50s BC

This article concerns the period 59 BC – 50 BC.

Map of the world in 50 BC.

59 BC

This section is transcluded from 59 BC. (edit | history)

By place

Roman Republic

• Consuls: Gaius Julius Caesar and Marcus Calpurnius Bibulus (known in jest as "the consulship of Julius and Caesar" due to Bibulus' Social withdrawal from public view to "consult the heavens" in an effort to invalidate Caesar's intended legislation).
• Caesar makes the Acta Diurna (Daily News), the world's first daily newspaper, public. The Acta contains details of official decrees and appointments; births, deaths, and marriages. Even sport results—the outcome of the gladiatorial contests and chariot races at the capital.
• The First Triumvirate: Caesar, Pompey and Crassus form an unofficial alliance (or 60 BC).
• Caesar marries Calpurnia, in Rome.
• The colonia of Florentia, modern Florence, founded.

Significant people

• Julius Caesar, Roman politician and general (lived 100–44 BC)
• Pharaoh Cleopatra VII of Egypt (lived 70/69–30 BC, reigned 51–30 BC)—meets Julius Caesar and later becomes teenager Pharaoh, after her brothers die young.
• Pompey, Roman general (lived 106 BC–48 BC)
• Marcus Licinius Crassus, Roman politician and general (lived 115–53 BC)
• Marcus Tullius Cicero, Roman politician (lived 106–43 BC)
• Vercingetorix, Chieftain of the Arverni (d. 46 BC)
• Cassivellaunus, British war-leader
• Ariovistus, German king
• Commius, Gaulish king
• Phraates III, King of Parthia (reigned 70–57 BC)
• Mithridates III, king of Parthia and Media (reigned 57–54 BC)
• Orodes II, king of Parthia (reigned 57–38 BC)
• Surena, Parthian general (lived 84–54 BC)
• Bak Hyeokgeose, king of Silla in Korea (69 BC–AD 4, reigned 57 BC–AD 4)

Births

Transcluding articles: 59 BC, 58 BC, 57 BC, 56 BC, 55 BC, 54 BC, 53 BC, 52 BC, 51 BC, and 50 BC

59 BC

• Artavasdes I, king of Media Atropatene (approximate date)
• Livy, Roman historian and writer (approximate date)
• Ptolemy XIV, king (pharaoh) of Egypt (or 60 BC)
• Livia, Roman empress as the second wife of Augustus

58 BC

• Jumong (King Dongmyeong), king of Goguryeo (d. AD 19)
• Attica, first wife of the Roman general Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa

55 BC

• Tibullus, Roman Latin poet (approximate date)

54 BC

• Gnaeus Cornelius Lentulus, Roman consul (d. AD 25)
• Seneca the Elder, Roman rhetorician and writer
• Tibullus, Roman poet and writer (d. 19 BC)

53 BC

• Aristobulus III, high priest of Jerusalem (d. 36 BC)
• Yang Xiong, Chinese politician and philosopher (d. AD 18)

52 BC

• Fenestella, Roman historian (approximate date)
• Juba II, king of Numidia (d. AD 23)

51 BC

• Cheng, Chinese emperor of the Han dynasty (d. 7 BC)
• Publius Sulpicius Quirinius, Roman aristocrat (d. 21 AD)

50 BC

• Antonia, daughter of Mark Antony
• Gaius Antistius Vetus, Roman consul (d. 1 AD)
• Shammai, Jewish scholar and rabbi (d. 30 AD)

Deaths

Transcluding articles: 59 BC, 58 BC, 57 BC, 56 BC, 55 BC, 54 BC, 53 BC, 52 BC, 51 BC, and 50 BC

59 BC

• Gaius Octavius, father of Caesar Augustus
• He of Changyi, emperor of the Han Dynasty
• Quintus Caecilius Metellus Celer, Roman consul
• Quintus Servilius Caepio, Roman tribune

58 BC

• Go Museo Dangun, 6th ruler of Buyeo (Korea)
• Ptolemy of Cyprus, last Hellenistic king of Cyprus

57 BC

• Boduognatus, leader of the Nervii
• Cleopatra VI, queen of Egypt
• Phraates III, king of Parthia

56 BC

• Lucius Licinius Lucullus, Roman politician (b. 118 BC)
• Philip II Philoromaeus, king of the Seleucid Empire (approximate date)
• Imanuentius, the king of the Trinovantes (a kingdom in Pre-Roman Britain)

55 BC

• Archelaus, high priest of Comana (Cappadocia)
• Berenice IV Epiphaneia, queen of Egypt (b. 77 BC)
• Lucretius, Roman philosopher (b. c. 99 BC)
• Quintus Caecilius Metellus Nepos, Roman consul
• Quintus Caecilius Metellus Nepos Iunior, Roman consul
• Tigranes the Great, Armenian Emperor (b. c. 140 BC)

54 BC

• July 31 – Aurelia Cotta, mother of Julius Caesar (b. 120 BC)
• Ariovistus, leader of the Suebi (approximated date)
• Gaius Valerius Catullus, Roman poet and writer (b. 84 BC)
• Huo Chengjun, empress of the Han Dynasty
• Julia, daughter of Julius Caesar (dies in childbirth)
• Lucius Aurunculeius Cotta, Roman legate of Julius Caesar
• Lucius Gellius Publicola, Roman politician (approximate date)
• Lucius Valerius Flaccus, Roman tribune and praetor
• Mithridates III, king of Parthia (executed by Orodes II)
• Quintus Laberius Durus, Roman tribune of Julius Caesar
• Quintus Titurius Sabinus, Roman legate of Julius Caesar

53 BC

• May 6 (executed after the Battle of Carrhae)
  • Marcus Licinius Crassus, Roman politician and general
  • Publius Licinius Crassus, son of Marcus Licinius Crassus
• Abgar II, Arab king of Edessa (modern Turkey)
• Gaius Scribonius Curio, Roman statesman and orator

52 BC

• January 18 – Publius Clodius Pulcher, murdered on the Appian Way by Titus Annius Milo (b. 93 BC)
• Cyrus, Roman architect (builder for Cicero)
• Sedullos, Gaulish chieftain (b.87 BC)
• Surena, Parthian general (b. 84 BC)

51 BC

• Ariobarzanes II (Philopator), king of Cappadocia
• Julia Minor, sister of Julius Caesar (b. 100 BC)
• Marcus Atius Balbus, Roman praetor and governor (b. 105 BC)
• Posidonius, Greek philosopher, astronomer and geographer
• Ptolemy XII (Auletes), king (pharaoh) of the Ptolemaic Kingdom

50 BC

• Aristobulus II, king of Judea
• Quintus Hortensius, Roman orator and advocate (b. 114 BC)