The following is a timeline of the history of the Roman Empire, primarily consisting of significant legal, territorial, and political changes in the Roman Kingdom, Republic, and Empire (West). Key events associated with Roman emperors are also a natural part of such a timeline, and the additions to this timeline mainly come from the book “The Twelve Caesars,” written by the imperial biographer Suetonius.
The purpose of this timeline is to provide an overview and a comprehensive understanding of Roman history to serve as a framework for organizing knowledge. By knowing, for example, when Julius Caesar lived and what he did, one can draw parallels, such as the fact that Emperor Augustus was his adopted son who took over after his death, and that the slave uprising led by Spartacus occurred during his lifetime.
This timeline of the Roman Empire spans over 1,000 years, from 753 BC to AD 476, and will necessarily omit many details. Please feel free to reach out if there appear to be any significant omissions.
Table of Contents
Roman Empire Timeline: The Roman Kingdom
8th and 7th centuries BC
753 BC: Romulus founds Rome on the “Seven Hills,” establishes the Roman Kingdom, and becomes Rome’s first king (of a total of seven).
715 BC: Numa Pompilius becomes Rome’s second king.
673 BC: Tullus Hostilius becomes Rome’s third king.
667 BC: Byzantium is founded by Megarian colonists.
642 BC: Tullus Hostilius dies, and Ancus Marcius is elected as Rome’s fourth king by the Curiate Assembly, one of the legislative assemblies of the Roman Kingdom.
617 BC: Ancus Marcius dies.
616 BC: The Curiate Assembly elects Lucius Tarquinius Priscus as Rome’s fifth king.
6th century BC
575 BC: The Senate approves Regent Servius Tullius as Rome’s sixth king.
535 BC: Servius Tullius is murdered by his daughter Tullia Minor and her husband Lucius Tarquinius Superbus, who declares himself king of Rome at the Curia Hostilia.
509 BC: Patrician Lucretia is raped by Lucius Tarquinius Superbus’ son Sextus Tarquinius; the Curiate Assembly agrees to overthrow Superbus and establish a new form of government where two consuls rule the state together; they swear never to let a king rule over Rome again, marking the end of the Roman Kingdom.
Roman Empire Timeline: The Roman Republic
As the Roman Kingdom comes to an end, a new period called the Roman Republic begins. In the Roman Republic, there is no longer a monarchy; instead, two consuls are elected to rule together. This system ensures that one person does not acquire too much power, as Superbus had shown could go disastrously wrong. While the Roman Republic may contain elements of the democratic system we know today, it cannot be considered a democracy by any means. With the Roman Republic, a system of government is established that will last for five centuries before it is challenged by Julius Caesar in the 1st century BC.
509 BC: The first two consuls elected are Lucius Junius Brutus and Lucius Tarquinius Collatinus. (See the Battle of Silva Arsia.)
508 BC: A Clusian army fails to capture Rome. (See Roman-Etruscan Wars.)
501 BC: The Senate authorizes consuls to select a dictator from among the two reigning consuls in times of national crisis, in response to the threat of a potential invasion by the Sabines; the dictator becomes the one who selects the cavalry commander.
500 BC (approximately): The Roman numeral system is developed.
5th century BC
496 BC: Invasion near present-day Frascati in an attempt to restore Superbus to power (See Battle of Lake Regillus).
494 BC: The Plebeians, led by Lucius Sicinius Vellutus, leave Rome and settle in nearby Monte Sacro.
459 BC: The Senate increases the number of Plebeian tribunes from two to ten, following pressure from the people (See Tribunes).
458 BC: Cincinnatus is chosen as dictator for the first time; he defeats the Aequians in the Battle of Mount Algidus, who had violated an oath and staged an offensive; Cincinnatus is celebrated in a Roman triumph, resigns the dictatorship, and returns to his farm after 16 days.
449 BC: The Plebeian Tribal Assembly is granted the right of veto; the final foundational laws of the Roman Republic by the Twelve Tables are passed.
447 BC: The Tribal Assembly is established and given the right to elect quaestors.
445 BC: Marriage between patricians and plebeians is legalized.
439 BC: Cincinnatus is chosen as dictator for the second time, to prevent Spurius Maelius from using grain to gather support from the diverse plebeians; Maelius attacks; Gaius Servilius Ahala kills him; Cincinnatus again resigns the dictatorship and returns to his farm.
430 BC: A pestilence strikes Rome.
4th century BC
400 BC: The building of the Servian Wall.
390 BC: Brennus and the Senones Gauls capture and plunder Rome, famously with the exclamation “Vae victis!” (Woe to the vanquished!).
343 BC: The start of the First Samnite War.
338 BC: The Latin War concludes with a victory by Rome.
326 BC: The conclusion of the Second Samnite War.
321 BC: The Caudine Forks incident, where two Roman armies were trapped by Samnites in a narrow valley and forced to surrender.
3rd century BC
298 BC: The third Samnite War.
287 BC: The final resolution of the Conflict of the Orders with the passing of the Lex Hortensia.
264 BC: The start of the First Punic War, primarily over control of Sicily.
241 BC: The First Punic War concludes with a Roman victory and the acquisition of Sicily.
218 BC: The start of the Second Punic War, led by the famous Carthaginian general Hannibal.
216 BC: The Battle of Cannae, a devastating defeat for the Romans in the Second Punic War.
202 BC: The conclusion of the Second Punic War, with a Roman victory.
2nd century BC
149 BC: The start of the Third Punic War, culminating in the destruction of Carthage.
146 BC: The conclusion of the Third Punic War, ending with the total destruction of Carthage, its territories becoming Roman provinces.
133 BC: The beginning of the Jugurthine War.
123 BC: The Servile Wars begin.
1st century BC
91 BC: The start of the Social War, primarily over rights and citizenship for Rome’s Italian allies.
83 BC: The conclusion of the Social War.
73 BC: Spartacus, a gladiator, and former Roman soldier, leads a slave uprising.
67 BC: Pompey is granted extraordinary powers to fight pirates in the Mediterranean and Mithridates VI in the Mithridatic Wars.
63 BC: Gaius Julius Caesar is elected as one of the Pontifices Maximi.
59 BC: Julius Caesar becomes consul and forms the First Triumvirate with Pompey and Crassus.
58 BC: Caesar’s first military campaign in Gaul begins.
53 BC: The death of Crassus in Parthia.
52 BC: The Battle of Carrhae, a disastrous defeat for the Romans.
51 BC: Pompey and the Senate demand that Caesar return to Rome without his army.
49 BC: Caesar crosses the Rubicon River, beginning the Great Roman Civil War.
48 BC: The Battle of Pharsalus, resulting in a decisive victory for Caesar over Pompey.
47 BC: Pompey is assassinated in Egypt.
45 BC: The final defeat of Pompey’s forces at Munda.
44 BC: Julius Caesar is assassinated by a group of senators on the Ides of March.
43 BC: The Second Triumvirate, composed of Octavian, Antony, and Lepidus, is formed.
42 BC: The Battle of Philippi, where the forces of the Second Triumvirate defeat the assassins of Julius Caesar.
31 BC: The Battle of Actium, where Octavian’s forces defeat those of Antony and Cleopatra, leading to the end of the Roman Republic.
Roman Empire Timeline: The Roman Empire (West)
In the aftermath of the Battle of Actium and the defeat of Antony and Cleopatra, Octavian becomes the sole ruler of Rome. The Roman Republic effectively comes to an end, and the Roman Empire begins with Octavian as its first emperor, titled “Augustus.”
27 BC: The Roman Senate gives Octavian the title “Augustus,” marking the beginning of the Roman Empire.
19 BC: Agrippa defeats the Cantabrians in Hispania.
16 BC: Agrippa dies.
13 BC: Augustus returns from Spain to Rome.
9 BC: The death of Drusus.
AD 2: The birth of Vespasian.
AD 4: The birth of Caligula (Gaius Julius Caesar Germanicus).
AD 5: The birth of Nero (Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus).
AD 6: The death of Marcellus.
AD 9: The Battle of the Teutoburg Forest results in a major Roman defeat in Germania.
AD 12: The death of Julia.
AD 14: The death of Augustus; Tiberius becomes emperor.
The Julio-Claudian Dynasty (27 BC – AD 68)
The Julio-Claudian dynasty includes the reigns of the first five Roman emperors. These emperors were descendants of the two founding Roman families, the Julii (Julius Caesar’s family) and the Claudii (Claudius’s family).
AD 14: Augustus dies, and Tiberius becomes emperor.
AD 19: The death of Germanicus.
AD 29: The death of Livia.
AD 31: Sejanus is executed.
AD 37: The death of Tiberius; Caligula becomes emperor.
AD 41: The assassination of Caligula; Claudius becomes emperor.
AD 43: The Roman conquest of Britain begins.
AD 54: The death of Claudius; Nero becomes emperor.
AD 59: The death of Agrippina the Younger, Nero’s mother.
The Year of the Four Emperors (AD 69)
AD 68: Nero commits suicide, leading to a chaotic year in which four different emperors briefly rule.
AD 69: The Year of the Four Emperors: Galba, Otho, Vitellius, and Vespasian all assume the title of emperor in rapid succession.
The Flavian Dynasty (AD 69 – AD 96)
AD 69: Vespasian becomes emperor and establishes the Flavian dynasty.
AD 70: The Siege of Jerusalem by Titus results in the destruction of the Second Temple.
AD 79: The eruption of Mount Vesuvius destroys Pompeii and Herculaneum.
AD 79: Vespasian dies; Titus becomes emperor.
AD 81: The death of Titus; Domitian becomes emperor.
The Five Good Emperors (AD 96 – AD 180)
This period is characterized by a succession of capable emperors who bring stability and prosperity to the Roman Empire.
AD 96: The death of Domitian; Nerva becomes emperor.
AD 98: The death of Nerva; Trajan becomes emperor.
AD 117: The death of Trajan; Hadrian becomes emperor.
AD 138: The death of Hadrian; Antoninus Pius becomes emperor.
AD 161: The death of Antoninus Pius; Marcus Aurelius becomes emperor.
The Severan Dynasty (AD 193 – AD 235)
This period is marked by a series of short-lived emperors, military strife, and economic challenges.
AD 193: The Year of the Five Emperors.
AD 193: Septimius Severus becomes emperor.
AD 211: The death of Septimius Severus; Caracalla becomes emperor.
AD 217: The assassination of Caracalla; Macrinus becomes emperor.
AD 218: The death of Macrinus; Elagabalus becomes emperor.
AD 222: The death of Elagabalus; Severus Alexander becomes emperor.
AD 235: The assassination of Severus Alexander; the Crisis of the Third Century begins.
The Crisis of the Third Century (AD 235 – AD 284)
This period is marked by frequent changes of emperors, military crises, and the fragmentation of the Roman Empire.
AD 235: The assassination of Severus Alexander begins the Crisis of the Third Century.
AD 260: The Gallic Empire is founded by Postumus.
AD 268: The Palmyrene Empire is established by Queen Zenobia.
AD 274: The Roman Empire reunifies under Emperor Aurelian.
The Tetrarchy and the Rise of Constantine (AD 285 – AD 337)
This period sees the division of the Roman Empire into the Eastern and Western Roman Empires and the rise of Constantine the Great.
AD 285: Diocletian establishes the Tetrarchy, dividing the Roman Empire into four parts.
AD 293: The creation of the Dioceses reorganizes the Roman provinces.
AD 306: Constantine the Great is proclaimed emperor.
AD 312: The Battle of the Milvian Bridge, where Constantine defeats Maxentius.
AD 313: The Edict of Milan grants religious tolerance to Christians.
AD 324: Constantine becomes the sole ruler of the Roman Empire and establishes Constantinople (Byzantium) as the new capital.
The Later Roman Empire (AD 337 – AD 476)
This period encompasses the decline and fall of the Western Roman Empire.
AD 337: The death of Constantine the Great; the empire is divided among his sons.
AD 376: The Huns appear in Eastern Europe, triggering a series of migrations.
AD 378: The Battle of Adrianople results in a major Roman defeat by the Visigoths.
AD 379: Theodosius becomes the last Roman emperor to rule both the Eastern and Western Roman Empires.
AD 410: Rome is sacked by the Visigoths under Alaric.
AD 455: Rome is sacked by the Vandals.
AD 476: The traditional date for the fall of the Western Roman Empire when Odoacer, a Germanic chieftain, deposes Romulus Augustulus, the last Roman emperor.
These are the key events and emperors that shaped the timeline of ancient Rome, from its legendary founding to the fall of the Western Roman Empire in AD 476. That being said, the history of Rome is incredibly rich and complex, with many more events and details than can be covered in a concise timeline.
Further Readings
If you’re reading these final words, it’s great to see that you’ve made it this far! Based on your interest in ancient Rome, here are some further reading suggestions that can help you delve deeper into various aspects of Roman history, politics, and culture that have been mentioned briefly in the timeline above:
- “The Twelve Caesars” by Suetonius: This primary source provides fascinating biographical accounts of the first twelve emperors of Rome.
- “SPQR: A History of Ancient Rome” by Mary Beard: This book offers a comprehensive and engaging overview of Rome’s history, politics, society, and culture. It’s an excellent choice for readers looking for a well-rounded understanding of ancient Rome.
- “The Rise of Rome: The Making of the World’s Greatest Empire” by Anthony Everitt: This book focuses on the early history of Rome, from its legendary origins to the rise of the Roman Republic. It offers a detailed look at the events and individuals that shaped Rome’s early development.
- “Rubicon: The Last Years of the Roman Republic” by Tom Holland: If you’re interested in the transition from the Roman Republic to the Roman Empire, this book explores the turbulent final years of the Republic and the rise of figures like Julius Caesar.
- “The History of Rome” by Titus Livius (Livy): Livy’s monumental work covers the history of Rome from its legendary foundation to the early days of the Roman Empire. It provides valuable insights into Roman culture and politics.
- “Augustus: The Life of Rome’s First Emperor” by Anthony Everitt: If you want to delve deeper into the life and reign of Augustus, this biography offers a detailed account of the first Roman emperor’s accomplishments and legacy.
- “The Roman Revolution” by Ronald Syme: This classic work explores the transformation of the Roman Republic into the Roman Empire. It’s an important read for those interested in the political and social changes of this period.
- “Caesar: Life of a Colossus” by Adrian Goldsworthy: For a detailed examination of Julius Caesar’s life and impact on Rome, this biography is highly recommended. It provides insights into Caesar’s military campaigns, political career, and assassination.
- “The Spartacus War” by Barry Strauss: If you found Spartacus’s slave uprising intriguing, this book offers a detailed account of the events and historical context surrounding this famous rebellion.
- “The Fall of the Roman Empire: A New History of Rome and the Barbarians” by Peter Heather: To gain a deeper understanding of the decline and fall of the Western Roman Empire, this book explores the complex interactions between Rome and various barbarian groups.
These books should provide you with a wealth of information and perspectives on different aspects of Roman history. You can choose the ones that align most closely with your interests and preferences. Happy reading!