Location:
Italy
Coordinates:
41.9028, 12.4964
Events at Rome (100)
753 BC
ID: 5919
Palladium brought to Rome by Aeneas (tradition) - sacred statue hidden in Temple of Vesta, ensures Rome cannot be conquered while possessed
ID: 5919
753 BC
ID: 2641
April 21, 753 BC
Traditional founding of Rome - Romulus kills Remus, founds city on Palatine Hill, establishes Senate and basic institutions
ID: 2641
715 BC
ID: 2642
Numa Pompilius becomes second king - Sabine philosopher-king establishes religious institutions, Temple of Janus, priestly colleges
ID: 2642
700 BC
ID: 5419
Roman law forbids women drinking wine - punishable by death, husbands can kill wives for wine drinking (ius osculi - right of kiss to detect)
ID: 5419
616 BC
ID: 2643
Tarquin dynasty begins - Etruscan kings transform Rome from village to city, build Forum, Cloaca Maxima sewer, Circus Maximus
ID: 2643
534 BC
ID: 2644
Servian Constitution - Servius Tullius creates census, divides citizens into centuries by wealth for military service and voting
ID: 2644
509 BC
ID: 2645
Roman Republic established - Tarquin the Proud expelled after son rapes Lucretia, Brutus becomes first consul, monarchy abolished forever
ID: 2645
509 BC
ID: 226
Roman Republic established - Tarquin the Proud expelled, consuls replace kings
ID: 226
500 BC
ID: 5420
Cult of Liber (Bacchus) established - Roman wine god, Liberalia festival celebrates first wine tasting by young men
ID: 5420
500 BC
ID: 5917
Sibylline Books housed in Temple of Jupiter - consulted only in grave crises by special priests (quindecemviri), guide Rome through disasters
ID: 5917
458 BC
ID: 2648
Cincinnatus called from plow to dictatorship - defeats Aequi in 16 days, returns to farm, model of Roman virtue
ID: 2648
390 BC
ID: 2651
Gauls sack Rome - Brennus defeats Romans at Allia, only Capitol holds out (geese wake guards), 'Vae victis' - woe to conquered
ID: 2651
390 BC
ID: 279
Gauls sack Rome - Brennus demands ransom, 'Vae victis' (woe to the conquered), geese save Capitol
ID: 279
387 BC
ID: 3663
Brennus sacks Rome - Celtic chieftain defeats Romans, 'Vae victis,' geese save Capitol
ID: 3663
367 BC
ID: 2652
Licinian-Sextian laws - plebeians can be consul, debt relief, limit on land holdings, political equality advancing
ID: 2652
343 BC
ID: 314
First Samnite War begins - Rome begins conquest of Italy, learning mountain warfare
ID: 314
343 BC
ID: 2653
First Samnite War begins - Rome starts 50-year struggle for control of Italy, learns mountain warfare
ID: 2653
312 BC
ID: 2655
Via Appia begun - Appius Claudius builds first great Roman road, 'Queen of Roads' to Capua, empire connected by roads
ID: 2655
312 BC
ID: 313
Via Appia begun - first Roman road, 'Queen of Roads,' empire connected by roads
ID: 313
205 BC
ID: 5920
Sibylline Books consulted about Hannibal - prophecy says bring Magna Mater from Phrygia, black stone of Cybele brought to Rome
ID: 5920
205 BC
ID: 5962
Rome consults Sibylline Books about Hannibal - prophecy states 'foreign enemy can be defeated if Mother of Mount Ida brought from Pessinus to Rome'
ID: 5962
204 BC
ID: 5953
Magna Mater arrives in Rome - black meteorite of Cybele installed on Palatine, eunuch priests (galli) shock Romans with self-castration
ID: 5953
204 BC
ID: 5964
Sacred stone voyages to Rome - black meteorite travels under heavy guard, every port celebrates arrival, mass hysteria of anticipation
ID: 5964
204 BC
ID: 5965
April 204 BC
Miracle at Ostia - ship carrying stone runs aground, Vestal Virgin Claudia Quinta (accused of unchastity) pulls it free with her belt, proving innocence
ID: 5965
204 BC
ID: 5966
April 4, 204 BC
Black stone installed in Temple of Victoria - meteorite placed on Palatine Hill, instant festival Megalesia established, aristocratic women serve as priestesses
ID: 5966
203 BC
ID: 5967
Hannibal abandons Italy - one year after Cybele's arrival, Hannibal withdraws, Romans credit Magna Mater with salvation
ID: 5967
200 BC
ID: 5374
Roman wine trade with Gauls expands - Italian wine cheaper than Greek, Romans export 100,000s of amphorae annually to Gaul
ID: 5374
191 BC
ID: 5968
Temple of Magna Mater dedicated - permanent home for black stone on Palatine, meteorite set in face of silver statue of enthroned Cybele
ID: 5968
190 BC
ID: 5969
Galli priests shock Rome - eunuch priests of Cybele beg in streets, self-flagellation, castration rituals horrify Romans but cannot expel - goddess saved Rome
ID: 5969
186 BC
ID: 5422
Bacchanalia suppressed - Senate bans Bacchic mysteries after reports of orgies and conspiracy, 7000 executed
ID: 5422
175 BC
ID: 5394
Rome bans wine export across Alps - attempts to prevent barbarian invasions by keeping Celts from wine, widely ignored by merchants
ID: 5394
160 BC
ID: 5421
Cato writes De Agri Cultura - detailed vineyard management, wine production techniques, slave rations include cheap wine
ID: 5421
133 BC
ID: 2674
Tiberius Gracchus murdered - tribune killed by senators for land reform proposal, first political violence in Forum, Republic's crisis begins
ID: 2674
123 BC
ID: 2675
Gaius Gracchus's reforms - grain dole for masses, extends citizenship, creates populares vs optimates conflict
ID: 2675
121 BC
ID: 2676
Death of Gaius Gracchus - 3,000 supporters killed, first senatus consultum ultimum (emergency decree), political violence normalized
ID: 2676
121 BC
ID: 5423
Opimian vintage - legendary year, wine still drunk 200 years later, Pliny reports tasting 160-year-old Opimian
ID: 5423
113 BC
ID: 5928
Romans terrified by Germanic 'giants' - Cimbri warriors over 6 feet tall (huge for Romans), pale as ghosts, hair like flame, women as fierce as men
ID: 5928
107 BC
ID: 2677
Marian army reforms - Marius recruits landless poor, creates professional army loyal to generals not state
ID: 2677
105 BC
ID: 5931
Terror Cimbricus grips Rome - panic in city, 'the Germans are coming' becomes nightmare phrase, human sacrifices performed, worst fear since Hannibal
ID: 5931
100 BC
ID: 4454
Romans develop portable hand abacus - bronze tablet with grooves and counters for merchants and engineers
ID: 4454
100 BC
ID: 5424
Falernian wine reaches peak prestige - Rome's greatest wine, three types (dry, sweet, light), aged 10-20 years, mentioned by every Roman author
ID: 5424
91 BC
ID: 2680
Social War begins - Italian allies revolt for citizenship, Rome forced to grant it to end devastating war
ID: 2680
88 BC
ID: 2681
Sulla marches on Rome - first Roman general to lead army against Rome itself, Marius flees, constitution shattered
ID: 2681
83 BC
ID: 5921
Sibylline Books destroyed in fire - Temple of Jupiter burns, books lost, Romans send envoys across Mediterranean to collect replacement prophecies
ID: 5921
82 BC
ID: 2683
Battle of Colline Gate - Sulla defeats Samnites and Marians at Rome's gates, becomes dictator, proscription lists begin
ID: 2683
81 BC
ID: 2684
Sulla's proscriptions - 1,500 nobles killed, property confiscated, attempts to restore conservative constitution
ID: 2684
70 BC
ID: 2687
Pompey and Crassus consuls - restore tribune powers Sulla removed, rivals forced to cooperate
ID: 2687
67 BC
ID: 2688
Pompey clears Mediterranean of pirates - given extraordinary command, clears sea in three months
ID: 2688
67 BC
ID: 5954
Pompey encounters Mithraism - Cilician pirates practice mysteries of Mithras, Roman soldiers adopt cult, spreads through legions
ID: 5954
63 BC
ID: 2689
Catiline conspiracy crushed - Cicero exposes plot, executes conspirators without trial, hailed as 'Father of the Fatherland'
ID: 2689
62 BC
ID: 5955
Clodius profanes Bona Dea mysteries - dressed as woman to seduce Caesar's wife at women-only rites, Caesar divorces wife ('Caesar's wife must be above suspicion')
ID: 5955
60 BC
ID: 2690
First Triumvirate formed - secret alliance of Caesar, Pompey, and Crassus to dominate Republic
ID: 2690
59 BC
ID: 2691
Caesar's consulship - ignores colleague Bibulus, forces through legislation, secures five-year command in Gaul
ID: 2691
54 BC
ID: 2695
Death of Julia - Caesar's daughter and Pompey's wife dies in childbirth, key link between them broken
ID: 2695
50 BC
ID: 5345
Roman mining law codified - detailed regulations on claims, slaves, safety, ore processing, and taxation developed
ID: 5345
50 BC
ID: 5425
Italian wine production peaks - estimated 1.8 million hectoliters annually, massive export throughout Mediterranean and beyond
ID: 5425
50 BC
ID: 5434
Lead sweetening of wine begins - Romans use lead acetate (sapa) to sweeten wine, causes widespread lead poisoning
ID: 5434
46 BC
ID: 5400
Vercingetorix executed after Caesar's triumph - Gallic leader strangled in Tullianum prison after 6 years captivity, symbol of resistance dies
ID: 5400
45 BC
ID: 2706
Julian calendar introduced - 365.25 day year with leap years, used for 1,600 years
ID: 2706
44 BC
ID: 2707
February 44 BC
Caesar refuses crown at Lupercalia - Antony offers crown three times, Caesar refuses but named dictator perpetuo
ID: 2707
44 BC
ID: 2708
March 15, 44 BC
Assassination of Julius Caesar - stabbed 23 times in Senate, 'Et tu, Brute?', falls at Pompey's statue base
ID: 2708
43 BC
ID: 2709
Second Triumvirate formed - Octavian, Antony, and Lepidus legally divide Roman world, proscription lists begin
ID: 2709
43 BC
ID: 2710
December 43 BC
Murder of Cicero - killed in proscriptions, head and hands displayed in Forum where he gave Philippics against Antony
ID: 2710
29 BC
ID: 2716
Octavian celebrates triple triumph - Temple of Janus closed for first time in 200 years, signifying peace
ID: 2716
28 BC
ID: 2717
Octavian 'restores the Republic' - returns powers to Senate (facade), conducts census, begins administrative reforms
ID: 2717
27 BC
ID: 2718
January 16, 27 BC
Octavian becomes Augustus - Senate grants title and proconsular power, First Settlement creates Principate, Roman Empire begins
ID: 2718
25 BC
ID: 2740
Provincial reorganization - peaceful provinces to Senate, military frontiers to emperor, efficient administration established
ID: 2740
23 BC
ID: 2719
Second Settlement - Augustus resigns consulship, receives tribunician power for life and imperium maius, constitutional foundation complete
ID: 2719
23 BC
ID: 5427
Horace's wine poetry - Odes celebrate specific vintages, 'wine loosens tongues and hearts,' promises immortality through verse
ID: 5427
20 BC
ID: 2720
Parthians return Roman standards - diplomatic triumph, eagles lost at Carrhae returned, presented as military victory
ID: 2720
20 BC
ID: 5428
Wine aging becomes investment - Roman cellars (apothecae) age wine in amphorae, vintage wines command huge prices
ID: 5428
19 BC
ID: 2721
Death of Virgil - leaves Aeneid unfinished, wants it burned, Augustus preserves it, becomes Rome's national epic
ID: 2721
18 BC
ID: 2722
Julian marriage laws - attempts to restore traditional morality, penalties for adultery, rewards for having children
ID: 2722
13 BC
ID: 2724
Ara Pacis consecrated - Altar of Peace celebrates Augustus's return from Gaul, masterpiece of Roman art
ID: 2724
12 BC
ID: 2725
Augustus becomes Pontifex Maximus - after Lepidus dies, controls state religion, completes power consolidation
ID: 2725
12 BC
ID: 5922
Augustus reviews Sibylline prophecies - burns 2000+ spurious prophetic books, keeps only authentic Sibylline verses, transfers to Temple of Apollo
ID: 5922
8 BC
ID: 2727
Death of Horace - great lyric poet dies, patron Maecenas dies same year, end of Augustan poetry golden age
ID: 2727
2 BC
ID: 2728
Augustus named Pater Patriae - Father of the Fatherland, highest honor, universal recognition of achievements
ID: 2728
4
ID: 2730
Augustus adopts Tiberius - after deaths of preferred heirs, adopts stepson as successor, succession planned
ID: 2730
6
ID: 2731
Vigiles created - professional firefighters for Rome, 7,000 men, urban administration improved
ID: 2731
9
ID: 2733
Lex Papia Poppaea - strengthens marriage laws, ironic as both consuls proposing it are unmarried
ID: 2733
12
ID: 2734
Tiberius's Pannonian triumph - last triumph of Augustus's reign, adopted son proven as military commander
ID: 2734
13
ID: 2735
Augustus completes Res Gestae - autobiographical account of achievements, to be inscribed on bronze pillars at mausoleum
ID: 2735
14
ID: 2738
Peaceful succession to Tiberius - first transfer of imperial power, Principate proven as system not personality
ID: 2738
14
ID: 3984
Tiberius becomes emperor - Augustus's stepson reluctantly accepts power, competent but unpopular
ID: 3984
14
ID: 2737
September 14
Augustus deified - declared god by Senate, temple built, imperial cult established, month Sextilis renamed August
ID: 2737
15
ID: 5357
Roman mining census - Empire operates over 100 major mines, producing iron, copper, tin, lead, gold, silver, mercury
ID: 5357
31
ID: 3986
Fall of Sejanus - Tiberius discovers Praetorian Prefect's conspiracy, massive purge follows
ID: 3986
37
ID: 3988
Caligula becomes emperor - initially popular, becomes insane after illness, notorious for cruelty
ID: 3988
41
ID: 3989
Caligula assassinated - killed by Praetorian Guard after 4 years of madness and tyranny
ID: 3989
41
ID: 3990
Claudius becomes emperor - found hiding behind curtain, Praetorians make him emperor, surprisingly effective
ID: 3990
50
ID: 5430
Glass wine bottles appear - Romans develop glass-blowing, create first wine bottles though amphorae remain standard
ID: 5430
64
ID: 3834
St. Peter martyred in Rome - crucified upside down at his request, considering himself unworthy to die as Christ did
ID: 3834
64
ID: 3995
Great Fire of Rome - Nero blamed, then blames Christians, first imperial persecution
ID: 3995
64
ID: 4101
St. Paul martyred in Rome - beheaded on the Ostian Way during Nero's persecution, Roman citizen's execution
ID: 4101
64
ID: 5923
Palladium saved from Great Fire - Vestals rescue sacred objects including Palladium from Temple of Vesta during Nero's fire
ID: 5923
65
ID: 5436
Columella's De Re Rustica - most detailed ancient wine manual, yield calculations, trellis systems, 50+ grape varieties
ID: 5436
67
ID: 3835
St. Linus becomes second pope - mentioned by St. Paul in 2 Timothy 4:21, governs for 12 years
ID: 3835
68
ID: 3996
Nero commits suicide - 'What an artist dies in me!', Senate declares him public enemy
ID: 3996
68
ID: 3997
Galba becomes emperor - governor of Spain, begins Year of the Four Emperors
ID: 3997