Overview
The year 38 BC falls within the closing decades of the Roman Republic, a period of political realignment and civil wars that preceded the rise of the Roman Empire. In contemporary Roman usage it was identified by the names of the two consuls in office — traditionally recorded as the "Year of the Consulship of Pulcher and Flaccus" — rather than by a numbered era. Modern historians place it thirty-eight years before the epoch traditionally called Anno Domini.
Because calendar systems and historical records differ, modern reconstructions of 38 BC must reconcile variations in ancient chronologies and later medieval dating systems. The year is sometimes described as either a common or a leap year in the early implementation of the Julian calendar, a subject treated below.
Calendar and chronological issues
The Julian calendar, introduced in 45 BC, reformed Roman timekeeping but suffered from errors in the early decades of its use. As a result, sources and modern reconstructions may list 38 BC as beginning on different weekdays or as a leap year or common year depending on how the original leap-day practice is interpreted. Discussions of these variations are part of larger studies of Roman chronology and calendar mechanics (Julian calendar variations, weekday reconstructions, early leap-year errors).
Historical context
38 BC occurred during the era of the Second Triumvirate, when the three leading figures of Roman politics — the triumvirs — competed for influence across Roman territories and provinces. Political, military and administrative actions of this general period reshaped the governance of Roman provinces and set the stage for the eventual transition from Republic to Imperial rule. For broader background on political institutions and personalities of the time, consult established summaries of late-Republic history and contemporary sources (late-Republic context).
Spanish era and regional dating
Significantly for Iberian history, 38 BC is recognized as year 1 of the so-called Spanish era (also called the Hispanic era), a regional chronological system that was used in parts of Hispania for many centuries and persisted in some documents until the 15th century. The origin of this era is often linked to Roman administrative changes in the peninsula, and its continuing use reflects local traditions of dating long after imperial structures evolved (Spanish era origins, Hispania administrative history).
Notable facts and legacy
When studying 38 BC one encounters several useful reminders: ancient years were commonly named after consuls rather than numbered; early Julian-calendar practice introduced ambiguities in leap-year placement; and regional eras, like the Spanish era beginning in 38 BC, demonstrate that multiple chronological systems coexisted across the Mediterranean and Europe. For further reading on dating conventions and primary-source evidence, see supplementary resources and catalogues of inscriptions and chronicles (dating systems and sources).
- Naming convention: Roman years often appear in inscriptions and texts as "the consulship of X and Y."
- Calendar caution: Modern conversion from Roman dates requires careful attention to leap-year errors.
- Regional eras: Local chronologies like the Spanish era continued to be used long after Rome reorganized provinces.