Browse Historical Events by Month: What Happened in November?

Traditional date for the founding of Rome.

Death of Alexander the Great in Babylon.

The Battle of the Milvian Bridge, where Constantine the Great defeated Maxentius, leading to Constantine's rise to power.

Diocletian is acclaimed as emperor by his soldiers. During his reign, he restored efficient government to the empire after the near anarchy of the 3rd century by reorganizing the fiscal, administrative, and military functions of the empire. and laying the foundation for the Byzantine Empire in the East. The last major persecution of Christians occurred during his reign.

The Second Punic War begins with the Battle of the Trebia between Rome and Carthage.

Scipio Africanus defeats Hasdrubal at the Battle of Baecula during the Second Punic War.

The Battle of Magnesia takes place, ending the Seleucid War between the Roman Republic and the Seleucid Empire.

Attalus III of Pergamon bequeaths his kingdom to Rome, leading to the establishment of the Roman province of Asia.

The Great Fire of Rome begins, lasting for six days and causing significant destruction.

Roman general Pompey captures Jerusalem, expanding Roman control in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Cleopatra VII, the last pharaoh of Egypt, is captured by Julius Caesar after the Siege of Alexandria.

The Second Triumvirate, consisting of Octavian (later Augustus), Mark Antony, and Lepidus, is formed in R.

The Battle of Philippi takes place in Greece, where the forces of the Second Triumvirate defeat the forces of Brutus and Cassius.

The forces of the Second Triumvirate, consisting of Octavian (later Augustus), Mark Antony, and Lepidus, defeat the forces of Brutus and Cassius at the Battle of Philippi.

Parthian forces under Pacorus I defeat the Roman general Publius Ventidius at the Battle of Amanus, temporarily reversing Roman setbacks in the East.

The Battle of Actium occurs, leading to the defeat of Mark Antony and Cleopatra by Octavian (Augustus) and the establishment of the Roman Empire.

The Great Fire of Rome begins, lasting for six days and causing significant destruction.

Diocletian is proclaimed as the Roman emperor, marking the beginning of the Tetrarchy.

Also known as Theodosius the Great, makes his adventus, or first formal entry, into Constantinople. He was a Roman emperor from 379 to 395. Theodosius was the last Roman emperor to rule the entire Roman Empire before its administration was permanently split between the Western Roman Empire and the Eastern Roman Empire. More

The Byzantine emperor Michael III is assassinated, leading to the ascent of Basil I to the throne.