View source for 129 BC

{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2011}}
{{Year nav|-129}}
{{BC year in topic|129}}
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Year '''129 BC''' was a year of the [[Roman calendar|pre-Julian Roman calendar]]. At the time it was known as the '''Year of the Consulship of Tuditanus and Aquillius''' (or, less frequently, '''year 625 ''[[Ab urbe condita]]''''') and the '''Sixth Year of Yuanguang'''. The denomination 129 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 ==
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=== By place ===
==== The Roman Republic ====
* The Kingdom of [[Pergamon]] becomes the [[Roman Republic|Roman]] Province of [[Roman Asia|Asia]] upon the defeat of [[Eumenes III|Aristonicus]], pretender to the [[Attalid]] throne, by [[Marcus Perperna (consul 130 BC)|M. Perperna]].
* [[Gaius Sempronius Tuditanus|C. Sempronius Tuditanus]] celebrates his [[Roman Triumph|triumph]] over the [[Iapydes]] of [[Ancient Illyria|Illyria]].
* [[Scipio Aemilianus]], victor of [[Carthage]] is possibly assassinated by his enemies in Rome.

==== Syria ====
* [[Battle of Ecbatana]]: the [[Seleucid dynasty|Seleucid]] King [[Antiochus VII Sidetes]] is defeated and killed by the [[Parthia]]ns under [[Phraates II]], ending Seleucid control over [[Medes|Media]] or [[Mesopotamia]].
* Having been freed by the Parthians, [[Demetrius II of Syria]] recovers the throne of the [[Seleucid Empire]].

==== China ====
* March: [[Chen Jiao]] is deposed as Empress after she asks a sorceress to curse [[Emperor Wu of Han|Emperor Wu]]'s favourite consort, [[Wei Zifu]], this being regarded an act of heresy and treason. Wei Zifu is made the new Empress.<ref>{{cite book|first=Hing Ming|last= Hung|title=The Magnificent Emperor Wu: China's Han Dynasty|year= 2020|isbn=978-1628944167|page= 135|publisher= Algora}}</ref>
* Spring: the [[Xiongnu]] raid Shanggu, killing officials and other inhabitants.<ref>{{cite book|first=Hing Ming|last= Hung|title=The Magnificent Emperor Wu: China's Han Dynasty|year= 2020|isbn=978-1628944167|page= 133|publisher= Algora}}</ref>
* Autumn: Emperor Wu launches his first offensive into the northern steppe against the Xiongnu and their allies. The invasion consists of four armies, each of 10,000 cavalrymen. Two of the four armies are defeated, namely those of [[Li Guang]] and [[Gongsun Ao]], and only the army of [[Wei Qing]] achieves a victory. Although a modest success, Wei Qing's victory is the first Han success against the Xiongnu. Moreover, it is won at [[Longcheng, Mongolia|Longcheng]], a sacred site far to the north, beyond the [[Gobi Desert]], where the Xiongnu offer sacrifices.<ref>{{cite book|first=Hing Ming|last= Hung|title=The Magnificent Emperor Wu: China's Han Dynasty|year= 2020|isbn=978-1628944167|pages= 133–135|publisher= Algora}}</ref>
* Winter: the Xiongnu retaliate by crossing the border several times, especially ravaging Yuyang.<ref>{{cite book|first=Hing Ming|last= Hung|title=The Magnificent Emperor Wu: China's Han Dynasty|year= 2020|isbn=978-1628944167|page= 139|publisher= Algora}}</ref>
* The Han diplomat [[Zhang Qian]] escapes Xiongnu custody and resumes his mission of forming an anti-Xiongnu alliance with the Yuezhi. He reaches the State of [[Dayuan]] in the [[Ferghana Valley]], whose trade with the Han had been prevented by the Xiongnu and who supply Zhang with guides. Zhang then travels to the states of [[Kangju]], [[Greater Yuezhi]] and [[Daxia]] ([[Bactria]]). He also learns of the [[Parthian Empire]], [[Daqin]], the [[Caspian Sea]] and the source of the [[Yellow River]].<ref>{{cite book|first=Hing Ming|last= Hung|title=The Magnificent Emperor Wu: China's Han Dynasty|year= 2020|isbn=978-1628944167|pages= 145–150|publisher= Algora}}</ref>

=== By topic ===
==== Astronomy ====
* [[Hipparchus]] publishes his catalog of [[star]]s.
* Total [[solar eclipse]], used by [[Hipparchus]] to estimate distance to the [[Moon]].

== Deaths ==
* [[Antiochus VII Sidetes]] (killed in battle)
* [[Carneades]], philosopher, and founder of [[Third Academy]] (b. c. [[214 BC]])
* [[Scipio Aemilianus Africanus|P. Cornelius Scipio Aemilianus Africanus Numantinus (Africanus the Younger)]] (b. [[185 BC]])

== References ==
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{{Reflist}}

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[[Category:129 BC| ]]