The Roman Empire

Roman Timeline

Period: 753 BCE to 476 BCE

Evens throughout Roman history

The Founding Of Rome

735 BCE

According to tradition, Romulus and his twin brother, Remus, founded the city of Rome on the site where they were suckled by a she-wolf wen they were orphaned infants. This was only a myth and he actual date o Rome's founding was set forth by the Roman scholar Marcus Terentius Varro in the first century B.C. There were a few Greek historians that speculated Aeneas had settled at Rome in the fifth century B.C., which was then still a small city-state.

The Founding of The Republic

509 BCE

The Romans overthrew their Etruscan conquerors that were centered North of Rome who had ruled over the Romans for hundreds of years at this point. Once the Romans were free, they established a government in which citizens elected representatives to rule on heir behalf known as a republic. The early Roman Republic was dominated by the aristocracy, or wealthy class also known as patricians. The lower class, known as plebeians, virtually had no voice in the government at this time.

Start of the Punic Wars

264 BCE

Rome had become the dominant power throughout he Italian peninsula, all while a powerful city-sate in northern Africa known as Carthage established itself as the leading maritime power throughout the world. Rome had interfered in a dispute on the Carthaginian controlled island of Sicily, causing the first Punic war to break out. Rome gained power over both Sicily and Corsica marking the empire's emergence as both a naval and land power.

End of the Punic Wars

146 BCE

The most controversial war was the third Punic war between Rome and Carthage. This was due to Cato the Elder and other hawkish members of the Roman Senate trying to convince their colleagues that Carthage was a continuous threat to Rome and their supremacy within the region. By the end of the war, the remaining Carthaginians surrendered and eventually sold into slavery.

First Trumvirate

60 BCE

Members of the first triumvirate consisted of Caesar, Licinius, Crassus, and Magnus, but most people would know this as only Caesar, Crassus, and Pompey. This was an unofficial reorganization of the Roman power structure that would unite the three most powerful men of this age together, placing them at the head of political power. The triumvirs also gave themselves lands to rule over. Eventually antipathy drove the triumvirs apart, with a looming mistrust that plagued their dealings.

Conspiracy to Murder Caesar

44 BCE

In 44 BC the act of Caesar declaring himself dictator for life, along with continual effort to adorn himself with the trappings of power made many members of the Senate turn against him. The conspirators would meet in each others home to discuss the assassination of Caesar. The majority opinion favored the killing of Caesar while he sat within the Senate. This was where he would be by himself, and where the conspirators could hide their daggers beneath their togas.

Death of Caesar

44 BCE

The day Caesar died, he was faced with many bad omens and warnings from priests. Caesar ignored these omens and warnings, and proceeded to the Senate as planned. The Senate rose in respect when he entered, those who were part of plot against him stood near him. As Caesar sit in the Senate, the conspirators went to work. They all unsheathed their daggers and rushed Caesar. Caesar rose to defend himself, but he was denied, be ultimately succumbed to his wounds.

Battle at Actium

31 BCE

This battle was where Roman leader Octavian won a decisive victory against the forces of Roman Mark Antony along with Cleopatra who was the queen of Egypt at the time. This was a naval battle off a promontory in the North of Acarnania that was on the western coast of Greece. Octavian won the battle and became the undisputed ruler of the Roman world.

Death of Nero

68

The Roman Empire was under great strain in the final years of Nero's rule. Nero decided to take an extended tour of Greece where he participated in driving a chariot in the Olympic games among many other things before returning home in 68. Nero failed to respond to revolt in Gaul prompting further unrest in Africa & Spain. Eventually Nero was declared and enemy of the state. Nero would make an attempt to flee, but learning his arrest and execution were imminent he ended up taking his own life.

Death of Marcus Aurelius

180

In the year of 180, the health of the emperor began to rapidly deteriorate. He wanted for his son Commodus to carry on the war and complete the mission, as he was no longer able to do so. Unfortunately Commodus did not carry on Marcus's plans to extend the northern borders of the empire since he was more attracted to the high and easy living. Marcus's scheme was abandoned, Commodus made peace with the barbarians and he returned to Rome.

Early Life of Constantine

272

Constantine joined his father on a military campaign and fought along side him in Britain leading to the death of his father and the declaration of emperor by his troops. He then began to fight for power. Eventually Constantine became the Western Roman emperor and used his power to address Christians where he issued the Edict of Milan in 313. Christianity was now legalized and allowed freedom for worship throughout the empire.

Death of Constantine

327

The reign of Constantine established influence over religious conflicts within the church, which led to the Nicene Creed that affirmed that Jesus was a divine being. While Constantine was planning a campaign against Persia, he fell ill. As he attempted to make his way back o Constantinople, he health kept deteriorating and is journey was halted. At the end, he went through with his baptism and died soon thereafter.

Fall of Rome

476

Multiple waves of Germanic barbarian tribes swept through the Roman Empire and took turns ravaging the empire and eventually carving out areas as to which they would settle down. The last of the Roman emperors, Romulus, was in the west and was overthrown by Odoacer the Germanic leader. Odoacer became the first Barbarian leader of the Roman Empire.