15 AD

15 AD is a year in the first century of the Common Era, reckoned according to the Julian calendar, which was the dating system used by the Roman Empire at that time. Like other years of that period, people living then did not use the number "15": the system of numbering years from the birth of Jesus Christ was established many centuries later, and became established by the monk Dionysius Exiguus in the sixth century.

The Romans named years after the two consuls (consuls) who held office that year, or counted them from the founding of the city of Rome (ab urbe condita). For this reason, original documents from this year are written in a different format; modern historians convert them to the Common Era system.

Political conditions

In this year the Roman Empire was ruled by Tiberius, who had taken power after the death of Augustus in 14 AD. The early years of his reign were marked by military operations along the northern frontier, particularly in the German regions and around the Rhine river, and by administrative reforms aimed at strengthening central authority. Germanicus, one of the most distinguished commanders, led some of these campaigns.

Calculation

The Julian calendar has 365 days, with an extra day added every four years. The difference between the Julian calendar and the Gregorian calendar (now in use worldwide) was only about two days in the first century; the dates of that period are thus very close under both systems.

Sources

Information about this year comes from later written sources, including the histories of Tacitus and Suetonius, and Roman inscriptions. What is remembered of a particular year is rare, and much that was recorded in ancient times cannot be reliably verified.