Directory

62 CE

Battle of Rhandeia: The Roman army (two legions) is defeated by the Parthians under king Tiridates I. Paetus surrenders and withdraws his disheveled army to Syria. Emperor Nero marries for the second time, to Poppaea Sabina, ex-wife of Marcus Salvius Otho. The Parthians invade Armenia and lay siege to Tigranocerta. The city is well-fortified and garrisoned by the Romans. The assault fails and king Vologases I retreats. Instead, he makes preparations to invade Syria.

Conflict & Security

  • Battle of Rhandeia: The Roman army (two legions) is defeated by the Parthians under king Tiridates I. Paetus surrenders and withdraws his disheveled army to Syria.source
  • Lucius Caesennius Paetus advances towards Tigranocerta, but due to lack of supplies he makes camp for the winter in the fortress at Rhandeia in northwestern Armenia.source
  • Lucan writes a history of the conflict between Julius Caesar and Pompey.source
  • Vologases I leads the Parthian army in a full-scale assault on the Euphrates. Legio X Fretensis and men of the other two legions (Legio III Gallica and Legio VI Ferrata) defend the eastern bank of the river, fighting off a desperate attack.source
  • The Parthians invade Armenia and lay siege to Tigranocerta. The city is well-fortified and garrisoned by the Romans. The assault fails and king Vologases I retreats. Instead, he makes preparations to invade Syria.source

Technology & Infrastructure

  • Gnaeus Domitius Corbulo strengthens the fortifications on the Euphrates frontier. He builds a strong flotilla of ships equipped with catapults and a wooden bridge across the river, which allows him to establish a foothold on the Parthian shore.source

Crime & Justice

  • Paul of Tarsus is released from imprisonment in Rome (approximate date).source

Disasters & Accidents

  • A violent storm destroys 200 ships anchored at Portus.source

Climate & Environment

  • A great earthquake damages cities in Campania, including Pompeii (February 5).source

Culture & Society

  • Emperor Nero marries for the second time, to Poppaea Sabina, ex-wife of Marcus Salvius Otho.source
  • The making of Still Life, a detail of a wall painting from Herculaneum, begins (finished in AD 79). It is now kept at Museo Nazionale in Naples.source
  • Nero completes the Baths of Nero in Rome.source

Deaths

  • June 8 – Claudia Octavia, wife of Nero (possibly executed) (b. AD 40)source
  • November 24 – Aulus Persius Flaccus, Roman poet (b. AD 34)source
  • Sextus Afranius Burrus, Roman prefect and friend of Seneca (b. AD 1)source
  • After the death of Burrus and the disgrace of Seneca, Nero is free from their influence and becomes a megalomaniacal artist fascinated by Hellenism and the Orient. Tigellinus becomes Nero's counselor. His rule is highly abusive.source
  • Faustus Cornelius Sulla Felix, Roman consul (murdered) (b. AD 22)source
  • James the Just, brother of Jesus (martyred) (approximate date)source
  • Lucius Caecilius Iucundus, Roman banker from Pompeii (b. c. AD 14)source
  • Gaius Rubellius Plautus, cousin of Nero (executed) (b. AD 33)source