Events from the 1st Century AD

← 1st Century BC

1st Century AD

134 events
1 - 100 AD
100s →

0s (7 events)

1 ID: 5328
Peak of Las Médulas production - 20,000 pounds of gold annually, 60,000 workers, 600 kilometers of canals for hydraulic mining
ID: 5328
Las Médulas
2 ID: 2729
Julia the Elder exiled - Augustus's daughter banished for adultery, victim of her father's own moral laws
ID: 2729
Pandateria
4 ID: 2730
Augustus adopts Tiberius - after deaths of preferred heirs, adopts stepson as successor, succession planned
ID: 2730
Rome
6 ID: 2731
Vigiles created - professional firefighters for Rome, 7,000 men, urban administration improved
ID: 2731
Rome
6 ID: 3000
Census of Quirinius - Roman taxation census triggers Zealot movement under Judas the Galilean, armed resistance begins
ID: 3000
Judea
8 ID: 2732
Ovid exiled to Tomis - great poet banished to Black Sea for 'poem and error,' dies in exile, mystery never solved
ID: 2732
Tomis
9 ID: 2733
Lex Papia Poppaea - strengthens marriage laws, ironic as both consuls proposing it are unmarried
ID: 2733
Rome

10s (8 events)

12 ID: 2734
Tiberius's Pannonian triumph - last triumph of Augustus's reign, adopted son proven as military commander
ID: 2734
Rome
13 ID: 2735
Augustus completes Res Gestae - autobiographical account of achievements, to be inscribed on bronze pillars at mausoleum
ID: 2735
Rome
14 ID: 2738
Peaceful succession to Tiberius - first transfer of imperial power, Principate proven as system not personality
ID: 2738
Rome
14 ID: 3983
Death of Augustus - first Roman emperor dies at 75, deified by Senate, establishes imperial precedent
ID: 3983
Nola
14 ID: 3984
Tiberius becomes emperor - Augustus's stepson reluctantly accepts power, competent but unpopular
ID: 3984
Rome
14 ID: 2736
August 19, 14
Death of Augustus at Nola - dies peacefully at 75, 'Did I play my part well in the comedy of life?', Tiberius succeeds
ID: 2736
Nola
14 ID: 2737
September 14
Augustus deified - declared god by Senate, temple built, imperial cult established, month Sextilis renamed August
ID: 2737
Rome
15 ID: 5357
Roman mining census - Empire operates over 100 major mines, producing iron, copper, tin, lead, gold, silver, mercury
ID: 5357
Rome

20s (2 events)

26 ID: 3001
Pontius Pilate becomes prefect - brings military standards with emperor's image into Jerusalem, repeated provocations
ID: 3001
Caesarea
26 ID: 3985
Tiberius retires to Capri - leaves Rome permanently, rules through Praetorian Prefect Sejanus
ID: 3985
Capri

30s (7 events)

30 ID: 5429
Wedding at Cana - Jesus turns water into wine, his first miracle, wine steward notes it's the best wine saved for last
ID: 5429
30 ID: 3002
April 30
Crucifixion of Jesus of Nazareth - executed as 'King of the Jews' during Passover, followers claim resurrection
ID: 3002
Jerusalem
31 ID: 3986
Fall of Sejanus - Tiberius discovers Praetorian Prefect's conspiracy, massive purge follows
ID: 3986
Rome
33 ID: 3833
St. Peter receives keys of the kingdom - 'You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my Church' - becomes first pope
ID: 3833
Caesarea Philippi
34 ID: 4098
Martyrdom of St. Stephen - first Christian martyr, stoned to death outside Jerusalem while Saul (later Paul) holds the cloaks
ID: 4098
Jerusalem
37 ID: 3987
Death of Tiberius - possibly smothered by Macro, Caligula proclaimed emperor
ID: 3987
Capri
37 ID: 3988
Caligula becomes emperor - initially popular, becomes insane after illness, notorious for cruelty
ID: 3988
Rome

40s (14 events)

40 ID: 3003
Caligula orders his statue in Temple - Jews prepare to die rather than allow, Caligula assassinated before implementation
ID: 3003
Jerusalem
40 ID: 4895
Simon Magus - Called 'father of all heresies' by Irenaeus, traveled with Helena claiming to be divine power
ID: 4895
Samaria
41 ID: 3989
Caligula assassinated - killed by Praetorian Guard after 4 years of madness and tyranny
ID: 3989
Rome
41 ID: 3990
Claudius becomes emperor - found hiding behind curtain, Praetorians make him emperor, surprisingly effective
ID: 3990
Rome
42 ID: 4099
Martyrdom of St. James the Greater - first apostle martyred, beheaded by Herod Agrippa I in Jerusalem
ID: 4099
Jerusalem
42 ID: 5971
Traditional arrival of St. Mary Magdalene in Provence - flees persecution with Martha and Lazarus, lands at Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer
ID: 5971
Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer
43 ID: 2523
Claudius invades Britain - four legions under Aulus Plautius land at Richborough, Claudius arrives with elephants, Camulodunum (Colchester) becomes first capital
ID: 2523
Colchester
Richborough
43 ID: 3991
Claudius invades Britain - personally leads conquest, adds Britain to empire
ID: 3991
Scotland
44 ID: 3004
Great Famine under Claudius - predicted by prophet Agabus, Queen Helena of Adiabene brings relief from Egypt
ID: 3004
Jerusalem
44 ID: 3005
Death of Herod Agrippa I - struck down at Caesarea after accepting divine acclamation, eaten by worms (Acts 12)
ID: 3005
Caesarea
45 ID: 5972
St. Mary Magdalene withdraws to cave at Sainte-Baume - begins 30 years of hermetic life, miraculously fed by angels according to tradition
ID: 5972
Sainte-Baume
48 ID: 4176
St. Martha tames the Tarasque - dragon terrorizing Tarascon subdued with holy water and prayer (Provençal chronicles)
ID: 4176
Tarascon
48 ID: 5402
Claudius admits Gauls to Senate - Emperor from Lyon argues Gauls now Roman enough for high office, integration accelerates
ID: 5402
Lyon
49 ID: 4123
Council of Jerusalem - first Church council, decides Gentiles need not be circumcised, Paul and Barnabas attend
ID: 4123
Jerusalem

50s (9 events)

50 ID: 4124
St. Paul begins second missionary journey - travels through Asia Minor and Greece, establishes churches in Philippi, Thessalonica, Corinth
ID: 4124
Corinth
50 ID: 4838
Council of Jerusalem - Gentiles accepted without full Torah observance, first major Judaizer controversy resolved
ID: 4838
Jerusalem
50 ID: 5354
Fire-setting mining technique widespread - Romans heat rock with fire then quench with vinegar to fracture ore veins
ID: 5354
Rio Tinto
Roșia Montană
50 ID: 5430
Glass wine bottles appear - Romans develop glass-blowing, create first wine bottles though amphorae remain standard
ID: 5430
Rome
51 ID: 4125
St. Paul writes First Thessalonians - earliest New Testament writing, addresses Second Coming concerns
ID: 4125
Corinth
51 ID: 4667
Vologases I establishes Parthian era - cultural renaissance, Zoroastrian texts compiled
ID: 4667
Ctesiphon
54 ID: 3992
Claudius dies - poisoned with mushrooms by wife Agrippina to make Nero emperor
ID: 3992
54 ID: 3993
Nero becomes emperor at 16 - youngest emperor yet, initially guided by Seneca and Burrus
ID: 3993
59 ID: 3994
Nero murders his mother Agrippina - failed drowning machine, then stabbed by soldiers
ID: 3994

60s (25 events)

60 ID: 2524
Boudica's Rebellion begins - Iceni queen leads uprising after Romans flog her and rape daughters, burns Camulodunum, Londinium, and Verulamium
ID: 2524
London
Colchester
St. Albans
60 ID: 5348
Ruina montium perfected at Las Médulas - Romans collapse entire mountains using water pressure, Pliny calls it 'victory over nature'
ID: 5348
Las Médulas
60 ID: 5431
Wine becomes Christian sacrament - Eucharist established using wine as blood of Christ, creates permanent religious demand
ID: 5431
61 ID: 2525
Battle of Watling Street - Suetonius Paulinus defeats Boudica's 230,000 with 10,000 Romans, 80,000 Britons killed, Boudica takes poison
ID: 2525
Watling Street
62 ID: 4100
Martyrdom of St. James the Just - brother of the Lord, first bishop of Jerusalem, thrown from Temple pinnacle then stoned
ID: 4100
Jerusalem
64 ID: 3834
St. Peter martyred in Rome - crucified upside down at his request, considering himself unworthy to die as Christ did
ID: 3834
Rome
64 ID: 3995
Great Fire of Rome - Nero blamed, then blames Christians, first imperial persecution
ID: 3995
Rome
64 ID: 4101
St. Paul martyred in Rome - beheaded on the Ostian Way during Nero's persecution, Roman citizen's execution
ID: 4101
Rome
64 ID: 5923
Palladium saved from Great Fire - Vestals rescue sacred objects including Palladium from Temple of Vesta during Nero's fire
ID: 5923
Rome
65 ID: 5436
Columella's De Re Rustica - most detailed ancient wine manual, yield calculations, trellis systems, 50+ grape varieties
ID: 5436
Rome
66 ID: 3006
Massacre at Caesarea - Greeks kill 20,000 Jews in one day, Florus does nothing, revolt spreads
ID: 3006
Caesarea
66 ID: 3007
August 66
First Jewish Revolt begins - Eleazar ben Simon stops daily sacrifice for emperor, declaration of war
ID: 3007
Jerusalem
66 ID: 3008
November 66
Battle of Beth Horon - Jewish rebels destroy XIIth Legion, capture eagle standard and siege equipment
ID: 3008
Beth Horon
67 ID: 3009
Vespasian arrives with 60,000 troops - begins systematic conquest of Galilee, Josephus commands Jewish forces
ID: 3009
Judea
67 ID: 3010
Fall of Jotapata - after 47-day siege, Josephus surrenders, predicts Vespasian will be emperor, becomes Roman
ID: 3010
Jotapata
67 ID: 3835
St. Linus becomes second pope - mentioned by St. Paul in 2 Timothy 4:21, governs for 12 years
ID: 3835
Rome
67 ID: 4102
St. Mark martyred in Alexandria - dragged through streets with rope around neck until dead, founder of Alexandrian Church
ID: 4102
Alexandria
67 ID: 5912
Nero consults after matricide - oracle refuses to speak to mother-killer, finally warns 'Beware the 73rd year' - Galba, age 73, overthrows him
ID: 5912
Delphi
68 ID: 3011
Jewish civil war in Jerusalem - John of Gischala, Simon bar Giora, and Eleazar fight each other, burn food supplies
ID: 3011
Jerusalem
68 ID: 3996
Nero commits suicide - 'What an artist dies in me!', Senate declares him public enemy
ID: 3996
Rome
68 ID: 3997
Galba becomes emperor - governor of Spain, begins Year of the Four Emperors
ID: 3997
Rome
69 ID: 3998
Galba assassinated - killed in Forum after 7 months, Otho takes power
ID: 3998
Rome
69 ID: 3999
Otho emperor for 3 months - commits suicide after defeat by Vitellius to prevent civil war
ID: 3999
Rome
69 ID: 4000
Vitellius emperor for 8 months - notorious glutton, defeated by Vespasian's forces
ID: 4000
Rome
69 ID: 4001
Vespasian becomes emperor - ends Year of Four Emperors, restores stability, begins Flavian dynasty
ID: 4001
Rome

70s (30 events)

70 ID: 4002
Vespasian's son Titus destroys Jerusalem - Temple destroyed, Colosseum begun with Jewish spoils
ID: 4002
Rome
70 ID: 4126
Destruction of Jerusalem Temple - Titus destroys Second Temple on 9th of Av, fulfilling Christ's prophecy
ID: 4126
Jerusalem
70 ID: 4849
Rabbi Yohanan ben Zakkai escapes Jerusalem in coffin - Establishes academy at Yavneh, saves Judaism from destruction
ID: 4849
Yavneh (Jamnia)
70 ID: 4896
Menander - Successor of Simon Magus, promised immortality through his baptism, teacher at Antioch
ID: 4896
Antioch
70 ID: 5403
Gallic wine production surpasses Italian - former barbarians now export wine to Rome, Pliny complains about competition
ID: 5403
Gaul
70 ID: 4820
August 9, 70
Destruction of Second Temple - Romans destroy Jerusalem Temple, Jewish Christians flee to Pella, end of Temple Judaism
ID: 4820
Jerusalem
72 ID: 4103
St. Thomas martyred in India - apostle to India, speared to death near Madras (Chennai) while praying
ID: 4103
Chennai
72 ID: 5973
Traditional death of St. Mary Magdalene at Saint-Maximin - receives last communion from St. Maximinus, dies in ecstasy
ID: 5973
Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume
73 ID: 4127
Fall of Masada - last Jewish stronghold falls, 960 defenders commit mass suicide rather than surrender to Romans
ID: 4127
Masada
73 ID: 4821
Fall of Masada - last Jewish stronghold falls to Romans, mass suicide of defenders
ID: 4821
Masada
74 ID: 4104
St. Barnabas martyred in Cyprus - companion of Paul, stoned to death by Jews in Salamis
ID: 4104
Salamis
75 ID: 5329
Romans develop Dolaucothi gold mines - only known Roman gold mine in Britain, sophisticated aqueducts and water-powered machinery
ID: 5329
Dolaucothi
77 ID: 4197
Pliny records Ethiopian dragons - describes 20-cubit dragons that attack elephants, strangle them with coils (Natural History)
ID: 4197
Ethiopia
77 ID: 5330
Pliny describes Spanish mining - Elder Pliny records 20,000 pounds gold annually from northwest Spain, environmental destruction
ID: 5330
Rio Tinto
Las Médulas
77 ID: 5432
Pliny catalogs 91 wine varieties - Natural History describes wine regions, vintages, production methods, medical uses
ID: 5432
Rome
78 ID: 2526
Agricola begins conquest of Scotland - pushes Roman frontier north, builds forts and roads
ID: 2526
Scotland
79 ID: 3836
St. Anacletus becomes third pope - builds St. Peter's memorial shrine, martyred under Domitian
ID: 3836
Rome
79 ID: 4003
Death of Vespasian - 'I think I'm becoming a god', first emperor to be succeeded by biological son
ID: 4003
Rome
79 ID: 4004
Titus becomes emperor - 'delight of mankind', faces Vesuvius eruption immediately
ID: 4004
Rome
79 ID: 5433
Pompeii preserves wine culture - 200+ wine bars discovered, wine prices on walls, vineyard inside city walls
ID: 5433
Pompeii
79 ID: 5943
Total destruction - estimated 16,000 dead, Pompeii and Herculaneum buried under 60 feet of ash, cities forgotten for 1,700 years
ID: 5943
Pompeii
Herculaneum
79 ID: 5934
August 24, 79
Mount Vesuvius begins erupting - 1 PM, umbrella pine-shaped cloud rises 20 miles high, pumice rains on Pompeii
ID: 5934
Pompeii
79 ID: 5935
August 24, 79
Pliny the Elder launches rescue mission - commands Roman fleet at Misenum, sails toward eruption to save friends and observe phenomenon
ID: 5935
Misenum
79 ID: 5936
August 24, 79
Pompeii buried in pumice - 6 feet accumulate in hours, roofs collapse, most flee but 2000 stay, darkness at noon
ID: 5936
Pompeii
79 ID: 5937
August 24, 79
Herculaneum initially spared - upwind from volcano, residents watch Pompeii's destruction, feel safe, fatal mistake
ID: 5937
Herculaneum
79 ID: 5938
August 24, 79
Pliny the Elder reaches Stabiae - dines calmly with friends, takes bath, sleeps despite falling pumice, trapped by contrary winds
ID: 5938
Stabiae
79 ID: 5939
August 25, 79
First pyroclastic surge hits Herculaneum - 1 AM, 400°C cloud races down at 100 mph, kills everyone instantly, bodies carbonized
ID: 5939
Herculaneum
79 ID: 5940
August 25, 79
Death of Pliny the Elder - morning, attempts escape, collapses on beach from volcanic gases (had asthma), dies at 56, body recovered intact
ID: 5940
Stabiae
79 ID: 5941
August 25, 79
Final pyroclastic surge hits Pompeii - 6:30 AM, kills remaining residents instantly, bodies create voids in ash forming famous casts
ID: 5941
Pompeii
79 ID: 5942
August 25, 79
Pliny the Younger survives at Misenum - age 17, writes detailed eyewitness account to Tacitus, only surviving scientific record of eruption
ID: 5942
Misenum

80s (8 events)

80 ID: 4105
St. Matthew martyred in Ethiopia - killed while celebrating Mass, either by sword or burning according to different traditions
ID: 4105
Ethiopia
80 ID: 5350
Roman drainage wheels at Rio Tinto - series of waterwheels lift water 30 meters from mine depths, 24-hour slave operation
ID: 5350
Rio Tinto
81 ID: 4005
Death of Titus - dies of fever after only 2 years, universally mourned
ID: 4005
Rome
81 ID: 4006
Domitian becomes emperor - Titus's younger brother, becomes increasingly tyrannical and paranoid
ID: 4006
Rome
81 ID: 4128
Domitian begins systematic persecution - requires worship of emperor as 'Lord and God', many Christians refuse
ID: 4128
Rome
84 ID: 2527
Battle of Mons Graupius - Agricola defeats Caledonians in pitched battle, 'they make a desert and call it peace'
ID: 2527
Mons Graupius
85 ID: 4822
Council of Jamnia begins - Rabbinic Judaism reorganizes without Temple, begins fixing Hebrew canon, Birkat ha-Minim added to prayers
ID: 4822
Yavneh (Jamnia)
88 ID: 3837
St. Clement I becomes fourth pope - writes important letter to Corinthians, knew Peter and Paul personally
ID: 3837
Rome

90s (17 events)

90 ID: 4106
St. Andrew martyred in Patras - crucified on X-shaped cross (saltire), preached from cross for two days before dying
ID: 4106
Patras
90 ID: 4839
Jamnia establishes Masoretic text tradition - Rabbis begin standardizing Hebrew text, rejecting Greek variants used by Christians
ID: 4839
Yavneh (Jamnia)
90 ID: 4850
Rabban Gamaliel II leads Yavneh academy - Consolidates rabbinic authority, adds Birkat ha-Minim against heretics/Christians
ID: 4850
Yavneh (Jamnia)
90 ID: 5362
Gold rush in Dacia - discovery of new veins at Roșia Montană triggers migration, boom town develops
ID: 5362
Roșia Montană
90 ID: 5437
Wine auctions established - vintage wines sold at auction in Rome, speculation on future vintages begins
ID: 5437
Rome
92 ID: 5439
Domitian bans provincial vineyards - orders half of provincial vines destroyed to protect Italian wine, widely ignored
ID: 5439
Rome
95 ID: 4007
Domitian's second persecution of Christians - executes cousin Flavius Clemens for 'atheism' (Christianity)
ID: 4007
Rome
95 ID: 4107
St. John the Apostle exiled to Patmos - writes Book of Revelation during Domitian's persecution, only apostle to die naturally
ID: 4107
Patmos
95 ID: 4868
Eighteen Benedictions revised - Birkat ha-Minim curse added specifically targeting Jewish Christians (Nazarenes) and heretics
ID: 4868
Yavneh (Jamnia)
96 ID: 4008
Domitian assassinated - killed in palace conspiracy, Senate damns his memory (damnatio memoriae)
ID: 4008
Rome
96 ID: 4009
Nerva becomes emperor - elderly senator chosen by Senate, begins Adoptive Emperors
ID: 4009
Rome
96 ID: 4129
Clement of Rome writes to Corinthians - first papal letter outside scripture, asserts Roman authority over other churches
ID: 4129
Rome
97 ID: 4010
Nerva adopts Trajan - pressured by military, establishes precedent of adopting best successor
ID: 4010
Rome
98 ID: 4011
Death of Nerva - natural death after 16 months, peaceful transition to Trajan
ID: 4011
Rome
98 ID: 4012
Trajan becomes emperor - first provincial emperor (from Spain), will expand empire to maximum
ID: 4012
Rome
99 ID: 3838
St. Clement I martyred - tied to anchor and thrown into Black Sea by order of Emperor Trajan
ID: 3838
Black Sea
99 ID: 3839
St. Evaristus becomes fifth pope - divides Rome into parishes, assigns priests to churches
ID: 3839
Rome

100s (7 events)

100 ID: 4108
Death of St. John the Apostle at Ephesus - last surviving apostle dies naturally of old age, beloved disciple
ID: 4108
Ephesus
100 ID: 4823
Justin Martyr born in Flavia Neapolis - future philosopher and apologist, defender of Old Testament as Christian scripture
ID: 4823
Flavia Neapolis
100 ID: 4894
Cerinthus the Gnostic - John the Apostle fled bathhouse to avoid him, taught Jesus and Christ were separate
ID: 4894
100 ID: 5346
Mining technology innovations - Romans perfect water-powered ore crushing, advanced ventilation, and deep shaft mining
ID: 5346
Rio Tinto
Roșia Montană
100 ID: 5440
Spanish wine dominates trade - Tarraconensis wine shipped throughout empire, Spanish amphorae found from Britain to Egypt
ID: 5440
100 ID: 5775
Romans catalog 37 apple varieties - Apicius includes apple recipes, Romans spread apples across empire
ID: 5775
Rome
100 ID: 5956
Mithraism peaks in legions - seven grades of initiation (Raven to Father), underground temples (mithraea), bull sacrifice, cosmic mysteries
ID: 5956
Rome