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The Great Fire burns much of Rome

64 CE, Rome. An event.

Where and when

64 CERome

1,962 years ago

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, Rome

A fire starting by the Circus Maximus burns for days. Tacitus says no one knew whether it was an accident or set by Nero, who blamed the Christians.

A disaster followed, whether accidental or treacherously contrived by the emperor, is uncertain, as authors have given both accounts

Tacitus, Annals 15.38Translated by A. J. Church and W. J. Brodribb (1876)Read the full passage (Tacitus, Annals 15.38, opens scaife.perseus.org)

Background: Great Fire of Rome, Wikipedia (opens en.wikipedia.org)

Why it matters

The fire destroyed nearly three quarters of Rome, and by Tacitus' account Nero's blaming of the Christians began the empire's first persecution of them.

Based on Wikipedia: Great Fire of Rome

In the aftermath of the fire, nearly three quarters of Rome had been destroyed (10 out of 14 districts).

According to Tacitus, Emperor Nero blamed the devastation on the Christian community in the city, initiating the empire's first persecution against the Christians.

Wikipedia, Great Fire of Rome (opens en.wikipedia.org), as of 2026-10-03. Text CC BY-SA 4.0. Our line is checked against these sentences only.

Related moments

In time order, with this one in its place. Each says why it is here.

  1. c. 60–61 CEabout 4 years earlier Boudica leads a British revolt against Rome Same years
  2. 64 CEThis momentThe Great Fire burns much of Rome
  3. set in 64 CESame year Nero watches the fire, as Suetonius tells it Rests on this eventAlso in Rome
  4. by 64 CEBy this year Nero on fire devouring the world, in Suetonius Rests on this event
  5. set in 64 CESame year Tacitus on Nero blaming the Christians Rests on this event
  6. set in 64 CESame year Tacitus on the Great Fire of Rome Rests on this eventAlso in Rome
  7. set in 64 CESame year Tacitus on the rumour that Nero sang of Troy Rests on this eventAlso in Rome
  8. 65 CE1 year later Nero orders his old tutor Seneca to die Same years
  9. 66 CE2 years later Judaea rises against Rome Same years
  10. 68 CE4 years later Nero kills himself as the Senate declares him an enemy Same years

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