Browse Historical Events by Month:
The first Olympic games, the founding of dynasties, and legendary battles. Explore historic milestones from March that influenced today's world. Dates for earlier events may be approximate.
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Solomon's Temple (the First Temple) in Jerusalem is completed around 959 BCE, after seven years of construction. Built by King Solomon on Mount Moriah, it served as the center of ancient Israelite worship and housed the Ark of the Covenant until it was destroyed by Babylonian Empire King, Nebuchadnezzar II, c. 597 BCE, with the Second temple built later on the same site.
Solomon's son Rehoboam ascends to the throne of the Kingdom of Judah after Solomon's death, circa 931 BCE, leading to the division of the United Monarchy into the northern Kingdom of Israel and the southern Kingdom of Judah. The split is seen as a fulfilled biblical prophecy, leaving the House of David with only the southern, smaller kingdom.
According to most scholars, the division is believed to have occurred in 931/930 BCE, although some sources cite approximately 975 B.C. or 932/931 B.C.. Rehoboam ruled the southern Kingdom of Judah for 17 years from Jerusalem.
The first recorded Olympic Games in ancient Greece take place in Olympia.
Israel northern Kingdom capital city of Samaria falls to the Assyrians in 722 BCE after a three-year siege by the Assyrian Empire, Initiated by Shalmaneser V and completed by Sargon II, The conquest resulted in the deportation of thousands of Israelites to Media and Mesopotamia, effectively ending the northern kingdom. Samaria was later rebuilt by Herod the Great as Sebaste.
Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha, dies at the age of 80 in Kushinagar, India. More
Pyrrhus of Epirus, a Greek king and statesman of the Hellenistic period, known as a skilled but reckless military leader and for his Pyrrhic victories against Rome is killed in 272 BCE, while fighting in the streets of Argos The phrase "Pyrrhic victory" is now use to describe wins that cost too much.
The founding of the Qin Dynasty in China marks the beginning of Imperial China.
The Battle of Zama takes place in what is now Tunisia between a Roman army commanded by Scipio Africanus and a Carthaginian army commanded by Hannibal. The battle was part of the Second Punic War and resulted in such a severe defeat for the Carthaginians that they capitulated, while Hannibal was forced into exile.
Julius Caesar is assassinated by a group of Roman senators, including Brutus and Cassius, in the Roman Senate on March 15, 44 BCE (The Ides of March) at the Theatre of Pompey. The assassination resulted in the rise of the Roman Empire under Caesar's grandnephew, Octavian (Augustus).
The Roman poet Ovid (Publius Ovidius Naso), is born in Sulmo, Italy. He went on to be a celebrated Roman poet during the Augustan Age and to author the "Metamorphoses", a 15-book epic poem weaving Greek and Roman myths of transformation from creation to his time, profoundly influencing Western literature.
He is also well known poems, The 'Fasti', which describes the rites of the pagan Roman calendar, and the 'Ars Amatoria' (the 'Art of Love'). His career ended in mysterious exile by Emperor Augustu. Ovid attributed it to "a poem and a mistake" (carmen et error), remains a literary mystery. He died in AD 17/18, still in exile at Tomis (modern Constanța, Romania)He is considered one of the three canonical poets of Latin literature; Virgil, Horace, and Ovid, all known for their major contributions to epic, lyric, and elegiac poetry during the Augustan Age of Rome.
Herod the Great is believed to have died in Jericho, c. the Spring of 4 BCE, sometime in March to April. His role in the Nativity was documented by the Gospel of Matthew, which recounts the visit of the Magi.
His death led to the end of centralized Herodian rule and the division of his kingdom among his sons, Archelaus, Antipas, and Philip, with Judea eventually falling under direct Roman control. He died after a prolonged and agonizing illness, likely caused by chronic kidney disease and severe genital gangrene (Fournier's gangrene).
Roman Emperor Tiberius dies, and Caligula becomes Emperor.
Caligula, Roman Emperor, is assassinated, and Claudius becomes the new Emperor.
Nero, Roman Emperor, is given the title of Pontifex Maximus, the high priest of the College of Pontiffs.
Roman Emperor Trajan dies, and Hadrian becomes Emperor.
Pertinax, Roman Emperor, is assassinated by the Praetorian Guard, leading to the Year of the Five Emperors.
The unpopular Roman Emperor Elagabalus and his mother were assassinated by the Praetorian Guard on March 13, 222 CE and Alexander Severus, Praetorian's 13-year-old cousin becomes emperor; leading to a more stable reign, although he ruled under the strong guidance of his mother, Julia Mamaea.
Roman Emperor Diocletian issues his first edict for the persecution of Christians, ordering the destruction of churches, burning of scriptures, and loss of civil rights for Christians. The "Diocletianic persecution of Christians" went on for eight years ending in 311, CE even though Diocletian abdicated in 305 CE
Pope Julius I declares December 25th as the official date for the celebration of the Nativity. The decision likely aimed to align the Christian celebration with existing Roman winter solstice festivals, such as Saturnalia.
The first recorded celebration of Christmas on that date was in 336 AD. Other sources point to the Roman emperor Constantine establishing the date in 336 AD, possibly to coincide with existing pagan holidays. There is no mention of the date of Jesus' birth in the Bible. The existence of shepherds with their flocks in the fields at night suggests a time of milder weather, which points away from December. Many historians believe that Jesus was born between 7 and 2 B.C. and that December 25th was not the actual date of his birth.
Roman Emperor Julian ("the Apostate") ordered the rebuilding of the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem. The ambitious project, led by Alypius of Antioch, was halted shortly after it began due to mysterious, destructive fires at the site. The project was abandoned after Julian's death on June 26, 363 in a battle in Persia.
