Military history by era

Ancient Era

3000 BC – 500 AD

Development collection · Historical summaries await reference checking. Portrait artwork is illustrative, not an authentic likeness.

Legions, phalanxes and the first standing armies. This collection considers command structures, the organisation of armies, and the relationship between political authority and military leadership. Period boundaries are editorial guides rather than universal historical divisions.

Important events

336 BC
Ancient Macedon · Ancient Era
Alexander becomes king of Macedon
Royal succession precedes the campaigns associated with Alexander’s reign.
102 BC
Roman Republic · Ancient Era
Marius defeats the Teutones
Gaius Marius wins at Aquae Sextiae; he defeats the Cimbri at Vercellae the following year.
58 BC
Roman Republic · Ancient Era
Caesar begins the conquest of Gaul
Julius Caesar opens the Gallic campaigns that continue until 50 BC.
49 BC
Roman Republic · Ancient Era
Caesar crosses the Rubicon
The crossing triggers civil war between Caesar and the Pompeian faction.
44 BC
Roman Republic · Ancient Era
Assassination of Caesar
Julius Caesar is killed by a group of senators on the Ides of March.
31 BC
Roman Republic · Ancient Era
Agrippa wins at Actium
Agrippa commands Octavian’s fleet in the decisive victory over Antony and Cleopatra.
9 AD
Cherusci (Germania) · Ancient Era
Battle of the Teutoburg Forest
Arminius leads a coalition that destroys three Roman legions under Varus.
106 AD
Roman Empire · Ancient Era
Trajan annexes Dacia
The second Dacian war ends with Dacia becoming a Roman province under Trajan.
200 AD
Cao Wei (China) · Ancient Era
Cao Cao wins at Guandu
Cao Cao defeats Yuan Shao, securing dominance over northern China.
208 AD
Eastern Wu (China) · Ancient Era
Battle of the Red Cliffs
The allied forces of Sun Quan and Liu Bei repel Cao Cao’s southern campaign.
222 AD
Shu Han (China) · Ancient Era
Liu Bei defeated at Xiaoting
Liu Bei’s campaign against Eastern Wu ends in defeat at Xiaoting (Yiling).
260 AD
Sasanian Persia · Ancient Era
Shapur captures the emperor Valerian
Shapur I defeats the Romans near Edessa; the emperor Valerian is taken prisoner.
451 AD
Hunnic Empire · Ancient Era
Catalaunian Plains
Attila’s invasion of Gaul is checked by a Roman-led coalition; he invades Italy in 452 AD.