Pompey | Timeline

Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus (29 September 106 BC – 28 September 48 BC), known in English as Pompey or Pompey the Great, was a leading Roman general and statesman. He played a significant role in the transformation of Rome from republic to empire. He was (for a time) a student of Roman general Sulla as well as the political ally, and later enemy, of Julius Caesar. (Intro from Wikipedia)

September 9, 106 B.C. - Picenum (Ancona region) - Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus is born

January(?) 1(?), 104 B.C. - Picenum - Pompey's father, Gnaeus Pompeius Strabo, becomes Quaestor

January(?) 1(?), 93 B.C. - Syracusae, Sicily - Gnaeus Pompeius Strabo, becomes promagistrate in Sicily

January(?) 1(?), 92 B.C. - Picenum - Gnaeus Pompeius Strabo, becomes Praetor

January(?) 1(?), 91 B.C. - Picenum - Pompey begins serving under his father in the Social War

June(?) 1(?), 90 B.C. - Firmum (Città di Fermo, Adriatic Coast) - Battle of Firmum - Victory for Pompeius Strabo. 16-year-old Pompey might have participated, under his father's orders

October(?) 1(?), 90 B.C. - Asculum (Ascoli Piceno, Italy) - In the Autumn, Pompeius Strabo breaks out of Picenum and drives the rebels back to Asculum. He lays siege to the city

November(?) 1(?), 90 B.C. - Etruria - Pompeius Strabo defeats a rebel column trying to march into Etruria, killing 5,000 rebels

January(?) 1(?), 89 B.C. - Rome - Sulla and Pompeius Strabo elected consuls

February(?) 1(?), 89 B.C. - Asculum - Battle of Asculum - decisive roman victory. 17-year-old Pompey participates under his father's orders - Asculum capitulates after Pompeius Strabo defeats an italian relief army of 60,000 men =(START)

March 15, 89 B.C. - Rome - Gnaeus Pompeius Strabo, becomes consul after his victory at Asculum

December 27, 89 B.C. - Rome - Gnaeus Pompeius Strabo celebrates a Triumph for his victories against the italian allies

January 5(?), 88 B.C. - Picenum - His father's consulship expires. Pompeius Strabo and all his veteran soldiers retire to Picenum

February(?) 1(?), 87 B.C. - Rome - Cinna returns to Rome and betrays Sulla, sending a tribune to Nola to accuse him of murdering civilians. Cinna's bodyguards break into Pompeius Strabo's house and ransack it

March(?) 1(?), 87 B.C. - Picenum - The Senate requests Strabo's help against Gaius Marius and Lucius Cornelius Cinna. He departs with his army to Rome

June(?) 1(?), 87 B.C. - Outside Rome - Pompeius Strabo fights inconclusively against Cinna's lieutenants Quintus Sertorius and Papirius Carbo during the "Bellum Octavianum"

September(?) 1(?), 87 B.C. - Outside Rome - Strabo and his army camp outside the Coline Gate. In a few days an outbreak of dysentery begins affecting the troops and he gets the disease aswell and dies

January(?) 1(?), 86 B.C. - Picenum - After his father's death, Pompey spends some time in the camp of Cinna, but is treated with suspicion and retires with his legions back to Picenum

February(?) 1(?), 86 B.C. - Picenum - An action is brought against him for "peculatus" under the accusation that he was in possession of booty and cash taken by his father from the siege of Asculum. He is acquitted when it is discovered that the theft was committed by one of his father's freedmen. The judge takes a liking of Pompey and offers his daughter Antistia in marriage

January(?) 1(?), 84 B.C. - Picenum - After his father's death, Pompey spends some time in the camp of Cinna, but was treated with suspicion and retires with his legions back to Picenum

April(?) 1(?), 83 B.C. - While in Picenum (Ancona region) - In the Spring, Sulla returns to Italy with 30,000 veterans from his campaigns in Greece and lands with his legions unopposed at Brundisium

May(?) 1(?), 83 B.C. - Southern Italy - Pompey raises three legions and decides to join Sulla, together with Metellus Pius and Crassus

December(?) 1(?), 83 B.C. - Picenum - While Sulla advances on Rome, Pompey returns to Picenum to fight the anti-sullans there

May(?) 1(?), 82 B.C. - Rome(?) - Sulla sends Metellus Pius to secure the northern parts of Italy, accompanied by young Pompey, Marcus Crassus and Marcus Lucullus

August(?) 1(?), 82 B.C. - Picenum (Ancona region) - Metellus Pius attacks and defeats Gaius Carrinas in Picenum

September(?) 1(?), 82 B.C. - Faventia (Faenza, near Ravenna) - Metellus Pius defeats the consul Papirius Carbo and his general Gaius Norbanus at Faventia

October(?) 1(?), 82 B.C. - Ravenna - Pompey takes Ravenna

November(?) 1(?), 82 B.C. - Rome(?) - Pompey is ordered by Sulla to stamp out democratic rebels in Sicily and Africa

December(?) 1(?), 82 B.C. - Ostia - Pompey sails for Sicily with 120 warships and 6 legions in 800 transport ships

January(?) 1(?), 81 B.C. - Lilybaeum (Marsala), western tip of Sicily - Pompey hunts down the Marian leadership. Papirius Carbo, the Marian Consul, is caught by Pompey's men on Pantellaria Island and taken to Pompey who has him executed

February(?) 1(?), 81 B.C. - Utica, Tunisia - Battle of Utica - Sullan victory

March 12, 81 B.C. - Rome - Pompey is allowed to celebrate a Triumph after his campaigns in Sicily and Africa. He gets the insulting nickname of adulescentulus carnifex, the "teenage butcher".

January(?) 1(?), 77 B.C. - Etruria - Marcus Aemilius Lepidus, Roman consul and leader of the democratic party, is defeated by Quintus Lutatius Catulus outside Rome. The remnants of the rebels are wiped out by Pompey in Etruria.

June(?) 1(?), 77 B.C. - Mutina (Modena, Italy) - After assisting Consul Catulus in putting down the rebellion of Marcus Aemilius Lepidus, Pompey asks to be sent to reinforce Metellus Pius in Hispania. He then recruits an army of 30,000 infantry and 1,000 cavalry

October(?) 1(?), 77 B.C. - Gallia Narbonensis (Languedoc/Provence) - Leads his legions to Spain through a welter of carnage in a transalpine war during the Autumn

December(?) 1(?), 77 B.C. - Narbo Martius (Narbonne, France) - Pompey winters at Narbo Martius

April(?) 1(?), 76 B.C. - Col de Petrus - In the Spring, Pompeius marches along the Via Domitia through Gallia Narbonensis crossing the Pyrenees at Col de Petrus to Spain. He joins with Quintus Metellus Pius to suppress the revolt of Quintus Sertorius, but is at first unsuccessful.

August(?) 1(?), 76 B.C. - near Sucro (Alzira, 36km from Valencia) - Battle of Lauron - Sertorius and his rebels defeat Pompey. Sertorius withraws when Metellus Pius arrives with his army

December(?) 1(?), 76 B.C. - Near the Pyrenees - Pompey retreats north of the Ebro River and sets up winter quarters near the Pyrenees

April(?) 1(?), 75 B.C. - Plain of Valentia (Valencia, Hispania) - Pompey moves south to the plain of Valentia

May(?) 1(?), 75 B.C. - Valentia (Valencia, Hispania) - Battle of Valentia - Pompey is victorius against Sertorius' legates Perpenna Vento and Herennius, regaining his prestige. Valentia is taken and sacked

June(?) 1(?), 75 B.C. - Arbalat de la Ribera, Valencia - Battle of Sucro - indecisive. Metellus arrives the following day (probably from Segovia) and joins Pompey

July(?) 1(?), 75 B.C. - Langa de Duero, Soria, North-central Spain - Both armies move north - Battle of Saguntum - indecisive

October(?) 1(?), 75 B.C. - Clunia, near Burgos - In the Autumn, Pompey lays siege to a series of celtiberian towns including Clunia

December(?) 1(?), 75 B.C. - River Duero (Douro) valley - Winter with the Vaccaei

April(?) 1(?), 74 B.C. - Pallantia (Palencia, NW Hispania) - Pompey lays siege to Pallantia but is forced to retreat by Sertorius

May(?) 1(?), 74 B.C. - Calagurris (Calahorra, North central Spain) - Sertorius follows Pompey to Calagurris and defeats him

December(?) 1(?), 74 B.C. - Western Pyrenees - Winter in the western Pyrenees. Pompey sends a letter to the Senate asking for reinforcements

January(?) 1(?), 73 B.C. - River Ebro valley - Metellus Pius receives two more legions. He and Pompey then descend from the Pyrenees to the River Ebro

January(?) 1(?), 72 B.C. - While at the River Ebro Valley - Quintus Sertorius is assassinated by his subordinate, Marcus Perperna, who is in turn defeated by Pompey

June(?) 1(?), 72 B.C. - Calagurris (Calahorra, North central Spain) - Siege of Calagurris and end of the war

January(?) 1(?), 71 B.C. - Foot of the Alps - While returning to Rome, Pompey is ordered to bypass Rome and head south to aid Crassus

June(?) 15(?), 71 B.C. - North of Salerno, Southern Italy - Pompey's legions capture some 5,000 rebels fleeing from the Battle of Silarius River, killing them all

January 1, 70 B.C. - Rome - 36-year-old Pompey becomes Consul and Senator at the same time

January 1(?), 69 B.C. - Rome - Pompey leaves public life after his consulship

January(?) 1(?), 68 B.C. - While in Rome - Cilician pirates launch a raid at the port of Ostia, burning the consular war fleet

January(?) 1(?), 67 B.C. - Rome - The Senate passes a law appointing Pompey commander-in-chief for the war against the pirates who were operating in the Mediterranean, disrupting grain supplies to Rome. The "lex Gabinia" gives Pompey command of the Mediterranean and its coasts for 50 miles inland for three years

February(?) 1(?), 67 B.C. - Ostia(?) - Pompey divides the Mediterranean into 13 zones – six in the West and seven in the East – to each of which he assigns a fleet under an admiral. In total he raises a fleet of 500 warships

March(?) 15(?), 67 B.C. - Western Mediterranean - 40-day campaign in the Western Mediterranean against the pirates

May(?) 1(?), 67 B.C. - Eastern Mediterranean - 49-day campaign in the Eastern Mediterranean against the pirates

June(?) 1(?), 67 B.C. - Korakesion (Alanya, Southern turkish coast) - Battle of Korakesion - Roman victory against the cilician pirates. 20,000 pirates surrender

August(?) 1(?), 67 B.C. - Cilicia (Eastern South coast of Turkey) - Pompey finishes his campaign in just 89 days. He offers the ex-pirates and their families clemency, he settles them in agricultural colonies in eastern Mediterranean lands.

January(?) 1(?), 66 B.C. - While in Cilicia - The lex Manilia, supported by Cicero gives Pompey the Mithradatic Command, replacing L. Lucullus

June(?) 1(?), 66 B.C. - Lycus (Kelkit) River, Turkey (near the Black Sea) - Battle of the Lycus: Pompey the Great decisively defeats Mithridates VI, effectively ending the Third Mithridatic War

September(?) 1(?), 66 B.C. - Artaxata (Artashat, Armenia) - Tigranes II is forced to surrender, by a payment of 6,000 talents, and is reinstated by Pompey as a "friend of the Roman people" to hold Armenia as a buffer zone.

December 1(?), 66 B.C. - Caucasian Albania (Azerbaijan) - Winter quarters in the Kingdom of Albania

April(?) 1(?), 65 B.C. - Iberia (Southern Georgia) - Marches into Iberia in the Spring

May(?) 1(?), 65 B.C. - near the Pelorus River, Iberia - Battle of the Pelorus - Roman victory. Pompey the Great subjugates the kingdom of Iberia. He then marches northwest towards the Kingdom of Colchis (Northern Georgia)

June(?) 1(?), 65 B.C. - Phasis (Poti, Georgia) - Pompey meets with Admiral Servilius and his fleet in Phasis, commanding him to blockade King Mithridates while he returned to Albania (Azerbaijan) to quell a revolt

August?) 1(?), 65 B.C. - Alazani, Azerbaijan - Battle of the Abas - Roman victory. Many of the tribes of the Causasus and Caspian send envoys to conclude peace with Rome

December(?) 1(?), 64 B.C. - Antioch (Antakya, Turkey-Syria border) - Winter at Seleucid Syria's capital of Antioch. Caesar becomes candidate to the consulship at the end of 64 B.C. - Crassus and Pompey support his campaign

January(?) 1(?), 63 B.C. - Damascus, Syria - Arrives in Damascus

April 5, 63 B.C. - While in Damascus - Prince Aristobulus and the Sadducees are besieged in the Temple of Jerusalem by Prince Hyrcanus and King Aretas of Petra, his ally. Aristobulus sends an envoy to Pompey's representative in Syria, Marcus Aemilius Scaurus

October 1(?), 63 B.C. - Jerusalem - Pompey's legions storm Jerusalem after a 3-month siege

December 1(?), 62 B.C. - Brundisium (Brindisi, SE Italy) - Returns to Italy at the end of 62 B.C. He demobilizes the legions, instructing the soldiers to gather again only when it was time for them to march in his triumph

December 15(?), 62 B.C. - Rome(?) - Pompey divorces his wife Mucia almost as soon as he had returned to Italy

September 28, 61 B.C. - Rome - Pompey celebrates his third Triumph, commemorating his victories over the pirates and Mithridates

December 1(?), 60 B.C. - Rome - Caesar, Crassus and Pompey form a political alliance named the "First Triumvirate". Orator Cicero is offered a part of the alliance but declines

May(?) 1(?), 59 B.C. - Rome - In late April or Early May, Caesar marries his daughter Julia to his political ally Pompey

January(?) 1(?), 58 B.C. - Rome - Assumes the position of "praefectus annonae", who oversaw grain deliveries to Rome

April 8, 56 B.C. - Rome - Meeting with Cicero

April 11, 56 B.C. - Rome - Departs for Luca to meet with Julius Caesar

April 13, 56 B.C. - While in on his way to Luca - Caesar invites Crassus and Pompey to renew the First Triumvirate. Caesar meets with Crassus at Ravenna

April 18, 56 B.C. - Luca, Cisalpine Gaul (Lucca, Tuscany) - Five days later, Caesar meets with Pompey at Luca. After these two meetings, Caesar, Crassus and Pompey renew the First Triumvirate and Caesar extends his Governorship of Gaul. The three agree that Pompey and Crassus would again stand for consulship next year

January(?) 1(?), 55 B.C. - Rome - Crassus and Pompey share the consulship

January(?) 1(?), 54 B.C. - Rome - Pompey builds the first permanent theatre in Rome

May(?) 1(?), 52 B.C. - Rome - Pressured by Pompey, Cicero does not participate in a Senate debate on Julius Caesar's campaign in Gaul

May 15, 52 B.C. - Rome - Senate meeting

February 1, 52 B.C. - Rome - After several attempts to hold elections had failed, the Senate passed an emergency decree declaring martial law and authorizing Pompey to levy troops in order to restore order in Rome

February 5, 52 B.C. - Rome - Pompey is elected Consul

January(?) 1(?), 51 - Rome - Pompey orders Julius Caesar to return unarmed to Rome because his term as governor or Gaul had ended and he had to face re-election

January 1, 50 B.C. - Rome - After voting, the Senate demands that both Pompey and Julius Caesar lay down their commands simultaneously

April 15, 50 B.C. - Rome - A senatorial decree requires Julius Caesar and Pompey to contribute one legion each to reinforce the troops in Syria, which was under attack by the neighboring Parthians

December 21, 50 B.C. - Rome - At a public meeting, the tribune Marcus Antonius (Mark Antony) viciously attacks Pompey

January 3, 49 B.C. - Outside Rome - Pompey meets the senators outside Rome, urging them to take decisive action against Caesar

January 7, 49 B.C. - Rome - The Roman Senate declares Julius Caesar a public enemy and appoints Pompey to organize the defence of Italy

January 17, 49 B.C. - Rome - With his legions far from Rome in the south, Pompey realizes he is unable to defend the City. He and most of the Senate leave Rome to Capua

February 19, 49 B.C. - Lucera (near Foggia) - Pompey learns of the impending capitulation of Corfinium and leaves for Canusium (Canosa di Puglia), refusing to bring aid to Corfinium

February 20, 49 B.C. - Canusium (Canosa di Puglia) - Pompey reaches Canusium

February 25, 49 B.C. - Brundisium (Brindisi, SE Italy) - Pompey reaches Brundisium

March 4, 49 B.C. - Brundisium - The consuls sail from Brundisium for Dyrrachium with 30 cohorts

March 17, 49 B.C. - Brundisium - The pompeian fleet returns to brundisium. Pompey and his troops flee to Epirus

March 20(?), 49 B.C. - Epirus (Greece-Albania border) - Lands in Epirus

January 7, 48 B.C. - Macedonia | Apollonia (near Fier, Albania) - While marching from Macedonia to Apollonia, Pompey learns of Caesar's landing

January 10, 48 B.C. - Dyrrhachium (Durrës, Albania) - Julius Caesar marches to Dyrrhachium, but Pompey arrives there first

January 19, 48 B.C. - Dyrrhachium - Pompey sends a messenger to Scipio at Ephesus to send two legions to Macedonia

April 5, 48 B.C. - Asparagium, Genusus River (Shkumnin River, Albania) - Pompey establishes his camp south of Dyrrhachium, at Asparagium, at the Genusus River

July 10, 48 B.C. - Dyrrhachium - Battle of Dyrrhachium - Pompey victory. Caesar moves for Apollonia, with Pompey in pursuit

August 2, 48 B.C. - near Larissa, Greece - Pompey establishes his camp near Larissa and joins forces with Scipio

August 5, 48 B.C. - near Pharsalus (Farsala, Central Greece) - Pompey establishes his camp near Pharsalus

August 9, 48 B.C. - Pharsalus (Farsala, Central Greece) | Larissa - Caesar decisively defeats Pompey (battle of Pharsalus). Pompey flees to Larissa

August 12, 48 B.C. - Amphipolis (Amfipoli, W. of Kavala, Greece) - Pompey arrives at Amphipolis

August 13, 48 B.C. - Amphipolis - Pompey sets sail to Mytilene, to take his wife Cornelia and son Sextus on board

August 16, 48 B.C. - Mytilene, Lesbos Island - Pompey arrives at Mytilene

August 28, 48 B.C. - South coast of Turkey - Pompey reaches the coast of Cilicia and begins rebuilding his army

September 20, 48 B.C. - Cyprus - Pompey crosses to Cyprus

September 24, 48 B.C. - Paphos, Cyprus - Pompey departs for Egypt

September 27, 48 B.C. - Pelusium (30km SE of Port Said, Egypt) - Pompey arrives in Egypt

September 28, 48 B.C. - Pelusium - Pompey is assassinated by advisors of King Ptolemy XIII of Egypt, aged 57, hoping to secure Caesar's favor in the Egyptian civil war against her sister Cleopatra =(END)

Sulla | Timeline

Source: Verein Cultura Romana

Lucius Cornelius Sulla Felix (138–78 BC), commonly known as Sulla, was a Roman general and statesman. He won the first large-scale civil war in Roman history and became the first man of the Republic to seize power through force. (Intro from Wikipedia)

January(?) 1(?), 138 B.C. - Rome - Lucius Cornelius Sulla Felix is born

January(?) 1(?), 108 B.C. - Rome - Approaching thirty, Sulla rises out of poverty when his stepmother and her lover Nicopolis - both wealthy women - die and leave him their property. He is then able to take his rightful place in society and launch himself into a career of status =(START)

December(?) 1(?), 108 B.C. - Rome - At the age of 30, Sulla runs for election for quaestor and is elected. Under normal conditions, a candidate for quaestorship had to have served 10 years in the army, but it was acceptable in the eyes of the people to run if he had reached the minimum age of 30. 

June(?) 1(?), 107 B.C. - While in Rome - Sulla begins serving Consul Gaius Marius as quaestor. Having enacted the Marian reforms of the Roman army, Gaius Marius arrives in Numidia (Algeria) to lead the war against Jugurtha. Sulla stays behind with the task of gathering a cavalry force in province of Latium (Lazio) to fight the desert nomads

April 1(?), 106 B.C. - near Cirta, Numidia (Constantine, Algeria) - Sulla arrives with a cavalry force he had raised in Latium

May(?) 1(?), 106 B.C. - near Cirta - Second Battle of Cirta - Roman Victory

August(?) 1(?), 106 B.C. - Algeria - Sulla captures Jugurtha, thus ending the Jugurthine War. His success is made possible by inducing Bocchus I, king of Mauretania, to hand over Jugurtha to the Romans

January 1, 105 B.C. - Rome - Gaius Marius celebrates a triumph in Rome. He enters the Senate in his triumphal robes, showing his contempt for the nobility and all they represented

June(?) 1(?), 104 B.C. - Cisalpine Gaul (Northern Italy)(?) - Sulla puts an end to all resistance by capturing the leader of the Tectosages, chief Copillus

January(?) 1(?), 103 B.C. - Cisalpine Gaul(?) - Promoted to Tribunus Militum. Succeeds in persuading the Germanic Marsi tribe to become friends and allies of Rome

January(?) 1(?), 102 B.C. - Cisalpine Gaul(?) - Promoted to Legatus. Joins Catulus early in 102

July 30, 101 B.C. - Vercellae (Vercelli - between Turin and Milan) - Battle of Vercellae - Gaius Marius and Catulus defeat the Cimbri (Sulla commands the cavalry)

January(?) 1(?), 98 B.C. - Rome - Runs for the office of Praetor but is not elected. He promises to organize the "Ludi Apollinares" games if elected in the next year

January(?) 1(?), 97 B.C. - Rome - Sulla is elected Urban Praetor. He fulfills his promise and organizes the "Ludi Apollinares" games

June(?) 1(?), 97 B.C. - Rome - Sulla displays a lion hunt for the first time in games at Rome. Through his hability and contacts in North Africa, he is able to bring hundreds of wild animals to Rome

January(?) 1(?), 96 B.C. - Cilicia, SE Turkey - After the end of his praetorship, he is sent to take charge of the province of Cilicia as "Pro Consule" and end the rampant piracy of that region. He also works to end the war between King Mithrodites VI of Pontus and King Nicomedes III of Bythinia over the Kingdom of Cappadocia

January(?) 1(?), 95 B.C. - Cappadocia - Sulla installs King Ariobarzanes on throne of Cappadocia

January(?) 1(?), 94 B.C. - Cilicia - Sulla meets Parthian and Cappadocian diplomats

January(?) 1(?), 93 B.C. - Rome - Returns to Rome

January(?) 1(?), 91 B.C. - Rome - Sulla's old friend King Bocchus of Mauritania pays a state visit to Rome, bringing exotic animals, wealth and paintings (depicting the joint capture of Jugurtha by Bocchus and Sulla in 107 B.C.). With the depiction of Sulla instead of him, Gaius Marius is insulted and demands the paintings to be removed

June(?) 1(?), 91 B.C. - Nola, near Naples, Campania - From Nola, Sulla has a series of very successful campaings in Southern Italy, crushing the italian armies, gaining prestige in Rome and the loyalty of several legions

January(?) 1(?), 89 B.C. - Rome - Sulla and Pompeius Strabo elected consuls

March 15, 89 B.C. - Rome - Assumes office in the Ides of March

April 30, 89 B.C. - Stabiae (Castellammare di Stabia, Campania) - Sulla takes and destroys Stabiae

May 15(?), 89 B.C. - Pompeii - Sulla lays siege to Pompeii

June 11, 89 B.C. - Pompeii - Sulla captures Pompeii from the rebels

June(?) 15(?), 89 B.C. - Nola - Sulla chases the samnite rebels to Nola and massacres 20,000 of them at the Battle of Nola

June(?) 25(?), 89 B.C. - Aeclanum (Mirabello) - Sulla turns against the Hirpini and attacks the town of Aeclanum

July(?) 1(?), 89 B.C. - Corfinium (Popoli) - Sulla destroys the Samnite army and takes their capital Corfinium

October 1(?), 89 B.C. - Rome - Sulla returns to Rome and wins the election to the consulship for 88 B.C, defeating as one of his main competitors Caius Julius Caesar Strabo.

January(?) 1(?), 88 B.C. - Rome - Sulla is elected Consul almost unanimously after his military victories in the Social War

February(?) 1(?), 88 B.C. - While in Nola - As Consul, the Senate gives him the war with King Mithridates VI of Pontus as his province

March(?) 1(?), 88 B.C. - While in Nola - Violence erupts in the streets of Rome again, induced by tribune P. Sulpicius Rufus

March(?) 15(?), 88 B.C. - Rome - Sulla returns to Rome to quell the trouble, declaring public holiday on his arrival. He is forced to retreat and flees to Gaius Marius' house, where he is unexpectedly invited for dinner. Marius advices him to back down the public holiday as a measure to end the crisis. He gives in to pressure and cancels the holiday, leaving Rome humiliated

March(?) 20(?), 88 B.C. - While in Rome - While Sulla returns to his legions in Nola, Sulpicius blindsides him, issuing a law that transfered the command of the roman army against Pontus from Sulla to Gaius Marius

March(?) 25(?), 88 B.C. - Nola - The news from Rome reach Sulla. He is humiliated, and infuriated as it was his right to command the army against Pontus as Consul. He informs his legions, which are frustrated to miss out on the campaign in the East and thus the vast treasure to be plundered in Pontus. He proposes to his council of war to march on Rome

May(?) 1(?), 88 B.C. - Rome - Sulla marches to Rome and captures the city by force. Gaius Marius and Sulpicius are named enemies of Rome and an order is issued for them to be executed if caught. Gaius Marius flees to Ostia and then to Africa.

May(?) 15(?), 88 B.C. - Rome - Sulla sends his legions back to Nola to show the people of Rome that he was not a tyrant

June(?) 1(?), 88 B.C. - While in Rome - Asiatic Vespers - Mithridates VI, King of Pontus, orders the death of every roman or latin-speaking person living in western Anatolia. From 80,000 to 150,000 people are killed, igniting the First Mithridatic War

January(?) 1(?), 87 B.C. - Nola - Joins his six legions in Nola

February(?) 1(?), 87 B.C. - Nola - Cinna returns to Rome and betrays Sulla, sending a tribune to Nola to accuse him of murdering civilians. Sulla ignores Cinna's envoy and continues to recruit troops

March(?) 1(?), 87 B.C. - Brundisium (Brindisi, SE Italy) - Sulla leaves one legion in Nola and arrives in Brundisium with the other five - starting point of his Pontic campaign

April(?) 1(?), 87 B.C. - Epirus (Greece-Albania border) - Lands in Epirus

May(?) 1(?), 87 B.C. - Athens, Greece - Sulla arrives in Greece and besieges both Athens and Piraeus. He orders Lucius Licinius Lucullus to raise a fleet from Rome's allies around the eastern Mediterranean.

December(?) 1(?), 87 B.C. - While in Athens - The Senate opens the gate of Rome to Cinna and Gaius Marius. Cinna declares Sulla an "Enemy of the State" instead of Gaius Marius. After months of exile, Gaius Marius returns to Rome with his troops. The "Marian Terror" begins as Marius' troops begins sacking Rome. Consul Octavius is beheaded by Cinna's men and impaled before the forum. Several other important men are murdered or forced to commit suicide, including Marcus Crassus Dives (father of Marcus Licinius Crassus)

March 1, 86 B.C. - Athens, Greece - Sulla captures Athens from the Pontic army, removing the tyrant Aristion.

April(?) 1(?), 86 B.C. - Chaeronea, Central Greece - Sulla moves to the north and defeats the reinforced Pontic army at Chaeronea

May(?) 1(?), 86 B.C. - Orchomenus, Central Greece - The Pontic army returns to Greece and Sulla defeats it at Orchomenus

September(?) 1(?), 86 B.C. - Dardanus, near Troy, Bosphorus - The Dardani ally with Pontus and are defeated by Sulla soon after.

January(?) 1(?), 85 B.C. - Dardanus - Sulla signs the Peace of Dardanus, concluding the war with Mithridates VI. The King of Pontus is forced to give up all his conquests and pay crippling war endemnities but is lucky to return home alive considering the genocide of latin-speaking peoples

March(?) 1(?), 85 B.C. - While in Dardanus - Lucius Valerius Flaccus is murdered at Nicomedia during a mutiny fomented by his subordinate General Flavius Fimbria

June(?) 1(?), 85 B.C. - Nicomedia (Izmit, Turkey) - Sulla forces Flavius Fimbria to commit suicide

June(?) 1(?), 84 B.C. - While in Nicomedia(?) - The Senate and Sulla negotiate his return

October(?) 1(?), 84 B.C. - Dyrrachium (Durrës, Albania) - In preparation of his invasion of Italy, Sulla's forces move to Dyrrachium in the Autumn, via Macedonia and Thessaly

April(?) 1(?), 83 B.C. - Brundisium - In the Spring, Sulla returns to Italy with 30,000 veterans from his campaigns in Greece and lands with his legions unopposed at Brundisium

May(?) 1(?), 83 B.C. - Southern Italy - Metellus Pius, Pompey and Crassus join Sulla

November 1(?), 83 B.C. - Mount Tifata, Campania - Battle of Mount Tifata - Sulla defeats the popular forces of Gaius Norbanus

April 1, 82 B.C. - Sacriporto, (near Palestrina, Italy) - Battle of Sacriportus - Sulla and his Optimates win against the Populares of Cinna and Marius

April 4, 82 B.C. - Praenestre (Palestrina, Lazio) - Sulla besieges Praeneste (where Gaius Marius the Younger took refuge) and takes the city. Later, Marius commits suicide.

May(?) 1(?), 82 B.C. - Rome(?) - Sulla sends Metellus Pius to secure the northern parts of Italy, accompanied by young Pompey, Marcus Crassus and Marcus Lucullus

November 1, 82 B.C. - Rome - Battle of the Colline Gate - Sulla wins the battle and ends the Second Civil War, securing control of Rome and Italy

December 1(?), 82 B.C. - Rome - Sulla is appointed dictator and reforms the Roman government. In total control of the roman capital and its affairs, he institutes a program of executing those whom he perceived to be enemies of the State

December(?) 10(?), 82 B.C. - Rome - Pompey is ordered by Sulla to stamp out democratic rebels in Sicily and Africa.

January 29, 81 B.C. - Rome - Sulla celebrates his triumph over Mithridates

June 1, 81 B.C. - Rome - Sulla wins the elections for "consul designatus" (consul designate) and decides to resign dictatorship at the end of the year. The proscriptions formally end after at least 1,500 people are executed, but their horror would live on the Romans' collective consciousness for the rest of the century

June(?) 1(?), 80 B.C. - While in Rome - After defeating a naval force under Aurelius Cotta, Quintus Sertorius lands at Baelo (near Gibraltar, Iberia) with a tiny army (2,600 men) and opens a successful campaign against the Sullan forces.

December(?) 1(?), 80 B.C. - While in Rome - Battle of the Baetis River: A force of Democratic exiles under Sertorius defeat the legal Roman army of Lucius Fulfidias in Hispania, starting the Sertorian War; Quintus Metellus Pius takes command on behalf of Sulla.

January 1, 79 B.C. - Puteoli (Pozzuoli, Naples) - The people elect Sulla consul once more. He, however, refuses the honour and retires at the end of 80 B.C, moving to his luxurious villa in Puteoli

January(?) 1(?), 78 B.C. - Puteoli - Sulla dies of Liver failure at the beginning of 78 B.C, aged 60 =(END)

Scipio Africanus | Timeline

Colorization by Alessandro Tomasi

Publius Cornelius Scipio "Africanus" (236/235–183 BC) was a Roman general and statesman, most notable as one of the main architects of Rome's victory against Carthage in the Second Punic War. Often regarded as one of the best military commanders and strategists of all time, his greatest military achievement was the defeat of Hannibal at the Battle of Zama in 202 BC. This victory in Africa earned him the epithet Africanus, literally meaning “the African,” but meant to be understood as a conqueror of Africa. (Intro from Wikipedia)

January(?) 1(?), 236 B.C. - Rome, Roman Republic - Publius Cornelius Scipio is born

August(?) 1(?), 218 B.C. - Genoa, Italy - Publius Cornelius Scipio (his father) embarks his legions for Spain while Hannibal crosses the Pyrenees. He takes his 17-year-old son as leader of a small cavalry contingent =(START)

September 27, 218 B.C. - Massilia (Marseille, France) - At Massilia while Hannibal crosses the Rhône River

September 30, 218 B.C. - Roquemaure, Rhône River, France - Scipio (father) reaches the Carthaginian camp 3 days after they had left it, loosing an opportunity to stop them. He decides to pursue Hannibal to block him from entering Italy

November 30(?), 218 B.C. - Ticino River, Northern Italy - Scipio (father) and his cavalry run across Hannibal - Battle of Ticinus - Carthaginian victory - Scipio (father) is badly wounded, but in the confusion, his son cuts his way through to his wounded father and escorts him away from the fight, saving him from being either captured or killed. Scipio (son) is widely acclaimed for the heroic feat. Tiberius Sempronius Longus assumes the command while Scipio (father) recuperates

December 22, 218 B.C. - Trebia River, near Placentia, Northern Italy - Battle of the Trebia - Carthaginian victory (There's no certainty if he participated, but it is likely that he did)

January(?) 1(?), 216 B.C. - Rome - Young Scipio uses the reputation he had gained by saving his father's life to start his public career and run at the elections for military tribune. He is elected

July 25, 216 B.C. - Cannae, Apulia, SE Italy - Consuls Gaius Terentius Varro and Lucius Aemilius Paullus arrive at Cannae with a 85,000-strong army (including Scipio)

August 2, 216 B.C. - Cannae - Battle of Cannae - Catastrophic defeat for the Romans: +50,000 killed. Scipio survives and takes charge of some 10,360 survivors, together with another military tribune, Appius Claudius Pulcher

August 3(?), 216 B.C. - Canusium (Canosa di Puglia, Apulia) - 4,000 of the survivors, including Scipio, elude the carthaginian cavalry and make their way SW to Canusium

April(?) 1(?), 215 B.C. - While in Rome - In Catalonia, his father wins the Battle of Ibera/Dertosa against Hasdrubal Barca

January(?) 1(?), 213 B.C. - Rome - Scipio is elected for the post of "Curule Aedile", a magistracy post that supervisioned the markets, the food supply, public games, festivals and public buildings

January(?) 1(?), 211 B.C. - While in Rome - Battle of the Upper Baetis - Carthaginian victory. Both Scipio's father (Publius Cornelius Scipio) and uncle (Gnaeus Cornelius Scipio) are killed in battle

March 1, 211 B.C. - Rome - As a member of the Salii (a religious college dedicated to Mars), Scipio and other members of the Salii perform war Dances during the celebrations in honor of the Roman God of War

April(?) 1(?), 210 B.C. - Rome - Scipio is elected pro-consul and commander-in-chief of all Roman forces in Hispania. 10,000 infantry and 1,000 cavalry are assigned to him (to add to the strenght of the forces already in Hispania)

August(?) 1(?), 210 B.C. - Ostia - Scipio sets sail to Hispania with 30 quinqueremes

September(?) 1(?), 210 B.C. - Empurium (Empuries, NE of Girona) - Scipio lands in Hispania in late Summer

September(?) 15(?), 210 B.C. - Tarraco (Tarragona, Spain) - The army marches overland to the Roman headquarters in Tarraco

April(?) 1(?), 209 B.C. - Mouth of River Ebro (between Barcelona and Valencia) - Scipio begins his march toward Carthago Nova with 28,000 infantry and 3,000 cavalry, leaving Junius Silanus with 3,000 infantry and 500 cavalry to safeguard the territory north of the river

April(?) 15(?), 209 B.C. - Carthago Nova (Cartagena, Spain) - Scipio arrives in Carthago Nova in 14 days and takes up a position on the peninsula to blockade the city

April(?) 16(?), 209 B.C. - Carthago Nova - Scipio captures Carthago Nova

December(?) 1(?), 209 B.C. - Tarraco - Returns with his forces and hostages to Tarraco, where he winters

March(?) 1(?), 208 B.C. - Tarraco - Scipio begins his march toward Baetica (Andalucia)

April(?) 1(?), 208 B.C. - Baecula (Santo Tomé, NE of Jaén - Spain) - Battle of Baecula - Roman victory

September(?) 1(?), 208 B.C. - Tarraco - After the battle, Scipio leaves 11,000 troops in the field and withraws to his base at Tarraco

March(?) 1(?), 206 B.C. - Tarraco - Scipio begins another march toward Baetica (Andalucia)

April(?) 1(?), 206 B.C. - Ilipa, near Seville, Iberia - Battle of Ilipa - Roman victory

May(?) 1(?), 206 B.C. - Italica, 9km NW of Seville - Founds the settlement of Italica

July(?) 1(?), 206 B.C. - Tarraco - Scipio leaves Junius Silanus with 10,000 infantry and 1,000 cavalry in the field and returns to Tarraco after a 70-day march, stopping to conduct diplomacy and to sort out the affairs of numerous communities

October(?) 1(?), 206 B.C. - Cirta (Constantine, Algeria) - Pays a visit to the Numidian princes Syphax and Massinissa, arriving at the port at the same time of carthaginian general Hasdrubal Gisco. He concludes an agreement with Syphax, gaining for Rome a vital source of cavalry and detriving Carthage of the same.

October(?) 5(?), 206 B.C. - Carthago Nova - Returns to Carthago Nova in 4 days

October(?) 11(?), 206 B.C. - Ilorci (Lorquí, NW of Murcia) - After receaving news that wealthy communities near the silver mines north of Carthago Nova had refused to fulfill their treaty obligations, Scipio marches from Carthago Nova and reaches Ilorci in 5 days. After the city is assailed, during which Scipio is wounded, all population in killed and the city is burned to the ground

December(?) 1(?), 206 B.C. - Tarraco - Returns to Tarraco and puts the government of Hispania in the hands of Junius Silanus at Tarraco and Marcius Septimus in Carthago Nova, setting sail to Rome with 10 ships

January(?) 1(?), 205 B.C. - Rome - Returns to Rome and is met with "unexampled joy and acclamation". He gives an account of his actions in Hispania to the Senate, before formally resigning his command

March(?) 1(?), 205 B.C. - Rome - Scipio is elected Consul at the age of 31. Tries to go to Africa but is prevented by his enemies in Rome

March 15, 205 B.C. - Rome - Assumes his new office on the Ides of March

July 1(?), 205 B.C. - Messina, Sicily - Scipio arrives in Sicily in June or July with the objective of training his forces

August(?) 1(?), 205 B.C. - Locri, Calabria - Scipio seizes an opportunity to take the calabrian coastal town of Locri from the Carthaginians. Hannibal is forced to withraw

January(?) 1(?), 204 B.C. - While in Syracuse, Sicily - Re-elected Consul for 204 B.C.

April(?) 1(?), 204 B.C. - Lilybaeum (Marsala), western tip of Sicily - Scipio sails for Utica with over 35,000 hardened troops

April(?) 5(?), 204 B.C. - near Cape Farina, NE of Utica, Tunisia - Three days later, Scipio lands near Cape Farina, causing panic among Carthaginian civilians

October(?) 1(?), 204 B.C. - Utica, Tunisia - Scipio lays siege to Utica

November(?) 15(?), 204 B.C. - N. Of Medjerda River, Tunisia - Unable to take Carthage right away, Scipio lifts the siege to Utica after 40 days and withraws to winter at a strong position north of Medjerda River, near the coast 

April(?) 1(?), 203 B.C. - Utica - Battle of Utica - Roman victory

April 30(?), 203 B.C. - Medjerda River, Tunisia - Battle of the Great Plains - Roman victory

October 18(?), 202 B.C. - Zama, Carthage (Siliana, Tunisia) - Peace conference with Hannibal Barca

October 19, 202 B.C. - Zama - Battle of Zama - Roman decisive victory. End of the Second Punic War

December 17, 202 B.C. - On his way to Tunis, Tunisia - Scipio receives intelligence that Verminia, with a Numidian army, was on his way. The romans engage them and defeat them

March(?) 1(?), 201 B.C. - Lilybaeum (Marsala), western tip of Sicily - Scipio lands at Lilybaeum

May(?) 1(?), 201 B.C. - Rome - Returns to Rome in triumph. After his triumph parade he is given the nickname of "Africanus" (The African)

April 1(?), 199 B.C. - Rome - Elected Patrician Censor, the most distinguished magistracy in Rome

January(?) 1(?), 194 B.C. - Rome - Scipio is elected Consul for 194 B.C.

June(?) 1(?), 194 B.C. - Placentia (Piacenza, N. Italy) - Joins the other Consul Tiberius Sempronius Longus in Placentia, after his army is forced to withraw from Cisalpine Gaul after being attacked by the Boii

December(?) 1(?), 194 B.C. - Rome - Returns to Rome to preside at the elections for 193 B.C.

June(?) 1(?), 193 B.C. - Carthage, Tunisia - Travels to Carthage to mediate a conflict between the Carthaginians and Numidian king Massinissa

December(?) 1(?), 193 B.C. - Rome - Scipio campaigns for Publius Scipio Nasica and Caius Laelius for consulship

January(?) 1(?), 190 B.C. - Rome - Scipio's younger brother Lucius is elected Consul. Scipio declares that he would prefer to serve as his brother's legate

July 1(?), 190 B.C. - Brundisium (Brindisi, SE Italy) - Lucius Scipio's army begins assembling in Brundisium

August(?) 1(?), 190 B.C. - Apollonia (Pujan, near Fier, Albania) - The Scipios land at Apollonia with 13,000 infantry and 500 cavalry

September(?) 1(?), 190 B.C. - Amfissa, Central Greece - Amfissa is besieged and taken by the Scipios

September(?) 4(?), 190 B.C. - Pella, Macedon - Scipio arrives in Pella in just 4 days and visits King Philip of Macedon

October(?) 1(?), 190 B.C. - Hellespont (Dardanelles Strait, Turkey) - The Scipios reach the Hellespont

December(?) 1(?), 190 B.C. - Hellespont - The Scipios cross the Hellespont in 30 ships sent by the praetor Aemilius Regilus

December 30(?), 190 B.C. - Near Magnesia ad Sipylum (Manisa, Turkey) - Battle of Magnesia - Roman-Pergamene victory, marking the end of the macedonian phalanx's dominance on battlefields

September(?) 1(?), 189 B.C. - Rome - The Scipios return to Rome, via Corinth, Greece

January(?) 1(?), 188 B.C. - Rome - Lucius Scipio and Aemilius Regillus each celebrate a triumph. Lucius adopts the name "Asiagenus" to emulate his brother

January(?) 1(?), 187 B.C. - Liternum (Giugliano, Campania, Italy) - Retires to Liternum, 19km north of Naples, disillusioned with Roman politics and envious politicians

August(?) 1(?), 183 B.C. - Liternum - Scipio Africanus dies during the Summer of 183, aged 53 =(END)

Nero | Timeline

Nero
(courtesy of Daniel Voshart | voshart.com)

Nero (Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus; 15 December 37 – 9 June 68 AD) was the fifth Roman emperor, ruling from 54 to 68. His infamous reign is usually associated with tyranny, extravagance and debauchery. Nero, originally named Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus, belonged to the Julio-Claudian dynasty, and was adopted as heir by the emperor Claudius, his great-uncle and stepfather. Nero succeeded Claudius while not yet aged 17, and his mother, Agrippina, tried to dominate his early life and decisions, but Nero cast her off and had her killed five years into his reign. (Intro from Wikipedia)

December 15, 37 - Antium (Anzio, Italy) - Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus is born

January 1(?), 41 - Pyrgi (Santa Severa, Lazio) - His father, Gnaeus Domitius Ahenobarbus, dies at Pyrgi

March(?) 1(?), 41 - While at Pyrgi(?) - Shortly after his accession in 41, the emperor Claudius asked Gaius Sallustius Crispus Passienus to divorce his wife, and marry Agrippina

January 1, 49 - Rome - Emperor Claudius marries his niece Agrippina the Younger (approximate date) and most of the real power falls to Agrippina.

June(?) 1(?), 49 - Rome - Nero becomes engaged to Claudia Octavia, daughter of Claudius. Seneca the Younger becomes his tutor

February 25, 50 - Rome - Lucius Domitius becomes, by law of the Roman People, Tiberius Claudius Nero Caesar (or Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus)

January(?) 1(?), 51 - Rome - 13-year-old Nero assumes the "toga virilis", a year before minimum age - a public triumph over Britannicus

March 4, 51 - Rome - Nero is elected for Consul (to enter office when he would be 19)

June 9, 53 - Rome - Claudius adopts Nero as his son and accepts him as his successor, to the detriment of Britannicus, his son by his first wife, Valeria Messalina. Nero marries his Claudius' 14-year-old daughter Claudia Octavia.

October 13, 54 - Rome - Emperor Claudius dies, possibly after being poisoned by Agrippina, his wife and niece. 16-year-old Nero succeeds Claudius as Emperor adopting the name "Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus" =(START)

October 15(?), 54 - Rome - Immediately after his accession as emperor, Nero summons the leading citharode of the age and begins studying with him

December 1, 54 - Rome - Coins are issued on which the heads of Agrippina and Nero were shown facing each other and Agrippina’s titles appeared on the obverse, Nero’s being relegated to the reverse

December 17, 54 - Rome - Saturnalia of 54 (celebrating the Winter Solstice). In a role-playing game, Nero commands Britannicus to sing an extemporaneous song. Britannicus turns the laugh on Nero by hinting on his song that he had been expelled from his father's throne. Nero, who was worried about Agrippina's support for Britannicus, decides right there to get rid of him

January 1, 55 - Rome - Emperor Nero becomes Consul

February 11, 55 - Rome - Power struggle between Agrippina and her son Nero begins. Agrippina threatens Nero into submission by supporting Britannicus as the rightful heir to Claudius' throne, underestimating his son's response. The night before the coming of age of Britannicus, his 14th birthday, Nero has him poisoned at the children's table

June(?) 1(?), 56 - Rome - Roman coins still feature Agrippina’s head on the obverse, though now the two heads are parallel, with Nero’s in front and the position of the titles reversed

January 1, 56 - Rome - From 56, roman coins show only a portrait of Nero

January(?) 1(?), 57 - Rome - Agrippina is expelled from the Palace and goes to live in a estate in Misenum

January 1, 58 - Rome - Emperor Nero and Marcus Valerius Messalla Corvinus become Roman consuls.

December 21, 58 - Rome - Nero performs a piece called "Attis" or "The Bacchants" at the Juvenalia (or Ludi Juvenales) - scenic games instituted in commemoration of his shaving of beard for the first time, representing that 21-year-old Nero was now a man. The games were celebrated during the Winter Solstice of the Northern Hemisphere

January 1, 59 - Rome - In the end of 58 or beginning of 59, in a last attempt to grasp to power, Agrippina reportedly offers herself to her own son. Nero stops seeing her in private and she withraws to her estates

March 23, 59 - Misenum (Miseno, near Naples) - Encouraged by his mistress Poppaea, Nero orders the murder of his mother Agrippina the Younger, aged 43. He tries to kill her through a planned shipwreck, but when she survives, he has her executed and frames it as a suicide.

March 30(?), 59 - Baiae, Bay of Naples - Nero celebrates the festival of Minerva at Baiae

April 5, 59 - While at Baiae - The Arval Brothers (a priestly college composed of senators) sacrifice for the "safety" of Nero

June 20(?), 59 - Rome - Three months after Agrippina's death, Nero returns to a rapturous public welcome in Rome. He invites the people of Rome to watch him race chariots in the Vatican Gardens

June 23, 59 - Rome - The Arval Brothers again sacrifice for the "safety" of Nero and his return from Baiae

January(?) 1(?), 60 - Rome - Nero institutes a quinquennial festival in greek style which he called "Neronia", including chariot-racing, athletics, music and recitations

June 8, 62 - While in Rome - Claudia Octavia, aged 22, is forced to commit suicide at Pandateria (Ventotene Island) by orders of Nero

January 21, 63 - Antium (Anzio, Italy) - Daughter Claudia Augusta is born

May(?) 1(?), 63 - Rome - His daughter Claudia Augusta dies after 4 months

January(?) 1(?), 64 - Rome - Nero races chariots in public for the first time

June(?) 1(?), 64 - Rome(?) - Nero marries a freedman named Pythagoras (Spring or Early Summer). He dresses as the bride

July 18, 64 - Antium (Anzio, Italy) - Great Fire of Rome: Fire breaks out in the merchant area of Rome and soon spreads to the wooden structures of the city out of control. While at Antium, Nero sees the blaze in the horizon in the direction of Rome and rushes to the Capital

July 19, 64 - Rome - Nero runs about the city during the first night without escort, directing efforts to quell the blaze and relieve the suffering of the people. He reduces the price of grain, and opens the Campus martius and his own gardens to the romans, providing supplies and temporary shelters. Unfortunately, right then, a rumour arises accusing him of ordering the torching of the city and standing on the summit of the Palatine, playing the lyre while Rome burns.

August(?) 1(?), 64 - Rome - After the fire of Rome, Nero proposes a new urban planning program based on the creation of buildings decorated with ornate porticos, the widening of the streets and the use of open spaces. He holds a private "spectaculum" in his gardens at which the Christians convicted of burning the city were executed in various dramatic ways

January(?) 1(?), 65 - Rome - Nero participates in the second "Neronia" as a competitor in oratory. The public demands to hear the "divine voice" and goes wild when Nero sings

April 19, 65 - Rome - A conspiracy to murder Nero in the Circus Maximus is uncovered when freedman Milichus betrays his master, tribune Flavius Scaevinus, and all the other conspirators. Of the 32 people involved in the conspiracy, 13 are exiled and 19 are executed or forced to commit suicide, including the leader, Senator Gaius Calpurnius Piso.

June 5(?), 65 - Rome - In the early Summer of 65, Poppaea Sabina, the love of his life, dies during a miscarriage, aged 34/35, reportedly from Nero kicking her stomach in a fit of anger

March(?) 1(?), 66 - Rome - Nero marries Statilia Messalina (in the first half of 66)

May(?) 1(?), 66 - Neapolis (Polignano a Mare, SE of Bari) - Nero meets Tiridates, King of Armenia, and both depart to Rome together

May 10(?), 66 - On his way to Rome - Insurrections erupt in Judaea

May 25(?), 66 - Rome - Nero receives the homage of Tiridates in the forum and crowns him King of Armenia. The Theater of Pompey is all painted with gold and at the center of the stage, Nero appears in his "chariot of the Sun"

July(?) 1(?), 66 - Rome - Nero marries Sporus, a freedman with remarkable resemblance to Poppaea. He has him castrated and makes him appear in public as his wife

August 15(?), 66 - Rome - Nero departs to Greece to throw himself into the festival circuit as a competitor in playing the lyre, acting in tragedies and racing chariots. His entourage includes future emperor Vespasian, Tigellinus, Sporus, Pythagoras and his wife Statilia Messalina

September(?) 1(?), 66 - Brundisium (Brindisi, SE Italy) - Nero and his entourage sail to Greece

September(?) 4(?), 66 - Corcyra (Corfu, Greece) - Arrival in Corcyra after 3 days

September 22, 66 - Nicopolis, Greece(?) - Emperor Nero creates the Legio I Italica. He appoints Titus Flavius Vespasian legate of the army of Judea, which gives him command of three legions — V Macedonica, X Fretensis and XV Apollinaris

October 1(?), 66 - Nicopolis, Greece - Takes part in the Actian Games, in competitions of Drama and Music

October(?) 15(?), 66 - Patras, Greece - Nero lands in Patras

November(?) 1(?), 66 - Olympia, Greece - Participates in Olympic games racing chariots. In a race of 4-horse chariots, Nero uses a 10-horse chariot and is almost killed in an accident. The jury decides to award him the laurels anyway

April 1(?), 67 - While at Isthmia(?) - Vespasian lands at Ptolemais to subjugate Galilee with legions X Fretensis and V Macedonica. There he is joined by his son Titus (also a future Emperor), who arrives from Alexandria with Legion XV Apollinaris

June 3, 67 - While at Isthmia(?) - Vespasian lays siege to Yodfat in Galilee

July 20, 67 - While at Isthmia(?) - Yodfat falls after a siege of 47 days. Vespasian's son and future emperor Titus and a group of romans scale the walls of the city, kill the watchmen and open the gates to the entire roman army

August 15(?), 67 - Isthmus of Corinth - Nero initiates the project of digging a canal through the Isthmus of Corinth. He personally breaks the ground with a pickaxe and removes the first basket-load of soil. The workforce for the enterprise, consisted of 6,000 jewish prisoners of war

October 12, 67 - While in Corinth - Vespasian lays siege to Gamla, on the Golan Heights

November 5(?), 67 - Corinth, Greece - Nero arrives at Corinth

November 28, 67 - Corinth, Greece - Nero speaks to an assembly of greeks, proclaiming their freedom: "I bestow upon you, men of Hellas, a gift such as you never hoped for, even though my generosity knows no bounds, a gift so great that it never occurred to you to ask for it. All Greeks living in Achaea and what until now has been known as the Peloponnesus, receive your liberty and freedom from taxation, a freedom which you never had even in your most glorious days, for you were subject either to foreigners or to one another. Would that I could have conferred this boon when Hellas was in her prime, that greater numbers might enjoy this favor ; and for that reason I find fault with the age, in that it already has minimized the extent of my grant. And now I bestow this boon not from pity, but from good will, and I am requiting your gods, whose constant care for me I have experienced both by land and by sea, that they have granted to me to confer such benefits. Other princes have given cities their freedom ; Nero alone has set free an entire province."

December 1(?), 67 - While crossing the Adriatic Sea(?) - The Governor of Gallia Lugdunensis, Gaius Julius Vindex, appeals in writing to other province governors to denounce Nero's tax policies and excesses, with the objective of overthrowing him

December(?) 5(?), 67 - Brundisium (Brindisi, SE Italy) - Nero returns to Italy

December(?) 10(?), 67 - Naples - Nero enters in Naples driving white horses

December(?) 12(?), 67 - Antium (Anzio, Italy) - Passes through Antium on his way to Rome

December(?) 20(?), 67 - Rome - Returns to Rome and celebrates a Triumph, dressed as greek

January 1, 68 - Rome - New Year ceremonies. Sporus presents Nero with a ring with a gemstone depicting the Rape of Proserpina (taken as an omen of his fall)

March 15, 68 - While in Naples - Without answers from other province governors, Gaius Julius Vindex, decides to rebel alone against Nero's tax policies and excesses. It is the first in a series of revolts that would lead to the young emperor's downfall

March 24, 68 - Naples, Italy - Nero is informed that Gaius Julius Vindex, governor of Gallia Lugdunensis, had rebelled

April 1(?), 68 - While in Naples - As Vindex continues to insult Nero with his edicts, the emperor decides to offer a 10-million sesterces reward for the head of Vindex

April 15(?), 68 - Rome - Nero returns to Rome to address the Vindex situation. Considering it, however, a minor matter, Nero summons the senators for consultation, but instead of asking them about the rebellion, he gives them a lecture about the sound of water-organs: "I have discovered how to make the water-organ produce a larger and more tuneful sound".

April 20(?), 68 - Rome - The Hispanic provinces also rebel against Nero, led by the governor of Tarraconensis, Sevius Sulpicius Galba (future emperor). The emperor faints when he hears the news

May(?) 1(?), 68 - Rome - Nero dismisses both consuls from office and takes the consulship for himself alone. After a banquet he announces that he would go to Gaul and appear unarmed and weeping before Galba's army. After winning the hearts and minds of the legionnaires, he would sing songs of victory composed on the spot.

May(?) 5(?), 68 - Rome - Nero selects the theatrical props and water-organs to be transported in wagons for his performance before the army in Gaul. He has his accompanying concubines armed with axes and shields and given masculine haircuts like Amazons

May 31, 68 - Rome - Nero receives the news that more roman armies had defected, including his own forces in Northern Italy. He moves to a suburban property and takes poison with him. At the same time, he dispatches one of his freedmen to Ostia to prepare a fleet for his flight. There, the praetorians refuse to follow him

June 1, 68 - Outskirts of Rome - Nero awakes the next morning with just four freedmen. All the guards had fled, even taking with them the box of poison. For a while he runs to the Tiber considering drowning himself

June 2, 68 - North outskirts of Rome - Nero and the four freedmen move to a villa north of Rome. Feeling cornered by the praetorians, Nero is advised by his companions to commit suicide to avoid public humiliation or an execution at the Tarpeian Rock. They open a grave in the ground and pick some pieces of marble to decorate it. As they finish, the fallen emperor weeps and reportedly says "Qualis artifex pereo" (As an artisan I perish!)"(*)

(*) Often we read about Nero's alleged last words as "Qualis Artifex pereo", supposedly meaning "what an artist dies in me". Latin-language speakers, specially portuguese language speakers easily translate the expression more precisely as: "As an artisan I perish"

June 8, 68 - While north of Rome - Nymphidius Sabinus, an imperial official, falsely announces to the Praetorian Guard that Nero had fled to Egypt, and the Senate proclaimed Galba emperor

June 9, 68 - North outskirts of Rome - Nero receives an incorrect report that the Senate had declared him a public enemy and that it was their intention to execute him in the ancestral manner - to be led naked through the streets with his neck in a yoke, then beaten to death with rods. His body thrown from the Tarpeian rock (southern summit of the Capitoline Hill, often used for executions). Horrified and feeling cornered by the praetorians, he prepares to commit suicide, reportedly saying a line from the Iliad: "The Thunder is beating against my ears of fast-running horses". With the assistance of his private secretary, Epaphroditos, Nero trusts a sword in his throat, aged 30. A praetorian rushes in and unsuccessfully attempts to stop the bleeding as Nero speaks his final words: "Too late! This is loyalty!" =(END)

~As always, the timelines on this blog are subject to constant improvements and open to contributions from readers. To build these timelines from the Antiquity, it was necessary to dive into the detailed lives of many secondary personalities - 17 for Julius Caesar alone - to allow a more complete idea of each personality and the world around them, and even then it is not enough. There are gaps that will be filled when the time comes to dive into the lives and times of Sulla, Pompey, Mark Antony, Agrippina, Vespasian and others. L.M.C.~