ROMSO Cyprus Knowledge Base

140 BC: A Year of Conquest and Diplomacy in Ancient Rome and Beyond

In 140 BC, a pivotal year marked by significant events in ancient Rome and beyond. This was also a time when Maccabaeus, the Jewish leader who would later become king of Judea, was crowned as such.

During this period, notable figures were born or passed away. Huo Qubing, a Chinese general of the Han dynasty, died at the age of 117 BC, while Lucius Licinius Crassus, a Roman consul and statesman, met his demise in 91 BC. Another prominent figure to pass away was Tigranes the Great, king of Armenia, who succumbed to death in 55 BC.

On the other side of the Mediterranean, ancient Rome was embroiled in conflicts with neighboring territories. In October 141 B.C., the Consulate of Quintus Servilius Caepio and Caius Laelius Sapiens began, marking a significant turning point in Roman history. As part of this consulate, Caepio led military campaigns against various regions, including Hispania, where he successfully defeated Viriathe's forces.

Caepio's victories extended to Lusitania, Gallaeci, and the mountainous country of Vettons, which he sought to cut off from supplies by attacking his allies. He also built a road between Guadiana (Anas) and Tagus (Tagus), establishing a permanent camp in Castra Servilia near Cáceres.

Meanwhile, in February 139 B.C., Cleopatra III married her uncle Ptolemy Évergete, marking an important event in the Hasmonean Dynasty. The traveling embassy of Scipion Émilien, Spurius Mummius, and Lucius Caecilius Metellus Calvus visited various regions, including Alexandria, Cyprus, Syria, Pergamum, Rhodes, and other parts of the eastern basin.

In Armenia, Tigran II was born during this period. Additionally, Salome Alexandra, a future queen of the Hasmonean Dynasty, also emerged as a notable figure in 140 BC.

The year 140 B.C. was marked by significant events that would shape the course of history in ancient Rome and beyond.