According to Roman tradition, Romulus dedicates the Temple of Jupiter Stator on the Capitoline Hill.
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What Happened in January?
Tragic deaths, ravaged cities, and great acts of heroism. Discover what happened this month in history and the defining moments that shaped the world. Dates for earlier events may be approximate.
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Circa 540 BCE, January
Leonidas I, King of Sparta, is born. Son of King Anaxandrides II and a member of the Agiad dynasty.
The Greek city-state of Argos defeats Sparta at the Battle of Tiryns.
Greek playwright Aeschylus dies in Gela, Sicily.
Birth of the historian and philosopher, Herodotus, often called the "Father of History."
Julius Caesar, defying the order of the Roman Senate not to so, crosses the Rubicon River with his legion, famously uttering "alea iacta est" meaning "the die has been cast" and leading to the Roman Civil War. He was assassinated on March 15, 44 BC
The Julian Calendar takes effect, under the direction of Julius Caesar, replacing the traditional Roman calendar which had been introduced around the seventh century B.C. which followed the lunar cycle. It introduced a solar year of 365 days with a leap year every fourth year to keep the calendar aligned with the seasons.
The Julian calendar was a successful reform that remained the standard in the Roman Empire and the Western world for over 1,600 years until it was replaced by the more accurate Gregorian calendar in the 16th century.
Octavian (later known as Augustus) celebrates a triple triumph in Rome for his victories in the Battle of Actium.
Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus is granted the title "Augustus" by the Roman Senate, marking the beginning of the Roman Empire.
The Roman general Drusus completes the conquest of Raetia (modern-day Switzerland and Bavaria).
According to some Christian traditions, the Baptism of Jesus Christ in the Jordan River occurs.
The Roman Senate confers upon Claudius the title "Pater Patriae" (Father of the Country).
Roman legions in Germania Superior proclaim their commander, Vitellius, as emperor.
Trajan becomes Roman emperor following the death of Nerva.
The Roman Empire defeats the Marcomanni in the Battle of Sirmium under the reign of Marcus Aurelius.
Emperor Caracalla grants Roman citizenship to all free inhabitants of the Roman Empire.
The Eastern Roman Emperor Theodosius I defeats the Western Roman usurper Magnus Maximus at the Battle of Siscia.
Emperor Theodosius I dies and the Roman Empire is permanently divided into Eastern and Western halves. He bequeathed the Eastern half to his son Arcadius and the Western half to his son Honorius. This event is considered the permanent split of the Roman Empire. The East eventually became the Byzantine Empire and the West collapse within a century.
Arcadius, Emperor of the Eastern Roman Empire, proclaims his nine months old son, Theodosius, co-Augustus, a title for co-emperor, When Arcadius died on May 1, 408 AD, Theodosius at the age of seven, became the sole ruler of the Eastern Roman Empire as Theodosius II. Because of his young age, A regency was established, Initially, under the Praetorian Prefect Anthemius to govern the empire.
Charlemagne dies in Aachen, the imperial capital city at the age of 72. His body was buried the same day in the Palatine Chapel, which is now a part of Aachen Cathedral. His son, Louis the Pious had been crowned co-emperor by his father a year before on September 11, 813, and succeeded him as the sole Holy Roman Emperor.