Timeline of Portuguese history (Lusitania and Gallaecia)

This is a historical timeline of Portugal.

Roman Lusitania and Gallaecia 3rd century BC 237 BC - The Carthaginian General Hamilcar Barca enters Iberia with his armies through Gadir. 228 BC - Hamilcar Barca dies in battle. He is succeeded in command of the Carthaginian armies in Iberia by his son-in-law Hasdrubal, who extends the newly acquired empire by skillful diplomacy, and consolidates it by the foundation of Carthago Nova (Cartagena) as the capital of the new province. 226 BC - Treaty of the Ebro between Carthage and Rome, by which Carthage grants the Greek colonies in eastern Iberia all the lands north of the Ebro river. 221 BC - Hasdrubal is killed by a Celtic assassin. Hannibal Barca, Hamilcar Barca's older son, is acclaimed commander-in-chief by the army and confirmed in his appointment by the Carthaginian Senate. 221 BC-219 BC - Hannibal Barca expands Carthaginian conquests in Iberia. He goes as far as to penetrate in the territory of the Vacceos (north of central Iberia) and captures the cities of Salmantica (Salamanca) and Arbucela (region of Zamora). He is also credited as having founded the Port of Hannibal (possibly Portimão in the Algarve). 219 BC - Hannibal Barca attacks the city of Saguntum (eastern Iberia). The Roman Senate sends envoys to declare the city under Roman protection, which is disregarded by Hannibal.

218 BC Hannibal Barca takes Saguntum and departs for the Italian Peninsula in order to attack the Romans in their own territory. His younger brother Hasdrubal Barca is left in the command of the Carthaginian armies in Iberia. Rome sends its armies to Iberia led by Gnaeus Cornelius Scipio Calvus. Beginning of the Second Punic War between Carthage and Rome. 217 BC - Publius Cornelius Scipio joins his brother Gnaeus Cornelius Scipio Calvus in the war against Carthage in Iberia. 215 BC-213 BC - The Romans retake Saguntum and go deeper into Iberia, winning victories against the Carthaginians. 212 BC - Large Carthaginian counter-offensive led by Hasdrubal Barca, his brother Mago Barca and Gisgo. 211 BC Publius Cornelius Scipio is killed in the Battle of Upper Baetis. Carthaginian victory. Gnaeus Cornelius Scipio Calvus is killed in the Battle of Ilorci near Carthago Nova. Carthaginian victory. 210 BC The Carthaginian armies spend the winter in an area populated by the Conii. Hasdrubal son of Gisco goes into Lusitania and camps near the Tagus mouth. Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanus Major arrives in Iberia and takes Carthago Nova. 209 BC - Scipio Africanus drives back Hasdrubal Barca from his position at Baecula, on the upper Guadalquivir, but is unable to hinder the Carthaginian's march to Italy. 206 BC Battle of Ilipa (near Seville) between Roman legions, commanded by Scipio Africanus, and Carthaginian armies, commanded by Hasdrubal Gisco and Mago Barca. Roman victory that results in the evacuation of Iberia by the Punic commanders. Gadir surrenders without a fight to the Romans. 202 BC - End of the Second Punic War with the defeat of Hannibal Barca in the Battle of Zama in North Africa. 200 BC - The Latin poet Quintus Ennius records, for the first time, the use of the word Hispania to designate the Iberian Peninsula (from the Carthaginian name). By this time, the Romans control most of eastern and southern Hispania, along the Mediterranean coast.

2nd century BC 197 BC- The Romans created the Roman provinces of Hispania Citerior (nearer Spain, on the east coast) and Hispania Ulterior (further Spain, in the south). The praetors Gaius Sempronius Tuditanus and Marcus Helvius are appointed as their first Governors with a mandate of one year. 194 BC- First mention of the Lusitanians as enemies of Rome by Livy. They entered Hispania Ulterior and sack several cities in the valley of the River Baetis (modern Guadalquivir). they were defeated by the praetor Publius Cornelius Scipio Nasica near Ilipa while returning to Lusitania loaded with booty. 191/190 BC - The Lusitanians penetrated into Bastetania and defeated a Roman Garrison. Lucius Aemilius Paulus Macedonicus defeated them. He founded a Roman colony of Turris Lascutana thanks of local support against the Lusitanians. 188/186 BC - Lusitanian and Celtiberian raids into Hispania Ulterior. The praetors of Hispania Ulterior and Citerior, Gaius Atinius and Lucius Manlius Acidinus, asked Rome for reinforcements, but this was ignored. 186 BC - The Lusitanians crossed the River Baetis and took Hasta, near Gades (modern Cádiz). Atinius defeated them, but he is killed in battle. 181 BC - Several small pitched battles between the Lusitanians and the praetors Pulbius Manlius are recorded without details. 180 BC - Lucius Postimius Albinus and Tiberius Sempronius Gracchus consolidated a defensive line along the River Tagus and extended Hispania Ulterior further north. Albinus pacified the Lusitanians by force. Central Hispania was (for now) under Roman control. 163 BC - Lusitanian rebellion. No details recorded. 155 BC - The Lusitanians and Vettones raided Hispania Ulterior under Punicus, a Lusitanian chieftain. They crossed the plain of the River Baetis and reached the Mediterranean coast. Punicus was killed in battle by a stone to his head. 154 BC Caesarus succeeded Punicus. He defeated the praetor Lucius Mummius. According to legend Caesarus was killed in an ambush near Bragança. The new Lusitanian leader, Caucenus marched south, attacked the Conii (in modern Algarve and Lower Alentejo) because they were allied with Rome. He took their main city, Conistorgis. He crossed into modern Morocco and besieged Ocile. 152 BC The praetor, Marcus Atilius penetrated into Lusitania and seized its largest city, Oxthacae. 150 BC The praetor of Hispania Ulterior, Servius Sulpicius Galba, was defeated and lost 7000 men. Galba and the consul Lucius Licinius Lucullus (commander in Hispania Citerior) conducted a pincer operation into Lusitania. The Lusitanians sued for peace. Galba butchered by treachery Lusitanians who had gone to him to ask for peace; 9000 people were killed and 20,000 were sold into slavery. 147 BC The Lusitanians suffer severe losses at the hands of the Roman army led by Caius Vetilius, appointed governor of Hispania Ulterior. Caius Vetilius promises the Lusitanians lands in the south if they abide by Roman rule. Viriathus, a survivor of Servius Sulpicius Galba's massacre, urges the tribes not to trust the Romans and fight back. Viriathus is acclaimed leader of the Lusitanians. The Lusitanians successfully resist Roman offensive. Caius Vetilius, appointed governor of Hispania Ulterior, is killed in an ambush led by Viriathus. 146 BC Viriathus' Lusitanians defeat the Roman forces of Caius Plancius, taking the city of Segobriga. Viriathus' Lusitanians defeat the Roman forces of Claudius Unimanus, governor of Hispania Citerior. 145 BC Viriathus' Lusitanians defeat the Roman forces of Caius Nigidius. Quintus Fabius Maximus Aemilianus is appointed governor of Hispania Citerior and given the specific task of helping Caius Lelius defeat Viriathus and the Lusitanians. The Romans achieve some military victories. 143 BC The Roman forces of Fabius Maximus Aemilianus are defeated in Ossuma (near modern Córdoba). The Roman forces of Fabius Maximus Aemilianus are totally defeated near what is today the city of Beja in Alentejo. 142 BC - The governor Quintus Caecilius Metellus Macedonicus attacks the territory of the Vettones, but is not able to take the cities of Numancia and Termancia. 142 BC Quintus Fabius Maximus Servilianus, new Consul of Hispania Ulterior, after having sacked several cities loyal to Viriathus in Baetica and southern Lusitania, is defeated by the Lusitanians in Erisane (in Baetica). 141 BC - Quintus Fabius Maximus Servilianus, after the defeat, concluded a peace treaty. Viriatus is declared a friend of the Roman people and his followers are granted land. 140 BC * The new consul who was assigned the command of Hisania Ulterior, Quintus Sevilius Caepio pressured the senate to declare the peace unworthy of the dignity of the Roman people. In Hispania Ulterior, Servilius Cipianus, with the aid of Marcus Pompilius Lenas' armies, severely defeat the Lusitanians and oblige Viriathus to take refuge north of the Tagus river and surrender hostages, such as his son father-in-law, Astolpas. Servilius Caepio armies also attack the Vettones and the Gallaecians. Servilius Caepio founds the Roman cities of Castra Servilia and Caepiana (in the territory of the Celtici). Viriathus send emissaries to negotiate the peace with Servilius Caepio. Viriathus is betrayed and killed in his sleep by his companions (that had been sent as emissaries to Servilius Caepio), Audax, Ditalcus and Minurus, bribed by Marcus Pompilius Lenas. When Audax, Ditalcus and Minurus return to receive their reward by the Romans, the Consul Servilius Cipianus orders their execution, declaring, "Rome does not pay traitors". Viriathus' Lusitanian armies, now led by Tautalus, still tries a southern incursion against the Romans, but are defeated. End of the Lusitanian War. The Romans grant the Lusitanians lands in the south of Lusitania (in modern Alentejo). 138 BC First big Roman campaign deep inside present Portuguese territory led by Consul Decimus Junius Brutus Callaicus. Decimus Junius Brutus, having in his back a pacified southern Lusitania (modern Alentejo and Algarve), established headquarters in the Valley of the Tagus (probably in the site of the Castle of Almourol) and had the allied city of Olisipo (modern Lisbon) fortified before advancing north, destroying settlements as he went. His defeat of a combined army of 60,000 Lusitanians, Gauls, and Callaici earned Decimus a "triumph" and the cognomen Callaicus. The city of Olisipo (modern Lisbon) sends men to fight alongside the Roman legions against the Celtic tribes of the Northwest. 137 BC Proconsul Decimus Junius Brutus advances further north, mainly along the coastline, and establishes a fortified position in the area of modern Viseu. The Roman legions cross the Douro river and enter the territory of the Gallaecians. The Roman legions reluctantly cross the Lima river (Lethe, the river of forgetfulness), only after Decimus Junius Brutus crossed alone and called for them, thus proving he had not lost his memory. 136 BC Roman legions under Proconsul Decimus Junius Brutus reach the Minho river, but do not cross it for fear of losing their memories, again fearing they had reached the Lethe, the river of forgetfulness. Decimus Junius Brutus lays siege and conquers the city of Talabriga, thus defeating the Gallaecians. After the military campaigns, the Roman legions departed south and left no garrisons. The Roman Senate grants Praetor Decimus Junius Brutus the title Callaicus for his campaigns in Gallaecia. 133 BC The Celtiberians are defeated ending the Numantian War 132 BC A delegation of Roman Senators visits the new conquered territories in Iberian Peninsula so as to see what needs to be accomplished so Hispania could be incorporated into the growing empire. 114 BC Praetor Gaius Marius is sent to govern Lusitania and has to deal with minor Lusitanian unruliness. 113 BC Romans score victories against Lusitanian attacks with Praetor Gaius Marius and Proconsul Decimus Junius Brutus (who replaced Marius), but still the Lusitanians resist with a long guerrilla war. Eventually they are defeated. Beginning of the progressive consolidation of Roman administration and control. 105 BC-102 BC - After the Battle of Arausio, the Germanic Teutons and Cimbri plunder through all north Iberia as far as Gallaecia, before moving out and being defeated in the battles of Aquae Sextiae and Vercellae.

1st century BC 97 BC - The General Quintus Sertorius serves in Iberia for the first time. 96 BC-94 BC - Publius Licinius Crassus (father of Marcus Licinius Crassus) Governor of Hispania Ulterior, leads a military expedition to the Northwest and finds the source mines of Tin.