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161-180 CE
Rule of Marcus Aurelius
162-165 CE
War Against Parthia
Roman victories at Dura Europa, Ctesiphon
165-180s CE
Plague in Roman Lands
167-175 CE
First Marcomanni War
Marcus Aurelius defeats Marcomanni and Quadi by 174 CE
175 CE
Avidius Cassius Insurrection
178-180 CE
Second Marcomanni War
Marcus Aurelius advances to Bohemia and Carpathian mountains; dies
180-192 CE
Commodius’s Rule
His reign is characterized by numerous insurrections; he is finally murdered in 192 CE by the Praetorian Guard
193 CE
Year of Internal Revolts
Many rival claimants vie for control of the Empire. Pertinax's murder; Septimius Severus finally wins out
193-235 CE
Era of Severi Emperors
193-211 CE
Rule of Septimius Severus
Campaigns against Parthians and Barbarian raids; shows profound disregard for the Senate
222-235 CE
Rule of Severus Alexander
Wars against Parthia and Marcomanni; Emperor is slain, end of the Severi Dynasty.
235-285 CE
Era of Soldier-Emperors
Wars against Persians, Barbarian raids, continuous civil war
225-230s CE
Sassanids Rise in Persia
Pose a new, expansive Persian threat to Rome in East
285-306 CE
Rule of Diocletian
Empire split into West and East; Diocletian's trusted ally Maximian installed as Eastern Emperor; empire restructured into a military, bureaucratic state; economic reforms, rule by Tetrarchate; secluded emperor.
303-311 CE
Diocletian Persecutions of Christians
306 CE
Diocletian and Maximian’s Abdication
Civil war
312 CE
Battle of Milvian Bridge
Constantine of Britain defeats Maxentius in Northern Italy, becoming sole ruler in West; Constantine favors Christianity
313 CE
Edict of Milan
Constantine and Licinius, the Eastern ruler, agree to end Diocletian persecutions of Christianity; Christianity is legalized
324-337 CE
Constantine as Sole Ruler
Constantine defeats Licinius, becomes sole ruler, continues Diocletian's reforms, patronizes Christianity
325 CE
Council of Nicaea
Meeting of a church council, presided over by Emperor, to determine Orthodox faith; Arianism loses out
330 CE
Constantinople Dedicated
361-363 CE
Rule of Julian the Apostate
As Emperor, tries to disestablish Christianity; pro-pagan; dies in East while fighting Parthians
375-378 CE
Rule of Valens in East, Gratian in West (to 383 CE)
Ostrogothic Black Sea kingdom destroyed by Huns; Huns push all tribes before them to the Danube and Rhine borders of the Roman Empire
378 CE
Battle of Adrianopole
Valens defeated, killed by Visigoths he had allowed to cross the border but had not supplied; Defeat occurred so quickly, Gratian did not have time to arrive and offer support
379-95 CE
Reign of Theodosius
Renews agreements with Visigoths, they are settled as foederati below the Danube
380 CE
Arianism Prohibited in East
384 CE
Peace with Sassanids
388—393 CE
Theodoric the Ostrogoth Unseats Odovacar
Zeno the Eastern Emperor sends Ostrogoths west to end their pressure on Constantinople. Theodoric’s “mission” is to unseat Odovacar. He does so, and establishes the Ostrogothic kingdom of Italy. The Western Roman Empire ceases to exist.
391 CE
Christianity Recognized as State Religion
Paganism proscribed, Judaism oppressed
395 CE
Death of Theodosius
Empire partitioned between Theodosius’s sons. Arcadius in East, Honorius in West; Imperial unity between East and West ends; the East, called Byzantium, begins autonomous course
396 CE
Visigothic Departure
Following Theodosius' death, Alaric takes Visigoths out of Balkans, going west
401-403 CE
Visigoth Incursions into Italy
Attack on northern Italy; beaten back by Stilicho at Pollenza (402 CE)
406 CE
Large-Scale Barbarian Invasion along Rhine
Rhadagaesius leads great Barbarian army dominated by Vandals, and including Alans, Suevis, and Burgundians, across the frozen Rhine at Mainz. The Barbarians attack cities and agricultural areas in Gaul, forcing the indigenous population into the hills.
408 CE
Visigoths Return to Italy
Alaric, seeing Stilicho occupied, returns to Italy, wanting food and status within the Roman military hierarchy; Honorius flees to Ravenna
410 CE
First Sack of Rome
Given desperate material circumstances and no concessions from Imperial authorities, Alaric permits small sack of Rome
410-12 CE
Visigoths in Southern Italy
Visigoths attempt to get passage to North Africa; their ships are destroyed, and Alaric dies. Athaulf becomes king, but remains unable to work out an agreement with Honorius.
416-419 CE
Wallia as Visigothic King
He takes the tribe out of Italy, and fights for Honorius against a rival claimant to the throne; in return, the Visigoths are settled as ***foederati with hospitalitas*** in North West Gaul and seep into N. East Spain, setting up their own kingdom. Stilicho murdered
420s-440s CE
Barbarian Settlements
Widespread use of foederati-hospalitas to settle Visigoths, Burgundians, Suevi, Lombards, etc. in Roman lands. These tribes begin establishing autonomous kingdoms.
429-35 CE
Vandal passage to North Africa
Under Gaiseric, Vandals move through Spain, cross to North Africa, occupy Carthage, cut off grain supplies to Rome, and begin pirate raiding
440s CE
Aetius as Western Master of Soldiers
440-450 CE
Hun Threat to Eastern Empire
Under Kings Rugilla and Attila, the Huns raid north of Constantinople and demand increasing tributes. Eastern Emperor Marcian refuses higher tribute payments in 450.
450-54 CE
Huns in West
Going west to “protect” Honoria, Atilla and Huns plunder Gaul. Aetius successfully enlists Barbarian support against them
451 CE
Battle of Catalaunian Plains
With a mixed Barbarian-Roman army, Aetius defeats the Huns
453-454 CE
Atilla Dies
Died without successfully introducing political order; Barbarian rising under Gepids scatters Huns
455 CE
Second Sack of Rome
Vandals from North Africa sail up Tiber and sack Rome; extended sack
455-476 CE
Barbarian Roman Generals and Puppet Emperors
Generals of Barbarian birth, such as Ricimer, Orestes, set up puppets like Marjorian, as Emperor and concentrate only on Italy and South Gaul. Expansion of Barbarian kingdoms
476 CE
Deposition of Last Western Emperor
Barbarian general Odovacar deposes Orestes' son Romulus Augustulus, and sends word to the Eastern Emperor Zeno that there is no need for a new Western emperor: Odovacar rules as Zeno’s “agent”
