This Week in Ancient History
Notable events in ancient history for the week of April 9 - 15
April 9, 193 A.D. - Septimius Severus becomes Emperor of Rome. Though he turned the Empire into a virtual dictatorship, he also brought it great stability, and was loved by the people.
April 11, 146 A.D - Future Roman Emperor Septimius Severus is born at Leptis Magna, in northern Africa.
April 12, 65 A.D. - Seneca the Younger, celebrated Roman statesman, dramatist, and philosopher, commits suicide on the order of Emperor Nero, who accused Seneca of organizing a plot to kill him.
April 12 - The 7-day Roman holiday, Carealia, begins on this date, in honor of the Roman Goddess of the Harvest, Ceres.
April 14, 43 B.C. - Mark Antony is victorious at the Battle of Forum Gallorum.
April 14, 69 A.D. - Vitellius seizes the Roman throne from Emperor Otho in the Battle of Bedriacum. He was Emperor for a mere 4 months, and part of the "Year of Four Emperors".
April 15 - The Roman festival Fordicia was held annually for the Earth Goddess Tellus Mater. At the festival, a pregnant cow was sacrificed, the cow's fetus burned, and its ashes saved for the Parilia, a festival to ensure the fertility of the farms.
