List of revolutions and rebellions

This is a list of revolutions, rebellions, insurrections, and uprisings.

BC

DateRevolution/Rebellion Location Revolutionaries/Rebels Result Image Refc. 2730 BCESet rebellionEgyptPriests of HorusEgypt divides into Upper Egypt and Lower EgyptP.E. Newberry, c. 2690 BCNubian revolt EgyptNubiansPharaoh Khasekhemwy quashed the rebellion, reuniting Upper Egypt and Lower EgyptJimmy Dunn, "Khasekhem/Khasekhemwy of Egypt's 2nd Dynasty", Tour Egyptc. 2380 BCSumerian revoltLagash, SumerSumeriansThe popular revolt deposed King Lugalanda and put the reformer Urukagina on the throne. 1046 BCBattle of Muye China ZhouEnd of the Shang dynasty; beginning of the Zhou dynasty1042–1039 BCRebellion of the Three Guards ChinaThree Guards, separatists and Shang loyalistsDecisive Zhou loyalist victory, Fengjian system established, Resistance of Shang loyalists is broken.842 BCCompatriots Rebellion ChinaPeasants and soldiersKing Li of Zhou was exiled and China was ruled by the Gonghe Regency until Li's death.Sources of Western Zhou History: Inscribed Bronze Vessels by Edward L. Shaughnessy626–620 BCRevolt of Babylon Neo-Assyrian Empire Babylonians, led by NabopolassarThe Babylonians overthrew Assyrian rule, establishing the Neo-Babylonian Empire, which ruled over the Near East for about a century.570 BCAmasis revolt EgyptEgyptian soldiersPharaoh Apries was overthrown and exiled, giving Amasis II the opportunity to seize the throne. Apries later attempted to retake Egypt, with Babylonian support, but was defeated and killed.552–550 BCPersian RevoltPersis, MediaPersians, led by Cyrus the GreatMedian rule overthrown, Persis and Media become part of the new Achaemenid Empire522 BCAnti-Achaemeneid Rebellions Achaemenid EmpireAssyrians, Babylonians, Egyptians, Elamites, Medians and ParthiansDarius the Great quashes all the rebellions within the space of a year.510–509 BCRoman Revolution RomeRepublicansThe Roman monarchy was overthrown and in its place the Roman Republic was established.Livy, Ab urbe condita, 1.57508–507 BCAthenian Revolution AthensDemocratsThe Tyrant Hippias was deposed and the subsequent aristocratic oligarchy overthrown, establishing Democracy in Athens.499–493 BCIonian RevoltIonia, Achaemenid EmpireGreeksThe Achaemenid Empire asserts its rule over the city states of Ionia.Herodotus VI, 33494 BCFirst secessio plebis Roman RepublicPlebeiansPatricians freed some of the plebs from their debts and conceded some of their power by creating the office of the Tribune of the Plebs.Livy, Ab urbe condita, Book 2484 BCBel-shimanni's rebellionBabylon, Achaemenid Empire BabyloniansRebellion quickly defeated by Xerxes I. 482–481 BCShamash-eriba's rebellionBabylon, Achaemenid Empire BabyloniansRebellion eventually defeated by Xerxes I, Babylon's fortifications were destroyed and its temples were ransacked. 464 BCThird Messenian War SpartaMessenian HelotsSlave revolt put down by Archidamus II, who called Sparta to arms in the wake of an earthquake.460–454 BCInaros' revoltEgypt, Achaemenid EmpireInaros II and his Athenian alliesDefeated by the Persian army led by Megabyzus and Artabazus, after a two-year siege. Inaros was captured and carried away to Susa where he was crucified. Herodotus VIII, 126Diodorus XI, 77449 BCSecond Secessio plebis Roman RepublicPlebeiansThe Senate forced the resignation of the Decemviri and restored both the office of Tribune of the Plebs and the right of appeal, which were suspended during the rule of the Decemvir. Livy, Ab urbe condita 3.55.13445 BCThird Secessio plebis Roman RepublicPlebeiansIntermarriage between Patricians and Plebeians was legalized and the position of Consular Tribune (a Tribune of the Plebs elected with the powers of a consul) was created.Dionysius, xi. 60.351 BCPhoenician revolt of 351PhoeniciaTennes of Sidon, followed by rulers of Anatolia and CyprusDestruction of Sidon, execution of Tennes, and invasion of Egypt.342 BCFourth Secessio plebis Roman RepublicPlebeians287 BCFifth Secessio plebis Roman RepublicPlebeiansThe Lex Hortensia was implemented, establishing that the laws decided by the Plebeian Council were made binding on all Roman citizens, including patricians. This law finally eliminated the political disparity between the two classes, bringing the Conflict of Orders to an end after about two hundred years of struggle.241 BCRevolt of the Falisci Roman RepublicFalisciThe Falisci were defeated and subjugated to Roman dominance, the town of Falerii was destroyed.209 BCDazexiang uprising ChinaVillagers led by Chen Sheng and Wu GuangThe uprising was put down by Qin forces, Chen and Wu were assassinated by their own men.206 BCLiu Bang's Insurrection ChinaHan forcesThe Qin dynasty is overthrown in a popular revolt and after a period of contention, Liu Bang is crowned Emperor of the Han dynasty.206–186 BCGreat Theban RevoltEgypt, Ptolemaic KingdomEgyptians, led by Hugronaphor and AnkhmakisRevolt put down by the Ptolemaic Kingdom, cementing Greek rule over Egypt.181–179 BCFirst Celtiberian WarHispania, Roman RepublicCeltiberiansRevolt eventually subdued by the Romans.Livy, History of Rome from Its Foundation: Rome and the Mediterranean (Books 31-45), Penguin Classics, Reprint edition, 1976; 167–160 BCMaccabean RevoltJudea, Coele-Syria, Seleucid Empire Maccabees, led by Judas MaccabeusSovereignty of Judea is secured, eventually the independent Hasmonean dynasty is established.154 BCRebellion of the Seven States ChinaPrincipalities led by Liu PiRebellion crushed after 3 months, further centralization of imperial power.154–151 BCSecond Celtiberian WarHispania, Roman RepublicCeltiberiansRome increased its influence in Celtiberia143–133 BCNumantine WarHispania, Roman RepublicCeltiberiansExpansion of the Roman territory through Celtiberia.155–139 BCLusitanian WarLusitania, Roman RepublicLusitanians, led by Viriatus.Pacification of Lusitania135–132 BCFirst Servile WarSicily, Roman RepublicSicilian slaves, led by EunusAfter some minor battles won by the slaves, a larger Roman army arrived in Sicily and defeated the rebels. 125 BCFregellae's revoltFregellae, Roman RepublicFregellaeans Fregellae was captured and destroyed by Lucius Opimius104–100 BCSecond Servile WarSicily, Roman RepublicSicilian slaves, led by Salvius TryphonThe revolt was quelled, and 1,000 slaves who surrendered were sent to fight against beasts in the arena back at Rome for the amusement of the populace. To spite the Romans, they refused to fight and killed each other quietly with their swords, until the last flung himself on his own blade.A. H. Beesely, The Gracchi, Marius, and Sulla Epochs of Ancient History, (Kindle edition), ch. VI., p. 5791–88 BCSocial WarItaly, Roman RepublicItalic peoplesEventually resulted in a Roman victory. However, Rome granted Roman citizenship to all of its Italian allies, to avoid another costly war.88 BCSulla's first march on RomeItaly, Roman RepublicPopularesThe Optimates were victorious and Sulla briefly took power in Rome.Plut. Sull. 9.3; Plut. Mar. 35.482–81 BCSulla's civil warItaly, Roman RepublicPopularesThe Optimates were once again victorious and Sulla established himself as Dictator of Rome. 80–71 BCSertorian WarHispania, Roman RepublicPopularesThe war ended after the Populares leader Quintus Sertorius was assassinated by Marcus Perperna Vento, who was then promptly defeated by Pompey.Dupuy and Dupuy, The Encyclopaedia of Military History, p. 93.77 BCLepidus' rebellionItaly, Roman RepublicPopularesLepidus was defeated in battle and died from illness, other Populares fled to Spain to fight in the Sertorian War.Julius Exsuperantius, On the civil Wars of Marius, Lepidus and Sertorius, 38-4273–71 BCThird Servile WarItaly, Roman RepublicGladiators, led by SpartacusThe armies of Spartacus were defeated by the legions of Marcus Licinius Crassus.Appian, Civil Wars, 1:120Florus, Epitome, 2.8.65 BCFirst Catilinarian conspiracyRome, Roman RepublicCatilineLucius Aurelius Cotta and Lucius Manlius Torquatus remain in power as consuls.Sallust, Bellum Catilinae XVIII.5; Asconius 92C; Dio Cassius XXXVI.44.3 62 BCSecond Catilinarian conspiracyRome, Roman RepublicCatilineThe plot was exposed, forcing Catiline to flee from Rome. Marcus Tullius Cicero and Gaius Antonius Hybrida remain in power as consuls.52–51 BCGallic WarsGaulGauls, led by VercingetorixThe Gallic revolt was crushed by Julius Caesar49–45 BCGreat Roman Civil War Roman RepublicPopulares, led by Julius CaesarCaesar defeated the Optimates, assumed control of the Roman Republic and became Dictator in perpetuity.Hornblower, S., Spawforth, A. (eds.) The Oxford Companion to Classical Civilization (1998) pp. 219–2438 BCAquitanian revoltGallia Narbonensis, Roman RepublicMarcus Vipsanius AgrippaRevolt suppressed by Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa.Dio, 48.4929 BCTheban revoltThebes, Egypt, Roman RepublicEgyptiansRevolt suppressed by Cornelius Gallus

1–999 AD