30s BC

Events

Contents: 39 BC 38 BC 37 BC 36 BC 35 BC 34 BC 33 BC 32 BC 31 BC 30 BC

39 BC

By place

Roman Republic

• Marcus Antonius dispatched Publius Ventidius Bassus with 11 legions to the East and drives Quintus Labienus out of Asia Minor, he retreats into Syria, where he received Parthian reinforcements. Ventidius finally defeats him in the battle at the Taurus Mountains.
• Publius Ventidius defeats Pharnastanes with his cataphracts at the Amanus Gates, and goes on to reclaim Syria, Phoenicia and Judea. Labienus flees to Cilicia, where he is captured and executed.
• Sextus Pompey, styled himself "son of Neptune", controlled Sicily, Sardinia, Corsica and the Peloponnesus is recognized by the Triumvirate in the Pact of Misenum. The pact helped to assure Rome's grain supply, the blockade on Italy is lifted.

38 BC

By place

Roman Republic

• January 1 – Beginning of the Hispanic era, by orders of Octavian Caesar.
• January 17 – Octavian marries Livia while she is still pregnant from a recently broken marriage. Octavian gained permission from the College of Pontiffs to wed her while she was still pregnant from another husband. Three months after the wedding she gave birth to a second son, Nero Claudius Drusus, while he and his elder brother, the four-year-old Tiberius, lived in Octavian's household.
• Octavian appointed Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa governor of Transalpine Gaul, where he put down an uprising of the Aquitanians. He also fought successfully against the Germanic tribes, and becoming the next Roman general to cross the Rhine after Julius Caesar.
• Mark Antony, Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus and Marcus Lepidus sign the Treaty of Tarentum (or 37 BC), extending the Second Triumvirate until 33 BC.
• Parthian invasion into Roman Syria; Publius Ventidius Bassus defeats Pacorus, at the crossing of the Euphrates in the Battle of Cyrrhestica. Ventidius lays siege to Antiochus of Commagene in Samosata until relieved by Antony.

37 BC

By place

Roman Republic

• Consuls: Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa and Titus Statilius Taurus.
• Agrippa created the harbour "Portus Julius" in the today submersed town of Puteoli (the modern Pozzuoli, close to Naples). The port is used to train the warships for naval battles, a new fleet is built, with 20,000 oarsmen gathered by freeing slaves. He also incorporated on quinqueremes a technical innovation the harpax ("snatcher"); a combination ballista and grappling hook, based on the corvus.
• Gaius Julius Caesar Octavian engineered the "Second Pact of Tarentum" which renewed the Triumvirate for an additional five years. Mark Antony exchanged 120 ships, for service against Sextus Pompeius. Octavian Caesar gives 1,000 troops from the Praetorian Guard and 20,000 legionaries for the Parthian campaign in Syria.
• Antony reorganized Asia Minor under strongmen loyal to him. He raised troops from his allies Amyntas and Archelaus, kings of Galatia and Cappadocia. The old kingdom of Pontus is restored, from Armenia to the River Halys under Polemon I.
• Romans conquer Jerusalem from the Parthians. Herod the Great becomes king of Judea and Ananelus is installed as High Priest, both positions seized from Antigonus II Mattathias after a five-month siege. Thousands of Jews slaughtered by Roman troops supporting Herod.

Asia

• The kingdom of Goguryeo in Korea is founded by the king Dongmyeong. (traditional date)

36 BC

By place

Roman Republic

• Consuls: Lucius Gellius Publicola and Marcus Cocceius Nerva.
• Publius Canidius Crassus invaded Armenia and Iberia (Georgia); he forced Parnavaz II into an alliance against Zober, king of Albania.
• June – Mark Antony launches a major offensive against the Parthians, he marches with 10 legions and 10,000 cavalry to Carana in Anatolia.
• July – Octavian's fleet (102 warships) embarked from Puteoli and tried to invade Sicily, it is caught in a storm and forced to return at Vibo.
• August – Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa, an admiral of Octavian Caesar, secures the Lipari Islands and harasses the coast from Mylae to Tyndaris. Octavian transports his legions via Leucopetra to Tauromenium (modern Taormina).
• Antony crosses the frontier into Media Atropatene and commences the siege of Phraaspa. He established a line of circumvallation and built siege engines.
• September 3 – Battle of Naulochus: Agrippa defeats Sextus Pompeius, a son of Pompeius, in a naval engagement off Naulochus. Sextus escapes with 17 ships to Messana and then to Asia Minor.
• Marcus Lepidus lands 12 legions from Africa and lays siege to Lilybaeum. He loses his army to Octavian when his men mutiny. Lepidus is kept in luxurious captivity in Rome until his death.
• Agrippa receives the unprecedented honor of a Naval Crown (corona navalis), wrought of gold and decorated with the prows of ships.
• October – Antony abandons the siege of Phraaspa (near Maragheh, Iran). He retreats, loses many men to disease and starvation in the subsequent retreat to Egypt, marries Cleopatra VII while still married to Octavia.
• Judea: Aristobulus III, the last of the Hasmoneans, becomes High Priest in Jerusalem, replaces Ananelus, who only held the position for one year.

Asia

• October–December – The Han Dynasty Chinese army under General Chen Tang and General Gan Yanshou defeat the Xiongnu leader Zhizhi Chanyu in the Battle of Zhizhi. This led to half a century of peace between the Han Dynasty and the Xiongnu until Wang Mang enraged them in the year 10, resuming hostilities between both sides.

35 BC

By place

Roman Republic

• Illyria becomes a Roman province. Gaius Julius Caesar Octavian conducts a rendezvous with the Roman fleet under Marcus Vipsanius, which is engaged in clearing the Dalmatian coast of piracy.
• Pannonia is attacked by Octavian Caesar; who conquered and sacked the stronghold Siscia (Sisak) of the Segestani, which is taken after a 30-day siege. The country is however, definitely subdued until 9 BC.
• Sextus Pompeius defeats with three legions Gaius Furnius, the governor of Asia, and seized Nicaea and Nicomedia (modern Izmit).
• Marcus Titius arrived in Syria with a large army and marched to Asia Minor, Sextus is caught in Miletus and executed without trial.

India

• Azes I, Indo-Scythian ruler, completed the domination of the Scythians in northern India.

34 BC

By place

Roman Republic

• Gaius Julius Caesar Octavian pacified Dalmatia and Pannonia forming the province of Illyricum, while Antony regained Armenia from Parthia. Octavian reduces the outposts defending the Liburnian town of Promona, sets up siege works and forces its surrender.
• Mark Antony becomes Roman Consul for the second time. His partner is Lucius Scribonius Libo. The latter is replaced with Aemilius Lepidus Paullus during the year.
• Antony advances into Armenia with an expeditionary force (16 legions) and marches to the capital Artaxata. He arrests king Artavasdes II and takes him to Alexandria.
• Autumn – The Donations of Alexandria: Antony distributes the eastern kingdoms as a gift to the children of Cleopatra VII of Egypt; he declared Caesarion, Caesar's legitimate son as co-ruler of Egypt and Cyprus. Alexander Helios received Armenia and Media, to Cleopatra Selene he gives the kingdoms of Cyrenaica and Libya. His youngest son Ptolemy Philadelphus received the Egyptian possessions in Phoenicia, Syria and Cilicia. Antony established Cleopatra as a Hellenistic monarch at Alexandria and gives her the title of "Queen of Kings".

33 BC

By place

Roman Republic

• Gaius Julius Caesar Octavian becomes Roman Consul for the second time. His partner is Lucius Volcatius Tullus. Octavian delivered in the Roman Senate a speech, de summa Republica, in which he subjected the Donations.
• The second term of the Second Triumvirate expired.
• Marcus Vipsanius is self demoted to Aedile, built the Aqua Julia, one of the aqueducts on which Rome's water supply depended and cleaned the Cloaca Maxima sewerage system
• Mark Antony annexed the kingdom of Media and arranged the marriage of his son Alexander Helios with princess Iotapa, the daughter of king Artavasdes I.
• The Kinambroi surrendered to Octavian

China

• Crown Prince Ao ascends the throne as Emperor Cheng of Han

32 BC

By place

Roman Republic

• Gnaeus Domitius Ahenobarbus and Gaius Sosius become Roman Consuls.
• Spring – Final War of the Roman Republic: Mark Antony transferred his headquarters from Samos to Athens, he assembled a fleet of 500 combat vessels and 300 transport ships, crewed by 150,000 men.
• Sparta under Caius Iulius Eurycles, whose father Antony had ordered to be executed for piracy, declared his support for Octavian. Lappa (modern Argyroupoli) in Attica and Kydonia in Crete revolts against Cleopatra.
• July – The Roman Senate declares war upon Mark Antony and Cleopatra VII. Octavian Caesar is proclaimed dux and the West: Gallic and Spanish provinces, Africa, Sicily and Sardinia swears an oath (sacramentum) of loyalty to him. In order to assure this oath, Octavian forced the high priest of the Vestal Virgins in Rome to hand over Antony's will, which give information over the Roman-conquered territories as kingdoms and plans to build a tomb in Alexandria for him and Cleopatra.
• Winter – Antony distributes garrisons along the west coast of Greece, stations the fleet at Actium and establishes his headquarters at Patrae.
• Zacynthus is held by Gaius Sosius, Methone (Messenia) by Bogud of the royal house of Mauretania, driven into exile by his brother Bocchus II.

31 BC

By place

Roman Republic

• Gaius Julius Caesar Octavian becomes Roman Consul for the third time. His partner is Marcus Valerius Messalla Corvinus, replacing Mark Antony
• Octavian crosses the Strait of Otranto and lands with an army (15 legions) at Panormus in Dalmatia. He marched to Toryne in the south, and established a bridgehead at the Gulf of Ambracia.
• Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa sailed with 300 war galleys to the western Peloponnese, and occupied strategic positions around the Gulf of Corinth to cut off Antony's line of communication.
• Antony alerted by Octavian's presence, sets up camp on the southern shore, at the promontory of Actium. He dispatches a force to isolate the camp of Octavian in the valley of Louros.
• Agrippa stormed Leucas, given Octavian an anchorage and a second depot for his land supplies. He seized the garrison at Patrae, and taking Antony's headquarters.
• Amyntas, king of Galatia, deserted with 2,000 cavalry to Octavian. One-third of Antony's oarsmen is lost to malnutrition, disease and desertion.
• September 2 – Roman Civil War: Battle of Actium: Off the western coast of Greece, Octavian Caesar defeats the naval forces under Mark Antony and Cleopatra VII.
• The Egyptian fleet (60 warships), including Cleopatra's treasure ship retreats to Taenarus, Antony transferred his flag to a smaller vessel and breaks through Octavian's line.
• Winter – Octavian (thirty-two years old) takes court at Samos. After his decisive victory at Actium he builds Nicopolis, the city is populated by Greeks from settlements further inland.

Roman Palestine

• In the Judean Desert on an isolated rock plateau, fortress Masada is completed. Herod the Great builds an armory, barracks, storehouses and a palace.

By topic

Art

• The Hellenistic period ends (or AD 14 by some scholars).

30 BC

By place

Roman Republic

• Gaius Julius Caesar Octavian becomes Roman Consul for the fourth time. His partner is Marcus Licinius Crassus the Younger.
• Spring – Octavian led his army to the Dardanelles; he shipped them across to Asia Minor and marched into Syria, where Herod the Great send him vows of loyalty and thousands of his own troops in support.
• Summer – Gaius Cornelius Gallus lands in Cyrene and occupied Paraetonium, Mark Antony stormed the city walls and blockades the harbour.
• Antony retreats his army (7 legions) to Egypt and receive the news that Pelusium, has opened its gates to Octavian without resistance.
• August 1 – Octavian Caesar captures Alexandria. This marks the official annexation of Ancient Egypt to the Roman Republic.
• Cleopatra evacuates her court and treasury to Berenice on the west coast of the Red Sea, but king Malchus of Nabatea attacks from the desert and burned the Egyptian ships.
• The children of Cleopatra are spared by Octavian and taken back in triumph; Octavia Minor raised Alexander Helios, Cleopatra Selene and Ptolemy Philadelphus in her household in Rome.
• With the suicide of Cleopatra VII of Egypt and the execution of Ptolemy XV Caesarion the Ptolemaic dynasty, the last dynasty of Ancient Egypt comes to an end. The first year of Octavian's reign in Egypt.
• Octavian claims Cleopatra's treasure in the mausoleum at the Temple of Isis; he pays the salaries of his veteran legionaries and gives them land in Italy.

Asia

• Possible date of composition of the Tirukkuṛaḷ, attributed to Thiruvalluvar.
• First possible date for the invention of the wheelbarrow in history; as the 5th century Book of the Later Han states that the wife of the once poor and youthful imperial censor Bao Xuan of the Chinese Han dynasty helped him push a lu che back to his village during their feeble wedding ceremony, around this year.

Significant people

• Mark Antony, Roman politician and general (83–30 BC)
• Pharaoh Cleopatra VII of Egypt (lived 70/69–30 BC, reigned 51–30 BC)
• Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus, known in English as Octavian, Roman politician and general (62 BC–14)
• Pharaoh Ptolemy XV Caesarion (lived 47–30 BC, reigned 44–30 BC)

References