Year by year · 1st century

69 CE

69 CE in world history: 5 events and 2 deaths. 139 recorded states existed that year.

Events

  1. 15 January

    Emperor Galba murdered in the Roman Forum

    Praetorians loyal to Otho killed the elderly Galba after just seven months as emperor. Otho, then Vitellius and finally Vespasian took power in the turmoil known as the Year of the Four Emperors.

  2. 14 April

    Vitellius's army defeats Otho at Bedriacum

    Troops loyal to Vitellius beat Emperor Otho's forces near Cremona in northern Italy. Otho took his own life two days later, but Vitellius himself fell before the year was out.

  3. 21 December

    The Senate recognises Vespasian as emperor

    The day after Vitellius was killed in Rome, the Senate granted Vespasian the powers of emperor, ending the Year of the Four Emperors. His Flavian dynasty restored stability and began the Colosseum.

ProfileState94 states with a known seat in 69 CEOpen the atlas at 69 CE →

In the profiles

  • Garamantian EmpireThe Garamantes join Oea against Leptis Magna and are driven back by Valerius Festus
  • SarmatiansThe Legio III Gallica destroys 9,000 Roxolani raiders in Moesia

Died in 69 CE 2

All years → The 1st century →

Cite this page
APA
The Epoch Institute. (2026). 69 CE. In The Epoch Institute, Year by Year. https://the-epoch-institute.org/years/69
MLA
“69 CE.” The Epoch Institute, Year by Year, The Epoch Institute, 2026, https://the-epoch-institute.org/years/69. Accessed .
Chicago
The Epoch Institute. “69 CE.” The Epoch Institute, Year by Year. 2026. https://the-epoch-institute.org/years/69.
Harvard
The Epoch Institute (2026) ‘69 CE’, The Epoch Institute, Year by Year. Available at: https://the-epoch-institute.org/years/69 (Accessed: ).