Timeline of Events and Rulers of the Roman Empire (c. 753 B.C. - 476 A.D.)
The Roman Empire was one of the greatest and most influential civilizations in world history. It began in the city of Rome in 753 BC and lasted for well over 1000 years. During that time Rome grew to rule much of Europe, Western Asia, and Northern Africa.
753 BC - The city of Rome is founded. Legend has it that the twin sons of Mars, the god of war, named Romulus and Remus founded the city. Romulus killed Remus and became ruler of Rome and named the city after himself. Rome was ruled by kings for the next 240 years.
509 BC - Rome becomes a republic. The last king is overthrown and Rome is now ruled by elected officials called senators. There is a constitution with laws and a complex republican government.
218 BC - Hannibal invades Italy. Hannibal leads the Carthage army in his famous crossing of the Alps to attack Rome. This is part of the Second Punic war.
73 BC - Spartacus the gladiator leads the slaves in an uprising.
45 BC - Julius Caesar becomes the first dictator of Rome. Caesar makes his famous Crossing of the Rubicon and defeats Pompey in a civil war to become the supreme ruler of Rome. This signals the end of the Roman Republic.
44 BC - Julius Caesar is assassinated on the Ides of March by Marcus Brutus. They hope to bring back the republic, but civil war breaks out.
31 BC The Battle of Actium.
In this battle Octavian's forces, led by Marcus Agrippa, defeated the combined forces of Roman general Marc Antony and Egyptian Pharaoh Cleopatra VII. As a result Octavian became the sole power in Rome and would soon become Rome's first Emperor. He would change his name to Augustus when he became emperor.
27 BC - 14AD The Roman Empire begins as Caesar Augustus becomes the first Emperor. Augustus, set a good example for future leaders. After years of civil war in Rome, his rule was a time of peace called the PaxRomana (Roman peace). He established a standing Roman army, a network of roads, and rebuilt much of the city of Rome.
14AD-37AD The Emperor Tiberius ruled Rome when Christ was put to death by Ponticus Pilot, the Roman Provincial Governor of Judaea.
37AD The evil Emperor Caligula proclaims himself a god.
64 AD - Emperor Nero persecuted the Christians in Rome. He eventually had St. Paul Beheaded and St. Peter crucified upside down. Much of Rome burns and legend has it that Nero watched the city burn while playing a lyre. Rome also had some other crazy emperors like Commodus, and Domitian.
80 AD - The Colosseum is built. One of the great examples of Roman engineering is finished. It can seat 50,000 spectators.
The Roman Empire at its peak in 117 AD under the leadership of:
-Emperor Claudius who conquered several new areas for Rome and started the conquest of Britain. He also built many roads, canals, and aqueducts.
-Emperor Trajan who is considered by many historians to be the greatest of Rome's Emperors. He ruled for 19 years. During that time, he conquered many lands increasing the wealth and size of the empire. He also was an ambitious builder, constructing many lasting buildings throughout Rome.
-Emperor Marcus Aurelius - Who was called the Philosopher-King. Not only was he Emperor of Rome, but he is also considered one of history's foremost stoic philosophers. Aurelius was the last of the "Five Good Emperors".
121 AD Emperor Hadrian ordered the building of a great wall across northern England to keep out the barbarians and defend his forts in York. We now know this as Hadrian's Wall. It took 8 years to build and is 115km long.
306 AD - Constantine becomes Emperor. Constantine would convert to Christianity and Rome would become a Christian empire. Prior to this Rome persecuted the Christians. Known as Constantine the Great, he ruled over the Eastern Roman Empire. He was the first Emperor to convert to Christianity and started the Roman conversion to Christianity. He also changed the city of Byzantium to Constantinople, which would be capital of the Eastern Roman Empire for over 1000 years.
380 AD - Theodosius I declares Christianity to be the sole religion of the Roman Empire.
395 AD - Rome splits into two empires.
410 AD - The Visigoths sack Rome. This is the first time in 800 years that the city of Rome has fallen to an enemy.
The two halves of the Roman Empire ended at different times.
476 AD - The end of the Western Roman Empire and the fall of Ancient Rome. The last Roman Emperor Romulus Augustus is defeated by the German Goth Odoacer. This signals the start of the Dark Ages in Europe.
1453 AD - The Eastern Roman/Byzantine Empire comes to an end with the fall of Constantinople to the Ottoman Empire.