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'''AD 70''' ('''[[Roman numerals|LXX]]''') was a [[common year starting on Monday]] of the [[Julian calendar]]. At the time, it was known as the '''Year of the [[Consulship]] of [[Vespasian]] and [[Titus]]''' (or, less frequently, '''year 823 ''[[Ab urbe condita]]'''''). The denomination AD 70 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 ====
* Emperor [[Vespasian]] and his son [[Titus|Caesar Vespasian]] (the future Emperor Titus) become Roman consuls.
* Panic strikes [[Ancient Rome|Rome]] as adverse winds delay [[grain]] shipments  from [[Africa (Roman province)|Africa]] and [[Egypt (Roman province)|Egypt]], producing a [[bread]] shortage. Ships laden with [[wheat]] from [[North Africa]] sail 300 miles to Rome's port of [[Ostia Antica|Ostia]] in 3 days, and the 1,000 mile voyage from [[Alexandria]] averages 13 days. The vessels often carry 1,000 tons each to provide the city with the 8,000 tons per week it normally consumes.
* [[Sextus Julius Frontinus]] is [[praetor]] of Rome. [[Legio II Adiutrix|Legio II ''Adiutrix'']] is created from [[marines]] of [[Classis Ravennatis]].
* [[Pliny the Elder]] serves as procurator in ''[[Gallia Narbonensis]]''.
* 14th of [[Xanthikos]]<ref>''[[War of the Jews]]'' Book V, sect. 99 (Ch. 3, paragraph 1 in Whiston's translation)</ref> (14th of [[Nisan]], about [[April 14]]) &ndash; [[Siege of Jerusalem (AD 70)|Siege of Jerusalem]]: Titus surrounds the Jewish capital, with three legions ([[Legio V Macedonica|V ''Macedonica'']], [[Legio XII Fulminata|XII ''Fulminata'']] and [[Legio XV Apollinaris|XV ''Apollinaris'']]) on the western side and a fourth ([[Legio X Fretensis|X ''Fretensis'']]) on the [[Mount of Olives]] to the east. He puts pressure on the food and water supplies of the inhabitants by allowing [[pilgrim]]s to enter the city to celebrate [[Passover]] and then refusing them [[egress (law)|egress]].
* About [[April 21]] &ndash; 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 ''[[testudo formation|testudos]]'', [[mantlet]]s, [[siege tower]]s, and [[battering ram]]s.
* 7th of [[Artemisios]]<ref>''War of the Jews'' Book V, sect. 302 (Ch. 7, par. 2)</ref> (7th of [[Iyar]], about [[May 6]]) &ndash; The Third Wall of Jerusalem collapses and the Jews withdraw from [[Bezetha]] to the Second Wall, where the defences are unorganized.
* 12th of Artemisios<ref>''War of the Jews'' Book V, sect. 466 (Ch. 11, par. 4)</ref> (12th of Iyar, about [[May 11]]) &ndash; Titus and his [[Roman legion]]s breach the Second Wall of Jerusalem. The Jewish defenders retreat to the First Wall. The Romans start building a [[circumvallation]]; all trees within 90 [[stadion (unit)|stadia]] (ca. fifteen kilometres) of the city are cut down.
* 21st of Artemisios (about May 20 or 21) – A "certain prodigious and incredible phenomenon", "chariots and troops" seen running in the clouds around Jerusalem<ref name=signs>''War of the Jews'' [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=J.+BJ+6.5.3&fromdoc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0148 Book VI, sect. 296] (Ch. 5, par. 3). In Greek, "φάσμα τι δαιμόνιον ὤφθη μεῖζον πίστεως", a phrase that is often translated on [[UFO]] sites as "On the 21st of May a demonic phantom of incredible size...".</ref>
* [[Pentecost]] ([[Shavuot]], 6th of [[Sivan]], about [[June 4]]) – Priests in the [[Temple in Jerusalem]] feel a quaking and hear "a sound as of a great multitude saying, Let us remove hence".<ref name=signs/>
* 17th of [[Panemos]] (17th of [[Tammuz (Hebrew month)|Tammuz]]), about [[July 14]]) – Sacrifices cease in the temple.<ref>''War of the Jews'' Book VI, sect. 94 (Ch. 2, par. 1)</ref>
* 24th of Panemos<ref>''War of the Jews'' Book VI, sect. 166 (Ch. 2, par. 9)</ref> (about [[July 20]]) &ndash; Romans set fire to a cloister after the capture of the [[Antonia Fortress|Fortress of Antonia]], north of the [[Temple Mount]]. The Romans are drawn into street fighting with the [[Zealots]].
* 10th of [[Loios]]<ref>''War of the Jews'' Book VI, sect. 220 (Ch. 4, par. 1)</ref> (9th or 10th of [[Av (month)|Av]], about [[August 4]]) &ndash; Titus destroys the Jewish [[Temple in Jerusalem]]. Roman troops are stationed in Jerusalem and abolish the Jewish high priesthood and [[Sanhedrin]]. This becomes known as the [[Siege of Jerusalem (70 CE)|Fall of Jerusalem]], a conclusive event in the [[First Jewish–Roman War]] (the Jewish Revolt), which began in 66 AD. Following this event, the Jewish religious leadership moves from Jerusalem to [[Yavne|Jamnia]] (present-day [[Yavne]]), and this date is mourned annually as the [[Fasting#Judaism|Jewish fast]] of [[Tisha B'Av]].
* August &ndash; Titus captures Jerusalem.<ref name=vespasian>{{cite web | first=Guy Edward Farquhar |  last=Chilver | title=Vespasian | date=January 20, 2024 | access-date=February 20, 2024 | url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Vespasian | series=Encyclopaedia Britannica}}</ref>
* 8th of [[Gorpiaios]] (8th of [[Elul]], about [[September 2]]) – Romans gain control of all of Jerusalem and proceed to burn it and kill its remaining residents, except for some who are taken captive to be killed later or enslaved.<ref>''War of the Jews'' Book VI, sect. 407 (Ch. 8, par. 5; Ch. 9, par. 2)</ref>
* [[Nablus|Neapolis]] (present-day [[Nablus]]) is founded in [[Iudaea Province]].
* Naval clashes on the [[Rhine]] during the [[Revolt of the Batavi|Batavian Revolt]]; the crew of a captured Roman flagship is imprisoned at [[Augusta Treverorum]] (modern [[Trier]]).
* Roman legions [[Legio V Alaudae|V ''Alaudae'']] and [[Legio XV Primigenia|XV ''Primigenia'']] are destroyed by the [[Batavi (Germanic tribe)|Batavi]]. Later, [[Quintus Petillius Cerialis]] puts down the Batavian rebellion of [[Gaius Julius Civilis]].
* Vespasian disbands four [[Roman legion|Rhine legions]] ([[Legio I Germanica|I ''Germanica'']], [[Legio IV Macedonica|IV ''Macedonica'']], [[Legio XV Primigenia|XV ''Primigenia'']] and [[Legio XVI Gallica|XVI ''Gallica'']]), disgraced for having surrendered or lost their [[Aquila (Roman)|eagles]] during the revolt of Julius Civilis.
* Later [[Roman emperor]] [[Domitian]] marries [[Domitia Longina]].
* Romans make a [[punitive expedition]] against the [[Garamantes]] – they are forced to have an official relationship with the [[Roman Empire]].
* Annexation of the island of [[Samothrace]] by the Roman Empire under Vespasian.

==== Asia ====
* [[India]] sees the end of the [[:Category:Indo-Greek kings|Hellenistic dynasties]].
* A flood in the yellow river returns the river north of Shandong, to essentially its present course<ref name="Treg">Tregear, T. R. (1965) ''A Geography of China'', pp. 218–219.</ref>

==== Africa ====
* Expedition by the Roman Septimius Flaccus to southern [[Egypt]]. He probably reaches [[Sudan]].
* Ze-Hakèlé ([[Zoskales]] in Greek) becomes king of [[Kingdom of Aksum|Aksum]].

=== By topic ===

==== Religion ====
* Following the [[Siege of Jerusalem (70 CE)|destruction of Jerusalem]], the [[Sanhedrin]] moved to [[Yavne|Jamnia]].
* Members of the [[Oneida Community]], a now non-existent religious group formed in the [[nineteenth century]], believed this was the year [[Jesus Christ]] returned.

== Births ==
* [[Demonax]], Greek [[Cynicism (philosophy)|Cynic]] philosopher (approximate date)
* [[Gaius Julius Quadratus Bassus]], Roman politician (d. [[AD 117]])
* [[Marinus of Tyre]], Greek geographer and writer (d. [[AD 130]])
* [[Menelaus of Alexandria]], Greek [[mathematician]] (d. [[AD 140]])

== Deaths ==
* [[Eleazar ben Simon]], Jewish leader of the [[Zealots]]
* [[Gaius Dillius Vocula]], Roman general (murdered)
* [[Hero of Alexandria]], Greek mathematician and engineer
* [[Lucius Calpurnius Piso (consul 57)|Lucius Calpurnius Piso]], Roman consul and governor
* [[Columella|Lucius Junius Moderatus Columella]], Roman writer 
* [[Malichus II]], Roman client king of [[Nabatean Kingdom|Nabatea]]
* [[Phannias ben Samuel]], high priest of [[Israel]]
* [[Simeon ben Gamliel]], Jewish leader (''[[Nasi (Hebrew title)|nasi]]'')
* [[Simon bar Giora]], Jewish leader (executed)
* [[Emperor Suinin]] of Japan, according to legend.

== References ==
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[[als:70er#Johr 70]]

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