AD 43

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AD 43 (XLIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Caesar and Vitellius (or, less frequently, year 796 Ab urbe condita). The denomination AD 43 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.

Events

By place

Britain

• The Roman conquest of Britain begins. Aulus Plautius lands with four legions (20,000 men) and the same number of auxiliaries at Rutupiae (modern Richborough, on the east coast of Kent) and defeats the Britons, led by Caratacus and Togodumnus, in battles on the rivers Medway and Thames. He halts at the Thames and sends for emperor Claudius, who leads the march on Camulodunum. Eleven British kings, probably including those of the Iceni and Brigantes, submit without a fight. Meanwhile, the future emperor Vespasian begins to subdue the south-west. The Romans begin to construct forts, such as at Peterborough, and a road that later becomes Ermine Street.
• The Romans capture a Brythonic settlement at Kent, and rename it Durovernum Cantiacorum (modern Canterbury). They establish a Roman fort to guard the crossing of the River Stour.
• Roman London (Londinium) is established.

Roman Empire

• Consuls are the emperor Claudius (his second consulship as emperor, third in total) and Lucius Vitellius.
• Claudius annexes Lycia in Asia Minor, combining it with Pamphylia as a Roman province.
• The Romans now have complete control of the Mediterranean.

Asia

• Warfare begins between the northern and southern Huns.
• The warrior Trung Sisters commit suicide after their resistance is defeated at Nam Viet in Vietnam.
• Vietnam is designated a province of China.
• Vardanes I of Parthia forces the city of Seleucia on the Tigris to surrender.

By topic

Religion

• In Coptic Orthodox Christianity, Mark the Evangelist becomes the first Pope of Alexandria, thus establishing the Christian Church in Africa.

Arts and sciences

• Pomponius Mela, Roman geographer, writes De situ orbis libri (probable date).

Births

• Martial, Roman poet (d. 102/104)

Deaths

• Togodumnus, King of the Catuvellauni
• Julia, daughter of Drusus the Younger, granddaughter of Tiberius, niece of Claudius, executed (or perhaps forced to commit suicide) at the instigation of Messalina (b. AD 5)

References