The world in 42 AD — what happened that year

9 events the sources record for this year, grouped by region.

What happened

China (1)

• Shi Xin, a commander of the Shu army, defected; Wu Han besieged Chengdu, took the city in the seventh month, and beheaded Shi Xin and others. (Book of the Later Han (Hou Hanshu), Annals 後漢書卷1下 光武帝紀下 建武18年)

Korean Peninsula (2)

• Silla attacked Iseo and destroyed it (in the same year Goguryeo troops invaded). (Samguk Yusa (Memorabilia of the Three Kingdoms) 紀異第一 第三弩禮王) tradition
• In the third month, on the day of the Gyeyok rite, at Guji peak a heavenly voice sounded and six eggs descended in a golden box hung from a purple cord; the first to hatch, Suro, became king of Garak. (Samguk Yusa (Memorabilia of the Three Kingdoms) 紀異第二 駕洛國記) tradition

Southeast Asia (2)

• Ma Yuan advanced along the coast, cutting through mountains to open a road of over a thousand li, and reached the place above Langbo. (Đại Việt sử ký toàn thư 外紀卷之三 「壬寅三年〔漢建武十八年〕春正月，」)
• General Fubo Ma Yuan was sent with Lou-chuan General Duan Zhi and others to attack Zheng Ce and others at Jiaozhi. (Book of the Later Han (Hou Hanshu), Annals 後漢書卷1下 光武帝紀下 建武18年)

West Asia (2)

• Agrippa begins building a huge wall around Jerusalem (Josephus, Jewish War and Antiquities of the Jews BJ 2.218–222)
• Agrippa builds a new wall at Jerusalem but halts it after the Syrian governor's report (Josephus, Jewish War and Antiquities of the Jews 19.326)

Southern Europe (2)

• Plots by individuals and factions continued, until a civil war finally shook his regime. (Suetonius, Lives of the Caesars Claudius 13)
• He built a harbour at Ostia and erected a tall tower on piles, modeled on the Pharos of Alexandria, lit at night. (Suetonius, Lives of the Caesars Claudius 20)

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