120s BC

This article concerns the period 129 BC – 120 BC.

129 BC

This section is transcluded from 129 BC. (edit | history)

By place

The Roman Republic

• The Kingdom of Pergamon becomes the Roman Province of Asia upon the defeat of Aristonicus, pretender to the Attalid throne, by M. Perperna.
• C. Sempronius Tuditanus celebrates his triumph over the Iapydes of Illyria.
• Scipio Aemilianus, victor of Carthage is possibly assassinated by his enemies in Rome.

Syria

• Battle of Ecbatana: the Seleucid King Antiochus VII Sidetes is defeated and killed by the Parthians under Phraates II, ending Seleucid control over Media or Mesopotamia.
• Having been freed by the Parthians, Demetrius II of Syria recovers the throne of the Seleucid Empire.

China

• March: Chen Jiao is deposed as Empress after she asks a sorceress to curse Emperor Wu's favourite consort, Wei Zifu, this being regarded an act of heresy and treason. Wei Zifu is made the new Empress.^[1]
• Spring: the Xiongnu raid Shanggu, killing officials and other inhabitants.^[2]
• Autumn: Emperor Wu launches his first offensive into the northern steppe against the Xiongnu and their allies. The invasion consists of four armies, each of 10,000 cavalrymen. Two of the four armies are defeated, namely those of Li Guang and Gongsun Ao, and only the army of Wei Qing achieves a victory. Although a modest success, Wei Qing's victory is the first Han success against the Xiongnu. Moreover, it is won at Longcheng, a sacred site far to the north, beyond the Gobi Desert, where the Xiongnu offer sacrifices.^[3]
• Winter: the Xiongnu retaliate by crossing the border several times, especially ravaging Yuyang.^[4]
• The Han diplomat Zhang Qian escapes Xiongnu custody and resumes his mission of forming an anti-Xiongnu alliance with the Yuezhi. He reaches the State of Dayuan in the Ferghana Valley, whose trade with the Han had been prevented by the Xiongnu and who supply Zhang with guides. Zhang then travels to the states of Kangju, Greater Yuezhi and Daxia (Bactria). He also learns of the Parthian Empire, Daqin, the Caspian Sea and the source of the Yellow River.^[5]

By topic

Astronomy

• Hipparchus publishes his catalog of stars.
• Total solar eclipse, used by Hipparchus to estimate distance to the Moon.

Births

Transcluding articles: 129 BC, 128 BC, 127 BC, 126 BC, 125 BC, 124 BC, 123 BC, 122 BC, 121 BC, and 120 BC

128 BC

• Liu Ju, Chinese prince of the Han dynasty (d. 91 BC)

125 BC

• Quintus Sertorius, Roman statesman and general (d. 73 BC)

121 BC

• Jieyou, princess of the Han dynasty (d. 49 BC)
• Publius Sulpicius Rufus, Roman statesman (d. 88 BC)
• Quintus Sertorius, Roman general (d. 72 BC)

120 BC

• May 21 – Aurelia Cotta, mother of Julius Caesar (d. 54 BC)
• Berenice III, reigning Queen of Egypt (d. 80 BC)
• Lucius Cornelius Sisenna, writer and politician (d. 67 BC)
• Verres, corrupt praetor (approximate date) (d. 43 BC)

Deaths

Transcluding articles: 129 BC, 128 BC, 127 BC, 126 BC, 125 BC, 124 BC, 123 BC, 122 BC, 121 BC, and 120 BC

129 BC

• Antiochus VII Sidetes (killed in battle)
• Carneades, philosopher, and founder of Third Academy (b. c. 214 BC)
• P. Cornelius Scipio Aemilianus Africanus Numantinus (Africanus the Younger) (b. 185 BC)

128 BC

• Liu Fei, Chinese prince of the Han dynasty (b. 169 BC)
• Phraates II, king of Parthia (approximate date)

127 BC

• Nicomedes II (Epiphanes), king of Bithynia
• Zhufu Yan, Chinese politician and official of the Han dynasty (or 126 BC)

126 BC

• Phraates II, king of the Parthian Empire
• Wang Zhi, Chinese empress of the Han dynasty (b. 173 BC)

125 BC

• Demetrius II, king of the Seleucid Empire
• Seleucus V Philometor (killed by Cleopatra Thea)

124 BC

• Artabanus II of Parthia

123 BC

• Alexander II Zabinas, king of the Seleucid Empire

122 BC

• Liu An, Chinese prince, geographer, and cartographer (b. 179 BC)

121 BC

• Cleopatra Thea, Seleucid queen
• Gaius Gracchus, Roman politician (b. 154 BC)
• Gongsun Hong, Chinese statesman (b. 200 BC)
• Marcus Fulvius Flaccus, Roman consul

120 BC

• Hipparchus, Greek astronomer and mathematician, on Rhodes (approximate date) (b. c. 190 BC)

References

1. Hung, Hing Ming (2020). The Magnificent Emperor Wu: China's Han Dynasty. p. 135. ISBN 978-1628944167.
2. Hung, Hing Ming (2020). The Magnificent Emperor Wu: China's Han Dynasty. p. 133. ISBN 978-1628944167.
3. Hung, Hing Ming (2020). The Magnificent Emperor Wu: China's Han Dynasty. pp. 133–135. ISBN 978-1628944167.
4. Hung, Hing Ming (2020). The Magnificent Emperor Wu: China's Han Dynasty. p. 139. ISBN 978-1628944167.
5. Hung, Hing Ming (2020). The Magnificent Emperor Wu: China's Han Dynasty. pp. 145–150. ISBN 978-1628944167.
6. Hung, Hing Ming (2020). The Magnificent Emperor Wu: China's Han Dynasty. pp. 139–140. ISBN 978-1628944167.
7. Qian, Sima. Records of the Grand Historian, Section: Xiongnu, Section: Wei Qing & Huo Qubing.
8. Hung, Hing Ming (2020). The Magnificent Emperor Wu: China's Han Dynasty. p. 140. ISBN 978-1628944167.
9. Hung, Hing Ming (2020). The Magnificent Emperor Wu: China's Han Dynasty. p. 146. ISBN 978-1628944167.
10. Hung, Hing Ming (2020). The Magnificent Emperor Wu: China's Han Dynasty. Algora. pp. 138–139. ISBN 978-1628944167.
11. Hung, Hing Ming (2020). The Magnificent Emperor Wu: China's Han Dynasty. Algora. pp. 140–141. ISBN 978-1628944167.
12. Hung, Hing Ming (2020). The Magnificent Emperor Wu: China's Han Dynasty. Algora. p. 140. ISBN 978-1628944167.
13. Qian, Sima. Records of the Grand Historian, Section: Xiongnu.
14. Hung, Hing Ming (2020). The Magnificent Emperor Wu: China's Han Dynasty. p. 141. ISBN 978-1628944167.
15. Qian, Sima. Records of the Grand Historian, Section: Xiongnu, Section: Wei Qing & Huo Qubing.
16. Hung, Hing Ming (2020). The Magnificent Emperor Wu: China's Han Dynasty. p. 146. ISBN 978-1628944167.
17. Hung, Hing Ming (2020). The Magnificent Emperor Wu: China's Han Dynasty. pp. 150–151. ISBN 978-1628944167.
18. Salisbury, Joyce (2001). Encyclopedia of Women in the Ancient World. ABC-CLIO. p. 56.
19. Stambaugh, John E. (1988). The Ancient Roman City. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 37. ISBN 0-8018-3574-7.
20. Hung, Hing Ming (2020). The Magnificent Emperor Wu: China's Han Dynasty. pp. 141–142. ISBN 978-1628944167.
21. Hung, Hing Ming (2020). The Magnificent Emperor Wu: China's Han Dynasty. pp. 142–143. ISBN 978-1628944167.
22. Qian, Sima. Records of the Grand Historian, Section: Wei Qing & Huo Qubing.
23. Hung, Hing Ming (2020). The Magnificent Emperor Wu: China's Han Dynasty. pp. 158–159. ISBN 978-1628944167.
24. Hung, Hing Ming (2020). The Magnificent Emperor Wu: China's Han Dynasty. pp. 159–160. ISBN 978-1628944167.
25. Hung, Hing Ming (2020). The Magnificent Emperor Wu: China's Han Dynasty. pp. 151–158. ISBN 978-1628944167.
26. Hung, Hing Ming (2020). The Magnificent Emperor Wu: China's Han Dynasty. p. 224. ISBN 978-1628944167.
27. Hung, Hing Ming (2020). The Magnificent Emperor Wu: China's Han Dynasty. pp. 159–163. ISBN 978-1628944167.
28. Qian, Sima. Records of the Grand Historian, Section: Xiongnu, Section: Wei Qing & Huo Qubing.
29. Qian, Sima. Records of the Grand Historian, Section: Xiongnu, Section: Wei Qing & Huo Qubing.