From the founding of Rome to the fall of the Western Empire
Traditional date for the founding of Rome by Romulus and Remus, marking the beginning of Roman civilization.
From the founding of Rome to the fall of the Western Empire
Traditional date for the founding of Rome by Romulus and Remus, marking the beginning of Roman civilization.
The Roman Republic is established after the overthrow of the last king, Lucius Tarquinius Superbus.
Plebeians withdraw from Rome in protest against debt and patrician domination, forcing the creation of the office of Tribune of the Plebs.
Rome publishes the Twelve Tables, the first written Roman law code, laying the foundations of Roman legal tradition.
The Gauls under Brennus sack Rome, except for the Capitoline Hill, marking one of Rome's greatest defeats.
Rome defeats a coalition of Latin allies demanding equal political rights, dissolves the old Latin League and remakes its alliances on terms that bind Italy ever more tightly to Roman authority.
Construction begins on the Appian Way, the great military road that helps Rome project power across Italy.
Pyrrhus of Epirus crosses to Italy at the invitation of Tarentum, defeats the Romans at Heraclea with his elephants, and inaugurates the conflict that ends with Rome's mastery of southern Italy.
Rome and Carthage begin the First Punic War, a 23-year conflict for control of Sicily and the Western Mediterranean.
Rome defeats Carthage, gaining control of Sicily and emerging as the dominant power in the Western Mediterranean.
Hannibal Barca leads his army, including war elephants, across the Alps into Italy, beginning the Second Punic War.
Hannibal achieves his greatest victory at the Battle of Cannae, destroying the Roman army in one of history's most brilliant tactical victories.
Scipio Africanus defeats Hannibal at the Battle of Zama, ending the Second Punic War and establishing Roman dominance in the Mediterranean.
Rome begins the Third Punic War, determined to destroy Carthage once and for all.
Roman forces completely destroy Carthage, ending the Third Punic War and eliminating Rome's greatest rival.
The Celtiberian town of Numantia rises against Roman pressure in the Iberian interior, beginning a twenty-year resistance that humiliates one Roman army after another.
Tiberius Gracchus proposes land reforms to help the poor, but is murdered by senators, marking the beginning of political violence.
Gaius Gracchus continues his brother's reforms but is also killed, further destabilizing the Republic.
Rome declares war on the Numidian king Jugurtha after his murder of his cousin Adherbal at Cirta, exposing the depth of senatorial corruption and the weakness of the Republic's armies.
Gaius Marius reforms the Roman army by recruiting landless citizens, transforming the legions into a more professional fighting force.
Marius and Catulus annihilate the Cimbri on the Raudine Plain, ending the great northern threat that had haunted Rome for more than a decade.
Italian allies revolt against Rome, demanding citizenship rights in the Social War.
Lucius Cornelius Sulla becomes dictator of Rome after defeating his opponents in civil war, beginning a new era of personal rule.
Spartacus leads the largest slave rebellion in Roman history, threatening the Republic before being defeated.
Marcus Licinius Crassus defeats Spartacus and crucifies 6,000 survivors along the Appian Way as a warning.
Cicero, as consul, exposes Catiline's plot to seize Rome by armed insurrection and executes its ringleaders without trial — a triumph that haunts him for the rest of his life.
Julius Caesar, Pompey, and Crassus form the First Triumvirate, a political alliance that dominates Roman politics.
Julius Caesar begins his conquest of Gaul, which will expand Roman territory and make him immensely wealthy and popular.
Caesar crosses the Rubicon River with his army, defying the Senate and beginning the civil war that will end the Republic.
Caesar defeats Pompey at the Battle of Pharsalus, becoming the undisputed ruler of Rome.
Julius Caesar is assassinated by a group of senators led by Brutus and Cassius, plunging Rome into another civil war.
Octavian, Mark Antony, and Lepidus form the Second Triumvirate to defeat Caesar's assassins and rule Rome.
The forces of the Second Triumvirate defeat Brutus and Cassius, avenging Caesar's death.
Octavian defeats Mark Antony and Cleopatra at the Battle of Actium, ending the civil wars and the Roman Republic.
Octavian takes the title Augustus and becomes the first Roman Emperor, beginning the Pax Romana.
Augustus dies after a 41-year reign, succeeded by Tiberius, marking the first peaceful imperial succession.
Three Roman legions are destroyed in Germany by Arminius, ending Augustus' hopes of expanding the empire deep into Germania.
Tiberius becomes Emperor, beginning a reign marked by paranoia and the rise of the Praetorian Guard's political power.
Caligula becomes Emperor, beginning a reign of extravagance and cruelty that ends in his assassination.
Claudius becomes Emperor and conquers Britain, expanding the empire to its greatest extent.
Nero becomes Emperor, beginning a reign that starts well but ends in tyranny and persecution of Christians.
A great fire destroys much of Rome, and Nero allegedly plays his lyre while watching the city burn.
Nero commits suicide, beginning the chaotic Year of Four Emperors in which four different men rule Rome.
Vespasian becomes Emperor, founding the Flavian Dynasty and beginning a period of stability and reconstruction.
Titus destroys Jerusalem and the Second Temple, ending the Jewish Revolt and beginning the Jewish diaspora.
Mount Vesuvius erupts, destroying Pompeii and Herculaneum and preserving them for archaeology.
The Colosseum is completed under Titus, becoming the symbol of Roman engineering and entertainment.
After the assassination of Domitian, Nerva becomes emperor and begins the adoptive succession that leads into the era of the Five Good Emperors.
Trajan becomes Emperor, beginning the golden age of the Five Good Emperors and the greatest extent of the empire.
Hadrian becomes Emperor and consolidates the empire's borders, building Hadrian's Wall in Britain.
Construction begins on Hadrian's Wall to defend Roman Britain from northern tribes.
Marcus Aurelius dies, ending the Pax Romana and beginning the decline of the Roman Empire.
Five different emperors rule Rome in a single year, beginning the Crisis of the Third Century.
Caracalla grants citizenship to all free men in the empire, fundamentally changing Roman society.
The empire enters a 50-year period of civil war, barbarian invasions, and economic collapse.
Diocletian becomes Emperor and reforms the empire, ending the Crisis of the Third Century.
Constantine issues the Edict of Milan, granting religious tolerance to Christians throughout the empire.
Constantine convenes the First Council of Nicaea, establishing a common statement of Christian belief and deepening imperial involvement in church affairs.
Constantine dedicates Constantinople as the new capital of the Roman Empire, shifting power eastward.
The Goths destroy a major Roman army and kill Emperor Valens at Adrianople, exposing the empire's military weakness in the late fourth century.
Theodosius divides the empire into Eastern and Western halves, never to be reunited.
Alaric and the Visigoths sack Rome, the first time the city has been taken by foreign invaders in 800 years.
A Roman-led coalition under Aetius halts Attila's advance into Gaul, winning one of the last major military victories of the Western Empire.
Attila the Hun invades Italy but is persuaded to withdraw by Pope Leo I.
The Vandals sack Rome, carrying off treasures including those taken from the Temple in Jerusalem.
Romulus Augustulus, the last Western Roman Emperor, is deposed by the Germanic chieftain Odoacer, ending the Western Roman Empire.