23 CE

After being under siege for two months, about 19,000 insurgents under Liu Xiu defeat 450,000 of Wang Mang's troops in the Battle of Kunyang, ushering in the fall of Wang Mang's Xin dynasty and restoration of the Han dynasty. Greek geographer Strabo publishes Geographica, a work covering the world known to the Romans and Greeks at the time of Emperor Augustus – it is the only such book to survive from the ancient world. Liu Xuan, a descendant of the Han dynasty royal family and leader of insurgents against the Xin dynasty, proclaims himself emperor against Wang Mang.

In the 20s, the 1st century.

Geopolitics & Diplomacy

  • Lucius Aelius Sejanus begins to dominate the Roman Senate and Tiberius, after the death of Drusus.source

Conflict & Security

  • July – After being under siege for two months, about 19,000 insurgents under Liu Xiu defeat 450,000 of Wang Mang's troops in the Battle of Kunyang, ushering in the fall of Wang Mang's Xin dynasty and restoration of the Han dynasty.source
  • October 6 – Emperor Liu Xuan's forces kill Wang Mang at the end of a three-day siege.source
  • Liu Xuan, a descendant of the Han dynasty royal family and leader of insurgents against the Xin dynasty, proclaims himself emperor against Wang Mang.source

Culture & Society

  • Greek geographer Strabo publishes Geographica, a work covering the world known to the Romans and Greeks at the time of Emperor Augustus – it is the only such book to survive from the ancient world.source

Births

  • Pliny the Elder, Roman scientist and writer (died 79 AD)source

Deaths

  • September 14 – Drusus Julius Caesar, son of Emperor Tiberius (born 14 BC)source
  • October 6 – Wang Mang, Chinese emperor of the Xin dynasty (born c. 45 BC)source
  • Liu Xin, Chinese astronomer, mathematician and politician (born c. 50 BC)source
  • Liu Yan, Chinese general and politiciansource
  • Emperor Tiberius' son Drusus Julius Caesar dies. From that point forward, Tiberius seems to lose interest in the Empire and occupies himself with the pursuit of pleasure.source
  • Juba II, king of Mauretania (born c. 50 BC)source
  • Servius Cornelius Lentulus Maluginensis, Roman statesmansource
  • Wang, Chinese empress of the Xin dynasty (born 8 BC)source