AD 68

• Final year that Tacitus records Annals, a written history of the Roman Empire.
• Lucius Clodius Macer revolts against the reign of Nero.
• The Senate declares Nero as persona non grata.
• June 9 – Emperor Nero commits suicide four miles outside Rome. He is deserted by the Praetorian Guard, and then stabs himself in the throat.
• June 9 – The Roman Senate accepts Servius Sulpicius Galba, as Roman Emperor.
• Legio I Macriana liberatrix and Legio I Adiutrix are created.
• Marcus Ulpius Trajanus, father of Trajan, becomes consul.
• Trajan moves to Scythopolis and crosses the Jordan River with Legio X Fretensis. He lays siege to Jericho and destroys the monastery of Qumran, where the Dead Sea Scrolls are originated.
• Winter – Titus sets up camp at Jericho and the Romans cut off escape routes toward Jerusalem.
• Venutius successfully deposes his wife Cartimandua and becomes the ruler of the Brigantes.

Asia

• Kingdom of Funan is established in the Mekong Delta comprising present-day Cambodia, Southern Vietnam, Southern Thailand and Eastern Thailand, the first known civilization in Southeast Asia. The capital city is Vyadhapura or modern-day Ba Phnum District in Cambodia.

• King Dodu of Galsa Buyeo offered the country to Taejodae of Goguryeo, Galsa Buyeo was destroyed by Goguryeo.

By topic

Religion

• Buddhism officially arrives in China with the building of the White Horse Temple.
• Apostles Peter and Paul are martyred in Rome (latest possible date).
• Ignatius of Antioch becomes the third bishop of Antioch.
• The Gospel of Mark is written; and latest date for Second Epistle of Peter if of Petrine composition (approximate date).
• The Essenes place the Dead Sea Scrolls in the caves at Qumran.

Births

• July 4 – Salonia Matidia, niece of Trajan (d. AD 119)
• Flavius Scorpus, Roman charioteer (approximate date)
• Gaius Bruttius Praesens, Roman consul (d. AD 140)

Deaths

• Alexandria
• June 9 – Nero, Roman emperor (suicide) (b. AD 37)^[1]
• Ananus ben Ananus, Jewish high priest of Israel
• Basilissa and Anastasia, Christian martyrs (beheaded)
• Gaius Julius Vindex, Roman governor (suicide)
• Lucius Clodius Macer, Roman general (murdered)
• Nymphidius Sabinus
  , Roman praetorian prefect
• Byzantium
  (approximate date)
• Publius Petronius Turpilianus, Roman consul (suicide)
• Tiberius Julius Mithridates, Roman client king

References