A Timeline of the History of Rome
1. Founding and Monarchy (753–509 BCE)
753 BCE – Legendary Founding of Rome
According to Roman mythology, the city of Rome was founded by Romulus on April 21, 753 BCE. Romulus and his twin brother Remus, sons of the god Mars and the priestess Rhea Silvia, were abandoned and raised by a she-wolf. After a dispute, Romulus killed Remus and became the first king of Rome.
Over the next two centuries, Rome was ruled by a series of kings—some Roman, others Sabine or Etruscan. The early monarchy established many of Rome’s religious and political institutions, including the Senate.
2. The Roman Republic (509–27 BCE)
509 BCE – Birth of the Republic
Romans overthrew their last king, Lucius Tarquinius Superbus, and established a republic governed by elected officials and checks and balances. Power was concentrated in the Senate, and magistrates such as consuls were elected annually.
This period saw the development of Roman law, civic identity, and military expansion. It was also marked by internal struggles between the patricians (aristocrats) and plebeians (commoners), eventually leading to the creation of the Twelve Tables (451 BCE)—Rome’s first written legal code.
264–146 BCE – The Punic Wars
Rome fought three wars against Carthage, a powerful city-state in North Africa. These wars, especially the Second Punic War led by the Carthaginian general Hannibal, were pivotal. Rome emerged victorious, completely destroying Carthage in 146 BCE and securing dominance over the western Mediterranean.
133–31 BCE – Crisis of the Late Republic
As Rome expanded, wealth inequality, corruption, and civil unrest grew. Reformers like the Gracchi brothers were killed for trying to redistribute land and power. Generals like Marius, Sulla, Pompey, and Julius Caesar began to use their armies for personal ambition.
In 44 BCE, Julius Caesar was assassinated by senators hoping to preserve the Republic, but the act led to further chaos. The subsequent power struggle ended with the rise of Caesar’s adopted heir, Octavian.
3. The Roman Empire (27 BCE – 476 CE)
27 BCE – Augustus and the Beginning of Empire
Octavian became the first Roman emperor and took the title Augustus. Although he maintained the illusion of republican institutions, real power was centralized. His reign marked the beginning of the Pax Romana (Roman Peace), a 200-year period of relative stability and prosperity.
Under the Empire, Rome controlled a vast territory stretching from Britain to Egypt and from Spain to Mesopotamia. Roads, aqueducts, and cities connected this vast world, and Roman law and culture spread widely.
64 CE – The Great Fire and Rise of Christianity
Under Emperor Nero, a massive fire destroyed large parts of Rome. Nero’s reign was infamous for extravagance and persecution of Christians, whom he blamed for the fire. Despite persecution, Christianity slowly grew, especially among the poor and enslaved.
212 CE – Roman Citizenship Expanded
Emperor Caracalla issued the Constitutio Antoniniana, granting Roman citizenship to all free men in the Empire. This marked a major step in the unification of the empire’s diverse populations.
284–305 CE – Reforms of Diocletian
Faced with internal chaos and external invasions, Emperor Diocletian divided the empire into Eastern and Western halves and introduced sweeping reforms to stabilize the state.
313 CE – Constantine and Christianity
Emperor Constantine issued the Edict of Milan, legalizing Christianity. He later converted and moved the capital eastward to Byzantium, renaming it Constantinople (modern-day Istanbul).
395 CE – Permanent Split of the Empire
After the death of Theodosius I, the Roman Empire was permanently divided between East (Byzantine Empire) and West. The Eastern Empire would continue for nearly a thousand years.
476 CE – Fall of the Western Roman Empire
The Western Empire fell when the Germanic general Odoacer deposed the last Roman emperor, Romulus Augustulus. This event marks the traditional end of Ancient Rome and the beginning of the Middle Ages in Western Europe.
4. Medieval and Renaissance Rome (476–1600 CE)
After the fall of the Western Empire, Rome came under the control of various barbarian tribes and later the Papacy. The Popes emerged as both spiritual and temporal leaders. Despite invasions and decline, Rome remained symbolically important.
800 CE – Charlemagne Crowned Emperor
On Christmas Day in 800 CE, Pope Leo III crowned Charlemagne as “Emperor of the Romans,” reviving the idea of a Roman Empire in the West, later known as the Holy Roman Empire.
1300s–1500s – Renaissance Rome
Rome experienced a cultural revival during the Renaissance. Popes like Julius II and Leo X patronized artists such as Michelangelo, Raphael, and Bramante. The city became a center of art, architecture, and humanist learning.
5. Modern Rome (1600 CE – Present)
1870 – Rome Becomes Capital of Italy
In the 19th century, the movement to unify Italy (the Risorgimento) succeeded. In 1870, Rome was annexed and became the capital of the newly unified Kingdom of Italy. The Papal States were dissolved, and the Pope’s temporal power ended.
1922–1943 – Fascist Era and World War II
Benito Mussolini established a fascist dictatorship in Italy, using Roman symbols and imagery to promote nationalism. During World War II, Rome suffered bombings and hardship but was declared an open city in 1944, sparing it from total destruction.
1946 – Republic Restored
After the fall of Mussolini and the monarchy, Italy became a republic following a national referendum. Rome remained its capital and began to rebuild.
Today – The Eternal City
Modern Rome is a bustling metropolis that blends ancient ruins with modern life. It remains a major center of culture, politics, religion (as the home of the Vatican), and tourism. From the Colosseum to the Vatican Museums, the legacy of more than 2,700 years of history continues to shape the identity of the city.
Conclusion
Rome’s story is not just about emperors and battles—it’s about transformation. From monarchy to republic, from empire to ruin, from papal theocracy to modern democracy, Rome has constantly reinvented itself. The phrase Roma Aeterna—Eternal Rome—is more than a romantic ideal. It’s a reflection of how this city has continuously shaped and been shaped by the tides of history.
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