__NOTOC__ This is a timeline of Roman history, comprising important legal and territorial changes and political events in the Roman Kingdom and Republic and the Roman and Byzantine Empires. To read about the background of these events, see Ancient Rome and History of the Byzantine Empire.
Events and persons of the Kingdom of Rome (and to some degree of the early Republic) are legendary, and their accounts are considered to have varying degrees of veracity.
Following tradition, this timeline marks the deposition of Romulus Augustulus and the Fall of Constantinople as the end of Rome in the west and east, respectively. See Third Rome for a discussion of claimants to the succession of Rome.
Millennia: 1st BC1st–2nd
Centuries: 7th BC6th BC5th BC4th BC3rd BC2nd BC1st BC1st2nd3rd4th5th6th7th8th9th10th11th12th13th14th15th
8th and 7th centuries BC
Year Date Event Battle of Alba Longa. King of Alba Longa, Amulius, who had previously usurped power is defeated and killed along with his sons by his Brother Numitor, and great-nephew Romulus, who led a sizable warband. 21 April Rome was founded. According to Roman legend, Romulus was the founder and first King of Rome, establishing the Roman Kingdom. Romulus, first king of Rome, celebrates the first Roman triumph after his victory over the Caeninenses, following the Rape of the Sabine Women. He celebrates a further triumph later in the year over the Antemnates.Livy, Ab urbe condita, 1:10 Rome's first colonies were established. Numa Pompilius became the second King of Rome. Tullus Hostilius became the third King of Rome. Byzantium was founded by Megarian colonists. Tullus Hostilius died. The Curiate Assembly, one of the legislative assemblies of the Roman Kingdom, elected Ancus Marcius King of Rome. Ancus Marcius died. The Curiate Assembly elected Lucius Tarquinius Priscus King of Rome.
6th century BC
Year Date Event The Senate accepted the regent Servius Tullius as King of Rome. Servius Tullius was murdered by his daughter Tullia Minor and her husband Lucius Tarquinius Superbus, who declared himself King of Rome on the steps of the Curia Hostilia. The patrician Lucretia was raped by Lucius Tarquinius Superbus' son Sextus Tarquinius. Overthrow of the Roman monarchy: Following Lucretia's suicide, Lucius Junius Brutus called the Curiate Assembly, one of the legislative assemblies of the Roman Kingdom. The latter agreed to the overthrow and expulsion of Lucius Tarquinius Superbus and to a provisional constitution under which two consuls acted as a joint executive and a Curiate Assembly held legislative power, and swore never again to let a King rule Rome. It further elected Lucius Junius Brutus and Lucius Tarquinius Collatinus, Lucretia's husband, Died . Battle of Silva Arsia: Tarquinian and Veientine forces loyal to Lucius Tarquinius Superbus were defeated in the Silva Arsia by a Roman army. Lucius Junius Brutus was killed. Publius Valerius Publicola, returning to Rome with the spoils of war, died. The consul Publius Valerius Publicola enacted a number of liberal reforms, including opening the office of consul to all Roman citizens and placing the treasury under the administration of appointed quaestors. 13 September The Temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus was ceremonially dedicated to the Capitoline Triad. Roman–Etruscan Wars: A Clusian army failed to conquer Rome. Roman–Sabine wars: Roman victory over the sabines in the battle of 504 BC by consul Publicus. In the face of a potential Sabine invasion, the Senate passed a senatus consultum authorizing the consuls to appoint a dictator, a magistrate who held absolute power during a national emergency. The dictator would in turn appoint the Magister equitum, the commander of the cavalry. The consuls Titus Larcius and Postumus Cominius Auruncus selected the former as dictator.
5th century BC Year Date Event Battle of Lake Regillus: Latin League invasion near modern Frascati which sought to reinstall Lucius Tarquinius Superbus. First secessio plebis: Lucius Sicinius Vellutus, the plebs abandoned Rome for the nearby Monte Sacro. After a law allowing organization of the plebs tribe, the Plebeian Council was reorganized by tribes rather than curiae. Under popular pressure, the Senate increased the tribunes of the plebs from two to ten. During the first dictatorship of Cincinnatus, the Aequians staged an offensive, breaking a truce. Cincinnatus defeated the Aquians at the Battle of Mount Algidus and after a triumph, returned to his farm after sixteen days. Resolutions of the Plebeian Council were given the full force of law subject to Senate veto. The second of two decemviri, specially-elected ten man commissions, issued the last of the Twelve Tables, the fundamental laws of the Republic. The Tribal Assembly was established, and granted the right to elect quaestors. Lex Canuleia: Marriage between patricians and plebeians was legalized. The offices of the Tribuni militum consulari potestate were established. A collegium of three patrician or plebeian tribunes, one each from specific Roman tribes (the Titienses, the Ramnenses, and the Luceres), would hold the power of the consuls from year to year, subject to the Senate. The office of the censor, a patrician magistrate responsible for conducting the census in years without a consul, was established. Cincinnatus was called upon to accept a second dictatorship by the patricians to prevent Spurius Maelius from seizing power; the patricians suspected Spurius of using wheat to purchase the support of the plebeians, to set himself up as a king. Gaius Servilius Ahala was appointed magister equitum in order to stop Maelius; following an attack by Maelius, Ahala slew him. Cincinnatus again resigned his dictatorship and returned to his farm after 21 days. Fidenae, an important trade post on the Tiber, was captured from the Veii. The Tribuni militum consulari potestate held office.
4th century BC Year Date Event Battle of Veii: Roman forces led by the dictator Marcus Furius Camillus conquered Veii. Roman soldiers first earned a salary ("salary" from Latin for "salt"). The consuls held office. The Tribuni militum consulari potestate held office. 18 July Battle of the Allia: The Senones routed a Roman force at the confluence of the rivers Allia and Tiber. The Senones sacked Rome. Among other artifacts, books were destroyed. The history of Rome up to this point had to be mostly reconstructed and is sometimes unreliable or mythological. The consulship was reintroduced. Lucius Sextius was elected the first plebeian consul. The office of Praetor, which took the judiciary responsibilities of the consul and could be held only by a patrician, was established. The first plebeian dictator was elected. The first plebeian censor was elected. Samnite Wars: Rome marched against the Samnites, probably after an appeal from the Campanians. Battle of Mount Gaurus: A Samnite force was routed by a Roman army near Mount Barbaro. The Leges Genuciae were passed, banning a person from holding two offices at the same time, or during any ten-year period; charging interest on loans was also banned. Samnite Wars: The Senate agreed a peace, following an appeal by the Samnite to a previous treaty of friendship. Latin War: The Latin League invaded Samnium. A law was passed which required the election of at least one plebeian censor every five years. Latin War: Rome defeated the Latin League armies. The first plebeian Praetor was elected. Samnite Wars: Rome declared war on the Samnites after their failure to prevent their subjects raiding Fregellae. Battle of the Caudine Forks: After being trapped in a mountain pass near Caudium without a water supply, Roman forces were allowed to retreat by a Samnite army. Battle of Lautulae: A decisive Samnite victory near Terracina split Roman territory in two. Samnite Wars: The Etruscans laid siege to Sutri. Battle of Lake Vadimo (310 BC): Rome inflicted a substantial military defeat on the Etruscans at Lake Vadimo Samnite Wars: The Umbri, Picentes and Marsi joined the Samnites against Rome. The Hernici declared their independence from Rome. Rome conquered the Aequi. Samnite Wars: The treaty of friendship between the Romans and Samnites was restored.
3rd century BC Year Date Event The Lex Ogulnia was passed, allowing plebeians to become priests. Samnite Wars: Rome declared war on the Samnites after an appeal by the Lucani. Samnite Wars: Rome captured the Samnite cities of Bojano and Castel di Sangro. Battle of Tifernum: A Roman army defeated a numerically superior Samnite force at Città di Castello. Battle of Sentinum: A Roman army decisively defeated a numerically superior force of Samnites, Etruscans, Umbri and Senones in coalition at Sentinum. The consul Publius Decius Mus (consul 312 BC) was killed. Samnite Wars: Roman and Samnite forces battled at Lucera. Battle of Aquilonia: A Roman army destroyed the majority of Samnite forces, probably in modern Agnone. A census counted about 270,000 residents of Rome. Samnite Wars: Rome conquered and colonized the Samnite city of Venosa. Samnite Wars: The last effective Samnite resistance was eliminated. Conflict of the Orders: A secessio plebis took place. Conflict of the Orders: The Lex Hortensia was passed, made resolutions of the Plebeian Council (plebiscites) binding on all Romans, they formally only applied to plebeians. Battle of Lake Vadimo (283 BC): A Roman army defeated a combined force of Etruscans, Boii and Senones near Lake Vadimo. Taranto appealed to Epirus for aid against Rome. Pyrrhic War: An Epirote army of some 25,000 landed at Taranto. July Battle of Heraclea: A Greek coalition force led by the Epirote king Pyrrhus of Epirus defeated a Roman army after their deployment of war elephants at Heraclea Lucania. Battle of Asculum: A Greek force led by the Epirote king Pyrrhus defeated a Roman army at modern Ascoli Satriano, despite suffering heavy losses. Battle of Beneventum (275 BC): Roman and Epirote armies met in a bloody battle at Benevento. Pyrrhic War: Pyrrhus withdrew with his army to Epirus. Pyrrhic War: Taranto surrendered to Rome. The number of quaestors was raised from four to ten. Battle of Messana: A Roman force defeated a Carthaginian and Siracusani garrison at Messina. The office of the praetor qui inter peregrinos ius dicit, a Praetor with jurisdiction over foreigners, was created. First Punic War: Sicily was organized as the province of Sicilia. Mercenary War: Carthage surrendered its claims on Sardinia and Corsica to Rome. Illyrian Wars: Rome invaded the territory of the Ardiaei. Illyrian Wars: The Ardiaei surrendered some territory, including strategically significant ports, to Rome, ending the war. Battle of Telamon: A Roman army decisively defeated a Gallic invasion near modern Talamone. The consul Gaius Atilius Regulus was killed. Illyrian Wars: Rome invaded Hvar. Second Punic War: A Carthaginian army departed Cartagena. Illyrian Wars: Demetrius of Pharos fled to Macedonia. 2 August Battle of Cannae: The Carthaginian general Hannibal decisively defeated a numerically superior Roman force at Cannae. First Macedonian War: A Macedonian fleet captured Oricum. Siege of Syracuse (214–212 BC): Rome laid siege to Syracuse. Siege of Syracuse (214–212 BC): Roman forces breached the inner citadel of Syracuse and slaughtered its inhabitants. First Macedonian War: Rome and Macedonia signed the Treaty of Phoenice, according to which Macedonia renounced its alliance with Carthage in exchange for Roman recognition of its gains in Illyria. Second Punic War: The consul Scipio Africanus landed an invasion fleet at Utica. 19 October Battle of Zama: A Roman army decisively defeated Carthage, probably near modern Sakiet Sidi Youssef. Second Punic War: Carthage accepted Roman conditions for peace, including disarmament, a war indemnity of ten thousand talents, and the cession of Iberia, ending the war.
2nd century BC