31 BCE Political events:
(1 January) Imp. Caesar consul (3).
Attempt to assassinate Imp. Caesar by Lepidus. Imp. Caesar founds Nikopolis in Epirus.
Military events:
Actian War (Bellum Actiense) – (2 August) Battle of Actium (Bellum Actiacum), Imp.
Caesar with M. Agrippa defeats M. Antonius and Kleopatra in the Gulf of Ambracia.
Imp. Caesar acclaimed imperator (VI).
30 BCE Political events:
(1 January) Imp. Caesar consul (4).
(10 or 23 August) Imp. Caesar founds Nikopolis in Egypt.
(November/December) Lex Saenia: adlects plebeians to the patrician class.
Military events:
Alexandrian War (Bellum Alexandreae) – (1 August) Alexandria falls to Imp.
Caesar’s troops; Egypt annexed as a province Aegyptus.
Imp Caesar acclaimed imperator (VII?)
29 BCE Political events:
(1 January) Imp. Caesar consul (5).
(11 January) Doors of Temple of Ianus closed.
Augustus censor, purges the Senate.
(18 August) Temple of Divus Iulius and Curia Iulia dedicated. (28 August) Altar of Victoria dedicated inside the Curia Iulia.
Military events:
Moesian War (Bellum Moesum), Year 1: M. Licinius Crassus campaigns against the Bastarnae, Moesi and other peoples.
African War: unspecified conflict after which L. Autronius Paetus is acclaimed imperator and awarded a full triumph.
Dacian War (Bellum Dacicum): Cn. Cornelius Lentulus campaigns against the Getae under King Cotiso.
Sarmatian War (Bellum Sarmaticum): Cn. Cornelius Lentulus campaigns in Sarmatia.
Cantabrian War (Bellum Cantabricum), led by Statilius Taurus.
(13–15 August) Caesar’s ‘Triple Triumph’ for victories in Illyricum, Actium and Alexandria.
Revolts in Heroöpolis and Thebais, Egypt, in protest at treatment by tax collectors. Cornelius Gallus sets Roman border between Egypt and Ethiopia at Meroē at the
First Cataract; makes Ethiopia a Roman protectorate (RG 26.5).
28 BCE Political events:
(1 January) Imp. Caesar consul (6) with Agrippa (2).
Restoration of iura et leges populi Romani.
Imp. Caesar named princeps senatus; appointed censor: first purge of the Senate.
Military events:
(9 October) Temple of Apollo dedicated on Palatinus Hill.
Moesian War, Year 2: M. Licinius Crassus campaigns against the Bastarnae, Moesi and other peoples; awarded a triumph by the Senate – claims the spolia opima denied by Augustus, offered a triumph in lieu.
(26 May 26) C. Calvisius Sabinus celebrates a triumph for victories in Hispania. (14 July 14) C. Carrinas celebrates a triumph for victories over the Galli.
27–19 BCE Augustus’ First Decennium
27 BCE Political events:
(1 January) Imp. Caesar consul (7) with Agrippa (3).
(13 January) Imp. Caesar granted control over a large provincia and permitted right to delegate its administration to legati (deputies); awarded corona civica for saving lives of citizens.
(16 January) Imp. Caesar granted title Augustus and right to display the clipeus virtutis; imperium confirmed for ten years.
Augustus goes to Tres Galliae, conducts census, holds assizes in Narbo.
Augustus falls seriously ill.
Military events: Aquitanian War.
(July) Triumph of M. Licinius Crassus for victories against the Bastarnae. Moesi and ‘other peoples’.
(25 September) Triumph of M. Valerius Messalla Corvinus for victories over the Aquitani.
26 BCE Political events:
(1 January) Augustus consul (8). Augustus in Hispania.
Military events:
Cantabrian War, Year 1: Three-pronged attack led by Augustus, P. Carisius and Antistius Vetus.
25 BCE Political events:
(1 January) Augustus consul (9).
Augustus in Hispania.
Doors of Temple of Ianus closed for second time. Foundation of Colonia Augusta Praetoria Salassorum.
Military events:
Cantabrian and Asturian War (Bellum Cantabricum et Asturicum), Year 2: P. Carisius defeats Astures, Antistius Vetus defeats Cantabri.
Salassian War: Salassi defeated by M. Terentius Varro. Watchtowers erected in Swiss Alps.
German War: M. Vinicius invades Germania; Augustus acclaimed imperator (VIII). Thracian War: M. Licinius Crassus campaigns against the Thraci and Moesi.
24 BCE Political events:
(1 January) Augustus consul (10). Augustus falls seriously ill. Tiberius quaestor.
Military events:
Revolt in Cantabria: defeated by L. Aelius Lamia.
Aelius Gallus moves east into Arabia; encounters the Nabataeans; army struck down with sickness; returns to Egypt.
23 BCE Political events:
(1 January) Augustus consul (11).
Conspiracies of M. Primus (proconsul of Macedonia) and A. Terentius Varro Murena (consul).
(June) In Rome: Augustus resigns consulship; granted tribunicia potestas (the status and privileges – but not the burdens of the office – of a Tribune of the People). In provinces: Augustus’ imperium proconsulare renewed for five years (extended to maius?); M. Agrippa granted imperium for five years.
Augustus falls seriously ill.
Military events:
Kandake of Kush invades southern Egypt; C. Petronius retaliates.
Frahâta of Parthia sends an embassy to Augustus requesting return of his son: he proposes a negotiated settlement.
22 BCE Political events:
Augustus is offered, but refuses, powers of dictator and perpetual consulships, accepts cura annonae.
Augustus refutes unlawfully interfering in affairs of Macedonia.
Attempts to assassinate Augustus, by Ignatius Rufus, Murena implicated.
21 BCE Political events:
Riots in Rome.
Augustus receives emissaries from Kandake of Kush, Ethiopia at Samos. Augustus enslaves people of towns of Kyzikos, Tyre and Sidon for riot and unlawful killings of Roman citizens.
Augustus distributes territories among client kings.
Military events:
C. Petronius agrees peace treaty with Kandake of Kush.
20 BCE Political events:
Augustus agrees to settlement with Armenia and Parthia: aquilae and signa lost at Carrhae 53 BCE returned to Tiberius.
Military events:
Agrippa in Tres Galliae; crosses Rhine?
(12 May) Augustus acclaimed imperator (IX).
Garamantian Campaign: proconsul of Africa L. Cornelius Balbus attacks Garamanti for raiding, and captures fifteen of their settlements.
19 BCE Political events:
Riots in Rome.
(12 October) Augustus enters Rome with aquilae and signa from Parthia, granted additional privileges, summum imperium auspiciumque.
(15 December) Altar of Fortunae Reducis dedicated.
Military events:
(27 March) Triumph of L. Cornelius Balbus.
Gallic Revolt: M. Agrippa agreed to resettlement of Ubii on Roman terrritory; refuses triumphal honours.
Cantabrian and Asturian War: M. Agrippa restores morale to Roman army and leads troops to victory.
18–9 BCE Augustus’ Second Decennium
18 BCE Political events:
Augustus’ and Agrippa’s imperium renewed for five years. Augustus purges the Senate.
Attempt to assassinate Augustus.
17 BCE Political events:
(May–June) Celebration of the Ludi Saeculares.
(4 June–15 July) Augustus adopts sons of M. Agrippa, Caius and Lucius.
Military events:
Lollian Disaster (Clades Lolliana): M. Lollius defeated by an alliance of Tencteri, Sugambri and Uspetes, led by warlord Maelo, which invades Belgica and takes the aquila of Legio V Alaudae.
16 BCE Political events:
(24 May) Nero Claudius Drusus (the future Germanicus Caesar) born in Rome. Augustus and Tiberius travel to Gallia Comata, stay in Colonia Copia Felix Munatia.
Tiberius appointed Legatus Augusti Pro Praetore of Gallia Comata and Belgica.
M. Agrippa in Syria.
Military events:
P. Silius Nerva campaigns against Camunni, Vennii and Pannonii.
15 BCE Political events:
Augustus re-organizes the provinces of the Galliae and the Hispaniae. Procurator Licinius affair (?)
Foundation of Augusta Vindelicorum.
Military events:
Alpine War (Bellum Alpinum): Nero Claudius Drusus leads campaign against the Raeti via the Reschen Pass; Raeti continue attacks in Tres Galliae: Drusus, joined by Tiberius with forces from Lugdunum, crush Vindelici.
(1 August) Fall of oppidum of Genauni to Drusus.
Norican War (Bellum Noricum): Drusus and Tiberius advance on the Kingdom of Noricum and annex it. Alpine nations provide auxiliary troops to Rome.
Augustus acclaimed imperator (X).
P. Sulpicius Quirinius campaigns against the Nasamones, Marmaridae and Garamantes in Cyrenaica.
14 BCE Political events:
Drusus appointed legatus Augusti pro praetore of Tres Galliae, relocates to Colonia Copia Felix Munatia.
Military events:
Drusus (?) subdues the Comati, Alpes Maritimae subjugated, made a prefecture. German War: Drusus begins preparations for invasion of Germania, befriends the
Batavi, establishes military camps along the Rhine. Work begins on excavating the fossa Drusiana.
Revolt of Scribonius: Agrippa squashes usurper’s rebellion in the Cimerian Bosporus with help from Herodes and Polemon; refuses triumphal honours. Pannonian War (Bellum Pannonicum), Year 1: revolt of the Pannonii. M. Vinicius unable to contain the uprising.
13 BCE Political events:
(1 January) Tiberius consul (1).
Augustus returns to Rome.
Augustus’ and Agrippa’s imperium renewed for another five years. Augustus purges the Senate.
(4 July) Senate votes to erect Ara Pacis Augustae in Rome. Theatre of Balbus opened.
Census in Tres Galliae (?).
Military events:
Augustus makes reforms to pay, length of service and retirement benefits of the army.
Thracian War (Bellum Thracicum), Year 1: Raiskuporis I of Thracia slain in battle by Vologases, revolt of the Bessi.
Pannonian War, Year 2: M. Agrippa suppresses rebellion in Pannonia.
12 BCE Political events:
Roimetalkes succeeds Raiskuporis as king of Thrace.
(6 March) Lepidus dies: Augustus appointed Pontifex Maximus.
(? March) M. Agrippa dies in Campania.
Consecration of Altar of Roma et Augustus at Condate, Colonia Copia Felix Munatia.
Nero Claudius Drusus appointed praetor urbanus.
Military events:
Thracian War, Year 2: L. Calpurnius Piso engages the Bessi.
Pannonian War, Year 3: Tiberius goes to Illyricum. Tiberius and Vinicius campaign against the alliance of the Breuci.
Homonadensian War: Quirinus wages war against the Homonadenses in Cilicia and Galatia.
Nero Claudius Drusus foils a rebellion in Tres Galliae.
German War (Bellum Germanicum), Year 1: Drusus launches an attack from Batavodurum against the Sugambri, Tencteri and Usipetes; takes fleet across Lacus Flevo; negotiates treaties with the Cananefates, Chauci and Frisii; navigates the Ems River and defeats the Bructeri in a river battle. On the return journey fleet is marooned on the Dutch coast, but rescued by the Frisii.
Augustus acclaimed imperator (XI).
11 BCE Political events:
Drusus and Tiberius receive imperium proconsulare.
Senate decrees doors of the Temple of Ianus closed, but deferred. Tiberius divorces Vipsania, marries Iulia.
Military events:
Pannonian War, Year 4: Tiberius campaigns against the alliances of Daesitiates and Breuci.
Thracian War, Year 3: L. Calpurnius Piso defeats rebels.
German War, Year 2: Nero Claudius Drusus returns to Tres Galliae; launches campaign from Vetera along the Lippe River; engages the Cherusci, Marsi and Usipetes; reaches the Weser River; and narrowly avoids defeat at Battle of Arbalo at hands of Cherusci.
Drusus’ acclamation as imperator denied and claimed by Augustus (XII): Drusus granted an ovatio with triumphal ornaments instead.
10 BCE Political events:
Augustus and Tiberius return to Lugdunum.
(1 August) Birth of Ti. Claudius Nero (future emperor Claudius) in Colonia Copia Felix Munatia; dedication of Altar of Roma et Augustus at Condate before an assembly of the Gallic tribal leaders. Nero Claudius Drusus returns to Rome with Augustus and Tiberius.
Military events:
Pannonian War, Year 5: final conquest by Tiberius.
German War, Year 3: Nero Claudius Drusus launches new phase of campaign from Mogontiacum; defeats the Chatti and Marcomanni; granted limited triumphal honours.
Dacian War (Bellum Dacicum)/Sarmatian War (Bellum Sarmaticum): Cn. Cornelius Lentulus Augur engages the Daci and Sarmati.
Syllaeus/Nacebus challenge Herodes the Great.
9 BCE Political events:
(1 January) Nero Claudius Drusus consul.
(30 January) Dedication of Ara Pacis Augustae in Rome.
Tiberius in Illyricum.
Nero Claudius Drusus’ body carried to Ticinum, met by Augustus and Livia, and on to Rome for state funeral, buried in Augustus’ Mausoleum.
Military events:
German War, Year 4: Nero Claudius Drusus launches second campaign from Mogontiacum, reaches the Elbe River; erects an altar on the banks of the Elbe River, turns back to the Rhine; fatally wounded in an accident.
Tiberius rides 200 miles in 24 hours by vehicle from Ticinum to join him. Thirty days after the accident, Nero Claudius Drusus dies.
Augustus acclaimed imperator (XIII).
Tiberius acclaimed imperator (I).
8 BCE–3 CE Augustus Third Decennium
8 BCE Political events:
Augustus’ imperium renewed for ten years. Censor with right to conduct a census. Senate votes Drusus and his male descendants the agnomen ‘Germanicus’, erects statues and a triumphal arch over the Via Appia. Rhine legions erect the Tumulus (Cenotaph – the Eichelstein) honouring Drusus in Mogontiacum.
Reform of the calender, with month Sextilis renamed Augustus.
Military events:
German War, Year 5: Tiberius in Germania Magna, negotiates a peace settlement with all Germanic tribes; Maelo surrenders, Sugambri relocate to region around Vetera, renamed Cugerni, and thereafter supply auxiliary cavalry to Rome.
Augustus acclaimed imperator (XIV).
Tiberius acclaimed imperator (II).
Polemon of Pontus engages the Aspurgiani in Phanagoria, is defeated, taken prisoner and executed.
7 BCE Political events:
(1 January) Augustus consul (11) with Tiberius (2) Doors of the Temple of Ianus closed (?)
Military events:
Tiberius celebrates ovatio in Rome for his victories in German War.
6 BCE Political events:
Tiberius’ imperium renewed, granted tribunicia potestas for five years; but withdraws from public life unexpectedly, and retires to Rhodes.
Work begins on erecting the Tropaeum Alpium (La Turbie) marking the complete subjugation of the Alps.
5 BCE Political events:
(1 January) Augustus consul (12).
C. Caesar comes of age, designated Princeps Iuventutis.
Military events:
Qurinius moves against the Homanadenses of Taurus.
4 BCE Political events:
Death of Herodes (Herod the Great) in Jericho. Attempt to assassinate Augustus by Cn. Cornelius.
Military events:
Revolts in Iudaea against Archelaos. Qunctilius Varus intervenes from Syria.
3 BCE –
2 BCE Political events:
(1 January) Augustus consul (13) for last time.
(5 February) Augustus given accolade Pater Patriae.
(12 May) Dedication of the Forum Augustum and Temple of Mars Ultor.
L. Caesar comes of age, designated princeps iuventutis.
Iulia arrested for adultery and treason, exiled to Pandateria; Tiberius divorces Iulia.
Military events:
Augustus appoints two praefecti to command the Cohortes Praetoriae. Domitius Ahenobarbus intercepts Hermunduri, finds them land in vacated Marcomannic territory.
1 BCE Political events: (29 January) C. Caesar departs Rome to begin his mission to the East with imperium proconsulare.
Doors of the Temple of Ianus closed for the third time?
1 CE Political events: (1 January) C. Caesar consul In Syria.
Germanicus comes of age, assumes the toga virilis.
Military events:
Marmaridian (Marmaric) War, Year 1: campaign against the Marmaridae on the frontier of Cyrenaica.
German Revolt: L. Domitius Ahenobarbus, legatus Augusti pro praetore of Germania, suppresses revolt, crosses the Elbe, engages Hermunduri and negotiates settlement with Marboduus of the Marcommani; establishes an imperial cult altar and his headquarters at Ara Ubiorum.
C. Caesar negotiates treaty with Frahâtak V of Parthia.
Augustus acclaimed imperator (XV).
2 CE Political events:
Death of C. Marcius Censorinus.
(20 August) Death of L. Caesar at Massilia. Tiberius returns to Rome from Rhodes.
Military events:
Armenian War (Bellum Armeniacum), Year 1: C. Caesar departs to intervene. Marmaridian War, Year 2: P. Sulpicius Quirinius, proconsul of Africa, defeats the Marmaridae.
Sex. Aelius Catus oversees the transplantation of some 50,000 Getae across the Danube River to Macedonia.
3–11 CE Augustus’ Fourth Decennium
3 CE Political events:
Augustus’ imperium renewed for ten years. Iulia permitted to relocate to Rhegium.
Military events:
Armenian War, Year 2. Siege of Artagira.
(9 September) C. Caesar wounded at Artagira, Armenia. Augustus acclaimed imperator (XVI).
4 CE Political events:
(21 February) Death of C. Caesar in Limyra.
(26 June) Augustus adopts Tiberius and Agrippa Postumus. Tiberius, adopts Germanicus.
Tiberius granted imperium and tribunicia potestas for five years.
C. Sentius Saturninus appointed legatus Augusti pro praetore of Germania.
Military events:
German Revolt: Tiberius campaigns in Germania, defeats the Bructeri, recalls Cherusci to loyalty.
5 CE Political events:
Earthquake strikes Rome. Tiber floods. Famine in Rome.
Germanicus marries Vipsania Agrippina.
Military events:
Augustus reaches settlement with Senate over funding retirement bonus costs of soldiers.
German Revolt: Tiberius in Germania Magna, reaches the Elbe River.
6 CE Political events:
Famine continues in Rome; fire destroys parts of the city.
Germanicus appointed augur.
Germanicus and his brother Claudius sponsor games in honour of their father. Birth of Nero Iulius Caesar (Germanicus’ first son).
Military events:
Augustus establishes the Aerarium Militare to fund soldiers’ retirement payments.
Numerous (unidentified) cities in revolt.
Brigandage rife in Sardinia.
Judaean Revolt: led by Iudas (of Gamala) the Galilean against the census, crushed by Quirinius.
Isaurian Revolt: in Asia Minor Cornelius Cossus (M. Plautius Silvanus?, legatus of Galatia-Pamphylia) squashes revolt of Isauri.
Gaetulican War (Bellum Gaetulicum): in Africa, proconsul Cossus Cornelius Lentulus defeats Gaetulici and Musulami: awarded triumphal ornaments and agnomen Gaetulicus.
Marcomannic War: Tiberius and C. Sentius Saturninus launch invasion of Bohaemium, but abort it when forces have to be redeployed to suppress major revolt in Illyricum (Dalmatia and Pannonia).
Batonian War (Bellum Batonianum) or Greater Dalmatian War or Great Illyrian Revolt, Year 1: Bato of the Breuci, Bato of the Daesidiates agree to work together.
In Rome Germanicus raises Cohortes Voluntariarum, marches to Illyricum.
Augustus acclaimed imperator (XVII).
Tiberius acclaimed imperator (III).
7 CE Political events: Germanicus quaestor.
Military events:
Batonian War, Year 2: Tiberius and Germanicus with reserves in Illyricum. Battle at Mons Claudius, Volcaean Marshes.
Tiberius at Siscia.
8 CE Political events:
Batonian War, Year 3: Tiberius and Germanicus in Illyricum. (3 August) Pannonii submit after defeat at Bathinus River. Bato of the Breuci murdered by Bato of the Daesidiates. Augustus acclaimed imperator (XVIII).
Tiberius acclaimed imperator (IV).
9 CE Political events:
Tiberius’ imperium and tribunicia potestas renewed for five years. Germanicus praetor.
Agrippa Postumus banished to Planasia.
Military events:
Batonian War, Year 4: Tiberius and Germanicus campaign in Illyricum. Bato of the Daesidiates surrenders, revolt squashed.
Augustus acclaimed imperator (XIX).
Tiberius acclaimed imperator (V), granted full triumph.
Germanicus acclaimed imperator, granted triumphal ornaments.
Varian Disaster (Clades Variana): P. Quinctilius Varus and Legiones XVII, XVIII and XIX annihilated at Teutoburg Pass by Germanic alliance forces led by Arminius.
Tiberius takes conscripts from Rome to Rhine forts.
10 CE Military events:
Tiberius campaigns in Germania.
11 CE Military events:
Tiberius campaigns in Germania with Germanicus on military exercises; celebrates Augustus’ birthday (23 September) on German soil.
Augustus acclaimed imperator (XX).
Tiberius acclaimed imperator (VI).
12 CE Political events:
(1 January) Germanicus consul (1)
(31 August(?)) Birth of C. Iulius Caesar (nicknamed ‘Caligula’, Germanicus’ fifth son) in Antium.
Military events:
(23 October) Tiberius celebrates full triumph in Rome for victories in Illyricum (‘Greater Dalmatian War’).
13–14 CE Augustus Fifth Decennium
13 CE Political events:
Augustus’ imperium renewed; Tiberius’ imperium made equal with Augustus’. Germanicus made Legatus Augusti Pro Praetore in Tres Galliae and Germania.
Military events:
Gallic Revolt: Germanicus puts down insurrection in Tres Galliae (?), acclaimed imperator (I).
Augustus acclaimed imperator (XXI).
Tiberius acclaimed imperator (VII).
14 CE Political events:
Census of Rome (4,190,117 recorded citizens).
(19 August) Death of Augustus at Nola.
(? September) Augustus’ state funeral, cremation and burial in his Mausoleum. Will of Augustus read in Senate by Drusus Iulius Caesar.
(17 September) Deification of Augustus. Tiberius assumes role of princeps senatus, aged 56.
Agrippa Postumus executed. Germanicus granted imperium proconsulare.
Germanicus appointed one of the first Sodales Augustales.
Military events:
Mutiny of Rhine and Danube legions: Germanicus and Drusus Iulius Caesar negotiate settlements with the legions. Germanicus leads men on punitive expedition against the Marsi.