The Romans - Timelines

PLINY THE ELDER			HISTORICAL EVENTS
AD 23	Born at Como in Cisalpine Gaul, of an equestrian family.
			AD 27	Tiberius retires to Capri.
			31	Deaths of Sejanus and his supporters.
			33	Execution of Drusus, son of Germanicus.
c.35	In Rome, for his education.
c.37	Is studying under Publius Pomponius Secundus, poet and tragedian, and suffect consul in 44. He is influenced also in his pursuit of rhetoric and philosophy by Seneca the Younger, and learns botany from Antonius Castor, who has an extensive botanical garden.		37	Death of Tiberius. Accession of Caligula.
			39	Numerous executions
			c.40	Death of Seneca the Elder.
			41	Assassination of Caligula. Claudius becomes emperor. Seneca is banished for adultery with Caligula’s sister.
			43	Claudius invades Britain.
			44	Claudius celebrates triumph.
45	Serves as military tribune in Belgica.
c.46	Becomes a cavalry troop commander at Xanten, on the lower Rhine.
47	His unit fights under Gn. Domitius Corbulo in his successful campaign against the Chauci.		47	Corbulo is recalled from Germany.
			48	Claudius marries Agrippina.
			49	Seneca is recalled from exile, made praetor, and appointed tutor to Nero.
50/51	Fights under Pomponius against the Chatti.		50	Claudius adopts Nero.
c.51	Writes a textbook on the art of spear throwing on horseback.		51	Vespasian is suffect consul. Burrus becomes commander of imperial guard. Caratacus is captured in Britain.
52	Is in Italy, where he witnesses Claudius’s naumachia on the Fucine Lake.
c.52	Writes a biography of Pomponius.
53-58	Further military service in Germany, during which he meets and establishes a friendship with the future emperor Titus. Writes a history of the German wars in 20 books.		54	Death of Claudius. Accession of Nero. Seneca publishes Apocolocyntosis.
			55	Murder of Britannicus. Seneca writes De Clementia (On Clemency), addressed to Nero.
59	Returns to Italy. During the next ten years, while continuing to research and write his Natural History, he publishes a collection of examples and precepts for orators in three books (two volumina each) and a treatise on grammar (eight books).
62	Birth of his sister’s son Pliny (the Younger), whom he adopts and educates after the death shortly afterwards of her husband.		60	Corbulo appointed governor of Syria.
			61	Revolt of Iceni and Trinovantes in Britain under Boudica.
			62	Death of Burrus. Seneca goes into retirement; writes Naturales Quaestiones.
			65	Enforced suicide of Seneca and of his nephew, the poet Lucan.
			68	Death of Nero.
69	Year of the Four Emperors.		69	Accession of Vespasian.
70	Procurator (administrator) of Transalpine Gaul.		70	Titus takes Jerusalem.
c.70-c.74	Writes a continuation of the history of Rome of Aufidius Bassus in 30 books.		71	Titus becomes commander of imperial guard and receives tribunician powers.
72	Procurator of Africa.
73	Procurator of Further Spain.
74	Procurator of Belgica.		74	End of First Jewish War. Latin rights conferred on the Spanish peninsular.
c.75-c.77	Serves the emperor in Rome in a consultative or administrative capacity.		75	Dedication of Flavian temple of Peace in Rome.
77	Publication of Natural History (dedicated to Titus) in 37 books.
c.78	Appointed commander of the fleet at Misenum.		78	Vespasian appoints Agricola governor of Britain.
79	Eruption of Vesuvius. Death of Pliny.		79	Death of Vespasian and accession of Titus.