Roman Empire - Important Dates

753 BCE

Legendary Founding of Rome.

509 BCE

Rome becomes a Republic.

44 BCE

Assassination of Julius Caesar.

31 BCE

The Battle of Actium.

27 BCE

Augustus founds the Roman Empire.

14 CE

Death of Augustus.

c. 30 CE

Emergence of Christianity.

43 CE

Roman Invasion of Britain.

68 CE

Death of Nero; end of the Julio-Claudian Dynasty.

69 CE

Year of the Four Emperors.

70 CE

Destruction of Jerusalem Temple.

79 CE

Eruption of Mount Vesuvius.

80 CE

Colosseum completed.

96 CE

Beginning of the Antonine Era.

117 CE

Empire reaches greatest geographic extent.

135 CE

End of the Third Jewish Revolt.

165 – 180 CE

Antonine Plague.

180 CE

Death of Marcus Aurelius.

212 CE

Universal Citizenship Grant of Caracalla.

224 CE

Rise of the Sasanian Empire.

235 – 284 CE

Crisis of the Third Century.

293 CE

Diocletian creates the Tetrarchy.

303 – 313 CE

Great Persecution of Christians.

312 CE

Constantine I converts to Christianity.

325 CE

Council of Nicaea.

330 CE

Inauguration of Constantinople.

363 CE

Death of Julian the Apostate, Last Pagan Emperor.

378 CE

The Battle of Hadrianople.

395 CE

Final Division of the Roman Empire.

410 CE

Visigothic Sack of Rome.

438 CE

Publication of the Codex Theodosianus.

451 CE

Council of Chalcedon.

453 CE

Death of Attila the Hun.

476 CE

Deposition of Last Western Roman Emperor.

534 CE

Publication of Justinian’s Law Code.

565 CE

Death of Justinian.

753 – 27 BCE

Rome Before the Emperors

27 BC – 284 CE

The Principate

753 BCE

Legendary Founding of Rome