60s

Events

Contents: 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69

60

By place

Roman Empire

• The Roxolani are defeated on the Danube by the Romans.
• Emperor Nero sends an expedition to explore the historical city Meroë (Sudan).
• Vitellius is (possibly) proconsul of Africa.
• Agrippa II of the Herodians rules the northeast of Judea.
• The following events in Roman Britain (Britannia) take place in 60 or 61:
  • Gaius Suetonius Paulinus, Roman governor of Britain, captures the island of Mona (Anglesey), the last stronghold of the druids.^[1][2]
  • Prasutagus, king of the Iceni (in modern East Anglia), dies leaving a will which passes his kingdom to his two daughters and emperor Nero. The Roman army, however, annexes the kingdom as if conquered, depriving the nobles of their hereditary lands and plundering the land. The king's widow, Boudica, is flogged and forced to watch their daughters publicly raped.^[3] Roman financiers, including Seneca the Younger, call in their loans.^[4]
  • Boudica leads a rebellion of the Iceni against Roman rule^[5] in alliance with the Trinovantes, Cornovii, Durotriges and Celtic Britons. The Iceni and Trinovantes first destroy the Roman capital Camulodunum (Colchester), wipe out the infantry of the Legio IX Hispana (commanded by Quintus Petillius Cerialis) and go on to burn Londinium (London) (probably destroying London Bridge) and Verulamium (St Albans), in all cases massacring the inhabitants in the thousands.
  • Paulinus defeats the rebels at the Battle of Watling Street using a flying wedge formation, imposes wide-ranging punishments on native Britons,^[1] and the Romanization of Britain continues. Boudica either poisons herself^[6] or falls sick and dies.^[7]

By topic

Religion

• The First Epistle of Peter, if by Saint Peter, is probably written between this year and c. 64.
• Paul of Tarsus journeys to Rome, but is shipwrecked at Malta. He stays for three months and converts Publius, the first Bishop of Malta.

Art and science

• Hero of Alexandria writes Metrica, Mechanics, and Pneumatics.
• 60–79 – House of the Vettii, Pompeii, is rebuilt.

61

By place

Roman Empire

• Publius Petronius Turpilianus and Lucius Caesennius Paetus become Roman consuls.
• Galba becomes governor of Hispania Tarraconensis.
• The following events in Roman Britain (Britannia) take place in 60 or 61:
  • Gaius Suetonius Paulinus, Roman governor of Britain, captures the island of Mona (Anglesey), the last stronghold of the druids.^[1][8]
  • Prasutagus, king of the Iceni (in modern East Anglia), dies leaving a will which passes his kingdom to his two daughters and emperor Nero. The Roman army however annexes the kingdom as if conquered, depriving the nobles of their hereditary lands and plundering the land. The king's widow, Boudica, is flogged and forced to watch their daughters publicly raped.^[9] Roman financiers, including Seneca the Younger, call in their loans.^[10]
  • Boudica leads a rebellion of the Iceni against Roman rule^[5] in alliance with the Trinovantes, Cornovii, Durotriges and Celtic Britons. The Iceni and Trinovantes first destroy the Roman capital Camulodunum (Colchester), wipe out the infantry of the Legio IX Hispana (commanded by Quintus Petillius Cerialis) and go on to burn Londinium (London) (probably destroying London Bridge) and Verulamium (St Albans), in all cases massacring the inhabitants in thousands.
  • Paulinus defeats the rebels at the Battle of Watling Street using a flying wedge formation, and imposes wide-ranging punishments on native Britons, but is removed from office after an enquiry instituted by Gaius Julius Alpinus Classicianus (appointed procurator 61)^[1] and the Romanization of Britain continues. Boudica either poisons herself^[11] or falls sick and dies.^[12]

62

By place

Roman Empire

• Emperor Nero marries for the second time, to Poppaea Sabina, ex-wife of Marcus Salvius Otho.
• After the death of Burrus and the disgrace of Seneca, Nero, free from their influence, becomes a megalomaniacal artist fascinated by Hellenism and the Orient. Tigellinus becomes Nero's counselor. From this time onward his rule becomes highly abusive.
• Nero completes the Baths of Nero in Rome.
• A great earthquake damages cities in Campania, including Pompeii (February 5).
• The Parthians invade Armenia and lay siege to Tigranocerta. The city is well-fortified and garrisoned by the Romans. The assault fails and king Vologases I retreats. Instead, he makes preparations to invade Syria.
• Gnaeus Domitius Corbulo strengthens the fortifications on the Euphrates frontier. He builds a strong flotilla of ships equipped with catapults and a wooden bridge across the river, which allows him to establish a foothold on the Parthian shore.
• Lucius Caesennius Paetus advances towards Tigranocerta, but by lack of supplies he makes camp for the winter in the fortress at Rhandeia in northwestern Armenia.
• Vologases I leads the Parthian army in a full-scale assault on the Euphrates, Legio X Fretensis and men of the other two legions (Legio III Gallica and Legio VI Ferrata) defending the eastern bank of the river, fighting off a desperate attack.
• Battle of Rhandeia: The Roman army (two legions) is defeated by the Parthians under king Tiridates I. Paetus surrenders and withdraws his disheveled army to Syria.
• A violent storm destroys 200 ships in the port of Portus.

By topic

Arts and sciences

• Lucan writes a history of the conflict between Julius Caesar and Pompey.
• The making of Still Life, a detail of a wall painting from Herculaneum, begins (finished in 79). It is now kept at Museo Nazionale in Naples.

Religion

• Paul of Tarsus is imprisoned in Rome (approximate date).

63

By place

Roman Empire

• Vespasian becomes governor of Africa.
• Gnaeus Domitius Corbulo is restored to command after the Roman debacle at the Battle of Rhandeia; he invades Armenia and defeats Tiridates I, who accepts Roman sovereignty; Parthia withdraws from the war.
• Pompeii, the city at the foot of Mount Vesuvius, is heavily damaged by a strong earthquake. Fearing an eruption of the volcano, many of the 20,000 inhabitants leave their homes in a panicked flight.

By topic

Religion

• According to legend, Joseph of Arimathea goes to Glastonbury on the first Christian mission to Britain.

Arts and sciences

• Aulus Cornelius Celsus writes a dictionary (encyclopedia) on the arts and sciences.

64

By place

Roman Empire

• July 19 – Great Fire of Rome: A fire begins in the merchant area of Rome and soon burns completely out of control, while emperor Nero allegedly plays his lyre and sings as he watches the blaze from a safe distance. There is no hard evidence to support this claim: fires were very common in Rome at the time. The fire destroys close to one-half of the city and it is officially blamed on the Christians, a small but growing religious movement. Nero is accused of being the arsonist by popular rumour.
• Persecution of Christians in Rome begins under Emperor Nero. Peter the Apostle is possibly among those executed.
• Nero proposes a new urban planning program based the creation of buildings decorated with ornate porticos, the widening of the streets and the use of open spaces. This plan will not be applied until after his death in 68.
• Lyon sends a large sum of money to Rome to aid in the reconstruction. However, during the winter of 64–65, Lyon suffers a catastrophic fire itself, and Nero reciprocates by sending money to Lyon.
• Phoenicia becomes part of Syria.

Asia

• The Kushan sack the town of Taxila (in present-day Pakistan).

By topic

Religion

• The year the First Epistle of Peter is traditionally believed to be written.

Arts and sciences

• Seneca proclaims the equality of all men, including slaves.

65

By place

Roman Empire

• April 19 – The freedman Milichus betrays the Pisonian conspiracy led by Gaius Calpurnius Piso to kill the Roman emperor Nero and all the conspirators are arrested.
• Cestius Gallus becomes legate of Syria.
• After a stage performance in which he appears and shocks the senatorial class considerably, Nero engages in a series of reprisals against Seneca, Tigellinus, pro-republican senators, and anyone else he distrusts.
• Nero kills his pregnant wife, Poppea Sabina, with a kick to the stomach.

By topic

Religion

• The Gospel of Matthew is probably written between 60 and this year.
• Paul of Tarsus ordains Timothy as bishop of Ephesus (traditional date).
• In China, the first official reference to Buddhism is made.
• The first Christian community in Africa is founded by Mark, a disciple of Peter. Mark begins to write his gospel.
• Probable martyrdom date of the apostle Thaddeus, also called Saint Jude in Armenia.
• Probable martyrdom date of the apostle Simon the Canaanite in Armenia.

66

By place

Roman Empire

• September 22 – Emperor Nero creates the Legio Legio I Italica. He appoints Titus Flavius Vespasian legate of the army of Judea and in command of three legions — V Macedonica, X Fretensis and XV Apollinaris.^[13]
• October – The Jewish Revolt (66–70 AD) commences against the Roman Empire. The Zealots lay siege on Jerusalem and annihilate the Roman garrison (a cohort of Legio III Cyrenaica). The Sicarii capture the fortress of Masada overlooking the Dead Sea.
• Mid–late October – Cestius Gallus, legate of Syria, marches into Judea and leads a Roman army of 30,000 men to put down the Jewish rebellion. At its core is Legio XII Fulminata, plus 2,000 picked men from the other three Syrian legions, six more cohorts of infantry and four alae of cavalry, and over 14,000 auxiliaries furnished by Rome's eastern allies, including Herod Agrippa II and two other client kings, Antiochus IV of Commagene and Sohaemus of Emesa, who lead their forces (largely archers and cavalry) in person.^[14]
• Gallus leads his main force down the coast from Caesarea via Antipatris to Lydda, detaching other units, by land and sea, to neutralize the rebel strongholds at Joppa, Narbata and the Tower of Aphek. With Galilee and the entire Judean coast in his hands, Gallus assumes his campaign before the winter rains render the roads impassable. He turns inland and marches on Jerusalem, taking the road via the plain at Emmaus. Gallus succeeds in conquering Beit She'arim (the "New City") on the Bezetha Hill.^[15]
• November – Battle of Beth-Horon: Gallus abandons the siege of Jerusalem and chooses, for uncertain reasons, to withdraw west to winter quarters, where he is ambushed and defeated by Judean rebels. Some 5,300 Roman troops are killed, as well as all their pack animals, their artillery (which is to serve the Jews of Jerusalem during Titus's siege operations four years later), and the greatest disgrace of all, the eagle standard of Legio XII Fulminata. Gallus abandons his troops in disarray, fleeing to Syria.^[16]

Britannia

• Suetonius Paullinus, governor of Britannia, becomes a Roman Consul.
• The Roman Legio II Augusta is stationed at Gloucester.

Asia

• Baekje invades Silla in the Korean Peninsula, and captures Castle Ugok.

By topic

Arts and sciences

• Dioscorides writes his De Materia Medica, a treatise on the methodical treatment of disease by use of medicine (approximate date).

Astronomy

• Halley's Comet is visible.

Religion

• The First Epistle to Timothy is written (speculative date, if actually written by St. Paul).

67

By place

Roman Empire

• Vindex revolts, first in a series of revolts that lead to Nero's downfall.
• Gaius Licinius Mucianus replaces Cestius Gallus as governor of Syria.
• Judea (Roman province): Vespasian arrives in Ptolemais, along with Legio X Fretensis and Legio V Macedonica to put down the Jewish Revolt.
• Vespasian is joined by his son Titus, who brings Legio XV Apollinaris from Alexandria. By late spring the Roman army numbers more than 60,000 soldiers, including auxiliaries and troops of king Agrippa II.
• Jewish leaders at Jerusalem are divided through a power struggle, a brutal civil war erupts, the Zealots and the Sicarii execute anyone who tries to leave the city.
• Siege of Jotapata and massacre of its 40,000 Jewish inhabitants. The historian Josephus, leader of the rebels in Galilee, is captured by the Romans. Vespasian is wounded in the foot by an arrow fired from the city wall.
• Fall of the Jewish fortress of Gamla in the Golan to the Romans and massacre of its inhabitants.
• Nero travels to Greece, where he participates in the Olympic Games and other festivals.
• Sardinia becomes a Roman province.
• Nero, jealous of the success of Corbulo in Armenia, orders that he be put to death. Corbulo literally "falls on his sword".

By topic

Religion

• Possible martyrdom of apostles Peter and Paul in Rome.
• Linus succeeds Peter as the second Bishop of Rome.

68

By place

Roman Empire

• Final year that Tacitus records Annals, a written history of the Roman Empire.
• June 8 – The Roman Senate accepts emperor Galba.
• June 9 – Roman Emperor Nero commits suicide four miles outside Rome. He is deserted by the Praetorian Guard and then stabs himself in the throat.
• Legio I Macriana liberatrix and Legio I Adiutrix are created.
• Lucius Clodius Macer revolts against emperor Nero.
• Marcus Ulpius Trajanus, father of Trajan, becomes consul.
• Trajan moves to Scythopolis and crosses the Jordan River with Legio X Fretensis. He lays siege to Jericho and destroys the monastery of Qumran, where the Dead Sea Scrolls are originated.
• The Roman Senate declares Nero as a persona non grata. In the line of succession, Galba follows Nero.
• Winter – Titus sets up camp at Jericho and the Romans cut off escape routes toward Jerusalem.
• Venutius successfully deposes his wife Cartimandua and becomes the ruler of the Brigantes.

Asia

• An iron chain suspension bridge is constructed in China

By topic

Religion

• Buddhism officially arrives in China with the building of the White Horse Temple.
• Ignatius of Antioch becomes the third bishop of Antioch.
• The Gospel of Mark is written (approximate date).
• The Essenes place the Dead Sea Scrolls in the caves at Qumran.

69

By place

Roman Empire

• The Year of the Four Emperors: After Nero's death, Galba, Otho, Vitellius and Vespasian succeed each other as emperor during the year.
• January 1 – The Roman legions in Germania Superior refuse to swear loyalty to Galba. They rebel and proclaim Vitellius as emperor.
• January 10 – Lucius Calpurnius Piso Licinianus is adopted by Galba and appointed to deputy Roman Emperor.
• January 15 – Galba and his adopted son Piso are murdered by the Praetorian Guard on the Roman Forum.
• Otho seizes power in Rome, proclaims himself emperor, and reigns for three months before committing suicide.
• Marcus Trebellius Maximus, governor of Britannia, is forced the flee to Gaul after a mutiny of Legio XX Valeria Victrix at Deva Victrix (Chester).
• April 14 – First Battle of Bedriacum: Vitellius defeats Otho's legions; Otho commits suicide.
• April 17 – After the Battle of Bedriacum, Vitellius becomes emperor.
• Marcus Vettius Bolanus becomes the new governor of Britain and faces a second insurrection of Venutius, king of the Brigantes.
• July 1 – Tiberius Julius Alexander orders his legions in Alexandria to swear allegiance to Vespasian as emperor.
• August 1 – Batavian rebellion: The Batavians in Germania Inferior (Netherlands) revolt under the leadership of Gaius Julius Civilis.
• German warbands cross over to join the revolt and attack the fortress at Mainz.
• The Batavians attack Roman forts on the Rhine frontier; Fectio and Traiectum (modern Utrecht) are destroyed.
• In Gallia Belgica, cohors II Tungrorum, raised from the inhabitants of Atuatuca Tungrorum in the north-west of the Ardennes Forest, revolt against the Romans.
• The Danubian legions of Raetia and Moesia proclaims Vespasian as emperor.
• October 24 – Second Battle of Bedriacum: Flavians under Antonius Primus defeat the Vitellians.
• December 22 – Vitellius is captured and murdered by the Gemonian stairs. Vespasian becomes emperor.
• Judea: The Jewish Revolt – Vespasian lays siege to Jerusalem; the city is captured the following year by his son Titus.
• Josephus, Jewish rebel leader, is dragged before Vespasian and becomes his historian (he "prophesied" him his elevation to the purple).
• Legio I Macriana liberatrix is disbanded.
• The Flavian dynasty starts.

Significant people

• Boudicca, rebellious British queen
• Gaius Suetonius Paulinus, Roman general
• Julius Civilis, leader of the Batavian rebellion against the Romans

Deaths

• Nero, Roman emperor. Died in 68.
• Galba, Roman emperor. Died in 69.
• Otho, Roman emperor. Died in 69.
• Vitellius, Roman emperor. Died in 69.

References