{"slug": "roman-army", "label": "Roman army", "wikipedia": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_army", "wikidata": "https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1114493", "qid": "Q1114493", "description": "terrestrial forces of Roman governments", "entries": 42, "years": 41, "span": [-121, 305], "span_label": ["122 BCE", "305 CE"], "topics": [{"title": "Conflict & Security", "count": 31}, {"title": "Geopolitics & Diplomacy", "count": 4}, {"title": "Religion & Belief", "count": 2}, {"title": "Health & Medicine", "count": 1}, {"title": "Culture & Society", "count": 1}, {"title": "Exploration & Expansion", "count": 1}, {"title": "Crime & Justice", "count": 1}, {"title": "Technology & Infrastructure", "count": 1}], "related": [{"slug": "roman-empire", "label": "Roman Empire", "shared": 4}, {"slug": "ancient-rome", "label": "Ancient Rome", "shared": 4}, {"slug": "syria", "label": "Syria", "shared": 4}, {"slug": "roman-legion", "label": "Roman legion", "shared": 4}, {"slug": "mesopotamia", "label": "Mesopotamia", "shared": 3}, {"slug": "pannonia", "label": "Pannonia", "shared": 3}, {"slug": "tigris", "label": "Tigris", "shared": 2}, {"slug": "armenia", "label": "Armenia", "shared": 2}, {"slug": "ctesiphon", "label": "Ctesiphon", "shared": 2}, {"slug": "germany", "label": "Germany", "shared": 2}, {"slug": "septimius-severus", "label": "Septimius Severus", "shared": 2}, {"slug": "roman-legionary", "label": "Roman legionary", "shared": 2}], "items": [{"year": -121, "year_label": "122 BCE", "section": "Geopolitics & Diplomacy", "date": null, "text": "Gracchus passes a law requiring the state to provide weapons and equipment for the soldiers in the Roman army.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1300115948#Roman_Republic", "title": "122 BC", "revid": 1300115948, "section": "Events › By place › Roman Republic"}}, {"year": -104, "year_label": "105 BCE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "Gaius Marius, together with the consul Publius Rutilius Rufus, initiates sweeping reforms of the Roman army.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1225571066#Roman_Republic", "title": "105 BC", "revid": 1225571066, "section": "Events › By place › Roman Republic"}}, {"year": -89, "year_label": "90 BCE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "Cicero starts to serve in the Roman army.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1332493065#Roman_Republic", "title": "90 BC", "revid": 1332493065, "section": "Events › By place › Roman Republic"}}, {"year": -88, "year_label": "89 BCE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "Cicero ends his service in the Roman army.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1369865499#Roman_Republic", "title": "89 BC", "revid": 1369865499, "section": "Events › By place › Roman Republic"}}, {"year": -79, "year_label": "80 BCE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "Battle of the Baetis River: A force of Populares exiles under Sertorius defeat the legal Roman army of Lucius Fulfidias in Hispania, starting the Sertorian War; Quintus Caecilius Metellus Pius takes command on behalf of Sulla.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1266100545#Roman_Republic", "title": "80 BC", "revid": 1266100545, "section": "Events › By place › Roman Republic"}}, {"year": -28, "year_label": "29 BCE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "Start of the Cantabrian Wars against Roman occupation in Hispania.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1349908551#Roman_Republic", "title": "29 BC", "revid": 1349908551, "section": "Events › By place › Roman Republic"}}, {"year": -27, "year_label": "28 BCE", "section": "Religion & Belief", "date": null, "text": "The Roman Senate grants Octavian Caesar imperium maius (supreme command) of the Roman armed forces (Around 28 legions).", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1368243773#Roman_Republic", "title": "28 BC", "revid": 1368243773, "section": "Events › By place › Roman Republic"}}, {"year": 16, "year_label": "16 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "A Roman army of 50,000 men commanded by Germanicus gains a great victory at Idistaviso, defeating the German war chief Arminius, and recovering the lost eagles of Varus' legions.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1371078816#Roman_Empire", "title": "10s", "revid": 1371078816, "section": "Events › 16 AD › Roman Empire"}}, {"year": 17, "year_label": "17 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "Tacfarinas, Numidian deserter from the Roman army, begins a guerrilla war against the Romans. He leads his own Musulamii tribe and a coalition of Berbers, attacking the Limes Tripolitanus, a fortified zone (limes) of the Roman Empire in Africa.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1371078816#Africa", "title": "10s", "revid": 1371078816, "section": "Events › 17 AD › Africa"}}, {"year": 47, "year_label": "47 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "Gnaeus Domitius Corbulo is made commander of the Roman army in Germania Inferior. He conquers the Chauci and fights against the Cherusci and Frisians.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1373289291#AD_47", "title": "40s", "revid": 1373289291, "section": "Timeline › AD 47"}}, {"year": 66, "year_label": "66 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "Mid–late October – Cestius Gallus, legate of Syria, marches into Judea and leads a Roman army of 30,000 men to put down the Jewish rebellion. At its core is Legio XII Fulminata, plus 2,000 selected men from the other three Syrian legions, six more cohorts of infantry and four alae of cavalry, plus over 14,000 auxiliaries furnished by Rome's eastern allies, including Herod Agrippa II and two other client kings, Antiochus IV of Commagene and Sohaemus of Emesa, who lead their forces (largely archers and cavalry) in person.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1330182683#Roman_Empire", "title": "AD 66", "revid": 1330182683, "section": "Events › By place › Roman Empire"}}, {"year": 67, "year_label": "67 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "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 auxilia and troops of King Herod Agrippa II.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1371185877#Roman_Empire", "title": "AD 67", "revid": 1371185877, "section": "Events › By place › Roman Empire"}}, {"year": 70, "year_label": "70 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "About April 21 – Titus opens a full-scale assault on Jerusalem, concentrating his attack on the city's Third Wall (HaHoma HaShlishit) to the northwest. The Roman army begins trying to breach the wall using testudos, mantlets, siege towers, and battering rams.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1359120161#Roman_Empire", "title": "AD 70", "revid": 1359120161, "section": "Events › By place › Roman Empire"}}, {"year": 72, "year_label": "72 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "First Jewish–Roman War: The Roman army (Legio X Fretensis) under Sextus Lucilius Bassus lays siege to the Jewish garrison of Machaerus at the Dead Sea. After they capitulate, the Zealots are allowed to leave the fortress before it is destroyed.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1356243750#Roman_Empire", "title": "AD 72", "revid": 1356243750, "section": "Events › By place › Roman Empire"}}, {"year": 73, "year_label": "73 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "Spring – The Roman governor Lucius Flavius Silva lays siege to Masada, the last outpost of the Jewish rebels following the end, in AD 70, of the First Jewish-Roman War (Jewish Revolt). The Roman army (Legio X Fretensis) surrounds the mountain fortress with a 7-mile long siege wall (circumvallation) and builds a rampart of stones and beaten earth against the western approach. After the citadel is conquered, 960 Zealots under the leadership of Eleazar ben Ya'ir commit mass suicide when defeat becomes imminent.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1371506584#Roman_Empire", "title": "AD 73", "revid": 1371506584, "section": "Events › By place › Roman Empire"}}, {"year": 77, "year_label": "77 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "Winter – Agricola conquers Anglesey, and disperses his army to their winter quarters.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1371506529#Roman_Empire", "title": "AD 77", "revid": 1371506529, "section": "Events › By place › Roman Empire"}}, {"year": 92, "year_label": "92 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "The Roman army moves into Mesopotamia (modern Syria).", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1330324122#Roman_Empire", "title": "AD 92", "revid": 1330324122, "section": "Events › By place › Roman Empire"}}, {"year": 106, "year_label": "106 CE", "section": "Geopolitics & Diplomacy", "date": "August 11", "text": "August 11 – The south-eastern part of Dacia (modern Romania) becomes a Roman province: Roman Dacia. The veterans of the legions are given land in the new province for their service in the Roman army.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1359392828#Roman_Empire", "title": "AD 106", "revid": 1359392828, "section": "Events › By place › Roman Empire"}}, {"year": 116, "year_label": "116 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "Trajan makes Syria a province of Rome and crosses the Tigris to annex Adiabene. He proceeds with his army to the Persian Gulf and conquers territory that becomes the province of Parthia.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1330326275#Roman_Empire", "title": "AD 116", "revid": 1330326275, "section": "Events › By place › Roman Empire"}}, {"year": 165, "year_label": "165 CE", "section": "Health & Medicine", "date": null, "text": "Antonine Plague: A pandemic breaks out in Rome, after the Roman army returns from Parthia. The plague significantly depopulates the Roman Empire and China.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1371302074#Roman_Empire", "title": "AD 165", "revid": 1371302074, "section": "Events › By place › Roman Empire"}}, {"year": 166, "year_label": "166 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "The Lombards invade Pannonia (modern Hungary). They are quickly dispatched by the Roman Army.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1371302266#Roman_Empire", "title": "AD 166", "revid": 1371302266, "section": "Events › By place › Roman Empire"}}, {"year": 168, "year_label": "168 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "The Roman army crosses the Alps into Pannonia, and subdues the Marcomanni at Carnuntum, north of the Danube.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1371302660#Roman_Empire", "title": "AD 168", "revid": 1371302660, "section": "Events › By place › Roman Empire"}}, {"year": 170, "year_label": "170 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "The Suebian tribes of the Marcomanni cross the Danube and invade Northern Italy. The Roman army (20,000 men) is destroyed near Carnuntum in Pannonia.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1371303023#Roman_Empire", "title": "AD 170", "revid": 1371303023, "section": "Events › By place › Roman Empire"}}, {"year": 172, "year_label": "172 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "Miracle in Moravia: As the Roman army is encircled by the Quadi under intense heat, a violent thunderstorm sweeps away the Quadi in a torrent of water and mud, and refreshes the parched legionaries.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1371303180#Roman_Empire", "title": "AD 172", "revid": 1371303180, "section": "Events › By place › Roman Empire"}}, {"year": 172, "year_label": "172 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "Avidius Cassius, governor of Syria, suppresses an agrarian revolt in Egypt and is made supreme commander of the Roman army in the East.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1371303180#Roman_Empire", "title": "AD 172", "revid": 1371303180, "section": "Events › By place › Roman Empire"}}, {"year": 193, "year_label": "193 CE", "section": "Religion & Belief", "date": "January 1", "text": "January 1 – Year of the Five Emperors: The Roman Senate chooses Publius Helvius Pertinax, against his will, to succeed the late Commodus as Emperor. Pertinax is forced to reorganize the handling of finances, which were wrecked under Commodus, to reestablish discipline in the Roman army, and to suspend the food programs established by Trajan, provoking the ire of the Praetorian Guard.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1371310592#Roman_Empire", "title": "AD 193", "revid": 1371310592, "section": "Events › By place › Roman Empire"}}, {"year": 196, "year_label": "196 CE", "section": "Geopolitics & Diplomacy", "date": null, "text": "In order to assure the support of the Roman legion in Germany on his march to Rome, Clodius Albinus is declared Augustus by his army while crossing Gaul.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1371314273#Roman_Empire", "title": "AD 196", "revid": 1371314273, "section": "Events › By place › Roman Empire"}}, {"year": 197, "year_label": "197 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "The Roman army marches east to repel a Parthian invasion of Mesopotamia; they loot the royal palace at Ctesiphon and capture an enormous number of its inhabitants as slaves.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1371314350#Roman_Empire", "title": "AD 197", "revid": 1371314350, "section": "Events › By place › Roman Empire"}}, {"year": 202, "year_label": "202 CE", "section": "Culture & Society", "date": null, "text": "Emperor Septimius Severus returns to Rome after a five-year absence. Festivals are held to celebrate his six-year reign. Severus undertakes changes in the imperial government, giving the Roman army a dominant role, raising pay in the legions and permitting legionaries to marry in order to secure their loyalty.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1367880704#Roman_Empire", "title": "202", "revid": 1367880704, "section": "Events › By place › Roman Empire"}}, {"year": 208, "year_label": "208 CE", "section": "Exploration & Expansion", "date": null, "text": "Emperor Septimius Severus leads an expedition (20,000 men) into Britannia, crosses Hadrian's Wall and moves through eastern Scotland. The Roman army pushes the Caledonians back to the River Tay and Severus signs a peace treaty. He repairs the Antonine Wall (his repairs are sometimes called the Severan Wall).", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1371187746#Roman_Empire", "title": "208", "revid": 1371187746, "section": "Events › By place › Roman Empire"}}, {"year": 209, "year_label": "209 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "Septimius Severus makes plans to subdue the land to the north of Scotland, ravaging it severely. Road-building and forest-clearing, the Roman army reaches Aber; Scottish tribes begin guerrilla warfare.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1371191170#Roman_Empire", "title": "209", "revid": 1371191170, "section": "Events › By place › Roman Empire"}}, {"year": 212, "year_label": "212 CE", "section": "Crime & Justice", "date": null, "text": "Caracalla quiets the objections of the Roman army to Geta's murder, by huge donations.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1371186817#Roman_Empire", "title": "212", "revid": 1371186817, "section": "Events › By place › Roman Empire"}}, {"year": 214, "year_label": "214 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "Caracalla's victories in Germany ensure his popularity within the Roman army.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1371187273#Roman_Empire", "title": "214", "revid": 1371187273, "section": "Events › By place › Roman Empire"}}, {"year": 216, "year_label": "216 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "Caracalla provokes a war with Artabanus V (of Parthia) to imitate his idol Alexander the Great. He crosses the Tigris, destroys towns and spoils the tombs of Arbela. The Roman army annexes Armenia.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1371188509#Roman_Empire", "title": "216", "revid": 1371188509, "section": "Events › By place › Roman Empire"}}, {"year": 230, "year_label": "230 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "Alexander Severus assembles the Roman army, and establishes his headquarters at Antioch. He attempts a diplomatic solution, but the Persians decline and choose war.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1371190910#Persian_Empire", "title": "230", "revid": 1371190910, "section": "Events › By place › Persian Empire"}}, {"year": 232, "year_label": "232 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "Roman–Persian Wars: Emperor Alexander Severus launches a three-pronged counterattack against the Persian forces of King Ardashir I, who have invaded Mesopotamia. However, the Roman army advancing through Armenia is halted. Alexander gives the order to march to the capital at Ctesiphon, but the Romans are defeated, and withdraw to Syria. The result is an acceptance of the status quo, and after heavy losses on both sides, a truce is signed.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1371191236#Roman_Empire", "title": "232", "revid": 1371191236, "section": "Events › By place › Roman Empire"}}, {"year": 244, "year_label": "244 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "Around February 11 – Battle of Misiche: King Shapur I and his Iranian army defeats the Roman army.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1371227716#Roman_Empire", "title": "244", "revid": 1371227716, "section": "Events › By place › Roman Empire"}}, {"year": 260, "year_label": "260 CE", "section": "Technology & Infrastructure", "date": null, "text": "King Shapur I sends Valerian to Bishapur and uses the captured Roman army for engineering plans. They construct the Band-e Kaisar (\"Bridge of Valerian\").", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1371187251#Roman_Empire", "title": "260", "revid": 1371187251, "section": "Events › By place › Roman Empire"}}, {"year": 267, "year_label": "267 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "The Goths sack several cities of southern Greece including Athens, Corinth, Argos and Sparta. After the Sack of Athens, an Athenian militia force (2,000 men), under the historian Dexippus, pushes the invaders to the north where they are intercepted by the Roman army under emperor Gallienus. He wins an important victory near the Nestos River, on the boundary between Macedonia and Thrace.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1367427906#Roman_Empire", "title": "267", "revid": 1367427906, "section": "Events › By place › Roman Empire"}}, {"year": 268, "year_label": "268 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": "November", "text": "November – Battle of Lake Benacus: A Roman army (35,000 men) under emperor Claudius II defeats the Germanic tribes of the Alamanni along the banks of Lake Garda.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1325890231#Roman_Empire", "title": "268", "revid": 1325890231, "section": "Events › By place › Roman Empire"}}, {"year": 299, "year_label": "299 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "Diocletian expels Christians from the Roman army.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1267078871#Roman_Empire", "title": "299", "revid": 1267078871, "section": "Events › By place › Roman Empire"}}, {"year": 305, "year_label": "305 CE", "section": "Geopolitics & Diplomacy", "date": null, "text": "Landowners dominate the Roman Empire, and enjoy the title of senator, which exempts them from the crushing taxes imposed on the rest of the population. The Senate has lost all its power and the landowners almost never attend Senate sessions. Members of municipal senates (curiales or decuriones) are charged with the responsibility of collecting taxes and paying arrears; smaller landowners are held responsible for providing recruits for the Roman army, and with keeping wastelands under cultivation.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1330171757#Commerce", "title": "305", "revid": 1330171757, "section": "Events › By topic › Commerce"}}]}