89 BC

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Year 89 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Strabo and Cato (or, less frequently, year 665 Ab urbe condita). The denomination 89 BC for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.

Events

By place

Roman Republic

• Consuls: Gnaeus Pompeius Strabo and Lucius Porcius Cato.
• Social War:
  • Roman forces under Lucius Porcius Cato are defeated by the Italian rebels in the Battle of Fucine Lake, Cato is killed.
  • The Roman army of Gnaeus Pompeius Strabo decisively defeats the rebels in the Battle of Asculum.
• Lex Plautia Papiria extends citizenship to all Italians who applied for it within 60 days. The new citizens are enrolled in eight designated tribes, to prevent domination of the assemblies.
• Lex Pompeia grants Latin rights to cities in Cisalpine Gaul.
• Cicero ends his service in the Roman army.

Asia Minor

• Mithridates VI of Pontus invades Bithynia and Cappadocia, thus the First Mithridatic War begins.

Births

• Empress Shangguan, wife to Emperor Zhao of Han (d. 37 BC)

Deaths

• Aulus Sempronius Asellio, Roman praetor (murdered by creditors)
• Titus Didius, killed in battle during the Social War
• Marcus Aemilius Scaurus, Roman politician (b. c. 163 BC)

References