The Longest Year In History Was 445 Days Long

It is official, but how is that possible?

(Wikimedia Commons)

The year 46 BCE is not a very notable year. In fact, if you ask most people to name some important events from that particular year, you will likely be met with blank stares. 46 BCE is not one of the more famous years in history. The year 46 BCE is notable for two things. First, Julius Caesar was finishing the civil war he started by crossing the Rubicon with his veteran soldiers from Gaul years earlier. Second, it was the longest year in history.

46 BCE was officially 445 days long. That makes it the longest official year in recorded human history. The year 46 BCE was 80 days longer than a typical year and boasted an extension of nearly three months. But how is that possible?

To answer that question, we have to look at the Roman lunar calendar and examine the ultimate power that Julius Caesar was accruing for himself at the time.

The Inaccurate Roman Lunar Calendar

Before the advent of the Julian calendar (predecessor to the modern day Gregorian calendar), the Romans used a lunar calendar that was tied to important religious events. This calendar was messy and required a lot of tweaking to keep it running smoothly. That is because the lunar year is only 355 days long…