163 BC

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Events

By place

Egypt

* The Egyptian king Ptolemy VI Philometor is restored to his throne through the intervention of the citizens of Alexandria. However, the Romans intervene and decide to partition the Ptolemaic realm, ordering Ptolemy VIII Euergetes into Cyrenaica and giving Ptolemy VI Cyprus and Egypt. The two brothers accept the Roman partition.

eleucid Empire

* In the turmoil following the death of Antiochus IV, the governor of Media, Timarchus, becomes the independent ruler of Media, opposing Lysias who is acting as regent for young king Antiochus V Eupator.
* Lysias tries to make peace with the Jews in Judea. He offers them full religious freedom if they will lay down their arms. Even though the Chasidim consent, Judas Maccabeus argues for full political as well as religious freedom.

Roman Republic

* The Roman playwright Terence's play "Heauton Timorumenos" (The Self-Tormentor) is first performed.

Births

* Tiberius Sempronius Gracchus, Roman politician, who, as a plebeian tribune, will cause political turmoil in the Republic through his attempts to legislate agrarian reforms; his political ideals will eventually lead to his death at the hands of supporters of the conservative faction (Optimates) of the Roman Senate (d. 132 BC)
* Marcus Aemilius Scaurus, Roman politician and ambassador (d. 89 BC)

Deaths

* Zhang Yan, known formally as Empress Xiaohui, empress of the Chinese Han Dynasty