Ancient Rome Timeline By MR AWESOMENESS9293 509 BCE Rome becomes Republic 264 BCE First Punic War Beings 60 BCE First Triumvirate is Formed 45 BCE Julius Caesar is murdered in the Forum 43 BCE Augustus Caesar begins his rule 43 BCE Second Triumvirate is Formed 42 Caligula is Assassinated 54 Claudius is poisoned and Nero becomes ruler. 64 Great Fire of Rome 79 Mt. Vesuvius erupts and buries Pompeii 80 Colosseum finishes building 313 Edict of Milan