By place Roman Empire • Emperor
Nero marries for the second time, to
Poppaea Sabina, ex-wife of
Marcus Salvius Otho. • After the death of
Burrus and the disgrace of
Seneca, Nero is free from their influence and becomes a megalomaniacal artist fascinated by
Hellenism and the
Orient.
Tigellinus becomes Nero's counselor. His rule is highly abusive. • Nero completes the
Baths of Nero in Rome. • A
great earthquake damages cities in
Campania, including
Pompeii (February 5). • The Parthians invade
Armenia and lay siege to
Tigranocerta. The city is well-fortified and garrisoned by the Romans. The assault fails and king
Vologases I retreats. Instead, he makes preparations to invade
Syria. •
Gnaeus Domitius Corbulo strengthens the fortifications on the
Euphrates frontier. He builds a strong flotilla of ships equipped with
catapults and a wooden bridge across the river, which allows him to establish a foothold on the Parthian shore. •
Lucius Caesennius Paetus advances towards Tigranocerta, but due to lack of supplies he makes
camp for the winter in the fortress at Rhandeia in northwestern Armenia. • Vologases I leads the Parthian army in a full-scale assault on the Euphrates.
Legio X Fretensis and men of the other two legions (
Legio III Gallica and
Legio VI Ferrata) defend the eastern bank of the river, fighting off a desperate attack. •
Battle of Rhandeia: The Roman army (two
legions) is defeated by the Parthians under king
Tiridates I. Paetus surrenders and withdraws his disheveled army to
Syria. • A violent storm destroys 200 ships anchored at
Portus.
By topic Arts and sciences •
Lucan writes a history of the conflict between
Julius Caesar and
Pompey. • The making of
Still Life, a detail of a wall painting from
Herculaneum, begins (finished in
AD 79). It is now kept at
Museo Nazionale in
Naples.
Religion •
Paul of Tarsus is released from imprisonment in
Rome (approximate date). == Deaths ==