpurnius Piso, Death, Succession, Poisoning, Military, Ancient rome

August 20 – Agrippa Postumus, grandson of Augustus and former heir to the Empire (b. 12 BC)

Tags: Roman Empire, Augustus, Succession, Monarchy, Executions, Tiberius, Ancient rome

Hillel the Elder, Babylonian sage, scholar, and Jewish leader (b. c. 110 BC)

Tags: Judaism, Rabbinic Judaism, Pharisees, Religious Leader

Lucius Aelius Sejanus begins to dominate the Roman Senate and Tiberius, after the death of Drusus.

Tags: Roman Empire, Ancient rome, Tiberius, Sejanus, Imperial Power, Intrigue, Political Intrigue

Greek geographer Strabo publishes Geographica, a work covering the world known to the Romans and Greeks at the time of Emperor Augustus – it is the on...

Tags: Ancient greece, Ancient rome, Geography, Cartography, Strabo, Historiography, Literature, Roman Empire, World History

Emperor Tiberius retires to Capri, leaving the Praetorian Guard under Lucius Aelius Sejanus in charge of the Roman Empire and the city of Rome.

Tags: Roman Empire, Tiberius, Sejanus, Ancient rome, Imperial Politics, Roman Emperors, Power Struggle, Political Intrigue

Jesus's crucifixion, one out of three possible years.

Tags: Christianity, Jesus Christ, Roman Empire, Gospels, Religious Violence, Crucifixion, Religious History

Using the dates and ranges listed in the Gospel of Luke, this year can be established as when John the Baptist begins preaching in the Jordan. It is a...

Tags: Christianity, Judaism, John the Baptist, Jesus Christ, Gospels, Baptism, Religious Figures, Roman Empire

Possible date of the Baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist (another possibility is AD 29).

Tags: Christianity, Jesus Christ, John the Baptist, Religious Figures, Roman Empire, Baptism, Gospels

According to the Gospel of Luke (Luke 3:1-2), the ministries of John the Baptist and Jesus begin at the earliest in this year, and more likely in AD 2...

Tags: Christianity, Jesus Christ, John the Baptist, Gospel of Luke, Roman Empire, Religious History

Agrippina the Elder is exiled to the island of Pandataria, and her sons (except Caligula) are imprisoned by Lucius Aelius Sejanus.

Tags: Roman Empire, Monarchy, Exile, Imprisonment, Tiberius, Agrippina the Elder, Caligula, Succession

According to the Gospel of Luke (Luke 3:1-2), the ministries of John the Baptist and Jesus probably began in this year. Jesus is baptized by John the ...

Tags: Christianity, Jesus Christ, John the Baptist, Baptism, Gospel of Luke, Religious Figure, Religious Movement

Jesus (b. 5 BC)

Tags: Jesus, Christianity, Gospels, Roman Empire, Apostles

The Kushan Empire is founded (approximate date).

Tags: Empire, Silk Road, Political Formation

On orders of Sejanus, Agrippina the Elder and her sons Nero and Drusus were exiled and died under suspicious circumstances, part of Sejanus's purge of...

Tags: Roman Empire, Ancient rome, Sejanus, Agrippina the Elder, Exile, Assassination, Succession, Claudius, Tiberius

April 3 – According to Colin Humphrey's account, Jesus of Nazareth's Last Supper takes place.

Tags: Christianity, Jesus of Nazareth, Biblical Studies, Religious History, Ancient rome

Stephen, one of the original seven deacons of the Christian Church, is martyred for his faith (possible date).

Tags: Christianity, Martyrdom, Religious Violence, Roman Empire, Apostles, Saint, Religious History

Saul of Tarsus, on the road to Damascus, is converted to Christianity, and becomes Paul the Apostle (possible date).

Tags: Christianity, Apostles, Paul the Apostle, Conversion, Roman Empire, Religious History, Early Church, Religious Conversion

According to one dating scheme, Paul and Barnabas announce in Antioch that they will begin to evangelize the Gentiles.

Tags: Christianity, Apostle Paul, Gentiles, Evangelism, Religious Missions, Roman Empire

Emperor Tiberius names Caligula (aka Gaius) and Gamellus, a grandson, as co-heirs.

Tags: Roman Empire, Succession, Imperial Politics, Tiberius, Caligula, Ancient rome, Political Intrigue, Roman Emperors

March 18 – The Roman Senate annuls Tiberius's will, and proclaims Caligula as Roman Emperor, nullifying the joint claim of Tiberius Gemellus. Caligula...

Tags: Roman Empire, Caligula, Ancient rome, Emperor, Succession, Imperialism

October – Caligula becomes seriously ill, or perhaps is poisoned. He recovers from his illness, but Caligula turns toward the diabolical: he starts to...

Tags: Roman Empire, Caligula, Emperor, Tyranny, Political Instability, Ancient rome, Imperial Power, Assassination

Peter the Apostle founds the Church of Antioch (approximate date).

Tags: Christianity, Apostles, Church History, Religious Institutions, Roman Empire, Religious Leaders, Peter the Apostle

The Pharisee Saul of Tarsus is converted to Christianity, after a vision. After the year 39, he is recognised as Saint Paul.

Tags: Christianity, Religious Conversion, Apostle, Roman Empire, Religious History

Paul meets Peter and James in Jerusalem (approximate date) (After 3 years "from his vision on the road to Damascus " went to Jerusalem to meet Peter a...

Tags: Christianity, Apostles, Paul the Apostle, Religious Leadership, Religious History, Biblical Figures

Kujula Kadphises, King (and founder) of the Kushan Empire (30-80)

Tags: Kushan Empire, Monarchy, Empire Building, Political Unification

October 18 – Lucius Aelius Sejanus, Roman prefect and advisor (b. 20 BC)

Tags: Roman Empire, Tyranny, Corruption, Ancient rome, Execution, Power Struggle

Nero Julius Caesar Germanicus, grandson and heir of Tiberius (b. AD 6)

Tags: Roman Empire, Ancient rome, Caesar, Emperor, Succession, Birth

Jesus Christ, founding figure of Christianity, (ca. 4 BC–ca. AD 33)

Tags: Christianity, Early Church, Apostles, Roman Empire, Religious Movements, Judaism, Paul the Apostle

Paul the Apostle, Apostle and Theologian (c.5-64)

Tags: Christianity, Apostle Paul, Early Church, Missionary Work, Conversion, Religious Doctrine, Roman Empire, Hellenistic World, Judaism

April 6 – Jesus of Nazareth, founder of Christianity (possible date of the crucifixion) (born circa 4 BC) The other possible dates also supported by s...

Tags: Christianity, Jesus of Nazareth, Crucifixion, Roman Empire, Religious History, Religious Figure

Jesus of Nazareth (approximate date)

Tags: Christianity, Apostles, Early Church, Roman Empire, Religious Missions, Paul the Apostle, Hellenistic World

John the Baptist, religious figure in Christianity, Islam, and other Abrahamic religions (b. late 1st century BC)

Tags: Religion, Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Herod Antipas, Roman Empire, Religious Violence, Prophet

Noricum and Mauretania are incorporated into the Roman Empire.

Tags: Roman Empire, Expansion, Imperialism, Annexation, Province, Political History, Ancient rome

Caligula reforms the principatus into a Hellenistic Autocracy. He distributes honors carelessly, declares himself a god and orders that all the heads ...

Tags: Roman Empire, Autocracy, Tyranny, Emperor, Political Instability, Ancient rome, Ancient greece, Caligula, Principate

Christianity comes to Egypt as a church is founded in Alexandria. Mark the Evangelist founds the Church of Alexandria as the first Patriarch (traditio...

Tags: Christianity, Patriarchate, Religion, Roman Empire, Religious History

January 24 Caligula, known for his eccentricity and cruel despotism, is assassinated by his disgruntled Praetorian Guards. Claudius succeeds his nephe...

Tags: Roman Empire, Emperor, Assassination, Succession, Ancient rome, Claudius, Caligula

January 25 – After a night of negotiation, Claudius is accepted as emperor by the Senate.

Tags: Roman Empire, Ancient rome, Emperor, Claudius, Succession, Political Intrigue, Imperial Politics

25 January – The Apostle Paul is converted to Christianity (the exact date is not provided in texts, but the Roman Catholic Church chooses to commemor...

Tags: Christianity, Apostle Paul, Religious Conversion, Roman Empire, Evangelism, Religious History, Hellenistic World

Traditional date of foundation of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria by the apostle Mark the Evangelist.

Tags: Christianity, Coptic Orthodox Church, Apostles, Religion, Religious History, Ancient World

Roman London (Londinium) is established on the Thames.

Tags: Roman Empire, Ancient rome, Colony, Urbanization, Infrastructure, Empire, Military

In Coptic Orthodox Christianity, Mark the Evangelist becomes the first Pope of Alexandria, thus establishing the Christian Church in Africa.

Tags: Christianity, Coptic Orthodox Church, Religion, Evangelism, Church History

Judaea is controlled by Roman governors.

Tags: Roman Empire, Judaea, Ancient rome, Imperialism, Roman Governors, Jewish History, Governance

Paul of Tarsus begins his missionary travels, according to one traditional dating scheme.

Tags: Christianity, Apostle Paul, Missionary Work, Roman Empire, Religious Conversion, Religious Expansion

Paul starts his evangelistic work (first missionary journey), accompanied by Barnabas and Mark (possible date).

Tags: Christianity, Apostle Paul, Missionary Work, Roman Empire, Evangelism, Religious Expansion

Gallic nobles are admitted to the Roman Senate. Claudius grants the rights of citizenship to the Aedui.

Tags: Roman Empire, Citizenship, Ancient rome, Claudius, Romanization, Political Integration, Provincial Administration

Paul of Tarsus through his first mission goes to Cyprus and Asia Minor.

Tags: Christianity, Apostle Paul, Missionary Work, Roman Empire, Religious Expansion, Acts of the Apostles

Emperor Claudius marries his niece Agrippina the Younger (approximate date), and most of the real power falls to Agrippina.

Tags: Roman Empire, Monarchy, Claudius, Agrippina the Younger, Marriage, Power Struggle, Ancient rome

Gaius Caesar Germanicus/Caligula (AD 37–41).

Tags: Roman Empire, Emperor, Succession, Assassination, Claudius, Ancient rome, Tyranny

Agrippina the Younger, Empress Roman and Real Power behind the throne (AD 49–54)

Tags: Roman Empire, Imperial Politics, Agrippina the Younger, Empress, Nero, Power Struggle, Political Intrigue

January 24 Caligula, Roman emperor (assassinated) (b. 12 AD) Julia Drusilla, daughter of Caligula (assassinated) (b. 39 AD) Milonia Caesonia, wife of ...

Tags: Roman Empire, Assassination, Ancient rome, Emperor, Caligula, Political Instability, Political Violence

First apostolic council in Jerusalem (approximate date)

Tags: Christianity, Apostles, Council, Gentiles, Religious Law, Religious Expansion

The Apostle Paul begins his second missionary journey with Silas while Barnabas goes to Cyprus with Mark.

Tags: Christianity, Apostle Paul, Missionary Work, Early Church, Roman Empire, Religious Expansion, Evangelism, Biblical History

The New Testament book Paul's Epistle to the Galatians is probably written.

Tags: Christianity, Paul the Apostle, Christian Theology, Epistles, Galatia, Roman Empire, Biblical Literature, Religious Texts

Christianity spreads into Europe, especially at Rome and at Philippi (probable date according to chronology derived from the Acts of the Apostles).

Tags: Christianity, Early Church, Roman Empire, Apostles, Missionary Work, Religious Conversion, Paul the Apostle, Acts of the Apostles

Plutarch, Greek historian and biographer (approximate date)

Tags: Ancient greece, Roman Empire, Biography, Historian, Literature, Philosophy, Moral Philosophy, Classical Antiquity

Claudius adopts Nero.

Tags: Roman Empire, Nero, Claudius, Succession, Ancient rome, Adoption

The Yuezhi tribes are united under the Kushan leader Kujula Kadphises, thus creating the Kushan Empire in Afghanistan and northern India. (approximate...

Tags: Kushan Empire, Empire, Political Consolidation, Kingdom, Expansion

Paul travels to Philippi, Thessaloniki, Veroia, and Athens (second missionary journey).

Tags: Christianity, Apostle Paul, Missionary Work, Evangelism, Roman Empire, Hellenistic World, Religious Expansion, Acts of the Apostles

The Epistle to the Romans is written (approximate date).

Tags: Christianity, Paul the Apostle, Early Church, Theology, Roman Empire, Biblical Literature, Religious Doctrine, Epistles

The Apostles hold the Council of Jerusalem (approximate date).

Tags: Christianity, Apostles, Council, Christian Theology, Religious Law, Gentiles, Paul the Apostle, Religious Authority

Claudius secures a senatorial decree that gives jurisdiction in financial cases to imperial procurators. This marks a significant strengthening of im...

Tags: Roman Empire, Claudius, Ancient rome, Imperial Power, Legal Reform, Government

October 13 – Emperor Claudius dies (possibly after being poisoned by Agrippina, his wife and niece), and is succeeded by Nero.

Tags: Roman Empire, Emperor, Nero, Claudius, Succession, Ancient rome, Imperial History, Power Struggles

Paul of Tarsus begins his third mission.

Tags: Christianity, Apostle Paul, Roman Empire, Evangelism, Religious Conversion, Ancient World

The apostle Paul writes his First Epistle to the Corinthians.

Tags: Christianity, Apostle Paul, Epistles, Corinth, Religious Texts, Biblical Studies, Ancient greece, Roman Empire

The apostle Paul writes his second Epistle to the Corinthians, probably from Philippi.

Tags: Christianity, Apostle Paul, Epistles, Religious Texts, Roman Empire, Biblical Literature, Theology, Ancient greece

Paul of Tarsus writes his Second Epistle to the Corinthians and his Epistle to the Romans (probable date).

Tags: Christianity, Apostle Paul, Religious Texts, Theology, Roman Empire, Biblical Literature

Agrippina the Younger is expelled from the imperial palace by her son Nero, who installs her in Villa Antonia in Misenum, and leaving more of the effe...

Tags: Roman Empire, Nero, Agrippina the Younger, Imperial Politics, Dynastic Conflict, Political Intrigue, Power Struggle, Roman Emperors, Ancient rome

Agrippina the Younger, conspired with the senators in late 58 to overthrow Nero.

Tags: Roman Empire, Nero, Agrippina the Younger, Conspiracy, Imperial Politics, Ancient rome, Power Struggle

The apostle Paul returns to Jerusalem with the money he has collected to give the Christian community there. However, he is accused of defiling the te...

Tags: Christianity, Apostle Paul, Roman Empire, Religious Violence, Legal System, Christian Missions

March 23 – Emperor Nero orders the murder of his mother Agrippina the Younger. He tries to kill her through a planned shipwreck, but when she survives...

Tags: Roman Empire, Nero, Agrippina the Younger, Imperial Politics, Assassination, Power Struggle, Ancient rome, Political Intrigue

Claudius, Roman Emperor (AD 41–54)

Tags: Roman Empire, Claudius, Agrippina the Younger, Nero, Succession, Poisoning, Ancient rome, Political Intrigue

(approximate year) Marcus Ulpius Traianus, Roman emperor (d. 117)

Tags: Roman Empire, Roman Emperors, Trajan, Ancient rome

Kanishka I, Indian ruler of the Kushan Empire (d. 150)

Tags: Kushan Empire, Emperor, Succession, Silk Road

February 11 – Britannicus, son of Claudius (b. AD 41)

Tags: Roman Empire, Nero, Britannicus, Imperial Politics, Succession, Assassination, Claudius, Ancient rome

March 23 – Agrippina the Younger, mother of Nero (b. AD 15)

Tags: Roman Empire, Nero, Agrippina the Younger, Imperial Politics, Murder, Political Intrigue, Ancient rome, Claudius

Paul the Apostle pleads his case and testifies to his Christianity before King Agrippa II of the Herodians, who responds "You almost persuade me to be...

Tags: Christianity, Apostle Paul, Roman Empire, Herodian Dynasty, Religious Violence, Evangelism, Biblical History, Religious Conversion

The First Epistle of Peter, if by Peter, is probably written between this year and c. AD 64.

Tags: Christianity, Epistles, Peter the Apostle, Biblical Studies, Religious Texts, Roman Empire, Christian Theology

Paul of Tarsus journeys to Rome, but is shipwrecked on Malta. He stays for three months and converts Publius, the first bishop of Malta.

Tags: Christianity, Paul the Apostle, Malta, Roman Empire, Missionary, Religious Conversion, Shipwreck, Apostles

Paul's Epistle to the Philippians is written from Rome. (approximate date)

Tags: Christianity, Paul the Apostle, Religious Texts, Epistles, Roman Empire, Biblical Studies

After the death of Burrus and the disgrace of Seneca, Nero is free from their influence and becomes a megalomaniacal artist fascinated by Hellenism an...

Tags: Roman Empire, Nero, Tyranny, Imperialism, Ancient rome

Paul of Tarsus is released from imprisonment in Rome (approximate date).

Tags: Christianity, Apostle Paul, Roman Empire, Religious Violence, Christian Missions, Religious Expansion

Persecution of Christians in Rome begins under Nero. Peter the Apostle is possibly among those crucified.

Tags: Roman Empire, Christianity, Persecution, Nero, Religious Conflict, Martyrdom, Peter the Apostle, Religious History, Ancient rome

Paul writes his first epistle to Timothy in Corinth; afterwards, he goes to Nikopoli to spend the winter.

Tags: Christianity, Paul the Apostle, Epistles, Religious Texts, Roman Empire, Corinth, Biblical Studies

The first Christian community in Africa is founded by Mark, a disciple of Peter.

Tags: Christianity, Apostles, Roman Empire, Ancient greece, Spread of Religion

The first and second Epistles to Timothy are written (speculative date, if actually written by St. Paul).

Tags: Christianity, Paul the Apostle, Biblical Literature, Religious Texts, Epistles, Theology, Roman Empire

Paul in Asia Minor for second time after his release from Rome. Then probably goes to Greece. Second imprisonment in Rome.

Tags: Christianity, Apostle Paul, Roman Empire, Missionary Work, Religious Violence, Evangelism

Gaius Julius Vindex revolts, first in a series of revolts that lead to Nero's downfall.

Tags: Roman Empire, Rebellion, Civil War, Nero, Ancient rome, Imperial Crisis, Political Instability

Apostles Peter and Paul are martyred in Rome (possible date).

Tags: Christianity, Early Church, Apostles, Martyrdom, Roman Empire, Religious Violence, Peter

The Senate declares Nero as persona non grata.

Tags: Roman Empire, Ancient rome, Nero, Emperor, Political Intrigue, Civil War, Succession

June 9 – Emperor Nero commits suicide four miles outside Rome. He is deserted by the Praetorian Guard, and then stabs himself in the throat.

Tags: Roman Empire, Ancient rome, Nero, Emperor, Suicide, Imperial Politics, Political Instability, Roman Emperors

June 9 – The Roman Senate accepts Servius Sulpicius Galba, as Roman Emperor.

Tags: Roman Empire, Ancient rome, Emperor, Galba, Succession, Crisis of the Roman Empire

Apostles Peter and Paul are martyred in Rome (latest possible date).

Tags: Christianity, Apostles, Martyrdom, Roman Empire, Persecution, Peter, Religious History

The Essenes place the Dead Sea Scrolls in the caves at Qumran.

Tags: Judaism, Religious Texts, Second Temple Period, Archaeology

The Year of the Four Emperors: After Nero's death, Galba, Otho, Vitellius and Vespasian succeed each other as emperor during the year. The year is mar...

Tags: Roman Empire, Civil War, Succession, Political Instability, Galba, Otho, Vitellius, Vespasian, Ancient rome

January 10 – Lucius Calpurnius Piso Licinianus is adopted by Galba and appointed to deputy Roman Emperor.

Tags: Roman Empire, Succession, Emperor, Galba, Piso, Crisis of the Roman Empire, Civil War

January 15 – Galba and his adopted son Piso are murdered by the Praetorian Guard on the Roman Forum.

Tags: Roman Empire, Ancient rome, Galba, Piso, Civil War, Year of Four Emperors, Assassination, Political Instability

July 1 – two legions in Egypt, a legion in Syria, and a legion in Judea declare Vespasian emperor

Tags: Roman Empire, Vespasian, Emperor, Civil War, Ancient rome, Military, Succession

July 1 – Tiberius Julius Alexander orders his legions in Alexandria to swear allegiance to Vespasian as emperor.

Tags: Roman Empire, Civil War, Vespasian, Ancient rome, Succession, Military

The Danubian legions of Raetia and Moesia proclaim Vespasian as emperor.

Tags: Roman Empire, Vespasian, Year of Four Emperors, Civil War, Ancient rome, Moesia, Military, Succession

December 22 – Vitellius is captured and murdered by the Gemonian stairs. Vespasian becomes emperor.

Tags: Roman Empire, Emperor, Civil War, Political Assassination, Succession, Ancient rome, Imperial Crisis

The Flavian dynasty starts.

Tags: Roman Empire, Ancient rome, Emperor, Succession, Vespasian, Domitian, Titus

Sextus Afranius Burrus, Roman prefect and friend of Seneca (b. AD 1)

Tags: Roman Empire, Ancient rome, Imperial Court, Nero, Seneca the Younger, Death

Seneca, Roman statesman and tutor of Nero (b. AD 1)

Tags: Roman Empire, Ancient rome, Nero, Stoicism, Philosophy, Tyranny

June 9 – Nero, Roman emperor (suicide) (b. AD 37)

Tags: Roman Empire, Nero, Emperor, Suicide, Ancient rome, Political Instability, Crisis of the Roman Empire

January 15 Cornelius Laco, Roman praetorian prefect (murdered) Sempronius Densus, Roman bodyguard (killed) Lucius Calpurnius Piso Licinianus, Roman de...

Tags: Roman Empire, Year of Four Emperors, Galba, Ancient rome, Assassination, Civil War, Succession

Servius Sulpicius Galba, Roman emperor (b. 3 BC)

Tags: Roman Empire, Emperor, Civil War, Assassination, Ancient rome, Galba, Military

Paul the Apostle (earliest date) (b. AD 5)

Tags: Christianity, Apostle Paul, Roman Empire, Missionary Work, Religious Texts

Paul the Apostle, Christian martyr (b. c. AD 5)

Tags: Christianity, Apostles, Roman Empire, Religious Violence, Martyrdom

Pentecost (Shavuot, 6th of Sivan, about June 4) – Priests in the Temple in Jerusalem feel a quaking and hear "a sound as of a great multitude saying, ...

Tags: Judaism, Second Temple Period, Temple of Jerusalem, Prophecy, Apocalypticism, Christianity

17th of Panemos (17th of Tammuz), about July 14) – Sacrifices cease in the temple.

Tags: Ancient rome, Judaism, Jewish History, Temple of Jerusalem, Second Temple, Roman Empire, Siege of Jerusalem, First Jewish-Roman War, Destruction

Following the destruction of Jerusalem, the Sanhedrin moved to Jamnia.

Tags: Judaism, Sanhedrin, Roman Empire, First Jewish-Roman War, Jewish History, Rabbinic Judaism, Religious Institutions

Titus is made praetorian prefect of the Praetorian Guard and receives pro-consular command and also tribunician power, all of which indicates that Ves...

Tags: Roman Empire, Succession, Ancient rome, Vespasian, Titus, Principate, Imperial Power, Military

The Temple of Peace, also known as the Forum of Vespasian, is built in Rome. The temple celebrates the conquest of Jerusalem (in AD 70) and houses the...

Tags: Ancient rome, Roman Empire, Temple, Religious Architecture, Judaism, Vespasian

June 23 – Emperor Vespasian dies of fever from diarrhea; his last words on his deathbed are: "I think I'm turning into a god." Titus succeeds his fath...

Tags: Roman Empire, Emperor, Succession, Ancient rome, Titus, Vespasian, Jewish History

Domitian became emperor on September 14, solidifying the monarchy and shocking the aristocracy by taking the title "Dominus." His reign saw increased ...

Tags: Roman Empire, Domitian, Emperor, Monarchy, Ancient rome, Romanization, Provinces, Imperialism

Through his election as consul for ten years and censor for life, Domitian openly subordinates the republican aspect of the state to the monarchical.

Tags: Roman Empire, Domitian, Ancient rome, Monarchy, Republicanism

Domitian appoints himself censor for life, which gives him the right to control the Senate. His totalitarian tendencies put the senatorial aristocrac...

Tags: Roman Empire, Domitian, Censorship, Dictatorship, Ancient rome, Tyranny, Political Power, Imperial Rule

Quintilian retires from teaching and from pleading, to compose his great work on the training of the orator (Institutio Oratoria).

Tags: Roman Empire, Literature, Rhetoric, Education, Oratory, Ancient rome

Kujula Kadphises, Kushan prince (approximate date)

Tags: Kushan Empire, Political Leadership, Monarchy, Dynasty, Silk Road, Expansionism

Luke the Evangelist, Greek physician and martyr

Tags: Christianity, Martyrdom, Religious Violence, Roman Empire, Hellenistic World, Biblical Figures

Josephus completes his Jewish Antiquities (or in AD 94).

Tags: Roman Empire, Jewish History, Historiography, Josephus, Literature

The Book of Revelation is written (approximate date).

Tags: Christianity, Religious Texts, Early Church, Roman Empire, Biblical Studies, Religious History

September 18 – Emperor Domitian is stabbed to death by a freedman at the age 44 after a 15-year reign, in a palace conspiracy involving officers of th...

Tags: Roman Empire, Emperor, Assassination, Political Intrigue, Ancient rome, Succession

October 28 – Emperor Nerva recalls his general Marcus Ulpius Trajanus, age 44, from the German frontier and is forced by the Praetorian Guard to adopt...

Tags: Roman Empire, Emperor, Succession, Ancient rome, Trajan, Nerva, Military, Adoption

Upon Nerva's death in January 98 AD, Trajan, the first non-Italian emperor, ascended the throne, immediately restoring the Senate's power, establishin...

Tags: Roman Empire, Emperor, Succession, Governance, Expansion, Ancient rome, Trajan

Tacitus finishes his Germania (approximate date).

Tags: Ancient rome, Roman Empire, Literature, History, Tacitus, Manuscript, Historiography

Nerva, Roman Emperor (AD 96–98)

Tags: Roman Empire, Emperor, Nerva, Ancient rome, Imperialism, Governance, Roman Emperors, Pax Romana

Marcion, rejected by Church of Rome, founds Marcionism.

Tags: Christianity, Heresy, Religious Schism, Theology, Religious Movements, Church History

Year of the Five Emperors of Rome: Pertinax, Didius Julianus, Pescennius Niger, Clodius Albinus and Septimius Severus.

Tags: Roman Empire, Civil War, Imperial Crisis, Emperor, Succession, Political Instability, Power Struggle, Ancient rome

– 211: Reign of the Roman emperor Septimius Severus.

Tags: Roman Empire, Emperor, Civil War, Ancient rome, Military, Imperial Rule

217: Caracalla, Roman Emperor.

Tags: Roman Empire, Emperor, Ancient rome, Succession, Military, Government

235: Alexander Severus, Roman Emperor.Rock relief of Ardashir I receiving the ring of kingship by the Zoroastrian supreme god Ahura Mazda.

Tags: Roman Empire, Emperor, Ancient rome, Sasanian Empire, Power

284: Crisis of the Third Century shook the Roman Empire.

Tags: Roman Empire, Political Instability, Civil War, Emperor, Succession, Military, Barbarian Invasions, Decline

Valerian's massacre of Christians.

Tags: Christianity, Roman Empire, Persecution, Religious Conflict, Martyrdom, Early Church, Imperial Decree

305: Diocletian, Roman Emperor.

Tags: Roman Empire, Emperor, Tetrarchy, Imperial Rule, Governance

Emperor Diocletian forms the Tetrarchy in Rome.

Tags: Roman Empire, Tetrarchy, Emperor, Political Reform, Imperial Administration, Western Roman Empire, Eastern Roman Empire, Succession

Armenia first to adopt Christianity as state religion.

Tags: Christianity, Religion, State Religion, Conversion, Roman Empire

337: Constantine the Great, ends persecution of Christians in the Roman Empire (see also Constantinian shift) and Constantinople becomes new seat of g...

Tags: Roman Empire, Christianity, Constantine the Great, Religious Tolerance, Byzantine Empire, Political Transformation

328: The Kingdom of Aksum adopts Christianity.

Tags: Christianity, Religious Conversion

Constantine the Great calls the First Council of Nicaea to pacify Christianity in the grip of the Arian controversy.

Tags: Christianity, Constantine the Great, Theology, Church History, Roman Empire, Ecumenical Council, Religious Doctrine

Constantine the Great is baptized a Christian on his death bed.

Tags: Christianity, Roman Empire, Constantine the Great, Early Church, Religious Conversion, Imperialism, Death, Baptism

395: Theodosius I, Roman emperor, bans pagan worship, Christianity is made the official religion of the Empire.

Tags: Roman Empire, Christianity, Paganism, Religious Law, Emperor, Religious Violence, Imperial Decree

First Council of Constantinople reaffirms the Christian doctrine of the Trinity by adding to the creed of Nicaea.

Tags: Christianity, Council, Byzantine Empire, Theology, Religious History, Early Church

Roman emperor Theodosius I dies, causing the Roman Empire to split permanently.

Tags: Roman Empire, Succession, Western Roman Empire, Eastern Roman Empire, Emperor, Governance

Suebi establish the first independent Christian kingdom of Western Europe in Gallaecia.

Tags: Suebi, Christianity, Kingdom, Roman Empire

First Council of Ephesus, the third ecumenical council which upholds the title Theotokos or "mother of God", for Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ.

Tags: Christianity, Ecumenical Council, Early Church, Theology, Ephesus, Byzantine Empire, Religious Doctrine

Council of Chalcedon, the fourth ecumenical council which taught of Jesus Christ as one divine person in two natures.

Tags: Christianity, Ecumenical Council, Byzantine Empire, Theology, Heresy, Church History, Roman Empire

Pope Leo I meets in person with Attila on the Mincio River and convinces him not to ransack Rome.

Tags: Roman Empire, Catholicism, Barbarian Invasions, Diplomacy, Western Christianity, Military History

Death of Attila. The Hunnic Empire is divided between Attila's sons.

Tags: Hunnic Empire, Attila, Barbarian Invasions, Decline of the Roman Empire, Succession, Nomadic Peoples

Deposition of Romulus Augustulus by Odoacer: traditional date for the Fall of Rome in the West.

Tags: Roman Empire, Barbarian Invasions, Political Transition, Western Roman Empire, Kingdom of Italy

Clovis I becomes King of the Western Franks upon the death of Childeric I.

Tags: Frankish Kingdom, Merovingian Dynasty, Monarchy, Succession, Germanic Tribes, Clovis I

Theodoric the Great ousts Odoacer to become King of Italy.

Tags: Roman Empire, Kingdom of Italy, Barbarian Invasions, Western Roman Empire

Northern Gaul is united under the Frankish King Clovis I, founder of the Merovingian dynasty.

Tags: Frankish Kingdom, Clovis I, Merovingian Dynasty, Kingdom Formation, Political Unification, Frankish Empire

Battle of Tolbiac. King Clovis subjugates the Alamanni, and is baptized Christian with a large number of Franks by Remigius, bishop of Reims.

Tags: Frankish Kingdom, Christianity, Conversion, Roman Empire, Germanic Tribes

Eastern Roman Emperor Anastasius I dies and is succeeded by Justin I.

Tags: Byzantine Empire, Eastern Roman Empire, Succession, Emperor, Roman Empire

Having settled in Rome c. 500, Scythian monk Dionysius Exiguus invents the Anno Domini era calendar based on the estimated birth year of Jesus Christ.

Tags: Calendar, Christianity, Chronology, Timekeeping, Religious History, Monasticism

Justinian I succeeds Justin I as Emperor of the Eastern Roman Empire.

Tags: Byzantine Empire, Roman Empire, Emperor, Eastern Roman Empire, Justinian I, Succession, Imperial Rule

Saint Benedict of Nursia founds the monastery of Monte Cassino in Italy.

Tags: Christianity, Monasticism, Religious Orders, Roman Catholic Church

579: Reign of Persian Shah Khosrau I.

Tags: Sasanian Empire, Shah, Monarchy, Governance, Imperial Rule, Middle Ages

Bumin Khagan founded the Turkic Khaganate in Central Asia

Tags: Nomadic Empires, Political Formation, Empire Building

Second Council of Constantinople

Tags: Christianity, Byzantine Empire, Ecumenical Council, Theology, Church History, Eastern Orthodox Church

The monastery on Iona is founded by St. Columba.

Tags: Christianity, Monasticism

Birth of the last Islamic Prophet Muhammad.

Tags: Islam, Arabia, Religion, Islamic History, Middle Ages, Monotheism, Religious Figure, Early Islam, Birth

602: Reign of Roman Emperor Maurice.

Tags: Byzantine Empire, Roman Empire, Emperor, Eastern Roman Empire, Imperial Rule, Military

Reccared, king of the Visigoths in Spain, converts to Catholicism.

Tags: Catholicism, Visigoths, Conversion, Religious Politics, Christianity

Bahram Chobin usurps the Persian throne.

Tags: Sasanian Empire, Usurpation, Political Instability, Dynastic Politics, Military Coup

Gregory the Great succeeds Pope Pelagius II (who dies of plague) as the 64th pope.

Tags: Catholicism, Roman Empire, Religious Leadership, Church History, Christianity, Byzantine Empire

Pope Gregory sends Roman monks led by Augustine to England.

Tags: Christianity, Roman Catholic Church, Anglo-Saxons, Conversion, Missionary, Religious Expansion

Pope Boniface III elected to the papacy on the death of Pope Sabinian. He sought and obtained a decree from Byzantine Emperor Phocas which stated tha...

Tags: Catholicism, Religious Authority, Byzantine Empire, Church and State

Heraclius arrives by ship from Roman Carthage at Constantinople, overthrows Eastern Roman Emperor Phocas and becomes Emperor. His first major act is ...

Tags: Byzantine Empire, Eastern Roman Empire, Emperor, Coup, Political Transition, 600s

Year one of the Islamic calendar begins, during which the Hijrah occurs—Muhammad and his followers emigrate from Mecca to Medina in September.

Tags: Islam, Prophet, Religious Migration, Early Islam, 600s, Monotheism

The Coptic period, in its more specific definition, ends when Islam is introduced into Egypt.

Tags: Islam, Coptic Christianity, Religious Conversion, Early Islamic Period, Byzantine Empire, Arab Conquests, Religious History, Cultural Change

Emperor Yazdegerd III is murdered in Merv, ending the rule of Sassanid dynasty in Persia.

Tags: Sassanid Empire, Islamic Conquests, Caliphate, Dynastic Rule, Assassination, Political Transition, Middle Ages

661: The First Fitna occurs.

Tags: Islamic History, Caliphate, Civil War, Rashidun Caliphate, Umayyad Dynasty, Sunni Islam, Shia Islam, Political Instability

Caliph Ali ibn Abi Talib is assassinated. His successor Hasan ibn Ali abdicated the Caliphate to Muawiyah I, marking the beginning of the Umayyad Cali...

Tags: Islamic History, Caliphate, Umayyad Dynasty, Shia Islam, Sunni Islam, Succession, Civil War, Political Assassination

Battle of Karbala took place near Kufa, which resulted in the death of Husayn ibn Ali and the division of Muslim community.

Tags: Islam, Shia Islam, Sunni Islam, Caliphate, Umayyad Caliphate, Religious Conflict, Civil War, Martyrdom, Early Islam

Bulgaria is recognized as independent country by the Byzantine Empire.

Tags: Byzantine Empire, Independence, Political Recognition, Empire, Expansion, Diplomacy, 600s

Revival of the Turkic Khaganate by the efforts of Ilterish Qaghan and Tonyukuk

Tags: Nomadic Empires

685: The Second Fitna.

Tags: Islam, Caliphate, Umayyad Caliphate, Civil War, Political Instability, Religious Conflict, Sunni Islam, Shia Islam

Death of Arab caliph Abd al-Malik, his succession by his nominated heir and elder son al-Walid.

Tags: Umayyad Caliphate, Caliph, Succession, Dynasty, Political History, Middle Ages, Early Islam

Death of al-Walid I and he was succeeded by his brother Sulayman ibn Abd al-Malik.

Tags: Umayyad Caliphate, Succession, Islamic History, Caliph, Political Transition

Death of caliph Sulayman ibn Abd al-Malik and his succession by his cousin and nominated heir Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz.

Tags: Caliphate, Umayyad Caliphate, Succession, Islamic History, Political Leadership, Middle Ages, Religious Law

Death of caliph Yazid II and he was succeeded by his brother and nominated heir Hisham.

Tags: Caliphate, Umayyad Caliphate, Succession, Islamic History, Political Transition, Early Islam, Middle Ages

Byzantine Emperor Leo III the Isaurian destroys the icon of Christ above the Chalke Gate in the capital city of Constantinople, beginning the first ph...

Tags: Byzantine Empire, Iconoclasm, Christianity, Religious Art, Theology

Bede completes his Historia ecclesiastica gentis Anglorum (Ecclesiastical History of the English People).

Tags: Anglo-Saxons, Christianity, Historiography, Religious History, Monasticism

Death of Yazid III and his succession by his brother and nominated heir Ibrahim ibn al-Walid. On 4 December Ibrahim was forced to Abdicate in favour M...

Tags: Caliphate, Umayyad Caliphate, Succession, Civil War, Islamic History, Political Instability, Middle Ages

The last Umayyad Caliph Marwan II (744–750) is overthrown and executed by the first Abbasid Caliph, Abu al-Abbas al-Saffah. The Caliphate is moved to...

Tags: Caliphate, Islamic History, Umayyad Dynasty, Political Transition, Middle Ages, Islamic Golden Age

Death of Abbasid caliph al-Saffah and ascension of caliph al-Mansur to Arab Caliphate.

Tags: Caliphate, Abbasid Caliphate, Islamic History, Succession, Political Transition, Middle Ages, Islam, Dynastic Change

Pepin dies; Charles becomes king at Noyan and his brother Carloman becomes king at Soissons.

Tags: Carolingian Dynasty, Frankish Kingdom, Succession, Monarchy, Medieval Europe, Political Division

Buddhist monk Prajna reaches Chang'an and translates the sutras into Chinese.The Second Council of Nicaea was set up to restore the use and veneration...

Tags: Buddhism, Translation, Byzantine Empire, Iconoclasm, Religious Doctrine

Death of Abbasid caliph al-Hadi and ascension of caliph Harun al-Rashid.

Tags: Abbasid Caliphate, Caliph, Succession, Islamic History, Middle Ages, Political Transition

The Empress Irene of Athens convenes the Seventh Ecumenical Council, ending the first phase of Byzantine Iconoclasm.

Tags: Byzantine Empire, Iconoclasm, Orthodox Christianity, Council, Religious Doctrine, Heresy, Theology, Christianity

On Christmas Day, Charlemagne is crowned the first Holy Roman Emperor by Pope Leo III.

Tags: Holy Roman Empire, Charlemagne, Catholicism, Carolingian Dynasty, Emperor, Church and State