Timeline of the Roman Empire
Explore the triumphs and turmoil of the Roman Empire through a timeline of its most significant events.
- Category
- Humanities & Culture
- Tag
- empires
- Events
- 20 events 753 BCE – 1453
- Added
753 BCE: Rome is founded
The traditional story of the founding of Rome involves twin brothers Romulus and Remus, who were suckled by a she-wolf as infants. Another account, set earlier in time, claims that the Roman people are descended from Trojan War hero Aeneas, who escaped to Italy after the war. Archaeological evidence of human occupation of the area dates back to about 14,000 years ago.
Wikipedia667 BCE: Byzantium is founded by Megarian colonists
According to the ancient Greek historian Herodotus, Byzantium was founded by Megarian colonists in 660 BCE. The city played an important role as a trading center, connecting the Black Sea and the Aegean Sea. Byzantium later became the capital of the Byzantine Empire, which preserved many aspects of Greek and Roman culture and was one of the most powerful empires in the Mediterranean world for over 1,000 years.
Wikipedia509 BCE: Roman Republic
The Roman Republic is established, with two consuls annually elected by the people.
Wikipedia264 BCE: First Punic War
Rome and Carthage engage in a series of three wars for dominance of the Mediterranean.
Wikipedia146 BCE: Conquest of Greece
Rome conquers Greece, marking the beginning of Rome's domination of the Mediterranean world.
Wikipedia44 BCE: Assassination of Julius Caesar
Julius Caesar is assassinated by a group of senators led by Brutus and Cassius.
Wikipedia27 BCE: Founding of the Roman Empire
After the end of the Roman Republic, Octavian becomes the first Roman Emperor and takes the name Augustus. He establishes the Roman Empire and begins a period of relative peace and prosperity known as the Pax Romana.
Wikipedia54: Nero becomes Emperor
After the death of his stepfather, the Emperor Claudius, Nero becomes the new Emperor of Rome. His reign is marked by extravagance, corruption, and a persecution of Christians, culminating in the Great Fire of Rome in 64 CE.
Wikipedia64: Great Fire of Rome
A fire breaks out in Rome, burning for six days and causing widespread devastation. Emperor Nero is blamed for the fire and begins a persecution of Christians.
Wikipedia69: Year of the Four Emperors
Following the death of Nero, four emperors — Galba, Otho, Vitellius, and Vespasian — rule in quick succession, leading to a year of political instability and civil war.
Wikipedia98: Trajan becomes emperor
Marcus Ulpius Traianus, known as Trajan, becomes emperor, expanding the Roman Empire to its greatest size and overseeing a period of prosperity and public works.
Wikipedia161: Marcus Aurelius becomes Emperor
After the death of the Emperor Antoninus Pius, Marcus Aurelius becomes the new Emperor of Rome. He is known for his Stoic philosophy and his leadership during a period of military conflict, including the Parthian War and the Marcomannic Wars.
Wikipedia193: Year of the Five Emperors
Following the assassination of Commodus, five emperors — Pertinax, Didius Julianus, Pescennius Niger, Clodius Albinus, and Septimius Severus — vie for the throne, leading to a year of political instability and civil war.
Wikipedia284: Diocletian becomes emperor
Gaius Aurelius Valerius Diocletianus, known as Diocletian, becomes emperor, instituting a series of reforms to stabilize the Roman Empire and dividing it into an eastern and western half.
Wikipedia313: Edict of Milan
Emperor Constantine issues the Edict of Milan, granting religious toleration to Christianity and ending the persecution of Christians.
Wikipedia364: Valentinian becomes Emperor of the Western Roman Empire
After the death of the Emperor Valens, Valentinian becomes the new Emperor of the Western Roman Empire. He faces significant challenges from barbarian invasions, particularly from the Germanic tribes of the north.
Wikipedia379: Theodosius becomes emperor
Flavius Theodosius, known as Theodosius the Great, becomes emperor, making Christianity the official state religion of the Roman Empire and overseeing a period of territorial expansion.
Wikipedia395: The Roman Empire is permanently divided
After the death of the Emperor Theodosius I, the Roman Empire is permanently divided into two separate states, with the Western Roman Empire centered in Rome and the Eastern Roman Empire centered in Constantinople.
studentsofhistory.com476: Fall of the Western Roman Empire
The Western Roman Empire comes to an end when the last emperor, Romulus Augustus, is deposed by the Germanic general Odoacer.
Wikipedia1453: Fall of the Eastern Roman Empire
The Byzantine Empire, the Eastern Roman Empire, falls to the Ottoman Turks, ending the Roman Empire.
Wikipedia