| 234 BC |
Marcus Porcius Cato born in Tusculum, but brought up mainly on his father's estate in Sabine territory. |
| 209 |
Serves under Fabius Maximus at the recapture of Tarentum during the Second Punic War. |
| 207 |
Fights with distinction at the battle of Metaurus, Umbria, against Hasdrubal, son of Hamilcar, which effectively ends Hannibal’s hopes of victory in Italy. |
| 204 |
Quaestor, serving in Sicily and Africa. While returning, he meets Ennius, whom he brings to Rome. |
| 199 |
Plebeian aedile. |
| 198 |
Praetor. Governor of Sardinia. |
| 195 |
Consul. Opposes repeal of lex Oppia restricting the rights of women. |
| 195/194 |
Puts down rebellion in Spain. |
| 191 |
Serves with distinction as senior military tribune in the defeat at Thermopylae of Antiochus III, who has invaded Greece. |
| 189 |
Stands unsuccessfully for the censorship. |
| 184 |
Elected censor, with Lucius Valerius Flaccus. Builds the Basilica Porcia. |
| 181 |
Opposes the lex Baebia restricting the praetorships to four in alternate years. |
| 169 |
Supports the lex Voconia limiting the inheritance rights of women. |
| 168 |
Begins Origines, the first history in Latin, still in progress at his death. |
| 167 |
In speeches, opposes the projected war against Rhodes, and supports the freedom of Macedonia. |
| c.160 |
Writes his treatise, De Agricultura, instructing young men how to succeed at mixed farming and running an estate. |
| 155 |
Worried by the effect their lectures might be having on the youth of Rome, proposes that an embassy of Greek philosophers should be sent home. |
| 154/3 |
Birth of Cato Salonius, Cato’s son by his second marriage. |
| 153 |
Serves on an embassy to Carthage, after which he is convinced of the danger from that quarter. “Carthage must be destroyed.” |
| 152 |
Death of Cato’s son by his first marriage, having been elected praetor. |
| 150 |
War declared against Carthage. |
| 149 |
Death of Cato. |
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