The Romans - Timelines

234 BC	Marcus Porcius Cato born in Tusculum, but brought up mainly on his father's estate in Sabine territory.
209	Serves under Fabius Maximus at the recapture of Tarentum during the Second Punic War.
207	Fights with distinction at the battle of Metaurus, Umbria, against Hasdrubal, son of Hamilcar, which effectively ends Hannibal’s hopes of victory in Italy.
204	Quaestor, serving in Sicily and Africa. While returning, he meets Ennius, whom he brings to Rome.
199	Plebeian aedile.
198	Praetor. Governor of Sardinia.
195	Consul. Opposes repeal of lex Oppia restricting the rights of women.
195/194	Puts down rebellion in Spain.
191	Serves with distinction as senior military tribune in the defeat at Thermopylae of Antiochus III, who has invaded Greece.
189	Stands unsuccessfully for the censorship.
184	Elected censor, with Lucius Valerius Flaccus. Builds the Basilica Porcia.
181	Opposes the lex Baebia restricting the praetorships to four in alternate years.
169	Supports the lex Voconia limiting the inheritance rights of women.
168	Begins Origines, the first history in Latin, still in progress at his death.
167	In speeches, opposes the projected war against Rhodes, and supports the freedom of Macedonia.
c.160	Writes his treatise, De Agricultura, instructing young men how to succeed at mixed farming and running an estate.
155	Worried by the effect their lectures might be having on the youth of Rome, proposes that an embassy of Greek philosophers should be sent home.
154/3	Birth of Cato Salonius, Cato’s son by his second marriage.
153	Serves on an embassy to Carthage, after which he is convinced of the danger from that quarter. “Carthage must be destroyed.”
152	Death of Cato’s son by his first marriage, having been elected praetor.
150	War declared against Carthage.
149	Death of Cato.