Editing 42 BC

{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2011}}
{{More citations needed|date=February 2024}}
{{Year nav|-42}}
{{BC year in topic|42}}
[[File:Phil2.png|upright=1.35|thumb|[[Battle of Philippi#The First Battle of Philippi|First Battle of Philippi]] (October 3, 42 BC)]]
[[File:Phil3.png|upright=1.35|thumb|[[Battle of Philippi#The Second Battle|Second Battle of Philippi]] (October 23, 42 BC)]]
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Year '''42 BC''' was either a [[common year starting on Monday]], [[Common year starting on Tuesday|Tuesday]] or [[Common year starting on Wednesday|Wednesday]] or a [[leap year starting on Tuesday]] of the [[Julian calendar]] (the sources differ, see [[Julian calendar#Leap year error|leap year error]] for further information) and a [[common year starting on Tuesday]] of the [[Proleptic Julian calendar]]. At the time, it was known as the '''Year of the Consulship of Lepidus and Plancus''' (or, less frequently, '''year 712 ''[[Ab urbe condita]]'''''). The denomination 42 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 ==
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=== By place ===

==== Roman Republic ====
* January &ndash; [[Publius Vatinius]], [[governor]] of [[Illyricum (Roman province)|Illyricum]], seizes [[Dyrrachium]] and is forced to [[surrender (military)|surrender]] his army (three [[Roman legion|legions]]) to [[Marcus Junius Brutus]].
* Marcus Brutus begins to [[Looting|plunder]] the [[cities]] of [[Asia Minor]], in order to obtain [[money]] and [[soldiers]]. The inhabitants of [[Lycia]] refuse to [[Deference|submit]] to [[Rome]], and Brutus [[Siege|besieges]] [[Xanthos|Xanthus]]. After destroying their [[suburb]]s, the Xanthians withdraw into the heavily fortified city. The Roman [[legionary|legionaries]] (2,000 men) force the gate and fight their way into the forum. The citizens make a last stand by the temple of [[Sarpedon]] and, as night falls, the [[Roman army]] conquers the city. 
* The [[confederation]] of Lycia sends [[ambassador]]s to Brutus, promising to form a military league and contribute money for building ships. [[Gaius Cassius Longinus]] occupies [[Rhodes]], and orders all the other cities of [[Asia (Roman province)|Asia]] to pay a [[tribute]] for 10 years.
* July &ndash; [[Mark Antony]] lands with an army (28 legions) in [[Illyria]], leaving [[Augustus|Octavian]] ill at Dyrrachium, and marches to [[Amphipolis]]. Admiral [[Gnaeus Domitius Ahenobarbus (consul 32 BC)|Ahenobarbus]], with the Republican fleet (130 warships), blockades the [[Adriatic Sea]].
* August &ndash; [[Lucius Decidius Saxa]] and [[Gaius Norbanus Flaccus]] are appointed by Mark Antony, to lead an advanced force of eight legions to [[Macedonia (Roman province)|Macedonia]] along the [[Via Egnatia]] into [[Thrace]].
* September &ndash; Brutus and Cassius cross the [[Hellespont]]. They march to [[Doriscus]] but further progress is blocked by Saxa's occupation of the Corpili Pass.
* Saxa retreats to link up with Norbanus at the Sapaei Pass. The Republicans outflank the enemy, forging an alternate route through the mountains in the north.
* Brutus and Cassius advance to [[Philippi]] and build [[fortification]]s. Antony links up with Norbanus and Saxa at Amphipolis, Octavian arrives on a [[litter (vehicle)|litter]] 10 days later.
* In [[Sicily]], [[Sextus Pompeius]] leads the naval operations in the [[Mediterranean Sea]] against the [[Second Triumvirate|triumvirs]]. He blockades the [[Food grain|grain]] routes from [[Hispania|Spain]] and [[Africa (Roman province)|Africa]].
* [[October 3]] &ndash; [[Battle of Philippi#The First Battle of Philippi|First Battle of Philippi]]: The Triumvirs [[Mark Antony]] and [[Augustus|Octavian]] fight an indecisive battle with Caesar's assassins [[Marcus Brutus]] and [[Gaius Cassius Longinus|Cassius]]. The Roman forces including 2,000 [[Sparta]]ns, who have just arrived, are routed. Octavian takes refuge in the [[marsh]]. Cassius' camp is captured by Antony's men and, wrongly fearing that Brutus is dead, Cassius commits suicide. He orders his freedman Pindarus to kill him. Brutus, fearing the impact on morale, secretly buries his beheaded body on [[Thasos]]. The Republican navy, in the Adriatic, intercept and destroy the supply ships with two legions of the Triumvirs.
* [[October 23]] &ndash; [[Battle of Philippi#The Second Battle|Second Battle of Philippi]]: Brutus' army is defeated by Antony and Octavian. The Triumvirs smash through the weakened Republican centre and take Brutus's right wing in their flank. After the battle, 14,000 legionaries lay down their arms. Brutus flees to the heights of Philippi, where he commits suicide the following day. After the victory, Brutus' body is brought to Antonius' camp, where he casts his purple [[paludamentum]] over his dead body and orders an honourable funeral for his erstwhile comrade. The Republican cause is crushed, and Rome rests in the hands of the [[Second Triumvirate]].
* [[Augustus|Octavian]] returns to Rome and arranges for ± 40,000 [[legionary|veterans']] [[Settler|settlements]] in [[Campania]], [[Etruria]], [[Picenum]], [[Samnium]], [[Umbria]], and in northern [[Italy]].
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== Births ==
* [[November 16]] &ndash; [[Tiberius]], Roman emperor (d. [[37 AD]])<ref name=BBC>{{cite web | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/tiberius.shtml | access-date=February 20, 2024 | title=Tiberius (42 BC-37AD | publisher=BBC}}</ref>
* [[Marcus Claudius Marcellus (nephew of Augustus)|Marcus Claudius Marcellus]], nephew of [[Augustus]] (d. [[23 BC]])

== Deaths ==
* [[October 3]] &ndash; [[Gaius Cassius Longinus]], Roman nobleman (assassin of [[Julius Caesar]]) (suicide)
* [[Marcus Junius Brutus]], Roman politician (assassin of Julius Caesar) (b. [[85 BC]])<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Marcus-Junius-Brutus | access-date=February 23, 2024 | first=E. | last=Badian | title=Marcus Junius Brutus | date=February 19, 2024 | series=Encyclopædia Britannica}}</ref>
* [[Gaius Antonius (brother of Mark Antony)|Gaius Antonius]], Roman general and brother of [[Mark Antony]] (murdered)
* [[Lucius Tillius Cimber]], Roman nobleman (assassin of Julius Caesar)
* [[Marcus Livius Drusus Claudianus]], Roman nobleman and supporter of Brutus (suicide)
* [[Marcus Porcius Cato (son of Cato the Younger)|Marcus Porcius Cato]], Roman nobleman and son of [[Cato the Younger]] (killed in battle)
* [[Porcia (wife of Brutus)|Porcia]], wife of Brutus (suicide) (approximate date) (b. c. [[70 BC]])
* [[Publius Servilius Casca Longus]], Roman nobleman (assassin of Julius Caesar)
* [[Pacuvius Labeo]], Roman jurist (assassin of Julius Caesar) (suicide)

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

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