10s

This article is about the years AD 10–19. For the years 10–19 in other centuries, seeList of decades.For other uses, seeTENS (disambiguation).

"10's" redirects here. For the song by Pantera, seeThe Great Southern Trendkill.For the smartphone released by Apple Inc., with the Roman numeral X, seeiPhone XS.

Not to be confused with1810s,1910s,or2010s.

Bust of Roman emperorTiberius(r. 14–37), who reigned for most of the decade.

The10sdecade ran from January 1, AD 10, to December 31, AD 19.

In Europe, the decade saw the end of theEarly Imperial campaigns in Germaniawhen Roman forces led byGermanicusdefeated Germanic tribes in theBattle of Idistavisoin AD 16. In the subsequent year,a war broke outbetweenMaroboduusandArminius.In Africa,Tacfarinasled his ownMusulamiitribe and a loose and changing coalition of other Berber tribes in a war against the Romans inNorth Africaduring the rule of the emperorTiberius(AD 14–37). The ArmenianArtaxiad dynastywas overthrown by the Romans. In China, theRed Eyebrows Rebellionerupted againstWang Mang,emperor of theXin dynasty.In Korea,Daeso,the ruler of the kingdom ofDongbuyeo,led his armies intoGoguryeoonce again. This time,Muhyul,a prince of Goguryeo, led the armies of Goguryeo in a well-planned ambush and slaughtered all of Daeso's army. Only he and a few of his men escaped home.

Literary works from the 10s include works from the ancient Roman poetOvid,TristiaandEpistulae ex Ponto,whileNicolaus of Damascuswrote a biography of EmperorAugustus(Bios Kaisaros).

In the Roman Empire, an edict was issued effecting an empire-wide ban ondivinatorypractices especiallyastrology.The edict requires any consultation between a customer and a practitioner to be conducted with at least one third party witness present and bans inquiry into anyone's death.A large earthquakecaused the destruction of at least twelve cities in the region ofLydiain theRoman provinceofAsiainAsia Minor.In China, a major flooding took place in theYellow Riverin AD 11, which is credited with helping bring about the fall of theXin dynastyin the next decade.

Manning (2008) tentatively estimates the world population in AD 10 as 241 million.

Demographics

Main article:Estimates of historical world population

Due to lack of reliable demographic data, estimates of the world population in the 1st century vary wildly, with estimates for AD 1 varying from 150to 300million. Demographers typically do not attempt to estimate most specific years in antiquity, instead giving approximate numbers for round years such as AD 1 or AD 200. However, attempts at reconstructing the world population in more specific years have been made, with Manning (2008) tentatively estimating the world population in AD 10 as 241 million.

Events

AD 10

By place

Roman Empire

• Differentiation of localizedTeutonictribes of theIrminones.
• Senatus consultum Silanianumis adopted.

Central Asia

• TheEuthydemid dynasty,aGreekdynasty inBactria,is brought to an end.

China

• The usurperWang Mang(who rules during a briefinterregnumknown as theXin dynasty) outlaws the private purchase and use ofcrossbows.Despite this, Liu Xiu, the laterEmperor Guangwu of Han,buys crossbows in the winter ofAD 22to aid the rebellion of his brother Liu Yan (styledBosheng) and Li Tong.

Judea

• According to theGospel of Luke,JesusvisitsHerod's Templeand gets lost.

By topic

Arts

• OvidcompletesTristiaIII (the "Sorrows" ) describing the sadness ofbanishment.

AD 11

By place

Roman Empire

• Germania Inferiorand theRhineare secured byGermanicus.
• EmperorAugustusabandons his plan to create a defensive border at theElbe,in order to reinforce theRomandefenses along the Rhine and theDanube.
• An edict is issued effecting an empire-wide ban ondivinatorypractices, especiallyastrology.The edict requires any consultation between a customer and a practitioner to be conducted with at least one third party witness present, and bans inquiry into anyone's death.

Persia

• Artabanus IIbecomes ruler ofParthia.

India

• Satakarnibegins his reign asEmperorof theAndhraEmpire (AD 11–29).

China

• The yellow river experiences a major flood. This flood is credited for the downfall of the short-livedXin dynasty.

AD 12

By place

Roman Empire

• Annius Rufusis appointedPrefectofJudea.
• Augustusorders a major invasion of Germany beyond theRhine.
• Quiriniusreturns fromJudeato become acounselortoTiberius.
• TheArmenianArtaxiad dynastyis overthrown by the Romans.

By topic

Arts and sciences

• Ovidstops writingFasti,because of the lack of resources (being far from the libraries of Rome). He completes 6 books that detail festivals found in theRoman calendar.

AD 13

By place

Roman Empire

• EmperorAugustusinitiates his third census of theRoman Empireafter 20 years.
• Abgarus of Edessais reinstalled as king ofOsroene.
• TheSenatepasses asenatus consultumrestricting the reducedVigintisexvirito theOrdo Equester.

China

• Last year (3rd) ofShijianguoera of the ChineseXin Dynasty(considered the lucky number of those from the Chinese Xin Dynasty).

By topic

Arts and sciences

• Strabopublishes his book on the shape of theEarth.
• Ovidpublishes books 1-3 of hisEpistulae ex Ponto.

AD 14

By place

Roman Empire

• Augustus' third (and final) 20-year census of theRoman Empirereports a total of 4,973,000citizens.
• August 19–Augustus,the firstRoman emperor,dies and is declared to be a god.
• September 18–Tiberiussucceeds his stepfather Augustus as Roman emperor.
• Legions on theRhinemutiny after the death of Augustus;Germanicusrestores discipline amongst the legions.
• Germanicus is appointed commander of the forces inGermany,beginning a campaign that will end in 16.
• Germanicus leads a brutal raid against theMarsi,a German tribe on the upperRuhrriver, who are massacred.
• The town and port ofNauportusare plundered by a mutinousRoman legionthat was sent there to build roads and bridges.
• Sextus Appuleiusand Sextus Pompeius serve as Roman consuls.

China

• First year oftianfengera of the ChineseXin Dynasty.
• FaminehitsChina;some citizens turn tocannibalism.

By topic

Art

• TheHellenisticperiod ends, according to some scholars (usual date31 BC).

AD 15

By place

Roman Empire

• Early (approx.) –Emona(on the site of modern-dayLjubljana) is founded byLegio XV Apollinaris.
• May– As part of his campaign against theGermanic peoples,GermanicuscapturesThusnelda,wife ofArminius.
• Summer – Germanicus launches a two-pronged attack fromVeteraandMoguntiacum.On his return journey, he recaptures theaquilaofLegio XIXand visits thebattlefield of the Teutoburg Forest.Germanicus arranges the burial for the remains ofVarus' army.
• Varna(Odessus), on theBulgarian Black Sea Coast,is annexed to theRoman provinceofMoesia.
• InRome,the election ofmagistratespasses from the people to theEmperorand theSenate.
• The riverTiberfloods parts of Rome.

By topic

Arts and sciences

• Nicolaus of Damascuswrites a biography of the EmperorAugustus(Bios Kaisaros).

AD 16

By place

Roman Empire

• ARoman armyof 50,000 men commanded byGermanicusgains a great victory atIdistaviso,defeating the German war chiefArminius,and recovering the lost eagles ofVarus' legions.
• Germanicus employs the North Sea fleet to avoid dangerous rivers, embarking an army in theRhine Delta,aboard circa 1,000 ships. He defeats theGermansat theAmisiusriver estuary and theWeser,but during its return, theRoman fleetis partially destroyed bystorms.
• Vonones,the beleaguered king ofArmenia,is summoned toSyria,by Roman governorCreticus Silanus.

By topic

Arts and sciences

• Ovid's "Epistulae ex Ponto"appears.

AD 17

By place

Roman Empire

• May 26–Germanicusreturns toRomeas a conquering hero; he celebrates atriumphfor his victories over theCherusci,Chattiand otherGermanic tribeswest of theElbe.
• EmperorTiberiussends Germanicus to the east, in order to lead a military campaign againstParthia.
• Cappadocia(Asia Minor) becomes aRoman province.
• Lucius Aelius SejanusbecomesPraetorian prefect.

Africa

• Tacfarinas,Numidiandeserter from theRoman army,begins aguerrilla waragainst the Romans. He leads his ownMusulamiitribe and a coalition ofBerbers,attacking theLimes Tripolitanus,a fortified zone (limes) of theRoman EmpireinAfrica.

Judea

• Herod Antipas,son ofHerod the Great,builds the cityTiberiason the western shore of theSea of Galilee,in honor of Tiberius.

Asia Minor

• An earthquakeinAnatoliadestroys the city ofSardisand damages several other cities.

AD 18

By place

Roman Empire

• Avexillatio(sub-unit or detachment) ofLegio IIIAugustais destroyed by an ambush inAfrica.

Syria

• Winter – Germanicus Caesar arrives inSyria,as new commander-in-chief for theRoman East.
• Gnaeus Calpurnius Piso,governor of Syria, ignores the order of Germanicus to send Syrian-basedlegions,includingLegio VI FerrataandLegio X Fretensis,toArmeniato back him in his plannedcoronationofArtaxias III.

Parthia

• Germanicus concludes apeace treatywithArtabanus II of Parthia,in which he is recognized as king and friend ofRome.

China

• After a flooding of theYellow Riverin China, farmers are forced to rebel. EmperorWang Mangreacts by sending an army (some 100,000 men) against the agrarian rebels. The rebel leaders, concerned that during battle it will become impossible to tell friend from foe, order that their men color their eyebrows red – and this is where the nameChimei( "The Red Eyebrows" ) comes from.

Korea

• Daemusinbecomes ruler of the Korean kingdom ofGoguryeo.

India

• InIndia,theIndo-ParthianscontrolTaxila.

AD 19

By place

Roman Empire

• Maroboduus,king of theMarcomanni,is deposed byCatualda.This ends the threat to the Romans fromGermanic tribesuntil the reign ofMarcus Aurelius.Rome places them under its protection.
• Germanicus Julius Caesar,commander in chief of theRomanlegions in the East and beloved by thelegionaries,falls ill and dies. On his deathbed he accusesGnaeus Calpurnius Piso,the governor ofSyria,of poisoning him.
• EmperorTiberiusexpels theEgyptiansfromRome,and deports 4,000 Jews fromSicily.
• Agrippina the ElderaccusesGnaeus Calpurnius Pisoof having assassinated her husbandGermanicus Julius CaesarinAntioch.However, there is no credible evidence and the charge is never proven. (In ancient times, when medical science was not advanced, poison was usually suspected whenever a young, healthy person died suddenly. There was no way to pinpoint and trace the substance after death; therefore, it was considered a quick, easy and non-traceable form of homicide.)
• Atriumphal archis built for Germanicus Julius Caesar inSaintes.

Parthia

• KingVonones Iis removed toCiliciaand kept underhouse arrest.He escapes, but is caught and killed by a retired Roman legionveteran.

Asia

• Last year (6th) ofTianfengera of the ChineseXin Dynasty.
• First flying machine,according to theHanshu.
• Gondopharesbecomes king of the Saces.

Significant people

• Caesar Augustus,Roman Emperor(27 BC–AD 14)
• Tiberius,Roman Emperor(AD 14–37)
• Germanicus,Roman General

Births

AD 10

• Hero of Alexandria,Greek engineer (d. c.AD 70)
• Pope Linus,Pope in Catholic church (d.AD 76)
• Liu Penzi,Chinese puppet emperor (d. afterAD 27)
• Lucius Vipstanus Poplicola,Roman consul (d. afterAD 59)
• Tigellinus,RomanPraetorianprefect (d.AD 69)

AD 12

• Mark the Evangelist,Christian evangelist, martyr, known forThe Gospel of Mark(approximate date) (d.68 AD)
• August 31–Caligula,Roman emperor(d.41 AD)

AD 13

• Casperius Aelianus,Romanpraetorian prefect(d.AD 98)
• Gaius Silius,Roman politician (d.AD 48)

AD 14

• Lucius Caecilius Iucundus,Roman banker (d.AD 62)
• Marcus Junius Silanus,Roman consul (d.AD 54)

AD 15

• September 24–Vitellius,Roman emperor (d.AD 69)
• November 6–Agrippina the Younger,Roman empress (d.AD 59)
• Apollonius of Tyana,Greek philosopher (d. c.AD 97)
• Ennia Thrasylla,Roman noblewoman (d.AD 38)
• Lollia Paulina,Roman empress (d.AD 49)
• Lucius Verginius Rufus,Roman consul (d.AD 97)

AD 16

• September 16–Julia Drusilla,daughter ofGermanicusandAgrippina the Elder(d.AD 38)
• Claudius Drusus,son ofClaudiusandPlautia Urgulanilla(approximate date)
• Decimus Junius Silanus Torquatus,Roman consul (d.AD 64)

AD 18

• Julia Livilla,daughter ofGermanicusandAgrippina the Elder(approximate date) (d.AD 41)

AD 19

• October 10–Tiberius Gemellus,grandson ofTiberius(d. c.38 AD)

Deaths

AD 10

• Didymus Chalcenterus,Greek scholar and grammarian (b. c.63 BC)

• Hillel the Elder,Babylonian sage, scholar, and Jewish leader (b. c.110 BC)

AD 11

• Marcus Antistius Labeo,prominent Roman jurist

AD 12

• Rhoemetalces I– king of theOdrysian kingdomofThracefrom 12 BC to 12 AD

AD 13

• Quintus Pedius,Roman (deaf) painter (approximate date)
• Wang Zhengjun,Chinese empress (b.71 BC)

AD 14

• August 19–Augustus,Roman emperor (b.63 BC)
• August 20–Agrippa Postumus,grandson of Augustus and former heir to the Empire (b.12 BC)
• Gnaeus Pompeius(Rufus), Roman consul
• Julia the Elder,daughter of Augustus(b.39 BC)
• Lucius Aemilius Paullus,Roman consul
• Parthenius of Nicaea,Greek grammarian
• Paullus Fabius Maximus,Roman consul
• Sempronius Gracchus,Roman nobleman

AD 15

• Lucius Seius Strabo,Romanpraetorian prefect(b.46 BC)

AD 16

• September 13–Marcus Scribonius Libo,Roman senator (forced to commit suicide)
• Clemens,Roman slave and impostor (executed byTiberius)
• Scribonia,second wife ofCaesar Augustus(approximate date)

AD 17

• Antiochus III,King ofCommagene
• Archelaus,king ofCappadocia
• Gaius Julius Hyginus,RomanLatinwriter
• Livy,Romanhistorian
• Lucius Vipstanus Gallus,Roman senator
• Ovid,Roman poet(orAD 18)

AD 18

• Crinagoras,Greekepigrammatist(b.70 BC)
• Herod Archelaus,Jewish ruler (ethnarch) (b.23 BC)
• Mother Lü,rebel leader against the Xin dynasty
• Publius Ovidius Naso,Roman poet (orAD 17)
• Yang Xiong,Chinese philosopher (b.53 BC)
• Yuri,Korean ruler ofGoguryeo

AD 19

• October 10–Germanicus,Roman general (b.15 BC)
• Cotys III(orCotys VIII), Roman client king ofThrace
• Vonones I,king of theParthian Empire