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Period: 31 BCE to 14
Augustus's rule
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27 BCE
Gaius Octavius granted the name Augustus
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12 BCE
Augustus becomes Pontifex Maximus
Augustus becomes Pontifex Maximus, the chief priest of the Roman religion after Lepidus, who had been a member of the Triumvirate with Octavian and Mark Antony, dies. -
6 BCE
Birth of Jesus Christ
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8
Ovid dies
Augustus became more dictatorial, exiling the poet Ovid, who had mocked his moral reforms. -
13
Augustus creates the cohorts urbanae
Augustus creates the cohorts urbanae in Rome to help maintain public order. -
Period: 14 to 37
Tiberius's rule
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Period: 14 to 68
Emperors in the Julio-Claudian Dynasty
The four successors of Augustus, the first Roman emperor: Tiberius (reigned 14–37), Caligula (37–41), Claudius I (41–54), and Nero (54–68) -
19
Germanicus died
It was widely believed that Tiberius had poisoned him in order that his own son, Drusus, should succeed. -
27
Tiberius retired to Capri
Never returned to Rome -
30
Crucification of Jesus Christ
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37
Caligula falls fatally ill
This turns him into a ruthless ruler. -
Period: 37 to 41
Caligula's rule
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39
Caligula gallops across floating bridge for 2 days.
Caligula had Roman merchant ships build him a floating bridge across the Bay of Bauli so that he could gallop across it for two days -
40
Caligula led military campaigns to the Rhine and the English Channel
He also held fake battles for entertainment. -
41
Draining the Fucine Lake
To gain more land, Claudius has a tunnel dug to drain the Fucine Lake out of Central Italy 6 km long. -
Period: 41 to 54
Claudius's rule
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43
Claudius undertook the conquest of Britain.
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Period: 54 to 68
Nero's rule
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62
Nero marries Poppea Sabina
After accusing his previous wife Octavia of adultery, exiling, and murdering her. -
Period: 64 to 64
Great Fire of Rome
started when a fire broke out among the shops lining the Circus Maximus, Rome’s mammoth chariot stadium; however, history has blamed Nero for the disaster, implying that he started the fire so that he could bypass the senate and rebuild Rome to his liking -
65
The baths of Nero are built in Rome.
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65
The Pisos Conspiracy came out
The Pisos Conspiracy came out as a failed attempt to kill Nero, and it resulted in the execution of forty-one people, including Roman Senators and high falutin Romans. -
68
Vitellius appointed to be the governor of lower Germany
Galba appointed Vitellius to be the governor of lower Germany even though he had no military experience. -
Period: 68 to 69
Galba's rule
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69
The Year of the Four Emperors
The Year of the Four Emperors began with Galba, continued with Otho, followed by Vitellius, until the final accession of Vespasian, first of the Imperial Flavian Dynasty -
69
Lower Germany refused to swear allegiance and obedience to Galba
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69
Otho renewed the gladiatorial games
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69
Otho rewarded the officials and soldiers who had helped him overthrow Galba.
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69
Otho completed Nero’s Golden Palace.
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69
Otho restored the fallen statues of Nero and Poppaea.
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69
Otho commits suicide.
In order to prevent civil war due to the Battle of Bedriacum. -
69
First Battle of Bedriacum
Otho’s and Vitellius’s armies met at the First Battle of Bedriacum. Vitellius came out victorious, and Otho died. -
69
Second Battle of Bedriacum
Between Vespasian and Vitellius. Vespasian defeated Vitellius and dragged his body through the streets before killing him. -
Period: 69 to 69
Otho's rule
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Period: 69 to 79
Vespasian's rule
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Period: 69 to 96
The Emperors in the Flavian Dynasty
The ancient Roman imperial dynasty of Vespasian (reigned 69–79) and his sons Titus (79–81) and Domitian (81–96) -
Period: 69 to 69
Aulus Vitellius's rule
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70
Senate passed law conferring power of Vespasian
Vespasian came to Rome in the late summer and left his son in charge of Judea. -
70
Jewish temple destroyed
Jerusalem was taken in, and the temple was destroyed. -
72
Construction of the Colosseum begins
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79
Eruption of Mount Vesuvius
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79
Titus visits cities damaged by Mt. Vesuvius
The eruption of Mount Vesuvius destroyed Pompeii and Herculaneum, so Titus went to see if relief was needed there. While he was on this visit, a fire broke out in Rome and lasted 3 days. -
Period: 79 to 81
Titus's rule
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80
Colosseum opens
Titus opens the Colosseum to the public and holds a 100 day "gladiator spectacular." -
Period: 81 to 96
Domitian's rule
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83
Domitian battles the Chatti
Domitian set out for Germany to battle the Chatti. He named himself “Germanicus” after winning. -
87
Domitian executed several senators
Domitian thought these senators were plotting against him. -
92
Samaritans attacked Roman front.
The Samaritans came and attacked the Roman front (started a war that lasted longer than Domitian’s reign). -
Period: 96 to 98
Nerva's rule
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Period: 96 to 180
The Five Good Emperors
Included Nerva, Trajan, Hadrian, Antoninus Pius, and Marcus Aurelius. This succession was not a bloodline. -
97
Rebellion of the Praetorian Guard
The Praetorian Guard (the army) rebelled and held Nerva captive in the imperial palace. They demanded the release of the two of the men responsible for Domitian’s death (Petronius and Parthenius), but Nerva resisted. -
97
Nerva adopted Trajan
Nerva adopted Marcus Ulpius Trains (Trajan) to be his son since he did not have any heirs. -
Period: 98 to 117
Trajan's rule
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101
Trajan battled Dacians
Trajan, who loved war, left Rome to battle the Dacians. He quickly won. -
114
Trajan fought in war against the Partians.
After a period of relative peace in Rome, Trajan left to fight in war on the eastern frontier against the Partians. -
Period: 117 to 138
Hadrian's rule
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122
Construction of the Hadrian Wall began
The wall marked the northern boundary of the Roman Empire in Britain. Its massive length showed Rome's power. -
130
Hadrian visited Jerusalem
Hadrian went to Jerusalem and rebuilt the city since the First Roman-Jewish War left it in ruins. Hadrian named the city "Aelia Capitoline Jupiter Capitolinus" after himself and the king of the Roman gods.