TACITUS

TACITUS

  

HISTORICAL EVENTS

    54 Death of Claudius and accession of Nero.
AD c.56 Born in Transalpine or Cisalpine Gaul, of an equestrian family.    
    59 Death of Agrippina.
64/65 Birth of Julia, daughter of Agricola.
69 Year of the Four Emperors. Accession of Vespasian. 66-74 First Jewish War.
70 Vespasian reaches Rome.
c.73 Tacitus studies rhetoric, probably under Quintilian. 73 First consulship of Domitian.
c.76 Serves as senior military tribune.    
77 Marries Julia, only daughter of Agricola.    
78 Agricola, having been suffect consul, is appointed by Vespasian governor of Britain.
79 Death of Vespasian and accession of Titus. Death of Pliny the Elder. 79 Eruption of Vesuvius.
    80 Fire in Rome. Opening of Colosseum.
81 Death of Titus and accession of Domitian. 81 Erection of Arch of Titus.
c.82 Quaestor.    
84 Military success of his father-in-law in Britain, and his recall by Domitian. 83 Domitian campaigns in Germany.
86 Many executions. Domitian in Moesia to repel the Dacians under Decebalus.
88 Tacitus is praetor, and as quindecimvir sacris faciundis participates in the organization of the Saecular Games.    
89-93 Abroad on state service, probably as a legionary legate and then governor of a minor province. 89 War with Marcommani. Temporary peace with Decebalus, who receives a subsidy from Rome. Domitian celebrates a triumph.
92 Domitian campaigns against the Sarmatae and Suevi.
93 Death of Agricola.    
95 Execution of Acilius Glabrio, consul with Trajan in 91, and Flavius Clemens, consul that year with Domitian and husband of Domitian’s niece.
96 Death of Domitian and election of Nerva.    
97 Tacitus is suffect consul. He delivers the funeral oration for Verginius Rufus, three times consul and guardian of Pliny the Younger. 97 Nerva adopts Trajan.
98 Publication of Agricola and also Germania 98 Death of Nerva and accession of Trajan.
100 Pliny is suffect consul. He and Tacitus successfully prosecute Marius Priscus, former governor of Africa. 100 Hadrian marries Vibia Sabina, Trajan’s great-niece.
c.102 Tacitus’s Dialogus, on the causes for the decline in the skills of oratory. 101 Trajan’s first victory over Decebalus.
102 Peace with Dacia.
104 New war against Decebalus.
106 Tacitus is engaged in writing his Histories. 106 Death of Decebalus and annexation of Dacia.
112-113 Is governor of Asia. 113 Trajan campaigns against Parthia. Completion of Trajan’s column.
113 Death of Pliny.    
115 Tacitus is writing his Annals.    
After 117 Death of Tacitus. 117 Death of Trajan and accession of Hadrian.