60s

Note: Sometimes the '60s is used as shorthand for the 1960s, the 1860s, or other such decades in various centuries – see List of decades

60s: events by year

Contents: 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69

60

By place

Roman Empire

• Romans build the first London Bridge.
• Prasutagus, king of the Iceni, made a will and left his kingdom to his two daughters and emperor Nero.
• The Icenian chiefs are deprived of their hereditary estates, the Roman army annexed East Anglia.
• Boudica, widow of Prasutagus, is flogged and then forced to witness the public rape of her daughters.
• Gaius Suetonius Paulinus, governor of Britannia, leads a campaign on the island of Mona (Anglesey).
• Boudica joins the British Celtic tribes in revolt, along with the Cornovii, Durotriges and Trinovantes.
• The rebels defeat Legio IX Hispana and destroyed the capital Camulodunum (modern Colchester).
• Boudica sacks Londinium (London) and Verulamium (St Albans). Thousands of civilians are killed.
• Nero send an expedition to explore the historical city Meroë (Sudan).
• The Rhoxolani are defeated on the Danube by the Romans.
• Vitellius is (possibly) proconsul of Africa.
• Herod Agrippa II rules the northeast of Judea.

By topic

Religion

• The First Epistle of Peter, if by Saint Peter, is probably written between this year and c. 64.
• Paul of Tarsus journeys to Rome, but is shipwrecked at Malta. He stays for three months and converts Publius, the first Bishop of Malta.

Art and science

• Hero of Alexandria writes Metrica, Mechanics, and Pneumatics.
• 60–79 – House of the Vettii, Pompeii, is rebuilt.

61

By place

Roman Empire

• Publius Petronius Turpilianus and Lucius Caesennius Paetus become Roman consuls.
• The Druidic stronghold of Anglesey in north Wales is attacked and destroyed by Suetonius Paulinus (Tacitus, Annals xiv 30).
• Verulamium (St Alban) is sacked and burnt by the Britons. Roman citizens are molested and killed.
• Boudica, Queen of the Iceni, leads a Celtic revolt in Britain. She is defeated in the Battle of Watling Street by a Roman wedge formation. According to the First Century Roman historian Tacitus, she died by poisoning herself so she would not be enslaved by the Roman governor, Suetonius Paulinus. Cassius Dio, on the other hand, tells an alternative version of Boudica's death, simply saying that she "fell sick and died."
• After defeating the Iceni, the Romans continue the process of Romanizing Britain. They create Roman-style cities, install a Roman administration and build roads.
• Galba becomes governor of Hispania Tarraconensis.

62

By place

Roman Empire

• Emperor Nero marries for the second time, to Poppaea Sabina, ex-wife of Marcus Salvius Otho.
• After the death of Burrus and the disgrace of Seneca, Nero, free from their influence, becomes a megalomaniacal artist fascinated by Hellenism and the Orient. Tigellinus becomes Nero's counselor. From this time onward his rule becomes highly abusive.
• A great earthquake damages cities in Campania, including Pompeii.
• The Parthians invade Armenia and lay siege to Tigranocerta. The city is well-fortified and garrisoned by the Romans. The assault fails and king Vologases I retreats. Instead, he makes preparations to invade Syria.
• Gnaeus Domitius Corbulo strengthens the fortifications on the Euphrates frontier. He builds a strong flotilla of ships equipped with catapults and a wooden bridge across the river, which allows him to establish a foothold on the Parthian shore.
• Lucius Caesennius Paetus advances towards Tigranocerta, but by lack of supplies he makes camp for the winter in the fortress at Rhandeia in northwestern Armenia.
• Vologases I leads the Parthian army in a full-scale assault on the Euphrates, Legio X Fretensis and men of the other two legions (Legio III Gallica and Legio VI Ferrata) defending the eastern bank of the river, fighting off a desperate attack.
• Battle of Rhandeia: The Roman army (two legions) is defeated by the Parthians under king Tiridates I. Paetus surrenders and withdraws his disheveled army to Syria.
• A violent storm destroys 200 ships in the port of Portus.

By topic

Arts and sciences

• Lucan writes a history of the conflict between Julius Caesar and Pompey.
• The making of Still Life, a detail of a wall painting from Herculaneum, begins (finished in 79). It is now kept at Museo Nazionale in Naples.

Religion

• Paul of Tarsus is imprisoned in Rome (approximate date).

63

By place

Roman Empire

• Vespasian becomes governor of Africa.
• Gnaeus Domitius Corbulo is restored to command after the Roman debacle at the Battle of Rhandeia; he invaded Armenia and defeated Tiridates I, who accepted Roman sovereignty; Parthia withdrew from the war.
• Pompeii the city at the foot of Mount Vesuvius, is heavily damaged by a strong earthquake. Fearing an eruption of the volcano, many of the 20,000 inhabitants leave their homes in a panicked flight.

By topic

Religion

• According to legend, Joseph of Arimathea goes to Glastonbury on the first Christian mission to Britain.

Arts and sciences

• Aulus Cornelius Celsus writes a dictionary (encyclopedia) on the arts and sciences.

64

By place

Roman Empire

• July 18 – Great fire of Rome: A fire begins in the merchant area of Rome and soon burns completely out of control, while emperor Nero allegedly plays his lyre and sings as he watches the blaze from a safe distance. There is no hard evidence to support this claim: fires were very common in Rome at the time. The fire destroys close to one-half of the city and it is officially blamed on the Christians, a small but growing religious movement. Nero is accused of being the arsonist by popular rumour.
• In Rome, persecution of early Christians begins under Roman Emperor Nero. Saint Peter is among those executed.
• Nero proposes a new urban planning program based the creation of buildings decorated with ornate porticos, the widening of the streets and the use of open spaces. This plan will not be applied until after his death.
• Lyon sends a large sum of money to Rome to aid in the reconstruction. However, during the winter of 64–65, Lyon suffers a catastrophic fire itself, and Nero reciprocates by sending money to Lyon.
• Phoenicia becomes part of Syria.

Asia

• The Kushan sack the town of Taxila (in present-day Pakistan).

By topic

Religion

• The year the First Epistle of Peter is traditionally believed to be written.

Arts and sciences

• Seneca proclaims the equality of all men, including slaves.

65

By place

Roman Empire

• Gaius Calpurnius Piso conspires against Roman emperor Nero.
• Cestius Gallus becomes legate of Syria.
• After a stage performance in which he appears and shocks the senatorial class considerably, Nero engages in a series of reprisals against Seneca, Tigellinus, pro-republican senators, and anyone else he distrusts.
• Nero kills his pregnant wife, Poppea Sabina, with a kick to the stomach.

By topic

Religion

• The Gospel of Matthew is probably written between 60 and this year.
• Paul of Tarsus ordains Timothy as bishop of Ephesus (traditional date).
• In China, the first official reference to Buddhism is made.
• The first Christian community in Africa is founded by Mark, a disciple of Peter. Mark begins to write his gospel.
• Probable martyrdom date of the apostle Thaddeus, also called Saint Jude in Armenia.
• Probable martyrdom date of the apostle Simon the Canaanite in Armenia.

66

By place

Roman Empire

• September 22 – Emperor Nero creates the legion I Italica.
• The Jewish Revolt (66–70 AD) commences against the Roman Empire.
• The Zealots lay siege on Jerusalem and annihilate the Roman garrison (a cohort of Legio III).
• The Sicarii capture the fortress of Masada overlooking the Dead Sea.
• Cestius Gallus, legate of Syria, marches into Judea and leads a Roman army of 28,000 soldiers to put down the Jewish rebellion. Among the units are Legio III Gallica, Legio XII Fulminata and Legio XXII Primigenia.
• November – Gallus succeeds in conquering Beit She'arim "the new city", but is unable to take the Temple in Jerusalem. He retreats to the coast, but is surrounded at Beth-Horon and nearly wiped out by the Zealots.
• Gallus arrives in Caesarea, with six thousand men and numerous standards, including the eagle of Legio XII.
• The Roman Legion II Augusta is stationed at Gloucester.
• Suetonius Paullinus becomes a Roman Consul.

Asia

• Baekje invades Silla in the Korean peninsula, and captures Castle Ugok.

By topic

Religion

• The First Epistle to Timothy is written (approximate date).

Arts and sciences

• Dioscorides writes his De Materia Medica, a treatise on the methodical treatment of disease by use of medicine.

Astronomy

• Halley's Comet is visible.

67

By place

Roman Empire

• Vindex revolts, first in a series of revolts that lead to Nero's downfall.
• Gaius Licinius Mucianus replaces Cestius Gallus as governor of Syria.
• Province of Iudaea (Judea): Titus Flavius Vespasianus arrives in Ptolemais, along with Legio X Fretensis and Legio V Macedonica to put down the Jewish Revolt.
• Vespasian is joined by his son Titus, who brings Legio XV Apollinaris from Alexandria. By late spring the Roman army numbers more than 60,000 soldiers, including auxiliaries and troops of king Agrippa II.
• Jewish leaders at Jerusalem are divided through a power struggle, a brutal civil war erupts, the Zealots and the Sicarii execute anyone who tries to leave the city.
• Siege of Jotapata and massacre of its 40,000 Jewish inhabitants. The historian Josephus, leader of the rebels in Galilee, is captured by the Romans. Vespasian is wounded in the foot by an arrow fired from the city wall.
• Fall of the Jewish fortress of Gamla in the Golan to the Romans and massacre of its inhabitants.
• Nero travels to Greece, where he participates in the Olympic Games and other festivals.
• Sardinia becomes a Roman province.
• Nero, jealous of the success of Corbulo in Armenia, orders that he be put to death. Corbulo literally "falls on his sword".

By topic

Religion

• Martyrdom of apostles Saint Peter and Saint Paul.
• Pope Linus succeeds Saint Peter as the second pope (in Catholic reckoning).

68

By place

Roman Empire

• Final year that Tacitus records Annals, a written history of the Roman Empire.
• June 8 – The Roman Senate accepts emperor Galba.
• June 9 – Roman Emperor Nero commits suicide four miles outside Rome. He is deserted by the Praetorian Guard and then stabs himself in the throat.
• Legio I Macriana liberatrix and Legio I Adiutrix are created.
• Lucius Clodius Macer revolts against emperor Nero.
• Marcus Ulpius Trajanus, father of Trajan, becomes consul.
• Trajan moves to Scythopolis and crosses the Jordan River with Legio X Fretensis. He lays siege to Jericho and destroys the monastery of Qumran, where the Dead Sea Scrolls are originated.
• The Roman Senate declares Nero as a persona non grata. In the line of succession, Galba follows Nero.
• The year of the four emperors: Galba (68), Otho (69) and Vitellius (69) all govern a very short time before Vespasian becomes emperor.
• Winter – Titus sets up camp at Jericho and the Romans cut off escape routes toward Jerusalem.

Asia

• An iron chain suspension bridge is constructed in China.

By topic

Religion

• Buddhism officially arrives in China with the building of the White Horse Temple.
• Ignatius of Antioch becomes the third bishop of Antioch.
• The Gospel of Mark is written (approximate date).
• The Essenes place the Dead Sea Scrolls in the caves at Qumran.

69

By place

Roman Empire

• The Year of the Four Emperors: After Nero's death, Galba, Otho, Vitellius and Vespasian succeed each other as emperor during the year.
• January 1 – The Roman legions in Germania Superior refuses to swear loyalty to Galba. They rebelled and proclaims Vitellius as emperor.
• January 10 – Lucius Calpurnius Piso Licinianus is adopted by Galba and appointed to deputy Roman Emperor.
• January 15 – Galba and his adopted son Piso are murdered by the Praetorian Guard on the Roman Forum.
• Otho seizes power in Rome, proclaims himself emperor, and reigns for three months before committing suicide.
• Marcus Trebellius Maximus, governor of Britannia, is forced the flee to Gaul after a mutiny of Legio XX Valeria Victrix at Deva Victrix (Chester).
• April 14 – First Battle of Bedriacum: Vitellius defeats Otho's legions; Otho commits suicide.
• April 17 – After the Battle of Bedriacum, Vitellius becomes emperor.
• Marcus Vettius Bolanus becomes the new governor of Britain and faced a second insurrection of Venutius, king of the Brigantes.
• July 1 – Tiberius Julius Alexander orders his legions in Alexandria to swear allegiance to Vespasian as emperor.
• August 1 – Batavian rebellion: The Batavians in Germania Inferior (Netherlands) revolt under the leadership of Gaius Julius Civilis.
• German warbands cross over to join the revolt and attack the fortress at Mainz.
• The Batavians attack Roman forts on the Rhine frontier; Fectio and Traiectum (modern Utrecht) are destroyed.
• In Gallia Belgica cohors II Tungrorum, raised from the inhabitants of Atuatuca Tungrorum in the north-west of the Ardennes Forest revolt against the Romans.
• The Danubian legions of Raetia and Moesia proclaims Vespasian as emperor.
• October 24 – Second Battle of Bedriacum: Flavians under Antonius Primus defeat the Vitellians.
• December 22 – Vitellius is captured and murdered by the Gemonian stairs. Vespasian becomes emperor.
• Judea: The Jewish Revolt – Vespasian lays siege to Jerusalem, the city is captured the following year by his son Titus.
• Josephus, Jewish rebel leader, is dragged before Vespasian and becomes his historian. He "prophesied" him his elevation to the purple.
• Legio I Macriana liberatrix is disbanded.
• The Flavian dynasty starts.

Significant people

• Boudicca, rebellious British queen
• Gaius Suetonius Paulinus, Roman general
• Julius Civilis, leader of the Batavian rebellion against the Romans

Births

Deaths

References