The following is a very brief timeline of important events in Roman history up to the time of the campaign. For more in depth reading floolow the links at the bottom of the page.

The Roman Monarchy

753 BC: The founding of Rome

Allegedly founded by Romulus on April 21st. Romulus was the mythical descendant of the Trojan hero Aeneas.

750 BC: The rape of the Sabine Women

509 BC: The expulsion of the Etruscan kings

The Roman Republic

The Early Republic

 

509 BC: Establishment of the republic

 

494 BC: Strike of the Plebeians

Office of Tribune of the Plebs established

450 BC: The twelve tables of Roman law published

390 BC: Invasion of the Gauls

Roman Army defeated at the Allia River. Rome sacked.

The Middle Republic

Rome bigins to become dominant power in the Mediterranean.

 

287 BC: Lex Hortensia(law of Hortensia) created

Senate may no longer veto the Plebiscita

280 BC -- 275 BC: Romans fight war against the Greek king Pyrrhus

275 BC: Rome now controls all of Southern Italy

264 BC -- 241 BC: First Punic War against Carthage

218 BC -- 201 BC: Second Punic War against Carthage

200 BC -- 196 BC: Romans attack Macedonia

192 BC -- 189 BC: Romans attack Syria

147 BC: Macedonia made into a Roman province

149 BC -- 146 BC: Third Punic War against Carthage

146 BC: Corinth destroyed. Rome conquers Greece

The Late Republic

The wealth in Rome was spread more evenly among the plebeians and patricians during this time. More rights were also given to the non-Roman Italians.

133 BC: Tiberius Sempronius Gracchus elected as a tribune and later, killed.

123 BC -- 121 BC: Gaius Sempronius Gracchus elected tribune. He was later killed.

104 BC -- 100 BC: Gaius Marius elected consul.

90 BC -- 88 BC: The Italian allies of Rome sought for more rights.

83 BC: Lucius Cornelius Sulla won a civil war against soldiers and followers of Gaius Marius

82 BC -- 79 BC: Sulla became dictator

73 BC -- 71 BC: Spartacus leads rebellion of slaves

70 BC: Consulship of Gnaeus Pompey Magnus and Marcus Licinius Crassus formed

67 BC -- 66 BC: Pompey defeats pirates in the Mediterranean

66 BC -- 62 BC: Pompey defeats King Mithridates of Pontus

63 BC: Consulship of Marcus Tullius Cicero

60 BC: First Triumverate is formed by Pompey, Caesar and Crassus.

58 BC -- 50 BC: Julius Caesar defeats many Gallic tribes

49 BC -- 45 BC: Civil War breaks out; Caesar defeats Pompey.

46BC: Julius Caesar is appointed dictator for 10 years.

44 BC: Julius Caesar is assassinated; Mark Antony commands Rome.

31 BC: Octavian defeated Mark Antony

27 BC: Octavian agreed to share power with senate

The Roman Empire

The early emperors used the title princeps which means "leading citizen". They controlled the armies, and shared power with the senate.

27 BC Ocatvian assumes the title Augustus in January and claims to have restored the Republic, but was effectively sole ruler.