AD 69

Map of the Year of the Four Emperors

AD 69 (LXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar. In the Roman Empire, it was known as the Year of the consulship of Galba and Vinius (or, less frequently, year 822 Ab urbe condita). The denomination AD 69 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 Empire

• The Year of the Four Emperors: After Nero's death, Galba, Otho, Vitellius and Vespasian succeed each other as emperor during the year.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The year is marked by numerous instances of a breakdown in discipline and mutinous conduct amongst the Roman legions and the praetorian guard.
• January 1 – The Roman legions in Germania Superior refuse to swear loyalty to Galba. They rebel and proclaim Vitellius as emperor.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite web</ref>
• January 10 – Lucius Calpurnius Piso Licinianus is adopted by Galba and appointed to deputy Roman Emperor.<ref name=":1">Template:Cite web</ref>
• January 15 – Galba and his adopted son Piso are murdered by the Praetorian Guard on the Roman Forum.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Otho seizes power in Rome, proclaims himself emperor, and reigns for three months before committing suicide.<ref name=":2">Template:Cite web</ref>
• Marcus Trebellius Maximus, governor of Britannia, is forced to flee to Gaul after a mutiny of Legio XX Valeria Victrix at Deva Victrix (Chester).<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
• April 14 – First Battle of Bedriacum: Vitellius defeats Otho's legions; Otho commits suicide.<ref name=":2" />
• April 17 – After the First Battle of Bedriacum, Vitellius becomes emperor.<ref name=":0" />
• Marcus Vettius Bolanus becomes the new governor of Britain and faces a second insurrection of Venutius, king of the Brigantes.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
• July 1 – two legions in Egypt, a legion in Syria, and a legion in Judea declare Vespasian emperor<ref name=vespasian/>
• July 1 – Tiberius Julius Alexander orders his legions in Alexandria to swear allegiance to Vespasian as emperor.<ref name="l2257">Template:Cite book</ref>
• July 3 – The army of Judea swears allegiance to Vespasian as emperor.<ref name="l2257"/>
• August 1 – Batavian rebellion: The Batavians in Germania Inferior (Netherlands) revolt under the leadership of Gaius Julius Civilis.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• 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 proclaim Vespasian as emperor.<ref name=":4">Template:Cite web</ref>
• October 24 – Second Battle of Bedriacum: Flavians under Antonius Primus defeat the Vitellians.<ref name=":4" />
• December 22 – Vitellius is captured and murdered by the Gemonian stairs. Vespasian becomes emperor.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Judea: The Jewish Revolt – Vespasian lays siege to Jerusalem; the city is captured the following year by his son Titus.<ref name=":5">Template:Cite web</ref>
• Josephus, Jewish rebel leader, is dragged before Vespasian and becomes his historian (he "prophesied" him his elevation to the purple).<ref name=":5" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Legio I Macriana liberatrix is disbanded.
• The Flavian dynasty starts.<ref name=":4" />

Births

• Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus, Roman historian (approximate date)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Polycarpus, bishop and martyr of Smyrna (d. AD 155)<ref>Template:Citation</ref>

Deaths

• January 15
  • Cornelius Laco, Roman praetorian prefect (murdered)Template:Citation needed
  • Sempronius Densus, Roman bodyguard (killed)
  • Lucius Calpurnius Piso Licinianus, Roman deputy emperor (b. AD 38)<ref name=":1" />
  • Servius Sulpicius Galba, Roman emperor (b. 3 BC)<ref name=vespasian>Template:Cite web</ref>
• April 16 – Marcus Salvius Otho, Roman emperor (b. AD 32)<ref name=":2" /><ref name=vespasian/>
• December 20 – Titus Flavius Sabinus, Roman consul (murdered)
• December 22 – Aulus Vitellius Germanicus, Roman emperor (b. AD 15)
• Cartimandua, Queen of the Brigantes (approximate date)
• Gaius Ofonius Tigellinus, Roman praetorian prefect (suicide)
• Locusta, Roman female poison expert to Nero (executed)
• Lucius Vitellius (the Younger), Roman politician (executed)
• Marcus Hordeonius Flaccus, Roman politician (murdered)
• Titus Flavius Sabinus, brother of Vespasian<ref name=vespasian/>
• Sextilia, mother of Aulus Vitellius and Lucius Vitellius (suicide)
• Sporus, Roman freedman and male lover of Nero (suicide)
• Titus Vinius, Roman general and consul (b. AD 12)