The timeline of Hungarian history lists the important historical events that took place in the territory of the Carpathian Basin, in the territory of the historical Hungarian lands, i.e belonging to the former Kingdom of Hungary, history of Hungarians and events closely connected to the history of Hungary.
Before 9th century BC
Date EventBefore 30,000 BCAnatomically modern humans arrived at the Carpathian Basin and belonged to the Aurignacian group.5400–4500 BCTisza culture4500–4000 BCTiszapolgár culture4000–3600 BCBodrogkeresztúr culture3600–2690 BCBaden culture3500–2500 BCCoțofeni culture3000–2200 BCVučedol culture2200–1500 BCWietenberg culture
9th century BC Date EventSmaller groups of pre-Scythians (Cimmerians) of the Mezőcsát culture appeared.
7th century BC Date Event700–500 BCThe classic Scythian culture spread across the Great Hungarian Plain between the 7th–6th century BC.
5th century BC Date EventThe Syginnae live in the Great Hungarian Plain. Archaeological finds show their commercial contacts with the Adriatic Veneti and Greeks.
4th century BC Date EventCelts invade Pannonia and gradually conquer the lands along the Middle Danube.
3rd century BC Date EventThe Celticisation of Transdanubia is completed and the native languages disappear.279 BCCelts invade the Balkan Peninsula from the Middle Danube region, reaching as far as Greece.
2nd century BC Date Event113 BCThe Celtic Boii control the Middle Danube region when the Cimbri move across their territory during their migration towards the Alps.
1st century BC Date Event50 BCThe Sarmatians arrived in multiple waves.c. 50 BCThe Osi, Cotini and Anarti live in the northern regions of the Great Hungarian Plain. The Dacians take control of the lands to the east of the river Tisza.c. 45 BCThe Dacian king, Burebista, defeats the Celtic ruler, Critasirus, and occupies lands east and north of the Middle Danube.c. 44 BCBurebista dies and his kingdom disintegrates.35 BCThe Romans force the Pannonian tribes living along the Sava into submission.Roman denarii start circulating in Transdanubia.13 BCThe Roman generals Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa and Tiberius crush the Pannonian tribes' revolt between the Sava and the Dráva. The young Pannonians are captured and sold as slaves.c. 12 BCThe Germanic tribe of Marcomanni force the Boii to abandon the lands north of the Middle Danube.11 BCThe Romans include Pannonia in the Roman province of Illyricum, declaring the Danube as its northern border.10 BCThe Roman general Marcus Vinicius launches an expedition across the Danube, forcing the Celtic tribes of the Great Hungarian Plain to make an alliance with the Roman Empire.
1st century Date Event6Tiberius wages war against the Marcomanni. After the governor of Illyricum, Marcus Valerius Messalla Messallinus, orders the enlistment of the Pannonians in the Roman army, the Illyrian tribes rose up. Tiberius abandons his military campaign along the Elbe to fight against the rebels.6–9The Romans force the Illyrian tribes one by one into submission.8/9Illyricum is divided into two along the Sava. The new Roman province incorporating the lands between the Sava and the Middle Danube is known as Pannonia.10sThe Sarmatian tribe of the Iazyges settle in the plains between the Danube and the Tisza and force the Dacians to withdraw to Transylvania. Emperor Tiberius settles veterans and civilians at Scarbantia (now Sopron) and Salla (now Zalalövő) on the Amber Road.c. 18 – c. 50Allied with Rome, Vannius, king of the Germanic Quadi, forces the tribes of the Great Hungarian Plain to pay tribute to him.40s–50sEmperor Claudius establishes the colonia (or town) of Savaria (now Szombathely) on the Amber Road, settling veterans of the Legio XV Apollinaris in the town. Colonists from Aquilea and other north Italian towns move to Savaria and natives also live in the town. Pliny the Elder lists the Boii, Azali, Eravisci, Cotini, Arabiates and Hercuniates among the native tribes living in Transdanubia in his Natural History. The native tribes are organized in civitates peregrinae (semi-autonomous districts supervised by a Roman military officer).c. 50Emperor Claudius forbids the governor of Pannonia, Sextus Palpellius Hister, to assist Vannius against his rebellious nephews, Sido and Italicus. Vannius is forced to abdicate and flee to Pannonia. His nephews divide his realm among themselves.
Natives are first recruited as auxiliaries in the Pannonian regions north of the Dráva.
Auxiliary forts are established at Arrabona, Brigetio and Aquincum (now Győr, Szőny and Budapest in Hungary).68–69The governor of Pannonia, Lucius Tampius Flavianus, intervenes in the struggle for the imperial throne in Rome. He dispatches Roman legionaries and the troops of Sido and Italicus to Rome to fight against Emperor Vitellius.c. 73The governor of Pannonia, Gaius Calpetanus Rantius, orders the strengthening of the auxiliary fort at Aquincum.88The Marcomanni and the Quadi refuse to support the Romans during Domitian's Dacian War. Emperor Domitian invade their territory, but he abandons the military campaign without defeating the Germanic peoples.89The Germanic tribes wage war against the Iazyges with Roman support.92/93The Iazyges invade Pannonia and route a Roman legion. Domitian comes to Pannonia and defeats the Iazyges.98Emperor Trajan appoints new kings to rule the Marcomanni and Quadi.c. 100A new fortress is built at Brigetio and the Legio XI Claudia is transferred to there. The Legio X Gemina is stationed at Aquincum.
Gorsium (now Tác) is made the center for the imperial cult in Pannonia.
2nd century Date Eventc. 104Pannonia is divided into two provinces, Pannonia Superior and Pannonia Inferior.106The newly established Legio XXX Ulpia Victrix replaces the Legio XI Claudia in Brigetio after the fall of Decebal's Dacian kingdom. The Iazyges take possession of the lowlands to the east of the Tisza. Roman watch towers are erected across the Middle Danube.117The Legio I Adiutrix replaces XXX Ulpia at Brigetio and Legio II Adiutrix takes over Aquincum from X Gemina.117–119The Iazyges make raids against Pannonia Inferior. Emperor Hadrian charges Marcius Turbo with the united command of Pannonia Inferior and Dacia to secure the coordination of military actions against the Iazyges and their allies, the Roxolani.124Hadrian make Aquincum a municipium.c. 135 – c. 140The Marcomanni and Quadi make raids against both Pannonian provinces.c.140Hadrian's designated heir, Lucius Aelius, is made the governor of both Pannonian provinces.161Emperor Marcus Aurelius transfers the Legio II Adiutrix to the empire's eastern border at the beginning of the Roman–Parthian War, replacing it with Legio IV Flavia Felix in Aquincum.160sVexillationes (or detachments) of the Danubian legions are sent to fight against the Parthian Empire. Marcus Aurelius plans to annex the territory of the Marcomanni and Iazyges and establishes two new legions, Legio II Italica and Legio III Italica.c. 166Start of the Marcomannic Wars. The Germanic Lombards and Ubii attack Pannonia near Brigetio, but the Roman troops defeat them. Ballomar, the king of the Marcomanni, and envoys from 10 other tribes dwelling along the Roman border enter into negotiations with the governor of Pannonia Superior, Marcus Jallius Bassus.167–171Marcus Aurelius and his co-emperor, Lucius Verus, are planning to launch a military expedition across the Danube, but Lucius dies unexpectedly and a plague forces Marcus Aurelius to return to Italy.167–168Marcus Aurelius and his co-emperor, Lucius Verus, are planning to launch a military expedition across the Danube, but Lucius dies unexpectedly and a plague forces Marcus Aurelius to return to Italy.171The Quadi's request for free access to the Roman markets is denied.171–175Marcus Aurelius writes parts of his Meditations while staying in Pannonia during his campaigns against the neighboring Germanic tribes.172Marcus Aurelius defeats the Quadi, forcing them to make a peace and release their Roman prisoners. He appoints Furtius to be their new king. Groups of Quadi are allowed to settle in the Danubian provinces.173Marcus Aurelius forces the Marcomanni to make peace and abandon the lands along the northern banks of the Danube. The Quadi dethrone Furtius and elect Ariogaesus their new ruler.173, WinterIazyges invade Pannonia across the Danube. Ariogaesus makes alliance with the Iazyges, but the Romans capture him.174, EarlyThe Romans route the Iazyges. The Iazyges capture their king, Banadaspus, and elect Zanticus his successor.c. 174The remnants of the Cotini and the Germanic Naristae are settled in Pannonia.175The Iazyges agrees to release their Roman prisoners and to abandon the lands along the eastern banks of the Danube.177–178Germanic tribes and Iazyges make raids against Pannonia.178, SummerMarcus Aurelius and his co-emperor, Commodus, come to Pannonia to command the local troops in person.178, LateLate. 40,000 Roman troops occupy the land of the Marcomanni and Quadi and winter there.180, SpringMarcus Aurelius prevents the Quadi from migrating to the north.180, AutumnMarcus Aurelius' successor, Commodus, makes peace with the Marcomanni and Quadi. He appoints Roman centurions to control the two tribes' activities before marching to Rome.c. 185Watchtowers are erected along the Middle Danube.193, April, 9After Commodus' death, the governor of Pannonia Superior, Septimius Severus is proclaimed emperor by the Pannonian legions.193, JuneAfter seizing Rome, Septimius Severus musters primarily Pannonian troops to the Praetorian Guard.194Septimius Severus grants the rank of colonia to Aquincum.196Septimius Severus sends his son and heir, Caracalla, to Pannonia before his campaign against Clodius Albinus.
3rd century Date Event202Septimius Severus personally inaugurates a new temple in Gorsium.212Caracalla grants Roman citizenship to all natives, but the conquered peoples (or dediticii) in the Roman Empire.212/213The Quadi invade Pannonia, but Emperor Caracalla had their king, Gaiobomarus, executed.214Caracalla makes the river Rába the new boundary between the two Pannonian provinces.c. 230Iazyges invade Pannonia.248Emperor Philip the Arab appoints Pacatianus the commander of the troops both in Pannonia Inferior and in Moesia Superior. The Illyricianithe troops of the Danubian provincesproclaim Pacatianus emperor, but they murder him when the Emperor appoints one of their number, Decius, their commander.249, SummerThe Illyriciani proclaim Decius emperor.250sQuadi make raids against Pannonia.258–260The westward expansion of the Goths forces the Germanic Gepids and the Sarmatian Roxolani to move to the Carpathian Basin. Sarmatian and Germanic tribes make a series of raids against Pannonia. Emperor Gallienus settles groups of Marcomanni in Pannonia.260sClashes between the Roxolani, Gepids, Iazyges and Vandals along the borders of Pannonia and Dacia.270s, EarlyEmperor Aurelian orders the evacuation of the province of Dacia.c. 278Iazyges invade Pannonia.282Emperor Carus defeats the Sarmatians and the Quadi.285The Sarmatians invade Pannonia, but Emperor Diocletian defeats them.290The Goths and the Taifali wage war against the Vandals and Gepids.293A Roman fort is built on the left bank of the Danube opposite Aquincum.293Diocletian defeats the Sarmatians.294A canal is built between the Lake Balaton and the Danube.295Carpians are settled around Sopianae.290s, LateBoth Pannonian provinces are divided into two, with their parts north of the Dráva forming Pannonia Prima and Pannonia Valeria provinces.
4th century