57 BC
Year 57 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. Contemporaneously, in the Roman Republic, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Lentulus and Metellus. The denomination 57 BC 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
Roman Republic
- Consuls: Publius Cornelius Lentulus Spinther and Quintus Caecilius Metellus Nepos.
- Second year of Julius Caesar's Gallic Wars:
- * Spring - Julius Caesar raises a further two legions, bringing his army in Gaul to eight legions.
- * Caesar sends Servius Sulpicius Galba with Legio XII into the territory of the Nantuates, Seduni and the Veragri. He occupies Octodurus in Switzerland.
- * Caesar defeats a Belgic army near Bibrax in the territory of the Remi. He moves northwards against the Belgic tribes, the Nervii and the Aduatuci.
- * May - Battle of the Axona: Caesar defeats the forces of the Belgae under King Galba of the Suessiones.
- * July - Battle of the Sabis: Caesar defeats the Nervii, Roman forces are almost annihilated in an ambush.
- * September - The siege and capture of Aduatuca by Caesar.
Parthia
- Mithridates IV becomes king of Parthia.
Asia
- King Vikramaditya establishes the Vikram era.
- Bak Hyeokgeose becomes the first ruler of the kingdom of Silla.
Births
Deaths
- Boduognatus, leader of the Nervii
- Cleopatra VI, queen of Egypt
- Phraates III, king of Parthia