The world in 54 AD — what happened that year

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

What happened

The first death of the new reign: Junius Silanus, governor of Asia, is killed through Agrippina's scheme (Tacitus, Annals and Histories Ann. 13.1)
At year's end, rumors that the Parthians have trampled Armenia and driven out Radamistus (Tacitus, Annals and Histories Ann. 13.6)

Claudius dies and Nero becomes emperor as Agrippina wished (Josephus, Jewish War and Antiquities of the Jews 20.150)
He died at sixty-four, in the fourteenth year of his reign; his death was concealed until the succession was settled. (Suetonius, Lives of the Caesars Claudius 45)
When Claudius's death was announced, he went out to the Praetorian cohort, was acclaimed emperor by the soldiers on the palace steps, and was carried in a litter to the camp. (Suetonius, Lives of the Caesars Nero 8)
He gave Claudius a grand funeral, read the eulogy himself, and had him deified. (Suetonius, Lives of the Caesars Nero 9)
The sick Claudius goes to Sinuessa to recuperate (Tacitus, Annals and Histories Ann. 12.66)
At noon on October 13 the palace gates open, and Nero goes out before the guard with Burrus (Tacitus, Annals and Histories Ann. 12.69)