49 B.C. Olympiad 182.4Click on the links in the lists of references to go to the sources for each event
| 1 | ROM {1 January -R} M.Antonius forces the consuls to publish a letter from Caesar, which has been brought to Rome by Curio.
* Read Caesar's account @ Cic:Fam_16.11'2; +Caes:BCiv_1.1'1-3'2;* Cic:Phil_2'51-55; [Liv]:Per_109'a; Vell_2.49'4; Plut:Caes_30'3-6, :Pomp_59'3-4, :Ant_5'5-7; +Appian:BCiv_2.32'b-c; #DioCass_41.1'1-2'2, 45.27'1, 46.11'1; {CAH_9'422; at this point, the Roman calendar was about 7 weeks ahead of the seasons, and Caesar invaded Italy in November 50 B.C., according to the Julian calendar.} |
|---|---|
| 2 | {4 January -R} Cicero arrives at Rome.
@ #Cic:Fam_16.11'2; {CAH_9'422.} |
| 3 | Cicero tries in vain to arrange a reconciliation between Caesar and Pompeius.
* Read Plutarch's account @ Cic:Fam_16.12'2; :Att_15.3'1, :Phil_2'24; Vell_2.48'5; Plut:Cic_37'1, :Caes_31'1-2,* :Pomp_59'5-6, :Ant_5'8. |
| 4 | {7 January -R} The senate passes the ultimate decree; M.Antonius, Q.Cassius, Curio and Caelius leave Rome, and go to join Caesar.
* Read Caesar's account @ Cic:Fam_8.17'1, 16.11'2; #Caes:BCiv_1.3'6-5'5,* 7'2-4; [Liv]:Per_109'a; Lucan_1'273-279; Plut:Caes_31'2-3, :Ant_5'9; Suet:Caes_31'1; +Appian:BCiv_2.33'a-c; +DioCass_41.3'1-2, 45.27'2; Oros_6.15'2;L {CAH_9'422-423.} |
| 5 | The senate meets with Pompeius outside Rome, and authorises him to organise the defence of Italy.
* Read Caesar's account @ +Caes:BCiv_1.6'1-8;* [Liv]:Per_109'a; Plut:Mor_810'C; +Appian:BCiv_2.34'a-b; +DioCass_41.3'3-4. |
| 6 | General comments on the resources and intentions of Caesar and Pompeius at the start of the civil war.
* Read Velleius' account @ [Sall]:CaesOr_2'2-5; Vell_2.49'1-3;* Lucan_1'120-182; Sen:Ep_95'67-71, 104'30-33; Flor_2.13'3-6.L |
| 7 | ETR {10 January -R} Caesar crosses the river Rubicon, and advances to Ariminum.
* Read Caesar's account @ +Caes:BCiv_1.7'1-8'1;* Vell_2.49'4; Lucan_1'183-391; Petron:Sat_122'd-123'd; Plut:CatMin_52'1, :Caes_32'1-33'1, :Pomp_60'1-4, :Ant_5'10-6'3, :Mor_206'C; Suet:Caes_30'1-33'1; +Appian:BCiv_2.35'a-c; +DioCass_41.3'1-2; Eutrop_6.19'1-2; Oros_6.15'3;L {CAH_9'424; OCD_r.} |
| 8 | ETR Caesar marches south through Umbria and Picenum.
* Read Caesar's account @ Cic:Att_7.11'1, :Fam_16.12'2; +Caes:BCiv_1.11'4-13'5,* 3.73'3; Lucan_1'392-468, 2'439-477; Suet:Caes_34'1; +DioCass_41.4'2, 44.44'1; Oros_6.15'4.L |
| 9 | Labienus deserts Caesar and joins his opponents.
* Read Lucan's account @ Cic:Att_7.11'1, 12'5, 13'1, :Fam_16.12'4; Lucan_5'346-347;* Plut:Caes_34'5, :Pomp_64'5; +DioCass_41.4'2-4; {OCD_l.} |
| 10 | ROM {17 January -R} Pompeius and most of the senators leave Rome.
* Read Dio's account @ Cic:Att_7.11'3-4, 8.3'3, #9.10'2; +Caes:BCiv_1.14'1-5; Lucan_1'469-2'438; Petron:Sat_123'd-124'c; Plut:CatMin_52'1-53'1, :Cic_37'1-3, :Caes_33'1-34'4, #56'5, :Pomp_60'5-61'7, 83'6-7, :Mor_205'C; Suet:Caes_75'1; +Appian:BCiv_2.36'a-b; +DioCass_41.6'1-9'7;* #Oros_6.16'8;L {CAH_9'424.} |
| 11 | ETR Document: Cic:Fam_14.14 & 14.18, two letters from Cicero to Terentia. |
| 12 | ITA {23 January} L.Caesar carries messages between Caear and Pompeius, but they fail to reach an agreement.
* Read Caesar's account @ +Caes:BCiv_1.8'2-11'3;* Cic:Att_7.13a'2, #14'1, 16'1-2, 17'2, 18'2, 19'1, 8.12'2, :Fam_16.12'3; +DioCass_41.5'1-4; {L.Caesar met Caesar at Ariminum, and then travelled to Teanum on 23rd January to meet Pompeius.} |
| 13 | ROM Octavianus, the great-nephew of Caesar, is sent away from Rome to protect him from potential enemies.
@ ~NicDam_127'4. |
| 14 | {January -R} Document: Cic:Att_7.10-16, seven letters from Cicero to Atticus.
@ Cic:Att_9.10'4-5. |
| 15 | {January -R} Document: Cic:Fam_16.8 & 16.11-12, three letters from Cicero to Tiro. |
| 16 | Document: Cic:Fam_5.20 & 13.48, letters from Cicero to Mescinius Rufus and Sextilius Rufus. |
| 17 | ETR Domitius attempts to resist Caesar at Corfinium, but is forced to surrender.
* Read Caesar's account @ Cic:Att_8.3'7, 7'1, 8'2, 11d'3-4, 12a'1, 12d'1, 14'3, 15a'3, 9.9c'1, 16'1-2; +Caes:BCiv_1.15'1-23'5;* [Liv]:Per_109'b; Vell_2.80'1; Lucan_2'478-525; Plut:Caes_34'6-35'1; Suet:Caes_34'1; +Appian:BCiv_2.38'a-b; +DioCass_41.10'1-2, 11'1-3; Oros_6.15'4;L {OCD_d.} |
| 18 | ITA Pompeius withdraws towards Brundisium.
* Read Caesar's account @ Cic:Att_8.4'3, 8'2, 9a'2, 11d'3-4, 12a'4, 14'1, 9.10'8; +Caes:BCiv_1.24'1-5;* Lucan_2'526-649; +Appian:BCiv_2.38'b-39'a; +DioCass_41.10'3-11'1. |
| 19 | AFR P.Attius Varus arrives from Italy, and takes control of Africa, acting as governor.
* Read Caesar's account @ +Caes:BCiv_1.31'2-3;* Cic:Lig_2-6, :Phil_13'30; Oros_6.15'7;L {OCD_v.} |
| 20 | ETR {February -R} Document: Cic:Att_7.17-8.12, twenty-two letters from Cicero to Atticus.
@ Cic:Att_9.10'5-8. |
| 21 | ITA {4 March -R} The consuls leave Brundisium, and sail over to Greece.
* Read Cicero's account @ Cic:Att_8.15'3,* 9.6'1, #'3, 9'2; {CAH_9'424.} |
| 22 | {9 March -R} Caesar arrives at Brundisium, and attempts to obstruct the harbour in order to stop Pompeius leaving.
* Read Caesar's account @ Cic:Att_9.12'1, 13'8, #13a'1, 14'1, :Fam_8.15'1; +Caes:BCiv_1.25'1-26'5;* Vell_2.50'1; Lucan_2'650-679; Plut:Caes_35'1-2, :Pomp_62'2-4; Flor_2.13'19;L +Appian:BCiv_2.40'a. |
| 23 | ETR Document: Cic:Fam_8.15, a letter from Caelius to Cicero. |
| 24 | ITA {17 March -R} Pompeius leaves Brundisium, and sails over to Greece.
* Read Caesar's account @ Cic:Att_9.14'3, #15'6; +Caes:BCiv_1.27'1-30'1;* [Liv]:Per_109'b; Lucan_2'680-3'45; Frontin:Str_1.5'5; Plut:Pomp_62'5-63'4; Suet:Caes_34'1-2; Flor_2.13'20;L +Appian:BCiv_2.40'a-c; +DioCass_41.12'1-14'3; Oros_6.15'4;L {CAH_9'425; OCD_p.} |
| 25 | Dire portents as Pompeius is forced to abandon Italy.
* Read Dio's account @ +Plin:HN_2'147,L 17'243-244;L +DioCass_41.14'1-6.* |
| 26 | ROM The death of M.Perperna, at the age of 98 years.
* Read Dio's account @ ValMax_8.13'4;L Plin:HN_7'156;L +DioCass_41.14'5;* {OCD_p.} |
| 27 | Document: [Sall]:CaesEp_, a letter from Sallustius to Caesar, which may not be genuine. {This letter, if genuine, probably belongs to the period just after the start of the civil war.} |
| 28 | ETR Document: Cic:Att_8.13-9.17, twenty-four letters from Cicero to Atticus, written at Formiae.
@ Cic:Att_9.10'8-10. |
| 29 | {28 March -R} Caesar visits Cicero at Formiae, but fails to win his support.
@ #Cic:Att_9.18'12-4; {OCD_cic.} |
| 30 | ROM {1 April -R} Caesar summons a meeting of the senate outside Rome.
* Read Dio's account @ Cic:Att_9.15'6, 17'1, 10.1'2, 3a'2, :Fam_4.1'1, 8.16'2; +Caes:BCiv_1.32'1-33'2; Vell_2.50'2; Sen:Ben_5.16'5; Lucan_3'71-112; Plut:Caes_35'3-5; Suet:Caes_34'2; +Appian:BCiv_2.41'a; +DioCass_41.15'1-16'4;* ChronPasc_457'B. |
| 31 | Caesar seizes money from the public treasury, despite the opposition of the tribune L.Metellus.
* Read Dio's account @ Cic:Att_10.4'8, 8'6; +Caes:BCiv_1.33'3-4; Lucan_3'112-168; Plin:HN_19'40,L 33'56;L Plut:Caes_35'6-11, :Pomp_62'1-2, :Mor_206'C; Flor_2.13'21;L +Appian:BCiv_2.41'a-b; DioCass_41.17'1-4;* Oros_6.15'5;L {CAH_9'430.} |
| 32 | Caesar releases Aristobulus, a Jewish prince, and sends him to Syria.
* Read Josephus' account @ Joseph:BJ_1'183,* :AJ_14'123; +DioCass_41.18'1. |
| 33 | After making arrangements for his absence, Caesar leaves Rome to go to Spain.
* Read Dio's account @ Cic:Fam_8.16'4; Plut:Ant_6'4; +Appian:BCiv_2.41'b-c; +DioCass_41.18'2-3.* |
| 34 | CIS {16 April -R} Document: Cic:Att_10.8b, a letter from Caesar to Cicero. |
| 35 | Document: Cic:Fam_8.16, a letter from Caelius to Cicero.
@ Cic:Att_10.9a'1-5. |
| 36 | NAR Caesar negotiates with the inhabitants of Massilia, after they refuse to receive him.
* Read Caesar's account @ Cic:Att_10.10'4, 12a'3, :Phil_2'94, 8'19; +Caes:BCiv_1.34'1-35'5;* Vell_2.50'3; Lucan_3'358-374; Suet:Ner_2'2. |
| 37 | ITA {April -R} Document: Cic:Att_9.19-10.7, ten letters from Cicero to Atticus. |
| 38 | {April -R} Document: Cic:Fam_4.1-2 & 5.19, letters from Cicero to Ser.Sulpicius and Mescinius Rufus. |
| 39 | {2/3 May -R} Document: Cic:Fam_2.16, a letter from Cicero to Caelius. |
| 40 | SIC Curio and Q.Valerius take control of Sicily and Sardinia, on behalf of Caesar.
* Read Caesar's account @ Cic:Att_10.4'8-9, 12'2, 16'3; +Caes:BCiv_1.30'2-31'3;* Lucan_3'46-70; Plut:CatMin_53'2-4; Flor_2.13'22;L +Appian:BCiv_2.40'd; +DioCass_41.18'1, 41'1; Oros_6.15'7;L {Cato decided not to defend Sicily against Curio, and left Syracuse on 23rd April (Cic:Att_10.16'3).} |
| 41 | NAR Caesar attacks Massilia, but is unable to capture it quickly.
* Read Caesar's account @ +Caes:BCiv_1.36'1-5;* [Liv]:Per_110'a; Lucan_3'375-455; Suet:Caes_34'2; Flor_2.13'23;L +DioCass_41.19'1-4; Oros_6.15'6.L |
| 42 | SPA Afranius and Petreius attack C.Fabius, the general of Caesar, near the river Sicoris.
* Read Caesar's account @ +Caes:BCiv_1.37'1-40'7;* +DioCass_41.20'1-2. |
| 43 | ITA {May -R} Document: Cic:Att_10.8-18, twelve letters from Cicero to Atticus, written at Cumae. |
| 44 | {7 June -R} Cicero and others leave Italy to join Pompeius.
* Read Dio's account @ Cic:Fam_8.17'1, #14.7'1-3; :Marc_14-16, :Lig_7; Nepos:Att_7'1-2; Quint_12.1'16; Plut:Cic_38'1-3; :Brut_4'1-3, :Pomp_64'4-7; +DioCass_41.18'4-6;* Macrob:Sat_2.3'7-8;L |
| 45 | ASI {? 19 June -R} L.Lentulus issues a decree exempting the Jews of Asia Minor from military service.
@ #Joseph:AJ_14'228-240. |
| 46 | SYR Aristobulus is killed by poisoning.
* Read Josephus' account @ Joseph:BJ_1'184,* '195, :AJ_14'124, '140. |
| 47 | SPA Caesar arrives in Spain, and confronts the army of Afranius in skirmishes near Ilerda.
* Read Caesar's account @ +Caes:BCiv_1.31'1-47'4;* Lucan_4'1-47; Frontin:Str_1.5'9; Silius_3'359;L +Appian:BCiv_2.42'a; +DioCass_41.20'3-5. |
| 48 | MAC Pompeius gathers reinforcements in Macedonia from many of the Roman provinces and allied kings.
* Read Cicero's account @ Cic:Deiot_9-13,* :Div_1'27,L 2'78,L :Phil_13'28-30; Liv_fr'32a; Lucan_3'169-297; Plut:CatMin_54'1-3, :Pomp_64'1-4; +Appian:BCiv_2.49'a-d; Just_42.4'6; Eutrop_6.19'3; {OCD_p.} |
| 49 | SPA Caesar's army is trapped for a few days, when a flood breaks the bridges over the rivers Sicoris and Cinga.
* Read Caesar's account @ +Caes:BCiv_1.48'1-55'2;* Lucan_4'48-143; Plut:Caes_36'1-2; Flor_2.13'27;L +Appian:BCiv_2.42'a-b, 150'd; +DioCass_41.20'6-21'2. |
| 50 | NAR D.Brutus defeats the inhabitants of Massilia in a naval battle.
* Read Caesar's account @ +Caes:BCiv_1.56'1-58'5;* [Liv]:Per_110'a; ValMax_3.2'22;L Lucan_3'455-762; Plut:Caes_16'2; Suet:Caes_68'4; Flor_2.13'24-25;L +DioCass_41.21'3-4. |
| 51 | SPA Caesar harries the army of Afranius and Petreius, as they attempt to retreat from Ilerda.
* Read Caesar's account @ +Caes:BCiv_1.59'1-80'5;* Lucan_4'143-253; Frontin:Str_1.8'9, 2.5'38, 13'6; Suet:Caes_75'2; +Appian:BCiv_2.42'b-43'a; Polyaen_8.23'28; +DioCass_41.22'1-2. |
| 52 | {August -R} Afranius and Petreius surrender to Caesar.
* Read Caesar's account @ +Caes:BCiv_1.81'1-87'5,* 3.83'2; Liv_fr'32c; [Liv]:Per_110'a; Strab_3.161'd;(4.10) Vell_2.50'4; Lucan_4'254-401; Frontin:Str_2.1'11; Plut:Caes_36'2, 41'4, :Pomp_65'3; Flor_2.13'28;L +Appian:BCiv_2.43'b-c; +DioCass_41.22'3-23'2; Eutrop_6.20'1; Oros_6.15'6;L {CAH_9'431; OCD_p.} |
| 53 | AFR ++ Curio is an eloquent but immoral politician.
* Read Quintilian's account @ ValMax_9.1'6;L Quint_6.3'76;* Hieron:Chron_1963. |
| 54 | Juba, king of Numidia, defeats and kills Curio near Utica.
* Read Caesar's account @ +Caes:BCiv_2.23'1-44'3;* [Caes]:BAfr_97'3; [Liv]:Per_110'b; Vell_2.55'1; Lucan_4'581-824; Frontin:Str_2.5'40; Flor_2.13'34;L +Appian:BCiv_2.44'a-46'c; +DioCass_41.41'1-42'7, 42.56'2, 43.30'3; Hieron:Chron_1963; Oros_6.15'9;L {CAH_9'431; OCD_j.} |
| 55 | ILL C.Antonius is forced to surrender to M.Octavius, one of Pompeius' officers, off the Dalmatian coast.
* Read Dio's account @ +Caes:BCiv_3.67'5; Cic:Phil_13'30; [Liv]:Per_110'b; Lucan_4'402-581; Suet:Caes_36'1; Flor_2.13'31-33;L +Appian:BCiv_2.47'a; +DioCass_41.40'1-2;* Oros_6.15'8-9;L {OCD_a.} |
| 56 | BAE Caesar accepts the surrender of M.Varro, and settles affairs in the rest of Spain.
* Read Caesar's account @ Cic:Fam_9.13'1; +Caes:BCiv_2.17'1-21'5;* [Liv]:Per_110'a; Flor_2.13'29;L +DioCass_41.24'1-3; Oros_6.15'7.L |
| 57 | ITA M.Antonius, acting as Caesar's deputy, visits many of the Italian towns.
* Read Cicero's account @ Cic:Att_10.10'5, :Phil_2'55-58;* Plut:Ant_6'5-7. |
| 58 | NAR Massilia surrenders to Caesar after a long siege.
* Read Caesar's account @ +Caes:BCiv_2.1'1-16'3,* 22'1-6; Vitr_10.16'11-12; [Liv]:Per_110'a; Strab_4.180'e;(1.5) Flor_2.13'25;L +DioCass_41.25'1-3; Oros_6.15'7;L {OCD_m.} |
| 59 | GRE Appius Claudius consults the oracle at Delphi about the outcome of the civil war.
* Read Lucan's account @ Cic:Tusc_1'37;L ValMax_1.8'10;L ~Lucan_5'1-236.* |
| 60 | MAC Cato strongly advocates delaying military action, and Pompeius does not trust him with a senior command.
* Read Plutarch's account @ Plut:CatMin_53'5-54'6,* :Pomp_65'1-2. |
| 61 | CIS Caesar suppresses a mutiny in his army at Placentia.
* Read Dio's account @ Lucan_5'237-373; Frontin:Str_4.5'2; Suet:Caes_36'1; +Appian:BCiv_2.47'a-c; +DioCass_41.26'1-35'5.* |
| 62 | ROM Caesar is appointed dictator, and oversees the election of magistrates for the following year.
* Read Dio's account @ Caes:BCiv_3.1'1; FastCap_p76; Lucan_5'374-402; Plut:Caes_37'1-2; Flor_2.13'21;L +Appian:BCiv_2.48'a-b; +DioCass_41.36'1-4;* Eutrop_6.20'1; {CAH_9'431; OCD_c.} |
| 63 | Julius Caesar is considered by later writers to be the first Roman emperor.
* Read ChroniconPaschale's account @ [Euseb]:Chron_129'c; +Hieron:Chron_1968; ExcBarb_47B, 48A; ChronPasc_456'C-457'A,* 460'A; Suda_K'1199. |
| 64 | Caesar introduces measures to ease the debt problems caused by the onset of civil war.
* Read Dio's account @ +Caes:BCiv_3.1'2-5; Cic:Off_2'84;L Plut:Caes_37'2; +Appian:BCiv_2.48'b; +DioCass_41.37'1-38'3.* |
| 65 | {December -R} Omens as Caesar leaves Rome.
* Read Dio's account @ +Caes:BCiv_3.2'1; #Appian:BCiv_2.48'c; +DioCass_41.39'1-4.* |
| 66 | SYR Alexander, the son of Aristobulus, is executed by Scipio, but his brothers are protected by Ptolemaeus the son of Mennaeus.
* Read Josephus' account @ Joseph:BJ_1'185-186,* '195, :AJ_14'125-126, '140, '142; {MRR_2'177.} |
| 67 | MAC Pompeius sends his troops into winter quarters in Thessaly and Macedonia.
@ +Appian:BCiv_2.50'a-52'a. |
| 68 | ITA {December -R} Bad weather prevents Caesar from crossing over the Adriatic Sea.
@ +Appian:BCiv_2.52'a-54'a. |
| 69 | ROM == The marriage of Lucretius Vespillo and Turia.
@ CIL_6.1527<t= LewRein_1.p484>; {See W. Warde Fowler, Social Life at Rome in the age of Cicero, p.160.} |
| 70 | SIC == The floruit of the historian Diodorus Siculus.
@ +Hieron:Chron_1968. |
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