Liu Xiu sets up two forces at Xin'an in modern Luoyang, Henan) and Yiyang (also in modern Luoyang) to block their progress, as his forces under Deng and Feng Yi, whom he had sent to relieve Deng, continue to battle the Chimei.

Pontius Pilate, becoming, under Tiberias, the fifth Roman procurator (governor) of Judea in 26, also has jurisdiction over Samaria and part of Idumaea.

Pilate's title was traditionally thought to have been procurator, since Tacitus speaks of him as such.

However, a damaged dedication by a Pilate of a Tiberieum on a limestone block known as the Pilate Stone—a dedication to Tiberius Caesar Augustus—that will be discovered in 1961 in the ruins of an amphitheater at Caesarea Maritima, the capital of the province of Judaea (Iudaea), refers to Pilate as "Prefect of Judaea".

The dedication states that he was [...]ECTVS IUDA[...] (usually read as praefectus Iudaeae), that is, prefect of Judaea.

Thus, the early governors of Judaea appear to be of prefect rank, whereas the later are of procurator rank, beginning in CE 44 with Cuspius Fadus.

The inscription, discovered by a group led by Antonio Frova and dated to CE 26–37, is currently housed in the Israel Museum, Jerusalem, while a replica stands at Caesarea.

Tiberius finally retires from Rome altogether in CE 2 to the island of Capri, where he will spend the remainder of his life until his death in 37.

With Tiberius's withdrawal, Sejanus is left in charge of the entire state mechanism and the city of Rome.

Guarded by the Praetorians, Sejanus easily controls all information that passes between Tiberius and the capital.

The Chimei win a great victory against both Deng and Feng at Hu (in modern Sanmenxia, Henan) in spring 27—a rarity in the records regarding them in that the battle tactics demonstrating Chimei generals' brilliance are recorded in historical accounts.

The Chimei general engages in the tactic of feigning defeat and retreat—abandoning what appeared to be supplies of food.

Deng's forces, also hungry, try to take the food, which turns out to only contain one layer of beans with dirt underneath.

Having lured Deng's forces into a condition of panic, the Chimei forces then converge, defeating their foes.

The victory at Hu is to be the last for the Chimei.

About a month later, they suffer a major defeat at Feng's hands—in which Feng creates confusion for the Chimei by also coloring his troops' eyebrows red.

The remnants of the Chimei withdraw east toward Yiyang.

Liu Xiu personally leads the troops to wait for them.

As the Chimei arrive at Yiyang, they are surprised to see Liu Xiu's overwhelming forces, and decide to negotiate surrender terms.

After Liu Xiu agrees not to execute Emperor Penzi, the Chimei emperor and generals surrender.

The Chimei generals and their families are settled in the Eastern Han capital of Luoyang and given regular stipends and land, but not official positions.

Eventually, Fan and Pang prepare to rebel again, and they are discovered and executed.

Yang and Xu return to their home lands, where they will die of old age.

Xie is assassinated by Liu Gong to avenge Emperor Gengshi, and Liu Xiu, sympathetic to Liu Gong, pardons him.

Liu Xiu makes the former Emperor Penzi an assistant to his uncle Liu Liang, the Prince of Zhao.

Liu Penzi will later suffer an illness that will leave him blind, and Liu Xiu will give him a large swarth of farmland, allowing him to survive on the rent from the farms.

The Trung sisters, whose names are Trung Trac and Trung Nh, are Vietnamese military leaders who rebel against Chinese rule in 39.

Regarded as national heroines of Vietnam, their rebellion begins at the Red River Delta, but soon spreads to other Yue tribes along the coast to the north and south.

A Thracian settlement called Serdica or Sardica, named after the Celtic tribe Serdi that had populated it, had been possessed for a short period during the fourth century BCE by Philip of Macedon and his son Alexander the Great.

The city is conquered by the Romans around 29 BCE and renamed Ulpia Serdica.

The Middle East: 28–39 CE

Parthian Struggles and Roman Diplomacy

During the period from 28 to 39 CE, tensions within the Parthian Empire continue to challenge regional stability. Artabanus II, initially successful in consolidating authority, now faces intense internal opposition driven by powerful Parthian aristocratic factions increasingly dissatisfied with his centralization efforts and assertive foreign policy.

In 35 CE, discontent among these elites culminates in open rebellion, prompting some Parthian nobles to seek assistance from Rome. Seizing this diplomatic opportunity, Roman authorities under Emperor Tiberius actively encourage instability by supporting rival claimants to the Parthian throne, notably backing Tiridates III, a Parthian prince with significant Roman connections. Roman support for Tiridates culminates in his temporary installation as a rival king in 36 CE, forcing Artabanus II into exile among eastern nomadic tribes.

However, Artabanus swiftly regroups, leveraging tribal alliances to mount a successful counteroffensive. By 37 CE, he regains control over Ctesiphon, expelling Tiridates and restoring his authority. Understanding the limits of Roman intervention, Emperor Caligula, who succeeds Tiberius in 37 CE, chooses not to pursue aggressive confrontation, instead accepting Artabanus’s reinstatement and renewing diplomatic relations.

Simultaneously, Rome carefully manages the delicate political situation in Armenia, maintaining the kingdom as a crucial buffer state and preserving influence through client kings and strategic diplomacy. The Roman-Parthian rivalry thus remains largely unresolved, characterized by intermittent proxy conflicts, strategic maneuvering, and cautious diplomacy, shaping the region’s ongoing balance of power.

The Middle East: 40–51 CE

Parthian Rivalries and Roman Regional Strategies

Between 40 and 51 CE, the Parthian Empire again descends into internal strife, exacerbated by external Roman intervention. In 40 CE, Emperor Caligula dispatches forces to strengthen Rome's grip over client states and indirectly assert influence over Armenia. His assassination in 41 CE and the accession of Claudius usher in a pragmatic shift in Roman eastern policy, characterized by strategic restraint and careful diplomacy rather than overt military campaigns.

Parthia’s Artabanus II dies around 38 CE, leading to further instability. His successor, Vardanes I, ascends the throne but faces immediate opposition from his brother, Gotarzes II, sparking a destructive civil war. Throughout the early 40s CE, the two brothers engage in intermittent conflicts, with Vardanes briefly securing dominance before his assassination in 45 CE. Gotarzes II regains power but continues to contend with widespread aristocratic unrest and regional rebellions.

Seizing upon Parthian disarray, Rome employs diplomatic maneuvers, indirectly supporting rival claimants to maintain Parthian internal divisions while preserving a manageable frontier. In 49 CE, the Parthian nobility invites Meherdates, a hostage prince raised in Rome, to challenge Gotarzes. Meherdates, however, suffers defeat, securing Gotarzes' tenuous rule until his death in 51 CE.

Amid these conflicts, Rome consistently focuses its influence on Armenia, which remains pivotal to regional stability. The kingdom alternates between pro-Roman and pro-Parthian rulers, reflecting the ongoing, careful diplomatic tug-of-war. Thus, by 51 CE, the Middle East continues as a theater of indirect conflict, shaped by Parthian dynastic rivalries and Rome’s strategic emphasis on diplomatic intervention rather than outright conquest.