41

Events

By place

Roman Empire

• Consuls are the emperor Caligula and Gnaeus Sentius Saturninus.
• January 24 — Caligula, known for his eccentricity and cruel despotism, is assassinated by his disgruntled Praetorian Guards.
• January 24 — Claudius succeeds his nephew Caligula as Emperor.
• January 25 — After a night of negotiation, Claudius is accepted as Emperor by the Senate.
• Claudius makes Agrippa king of Judea.
• Messalina, wife of Claudius, persuades Claudius to have Seneca the Younger banished to Corsica on a charge of adultery with Julia Livilla.
• Claudius restores religious freedom to Jews throughout the empire, but prohibits Jews in Rome from proselytising.
• An attack across the Rhine by the Germans is stopped by the Romans.

Asia

• Emperor Guangwu of the Han Dynasty deposes his wife, Guo Shentong, as empress, and creates his consort Yin Lihua empress in her place.

By Topic

Religion

• The disciples of Jesus form communities after the Diaspora, especially in Damascus and Antioch. For the first time they are called Christians.

Births

• Martial, Latin poet (possible birthdate)
• February 12 — Tiberius Claudius Caesar Britannicus, son of Claudius and Messalina

Deaths

• January 24 — Caligula, Roman Emperor (assassinated)
• January 24 — Julia Drusilla, daughter of Caligula (assassinated)
• End of the year — Julia Livilla, daughter of Germanicus, niece of Claudius, starved to death in her exile