Roman Empire Time Line

Battle of Actium

31 BCE

Augustus defeats Mark Antony and Cleopatra in a naval battle.

Augustus becomes emperor

27 BCE

Augustus was given Imperium Maius by the senate and became the first Roman Emperor.

Augustus becomes emperor

27 BCE

Augustus was given imperial powers by the senate and became the first Roman Emperor.

Aeneid was Published

19 BCE

the Aeneid was published by Augustus despite Virgil’s wishes

Aeneid was Published

19 BCE

the Aeneid was published by Augustus despite Virgil’s wishes.

Jesus was born in Jerusalem

5 BCE

Jesus was born.

5 BCE

Jesus was born in Jerusalem.

Augustus the Pater Patriae

2 BCE

Augustus was declared the father of his country, Pater Patriae

Augustus named Pater Patriae

2 BCE

Augustus was declared the father of his country, Pater Patriae.

Tiberius defeats Arminius

9

Tiberius defeated Arminius. Arminius prior destroyed two Roman legions in Germany.

Tiberius becomes emperor

14

Tiberius, the adopted son of Augustus and his chosen successor, became emperor. He was one of the emperors in the Julio-Claudian Dynasty

Tiberius becomes emperor

14

Tiberius, the adopted son of Augustus and his chosen successor, became emperor. He was one of the emperors in the Julio-Claudian Dynasty.

Tiberius exiles the Jewish people

19

Tiberius gave the Jewish people an option to abandon their faith or fight in the Roman army.

Jesus is Crucified

33

Jesus is Crucified

33

Caligula becomes emperor

37

Caligula became emperor and was one of the emperors in the Julio-Claudian dynasty

Caligula becomes emperor

37

Caligula became emperor and was one of the emperors in the Julio-Claudian dynasty.

Caligula started a military campaign in Germany

39

Caligula started a military campaign in Germany

39

Caligula reaches English Channel

40

Caligula and his troops reached the english Channel and he order them to take seashells

Caligula reaches English Channel

40

Caligula and his troops reached the english Channel and he orders them to take seashells.

Caligula was assassinated

41

Caligula was assassinated by a Praetorian Guard

Claudius becomes emperor

41

Claudius became emperor despite the will of the Senate and was one of the members of the Julio-Claudian Dynasty

Caligula was assassinated

41

Caligula was assassinated by a Praetorian Guard.

Claudius becomes emperor

41

Claudius became emperor despite the will of the Senate and was one of the emperors in the Julio-Claudian Dynasty.

Claudius started construction of the Port of Ostia

42

Port of Ostia

42

Claudius started construction of the Port of Ostia

Claudius leads his troops through Gaul and invades Britain

43

Invasion of Britania

43

Claudius leads his troops through Gaul and invades Britain.

Claudius is murdered

54

Claudius was murdered by his wife Agrippa after adopting Nero and making him his successor. He was the last of the Julio-Claudian Dynasty.

Nero becomes emperor

54

Nero began giving public performances

59

Nero began giving public poetry and lyre performances to the wealthy elite.

The Great Fire of Rome

64

The Great Fire of Rome started from shops in the southeastern edge of the Circus Maximus and ragged for 10 days. The cause of the great fire is contributed to the poorly constructed wooden apartments in the slums of Rome. These apartments easily allowed the fire to spread.

Conspiracy against Nero

65

A group of Roman elites, including his former mentor Seneca, planned to assassinate Nero.

Titus given commanded of a legion

67

Titus was given command of a legion in Judaea under his father Vespasian.

Nero kills himself

68

Galba becomes emperor

68

Galba accepted Vindex's offer to head the rebellion against Nero with Otho. After Nero killed himself, Galba marched into Rome with an army and was proclaimed emperor by the Senate.

Aulus Vitellius becomes governor

68

Vitellius became the governor of lower Germania and won over the Germans with his generosity.

Unrest in Germny

69

Legions in Germania with refused to pledge their loyalty to Galba and proclaimed that Vitellius was the rightful emperor.

Titus is put in charge of the Jewish war

69

Titus was put in charge of the Jewish war and later destroyed Jerusalem.

Otho becomes emperor

69

Vitellius becomes emperor

69

Vitellius gained the support of all of Germanica, Espania, and Britannia for the emperorship. He was recognized by the Senate, crossed into Rome, and replaced the praetorian guards with his own German army.

Galba choses Piso as sucessor and is killed

69

To win senatorial support Galba chose Lucius Calpurnius Piso Frugi Licinianus as his successor, not his loyal friend Otho. Otho was upset and conspired against Galba and won the support of the praetorians and Galba and Piso were murdered in the Roman Forum.

Otho is defeated

69

Otho sent the Roman navy to Narbonensis, called the Danube legion, and marched with them. Otho was defeated in Bedriacum.

Otho commits suicide

69

Otho commits suicide after he is defeated.

Vitellius faces Vespasian

69

Vitellius faced Vespasian's forces in the Second Battle of Bedriacum and Vespasian’s brother convinced Vitellius to abdicate and he did.

Vespasian becomes emperor

69

Vespasian started gaining support after Otho’s defeat from legions in Egypt, Judea, Syria, and other middle eastern countries and was proclaimed emperor after many military victories. Vespasian is the first emperor of the Flavian Dynasty.

The year of the Four Emperors

69

69 CE is the year of the Four Emperors

Vespasian starts building the Colosseum

72

Began building the colosseum and it was completed by his son Emperor Titus.

Vespasian annexed Agi Decumates

74

Annexed the Agri Decumates in Southern Germania.

Titus becomes emperor

79

Titus became emperor and this created hostility between him and his brother Domitian. Titus was an emperor in the Flavian Dynasty.

Mount Vesuvius erupts

79

Mount Vesuvius erupts and causes the destruction of Pompeii.

Titus dies

81

Titus died and it was believed to have been hastened by his Brother and successor Domitian.

Domitian becomes emperor

81

Domitian was the last emperor in the Flavian Dynasty.

Domitian becomes censor for life

85

The Revolt of Antonius Saturnius

89

The revolt of Antonius Saturninus ended in execution and the law of majestas was used liberally against senators.

Domitian is murdered

96

There was a conspiracy against Domitian and he was killed, ending the Flavian Dynasty. The senate rejoiced Domitian’s death; however, the army demanded justice.

Nerva becomes emperor

96

Old Nerva promptly took control of the empire. Nerva was the first of the Five Good Emperors.

Nerva is imprisioned by praetorian guard

97

There was a mutiny in the praetorian guard and Nerva was imprisoned and the conspirators who killed Domitian were killed in cold blood.

Nerva choses Trajan as his sucessor

98

Nerva adopted Trajan to be his heir and to secure the northern provinces.

Trajan becomes emperor

98

Trajan is the second of the Five Good Emperors and was the first Emperor to be born outside of Italia.

Trajan entered Rome on foot

99

Trajan defeats the Dacians

105

Trajan left Rome and battled and defeated the Dacians, absorbing the kingdom of Dacia into the empire.

Hadrian becomes emperor

117

Trajan did not name a successor, but Trojans wife was fond of Hadrian and signed the papers naming him Trajan’s adopted heir. Hadrian was the third Good Emperors.

Trajan dies on his way back to Rome

117

When trouble erupted on the Northern Frontier Trajan left his men in Syria and retreated back to Rome; however, he died one the way back, some speculate he was poisoned, and his body was returned to Rome.

Construction for Hadrian's wall starts

122

Construction for Hadrian’s wall in Northern Boundary in Britania started.

The Arch of Hadrian was built

131

The Arch of Hadrian was constructed by the Athenians to honor Hadrian as the founder of the city.

Pius governors the providence of Asia

134

Hadrian dies

138

Hadrian died and his adopted successor was Pius.

Pius becomes emperor

138

Pius was the adopted successor of Hadrian. Pius was not Hadrian's first choice but because of his old age Hadrian chose Pius. Pius is the fourth Good Emperor.

Pius begins the construction of the Antonine Wall

142

The Antonine wall is an extension of Hadrian's wall.

Pius dies

161

Pius dies of a fever.

Pius adopts Marcus Aurelius

161

Marcus Aurelius was Hadrian's second choice to take over the empire, but, because of his age, he was not chosen. Pius adopts Marcus Aurelius to be his successor.

Marcus Aurelius becomes emperor

161

Marcus Aurelius is the last Good Emperor. He was groomed by Pius to take over after his death.

The Parthrian war starts

161

The Parthian king invaded Armenia, which was under Roman protection. This is resulted the of providence Syria revolting and the start of the Parthrian war.

Marcomanni tribe invades Roman providences

167

When this Germanic tribe invaded the Roman providences, Aurelius joined his general, Verus, on the battle field to push back these invasions.

Marcus Aurelius retires and dies

178

After defeating the Germanic tribes, Aurelius retired to Vindobona and died two years later in 180 CE.