Trying to Drain the Fucine Lake
Contributed by David Verne
The Fucine Lake is the third largest lake in Italy and has no natural outlet. The Romans have wanted to drain the lake for years to gain the fertile soil underneath to farm and to eliminate a source of malaria outbreaks. For the past 11 years, 30,000 workers have been digging a 3.5 mile tunnel to drain the lake. To celebrate the completion of this ambitious project, Claudius stages an enormous naval battle on the lake using almost a hundred ships and 19,000 criminals as gladiators. A banquet was laid out for the hundreds of spectators near the new outflow, and after the pomp and ceremony that accompanies grand openings, the tunnel was opened. It was quickly discovered that the tunnel had too tight of a bend, and the water washed out the area while the spectators fled for safety. This wasn't one of Claudius' proudest moments, and Narcissus was blamed by Agrippina for the failure. To the Romans credit, the Fucine Lake will not be drained until 1877 by a Swiss engineer.  
Tiridates I of Armenia forms the Arsacid dynasty
Contributed by Southpaw Ben
This year Armenia is invaded by King Vologases I of Parthia, who was able to take the capital city of Artashat. After doing so, he proclaimed his younger brother Tiridates as king, thereby violating a treaty that had been signed during the reign of Phraates IV (reigned 37-2 BC) that gave Rome exclusive right to appoint and crown kings of Armenia, as it had been made a Roman dependency. Tiridates will rule for two years before his reign is breifly interupted in 54 AD by the overthrown king Rhadamistus returning when Tiridates has to withdraw due to a winter epidemic.
- Tacitus, Cornelius. The Annals.
- Duncan, Mike (July 26, 2009). A Farewell to Claudius.
Aral Sea