Persons, Events, and Dates in the Roman Empire at the Beginning of the Christian Era
Not all the great personages or events are named; for that we have not space. The dates are from "The Cyclopedia of Classified Dates," by Charles E. Little (Funk and Wagnalls, publishers). These events are given to refresh the memory of those who have passed over the historical ground, and to stimulate study in those who have not. Centuries I to III Inclusive
The era opens with Julius Caesar ruler of Rome, followed by Augustus, Tiberius, Caligula, Nero, Domitian, Trajan (Rome's greatest extent of territory), Hadrian, Antoninus Pius, Marcus Aurelius, Commodus, Severus, to 211. From 211 to 284 there were 23 emperors, of whom 20 died violent deaths from their soldiers, 1 died in battle, 1 in prison, and 1 of pestilence. Some, like Caracalla and Elagabalus, were monsters of vice and cruelty. Nine of the so-called ten pagan persecutions occurred during the first three centuries, beginning in the following years: 64, 70, 95, 100, 161, 197, 235, 249, 257, 274. Jesus Christ was crucified in 31; Jerusalem destroyed 70; John banished to Patmos 96. Tertullian, Clement, Irenaeus, Origen among the "early fathers." Disputes waged over Easter, festival days, monasticism, purgatory, etc. Diocletian reigned from 284 to 305. He divides the empire into Eastern and Western 285; he rules the East from Nicomedia 286; Maximian, his colleague, rules the West from Milan. The fourth century was a crucial one; tenth and last persecution 302-312; Constantine professed conversion in 312; reigned from 306 to 337; makes great gifts to church 314; issues first Sunday law 321; Council at Nice, Nicene creed adopted, 325; pagan sacrifices forbidden 341; Apostles' Creed formulated 355; Julian the apostate fails in attempt to build temple at Jerusalem 459; invocation of saints, reverence of cross, burning incense, counting of beads, celebration of mass, in this century. Senate decides in favor of Christianity 384; Theodosius issues edict for suppression of idolatry 392. The Huns appear in Russia 350; invade Pannonia (Hungary) 376; West Goths in Roman territory 369; Goths revolt 376; Alaric, King of West Goths, first appears in history 394; desolates Macedonia and takes Athens 395; ruler of East Illyricum 398; West Goths under Alaric first invade Italy 400. Alaric invades Italy 408, 409; Genseric, the Vandal, invades Africa 429; makes Carthage his capital 439; invades Sicily 440; takes and pillages Rome 455. Attila, "the scourge of God," with hordes of Huns, ravages the Western Empire and invades Italy and threatens Rome 451, 452; dies 453. By these awful incursions and attacks from the north and south the great empire is broken and shattered. Heresy grows apace, and error is enthroned more and more in church, creed, and practise. Profitless wranglings on the nature of Christ are waged, councils held, monasticism flourishes, penances multiply. Fourth Ecumenical Council at Chalcedon gives equal authority to the patriarch of Constantinople, but not equal honor with the pope at Rome, 451. (The Greek Emperor Justinian first acknowledges the pope's supremacy 533.) Rome taken by Odoacer, leader of the Heruli, Romulus dethroned, title of emperor extinguished, 476; Senate abolished in 553; capital at Ravenna 554.