View source for AD 73

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[[File:Vista general de Masada.jpg|thumb|Fortress [[Masada]]]]
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'''AD 73''' ('''[[Roman numerals|LXXIII]]''') was a [[common year starting on Friday]] of the [[Julian calendar]]. At the time, it was known as the '''Year of the [[Consulship]] of [[Domitian]] and [[Lucius Valerius Catullus Messalinus|Messalinus]]''' (or, less frequently, '''year 826 ''[[Ab urbe condita]]'''''). The denomination AD 73 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 ====
* [[Vespasian]] and [[Titus]] are appointed to be [[Roman censor]]s.<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>
* Spring &ndash; The Roman governor [[Lucius Flavius Silva]] lays siege to [[Masada]], the last outpost of the [[Jew]]ish 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 [[siege|rampart]] of stones and beaten earth against the western approach. After the [[citadel]] is conquered, 960 [[Zealots]] under the leadership of [[Sicarii|Eleazar ben Ya'ir]] commit [[mass suicide]] when defeat becomes imminent.
* [[Pliny the Elder]] serves as [[Procurator (Roman)|procurator]] in [[Hispania Tarraconensis]].
* [[Domitian|Titus Flavius Domitianus]] becomes [[List of Early Imperial Roman Consuls|Roman Consul]].
* Emperor [[Vespasian]] begins conquest of territory east of the upper [[Rhine]] and south of the [[Main (river)|Main]]. In addition, he reorganizes the defenses of the upper and lower [[Danube]].

==== Asia ====
* February &ndash; The Chinese [[Han dynasty]] launches a major campaign against the [[Xiongnu]], whom they confront in the [[Battle of Yiwulu]] in the [[Kumul (city)|Kumul]] [[oasis]], an ultimate Han military victory led by General [[Dou Gu]] (d. [[AD 88]]).
* [[Ban Chao]] (Pan-Ch’ao), competing with the [[Xiongnu]], imposes a Chinese [[protectorate]] on the kings of [[Lop Nor]] and [[Khotan]] in the [[Tarim Basin]], with the aim of controlling the [[Silk Road]].

=== By topic ===

==== Arts and sciences ====
* [[Martial]] writes a [[satire]] on "military cowardice".
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== Births ==
* [[Flavius Hyrcanus|Titus Flavius Hyrcanus]], Roman aristocrat

== Deaths ==

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== References ==
{{Reflist}}

[[als:70er#Johr 73]]

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[[Category:73|0073]]