In the first century BCE, Rome\u2019s calendar was a mess. The timekeeping system was first instituted around 700 BCE (back when Rome had kings), and from the start, the calendar had some issues. The year was 355 days long with an extra month added at the discretion of the pontifices, high-ranking priests who were in charge of the calendar. As the system was imprecise and subject to mismanagement, over time the calendar became misaligned with the seasons. What\u2019s more, pontifices often abused their power by lengthening the terms of their allies and curtailing them for adversaries. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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When Julius Caesar became dictator of Rome in 49 BCE, he decided a change was in order, both to limit the pontifices\u2019 power and to create a more effective calendar for administering a growing empire. With the help of Greek astronomer Sosigenes of Alexandria, Caesar instituted the eponymous Julian calendar on January 1, 45 BCE. But to make the switch to the new calendar, Romans had to withstand what\u2019s now known as the \u201clast year of confusion<\/a>.\u201d At this point, Rome\u2019s calendar was roughly three months out of whack with the seasonal harvest festivals, so Caesar inserted three extra months into the year 46 BCE, known as \u201cintercalary months,\u201d to get his 365-day calendar realigned with the solar year. For those living within Rome\u2019s borders, 46 BCE \u2014 at 445 days long \u2014 became the longest year in history<\/p>\n\n\n\nBy the Numbers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n