AD 88

Events

By place

Roman Empire

• Two Egyptian obelisks are erected in Benevento in front of the Temple of Isis, in honour of Emperor Domitian.
• Quintilian retires from teaching and from pleading, to compose his great work on the training of the orator.
• The First Dacian War ends: Decebalus becomes a client king of Rome, he receives money, craftsmen and war machines to protect the borders of the Roman Empire.

  Asia

• Emperor Han Zhangdi dies at age 31 after a 13-year reign in which Chinese military forces have become powerful enough to march against tribes who threaten their northern and western borders. Having used intrigue as well as armed might to achieve his ends, Zhangdi and his General Ban Chao have reestablished Chinese influence in Inner Asia, but court eunuchs have increased their power during the emperor's reign. Zhangdi is succeeded by his 9-year-old son Zhao, who will reign until 105 as emperor Han Hedi, but he will be a virtual pawn of Empress Dou and scheming courtiers who will effectively rule the Chinese Empire.
• Last year of yuanhe era and start of zhanghe era of the Chinese Eastern Han Dynasty.

  By topic

Religion

• Pope Clement I succeeds Pope Anacletus I as the fourth pope.

Deaths

• Dou Gu, Chinese general of the Han Dynasty
• Gaius Vettulenus Civica Cerealis, Roman politician
• Han Zhangdi, Chinese emperor of the Han Dynasty