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On this day, Mt. Vesuvius erupted, covering Pompeii, Herculaneum, and Stabiae. The people of the time were not expecting the eruption as they believed Mt. Vesuvius was only a mountain and not an active volcano. -
The conspirators attack Julius Caesar, stabbing him and creating chaos. -
Five emperors all linked through the Julio-Claudian family tree, be it blood related or adopted. The emperors included: Augustus, Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius, and Nero.
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When Julius Caesar died, he made Augustus his heir and gave him everything including the name, "Caesar." His success and dominance in the Second Triumvirate made him the natural leader and he called himself the "Princeps" which was basically the emperor. His reign ended when he died of natural causes.
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Augustus captures and claims the land of Egypt. Adding this to the territory of the Roman Empire, he officially becomes the "master of the Greco-Roman world." Included is a sculpture of Augustus. -
Augustus and Agrippa hold a census for the population. They would later initiate two more. In this same year, Augustus reduced the size of the Senate from 1,000 people to 800.
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Tiberius became emperor when Augustus died of natural causes since he was Augustus' adopted heir. In the spring of 37 CE, Tiberius threw a javelin in a ceremonial game. From this, he ruined his shoulder, became ill, fell into a coma, and died, thus ending his reign.
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The Altar of Peace, Ara Parcis, was consecrated in a ceremony once the senate chose that it would honor Augustus. -
Though the exact date of Jesus' birth is unknown, scholars have narrowed down the possibility to sometime between 6 BCE and 6 CE.
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The Aeneid was published the same year Virgil, the author, died. It was unfinished, but they published it anyways as it was to be Rome's founding story to give the people a sense of pride and belonging.
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The death of Tiberius' sun, Drusus, took an emotional toll on Tiberius though they were not particularly close. This left no heir to the position of "emperor."
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Again, it is unknown the exact date which Jesus was crucified. However, based on how old he was at death and about when he was born, scholars have determined the five year span in which it is possible he died.
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Caligula came into power upon the death of Tiberius. He was the adopted heir. After ruling for four years, his reign ended when he died as a result of a murder from his own praetorian gaurd.
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Caligula bridged the Bay of Naples with boats from Baiae to Puteoli in the summer of 39. It was a three mile long pontoon bridge, and he rode through it during a two day ceremony to reveal the bridge. It was an opportunity for Caligula to show off. -
Caligula launches a failed campaign against Britain and Germany in an attempt to justify his decisions for his military. Attached is a photo of Caligula. -
Claudius unexpectedly gained power as the imperial household troops made him emperor after Caligula’s assassination. His reign ended when he was poisoned by mushrooms. It is said that Agrippina was the one who poisoned Caligula.
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Claudius sends troops to invade Britain in an attempt to make the empire bigger and show his strength. He successfully conquers the Britons.
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Claudius annexed Iturea and gave it to Syria. Giving Ituria to Syria was his way of avoiding major wars with the Germans.
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Nero was adopted and married into the line of succession. After the murder of Claudius, he took over. His reign ended when he killed himself to protect the empire.
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An Earthquake occurred in Pompeii also affecting towns nearby Vesuvius. It caused great destruction and devastation. Houses collapsed, statues were broken, and temples were destroyed.
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There is a conspiracy that the fire began because someone purposefully started the fire to fulfill a prophecy that the city would burn down. More commonly, it is said that the extreme heat caused a small fire among the shops by the Circus Maximus which spread quickly and uncontrollably. The emperor of the time, Nero, is said to have played his lyre on the roof and sang while the fire burned Rome. Needless to say he did nothing. -
Many tried to plan an assassination of Nero due to the population's dissatisfaction with him as emperor. When Nero found out, he had a prefect and many senators killed as a consequence.
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During his seven month reign, Galba stops paying for gladiatorial games for the public, which aided in his general dislike. Before him, emperors would commission games for the public to enjoy.
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During his reign Galba set a precedent to sentence men of any and all ranks without evidence or a trial.
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Galba was only emperor for seven months, and he was the first of the four emperors in 69 CE. Nobody was in line when Nero died, so the army helped Galba gain control. His seven months of power came to an end when he was assassinated in the Roman Forum.
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During this year, the Roman Empire switched rule frequently. Galba, Otho, Aulus Vitellius, and Vespasian all ruled during this year, with Vespasian's reign breaking the pattern and lasting 10 years.
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Otho begins paying for gladiatorial games for the public. This was a welcomed return.
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Otho and Vitellius battle at Bendriacum. Vitellius wins and advances towards Rome, which scares Otho and causes him to commit suicide.
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Vitellius adds Gaul, or current day France, to the Roman Empire.
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Vitellius attempts to make a treaty with Vespasian. It fails, and Vespasian invades and becomes the final emperor in the year of four emperors. This occured during Otho's reign.
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With Flavian as the father, and the following two emperors his son, this period marks the Flavian family's rule.
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Emperor for only four months, Otho the second of the four emperors in 69 CE. He was a close companion of Galba and took control after his death instead of Galba’s son since Otho bribed guards to murder him and his father. His reign ended due to his suicide, which he committed to prevent a civil war.
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His invasion caused Otho to kill himself, so when he came to Rome, he quickly took control. Reign ended when he was captured, tortured, and killed by Vespasian and his troops.
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Gained power by attacking and killing Vitellius. He was the last emperor in the year of four emperors, and broke the pattern by ruling for 10 years. His reign ended when he died of natural causes. He marks the beginning of the Flavian Dynasty.
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Titus, Vespasian's eldest son attacks Jerusalem. He destroys the temple.
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The initial building of the Colosseum. It was intended to host various games and events for the public to enjoy.
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The oldest son of Vespasian, he took over since he was the natural heir. His reign ended after three years when his younger brother poisoned him to get his power.
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The Colosseum officially opens and begins hosting big games and fights for the public. -
During Titus' reign, Rome reconstructed the Temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus after it was ruined in yet another fire.
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Titus’s younger brother and took over as natural succession once he poisoned Titus. He ruled for 15 years, and lost the position when he was murdered as a part of a conspiracy against him.
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Commissioned/built the Arc of Titus in Rome for his older brother and former emperor. -
Domitian embarked on a campaign to Germany to engage the Chatti He wanted to counter the threat the Chatti posed to Rome, but was unsuccessful as he ended up being the last of the Flavian Emperors.
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These five emperors included Nerva, Trajan, Hadrian, Antonius Pius, and Marcus Aurelius. These men were not connected through a bloodline as they were mostly adopted heirs. The men just ruled during peaceful prosperous years of Rome.
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Though ill and old, Nerva took power since there was no heir on september 18. Two years later, his reign ends when he died of old age and natural causes. He was the first of the five good emperors.
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Praetorian guards imprisoned Nerva in his own palace until he promised to release the two men responsible for murdering Domitian.
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Nerva Publicly adopts Trajan as heir. Without this act, the empire would have been leader-less when Nerva died.
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Trajan gained power after Nerva’s death as he was the adopted heir. He reigned for 19 years before he lost power due to his death of natural causes. He was the second of the five good emperors.
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In Rome, the Column of Trajan is built to honor the reigning emperor, Trajan. -
This was a three year conflict between the Parthian and Roman empires. The Romans repeatedly beat the Parthians and took middle-eastern territory including Armenia, Mesopotamia, and Assyria.
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Hadrian came to power as an adopted heir by the former emperor. With a reign of 21 years, he was the third of the five good emperors. His reign ended due to his death from natural causes, and his adopted heir continues the line of good emperors.
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Hadrian embarks on his first voyage. He goes to Gaul, the Rhine frontiers, Britain, Spain, western Mauretania, the Orient, and Danube provinces.
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Hadrian embarks on his second round of voyages. He travels to, Africa, Greece, Asia Minor, Syria, Egypt, and Cyrene.
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