This Week: The Ides of March

Notable events in Ancient History for the week of March 11 - 17

March 11, 1425 B.C. - On this date, Thutmose III, the sixth Pharaoh of the Eighteenth Dynasty of Egypt (1550 - 1292 B.C.) died. During his alomst 55 year reign, he saw Egypt grow to its largest territorial expanse. He also oversaw the construction of more than 50 temples, including ones at Karnak.

March 11, A.D. 222 - Roman Emperor Elagabalus was murdered on this date. A very controversial and much loathed Emperor, he rose to power on May 16, A.D. 218. After a few years of excessive eccentricity, manic behavior, and sexual and religious deviancy, he and his mother were murdered by the Praetorian Guard on the order of his own grandmother, Julia Maesa. After his murder, his and his mother's bodies were dragged through the city streets and thrown into the River Tiber.

March 14 - On this date, the Roman festival of the Second Equirria was held.

March 15, 44 B.C. - "Beware the Ides of March". On this date, legendary Roman general and dictator Julius Caesar was stabbed to death in the Roman Senate. Marcus Brutus, senator and supposed confidante, was thought to have dealt the final physical and emotional blow. When Caesar looked into his eyes, he supposedly surrendered to the assassins and died. The assassination of Julius Caesar left Rome in political upheaval for several years.

March 16, 597 B.C. - On this date, the Babylonians, under Nebuchadnezzar, captured Jerusalem, and placed Zedekiah on the throne. Zedekiah revolted in 589 B.C., and after 18 months of fighting, Babylon recovered Jerusalem, destroying it.

March 16, A.D. 37 - On this date, Tiberius, the second Emperor of Rome, died. A brilliant general, Tiberius never really wanted to be Emperor, and eventually exiled himself (A.D. 26), giving power to his Prefects.

March 17, A.D. 180 - On this date, Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius died. As the last of the Five Good Emperors, he briefly shared his position with Lucius Verus. He was a brilliant military mind, and his death and the subsequent succession of his unbalanced son Commodus brought an end to the "Pax Romana" (an era of "Roman Peace" that had not been seen before and was not seen after).