36 CE

Wu Han commands the forces of Emperor Guang Wu of the Eastern Han to conquer the separatist Chengjia Empire, reuniting China. Herod Antipas suffers major losses in a war with Aretas IV of Nabatea, provoked partly by Antipas' divorce of Aretas' daughter. According to Josephus, Herod's defeat was popularly believed to be divine punishment for his execution of John the Baptist. Emperor Tiberius orders his governor of Syria, Vitellius, to capture or kill Aretas, but he is reluctant to support Herod and abandons his campaign upon Tiberius' death in AD 37. Pontius Pilate is recalled to Rome, after putting down a Samaritan uprising.

In the 30s, the 1st century.

Geopolitics & Diplomacy

  • December 25 – Wu Han commands the forces of Emperor Guang Wu of the Eastern Han to conquer the separatist Chengjia Empire, reuniting China.source
  • Marcellus becomes governor of Judaea and Samaria.source

Conflict & Security

  • Herod Antipas suffers major losses in a war with Aretas IV of Nabatea, provoked partly by Antipas' divorce of Aretas' daughter. According to Josephus, Herod's defeat was popularly believed to be divine punishment for his execution of John the Baptist. Emperor Tiberius orders his governor of Syria, Vitellius, to capture or kill Aretas, but he is reluctant to support Herod and abandons his campaign upon Tiberius' death in AD 37.source
  • Lucius Vitellius defeats Artabanus III of Parthia in support of another claimant to the throne, Tiridates III.source
  • Pontius Pilate is recalled to Rome, after putting down a Samaritan uprising.source

Births

  • Lucius Annius Vinicianus, Roman senator and legatus in the Roman–Parthian War of 58–63.source

Deaths

  • December 24 – Gongsun Shu, Chinese emperor of Chengjiasource
  • Gaius Sulpicius Galba, Roman senator and consulsource
  • Thrasyllus of Mendes, Greek grammarian and astronomersource
  • Vibulenus Agrippa, Roman nobleman and knight (eques)source