109 BC
Year 109 BC was a year of the [Roman calendar|pre-Julian Roman calendar]. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Numidicus and Silanus and the Second Year of Yuanfeng. The denomination 109 BC for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.
Events
By place
Roman Republic
- A Roman army under Marcus Junius Silanus is defeated by the Cimbri and Teutones near the river Rhône.
Asia
- Emperor Wu of Han inspects the Han Empire, traveling. He also sends diplomats to search for the legendary Penglai Island.
- Han campaigns against Dian: Emperor Wu launches a new campaign against the Dian Kingdom and establishes the Yizhou commandery in Yunnan during the dynasty's expansion southward.
- Han invasion of Gojoseon
- The Han general Zhao Ponu and 700 cavalrymen are victorious in the Battle of Loulan in the Tarim Basin, capturing the king of Loulan in the first Han intervention west of the Hexi Corridor.
Deaths
- Paerisades V, king of the Bosporan Kingdom
- Sames II Theosebes Dikaios, king of Commagene