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On July 1, 69, Roman General Vespasian is first proclaimed Emperor by his troops in Egypt during the Year of the Four Emperors. From the article:
"On the news of Otho's suicide, the Senate recognized Vitellius as emperor. With this recognition, Vitellius set out for Rome; however, he faced problems from the start of his reign. The city remained very skeptical when Vitellius chose the anniversary of the Battle of the Allia (in 390 BC), a day of bad auspices according to Roman superstition, to accede to the office of Pontifex Maximus.
Events seemed to prove the omens right. With the throne tightly secured, Vitellius engaged in a series of banquets (Suetonius refers to three a day: morning, afternoon, and night) and triumphal parades that drove the imperial treasury close to bankruptcy. Debts quickly accrued, and money-lenders started to demand repayment. Vitellius showed his violent nature by ordering the torture and execution of those who dared to make such demands. With financial affairs in a state of calamity, Vitellius took to killing citizens who had named him as their heir, often together with any co-heirs. Moreover, he engaged in the pursuit of every possible rival, inviting them to the palace with promises of power, only to order their assassination.
Meanwhile, the legions stationed in the African province of Egypt and the Middle Eastern provinces of Iudaea (Judea/Palestine) and Syria acclaimed Vespasian as emperor. Vespasian had received a special command in Judaea from Nero in 67, with the task of putting down the Great Jewish Revolt. He gained the support of the governor of Syria, Gaius Licinius Mucianus. A strong force drawn from the Judaean and Syrian legions marched on Rome under the command of Mucianus. Vespasian himself travelled to Alexandria, where he was acclaimed emperor on July 1, thereby gaining control of the vital grain supplies from Egypt. His son Titus remained in Judaea to deal with the Jewish rebellion. Before the eastern legions could reach Rome, the Danubian legions of the provinces of Raetia and Moesia also acclaimed Vespasian as emperor in August, and led by Marcus Antonius Primus, invaded Italy. In October, the forces led by Primus won a crushing victory over Vitellius's army at the Second Battle of Bedriacum.
Surrounded by enemies, Vitellius made a last attempt to win the city to his side, distributing bribes and promises of power where needed. He tried to levy by force several allied tribes, such as the Batavians, but they refused. The Danube army was now very near Rome. Realizing the immediate threat, Vitellius made a last attempt to gain time by sending emissaries, accompanied by Vestal Virgins, to negotiate a truce and start peace talks. The following day, messengers arrived with news that the enemy was at the gates of the city. Vitellius went into hiding and prepared to flee, but decided on one last visit to the palace, where Vespasian's men caught and killed him. In seizing the capital, they burned down the temple of Jupiter.
The Senate acknowledged Vespasian as emperor on the following day. It was December 21, 69, the year that had begun with Galba on the throne.
Vitellius' legions: XV Primigenia
Vespasian's legions: III Augusta, I Macriana liberatrix
Vespasian met no direct threat to his imperial power after the death of Vitellius. He became the founder of the stable Flavian dynasty that succeeded the Julio-Claudians. He died of natural causes in 79. The Flavians, each in turn, ruled from 69 to 96."
"On the news of Otho's suicide, the Senate recognized Vitellius as emperor. With this recognition, Vitellius set out for Rome; however, he faced problems from the start of his reign. The city remained very skeptical when Vitellius chose the anniversary of the Battle of the Allia (in 390 BC), a day of bad auspices according to Roman superstition, to accede to the office of Pontifex Maximus.
Events seemed to prove the omens right. With the throne tightly secured, Vitellius engaged in a series of banquets (Suetonius refers to three a day: morning, afternoon, and night) and triumphal parades that drove the imperial treasury close to bankruptcy. Debts quickly accrued, and money-lenders started to demand repayment. Vitellius showed his violent nature by ordering the torture and execution of those who dared to make such demands. With financial affairs in a state of calamity, Vitellius took to killing citizens who had named him as their heir, often together with any co-heirs. Moreover, he engaged in the pursuit of every possible rival, inviting them to the palace with promises of power, only to order their assassination.
Meanwhile, the legions stationed in the African province of Egypt and the Middle Eastern provinces of Iudaea (Judea/Palestine) and Syria acclaimed Vespasian as emperor. Vespasian had received a special command in Judaea from Nero in 67, with the task of putting down the Great Jewish Revolt. He gained the support of the governor of Syria, Gaius Licinius Mucianus. A strong force drawn from the Judaean and Syrian legions marched on Rome under the command of Mucianus. Vespasian himself travelled to Alexandria, where he was acclaimed emperor on July 1, thereby gaining control of the vital grain supplies from Egypt. His son Titus remained in Judaea to deal with the Jewish rebellion. Before the eastern legions could reach Rome, the Danubian legions of the provinces of Raetia and Moesia also acclaimed Vespasian as emperor in August, and led by Marcus Antonius Primus, invaded Italy. In October, the forces led by Primus won a crushing victory over Vitellius's army at the Second Battle of Bedriacum.
Surrounded by enemies, Vitellius made a last attempt to win the city to his side, distributing bribes and promises of power where needed. He tried to levy by force several allied tribes, such as the Batavians, but they refused. The Danube army was now very near Rome. Realizing the immediate threat, Vitellius made a last attempt to gain time by sending emissaries, accompanied by Vestal Virgins, to negotiate a truce and start peace talks. The following day, messengers arrived with news that the enemy was at the gates of the city. Vitellius went into hiding and prepared to flee, but decided on one last visit to the palace, where Vespasian's men caught and killed him. In seizing the capital, they burned down the temple of Jupiter.
The Senate acknowledged Vespasian as emperor on the following day. It was December 21, 69, the year that had begun with Galba on the throne.
Vitellius' legions: XV Primigenia
Vespasian's legions: III Augusta, I Macriana liberatrix
Vespasian met no direct threat to his imperial power after the death of Vitellius. He became the founder of the stable Flavian dynasty that succeeded the Julio-Claudians. He died of natural causes in 79. The Flavians, each in turn, ruled from 69 to 96."
Year of the Four Emperors - Wikipedia
Posted from en.m.wikipedia.org
World History
Military History
Ancient History
Rome
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Thank you my friend SGT (Join to see) that 69 AD was the year that four Roman Emperors ruled in succession after the death of Nero Cladius Divi Claudius filius Caesar Augustus Germanicus who committed suicide on June 9, 68 AD after fleeing the city:
1. Servius Sulpicius Galba Caesar Augustus was Roman emperor from June 68 to January 15, 69 when he was assassinated.
2. Marcus Salvius Otho Caesar decided to put an end to the anarchy and committed suicide on April 16, 69 after having been Emperor for a little more than 3 months.
3. Aulus Vitellius was Roman Emperor for eight months, from 16 April to 22 December AD 69. He declined the titles Caesar and Augustus, but accepted Imperator and Germanicus
4. Titus Flavius Vespasianus became Caesar Vespasianus Augustus and he served as emperor of Rome from 22 December 69 to when he died on June 24, 7
Background from romeacrosseurope.com/?p=4056#sthash.49ykOntv.dpbs
"Since the days of the Rēgnum Rōmānum, there were always men jockeying for a position at the top. Why would it be any different when Rome got an Emperor instead of a King?
Yes, some rulers were better than others (not everyone can be an Augustus or Constantine the Great) but some years were just a flat-out disaster. On that note we bring to you, The Year of the Four Emperors!
The suicide of Emperor Nero (AD 68) was followed by a brief period of Roman Civil War, the first since Augustus’s victory over Mark Antony in 30 BC. Between June 68 AD and December 69 AD, Rome witnessed the successive rise and fall of 3 different rulers before finding peace with a 4th.
The social, military and political upheavals of the period had Empire-wide repercussions, which included the outbreak of the Batavian rebellion. This Year of the Four Emperors began with Galba, continued with Otho, followed by Vitellius, until the final accession of Vespasian, first of the Imperial Flavian Dynasty.
In June AD 68 Praefectus Praetorio Nymphidius Sabinus, as part of a plot to become Emperor himself, incited his men to transfer their loyalty from Emperor Nero to Servius Sulpicius Galba (Galba). Nero was suddenly powerless and the Senate was able to declare him an enemy of the state.
He fled the city and then committed suicide. Galba was recognized as Emperor and welcomed into the city at the head of Legio VII Galbiana, later known as VII Gemina.
This turn of events did not give the German Legions the reward for loyalty that they had expected but rather accusations of having obstructed Galba’s path to the throne. The new Emperor immediately replaced their commander with Aulus Vitellius (Vitellius) as Governor of Germania Inferior.
Galba did not remain popular for long. On his march to Rome, he either destroyed or took enormous fines from towns that did not accept him immediately.
In Rome, Galba cancelled all the reforms of Nero, including benefits for many important persons. Like his predecessor, Galba had a fear of conspirators and executed many Senators and Eques without trial.
The Praetoriani were not happy either for Galba refused to pay them the rewards that the Prefect Nymphidius had promised them in Galba’s name. On 1 January 69 AD the civil war started with the Legions of Germania Inferior refusing to swear allegiance and obedience to Galba. The following day the Legions acclaimed Vitellius, their Governor, as the new Emperor.
Hearing the news of the loss of the Rhine forces, Galba panicked. He adopted a young senator, Lucius Calpurnius Piso Licinianus (Lucius), as his successor.
By doing this, Galba offended many people, above all Marcus Salvius Otho (Otho), an influential and ambitious man who desired the honor for himself. Otho bribed the Praetoriani, already very unhappy with the Emperor, to his side.
When Galba heard about the coup d’état, he went to the streets in an attempt to stabilize the situation. It proved a mistake, because he could attract no supporters. Shortly afterwards, the Praetoriani killed both Galba and his proclaimed successor Lucius in the Forum Romanum.
That same day Otho was recognized as Emperor by the Senate. The new Emperor was saluted with relief.
Although ambitious and greedy, Otho was not known as a tyrant or for cruelty. Most Romans expected Otho to be a fair Emperor.
However, Otho’s initial efforts to restore peace and stability were soon checked by the revelation that Vitellius had declared himself Imperator in Germania. On top of that, Vitellius had dispatched half of his army to march on Italy.
Vitellius had behind him the finest fighting forces of the empire, composed of veterans of the Germanic Wars, such as I Germanica and XXI Rapax. Command of these Legions would prove to be the best arguments in his bid for power.
Otho was not keen to begin another civil war and sent emissaries to propose a peace. He also offered to have his marry Vitellius’ daughter, but it was too late to reason.
After a series of minor victories, Otho was defeated in the Battle of Bedriacum. Rather than flee and attempt a counter-attack, Otho decided to put an end to the anarchy and committed suicide having been Emperor for a little more than 3 months.
On the news of Otho’s suicide, Vitellius was recognized as Emperor by the Senate. Granted this recognition, Vitellius set out for Rome.
Things were not so easy for Vitellius, and he faced problems from the start of his reign. The city was left very skeptical when Vitellius chose the anniversary of the Battle of the Allia (in 390 BC), a day of bad auspices according to Roman superstition, to accede to the office of Pontifex Maximus.
Events would seemingly prove them right. With the throne tightly secured, Vitellius engaged in a series of feasts, thrice-daily banquets and triumphal parades that drove the imperial treasury close to bankruptcy.
Debts were quickly accrued and money-lenders started to demand repayment. Vitellius showed his violent nature by ordering the torture and execution of those who dared to make such demands.
With financial affairs in a state of calamity, Vitellius took the initiative of killing citizens who named him as their heir, often together with any co-heirs. Moreover, he engaged in a pursuit of every possible rival, inviting them to the palace with promises of power only to have them assassinated.
Meanwhile, the Legions stationed in the African province of Egypt and the Middle East provinces of Iudaea (Judea/Palestine)and Syria had acclaimed Titus Flavius Vespasianus (Vespasian) as Emperor. Vespasian had been given a special command in Judaea by Nero in AD 67 with the task of putting down the Great Jewish Revolt.
Vespasian gained the support of the governor of Syria, Gaius Licinius Mucianus. A strong force drawn from the Judaean and Syrian legions marched on Rome under the command of Mucianus.
Vespasian himself travelled to Alexandria where he had been acclaimed Emperor on July 1, thereby gaining control of the vital grain supplies from Egypt. Vespasian’s son Titus remained in Judaea to deal with the Jewish rebellion.
Before the eastern legions could reach Rome, the Danubian legions of the provinces of Raetia and Moesia also acclaimed Vespasian as Emperor in August, and led by Marcus Antonius Primus invaded Italy. In October, the forces led by Primus won a crushing victory over Vitellius’ army at the Second Battle of Bedriacum.
Second Battle of Bedriacum
Surrounded by enemies, Vitellius made a last attempt to win the city to his side, distributing bribes and promises of power where needed. He tried to levy by force several allied tribes, such as the Batavians, only to be refused.
The Danube army was now very near Rome. Realizing the immediate threat, Vitellius made a last attempt to gain time and sent emissaries, accompanied by Vestal Virgins, to negotiate a truce and start peace talks.
The following day, messengers arrived with news that the enemy was at the gates of the city. Vitellius went into hiding and prepared to flee, but decided on a last visit to the palace. There he was caught by Vespasian’s men and killed. In seizing the capital, they burned down the Temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus.
Again rushing to action, the Senate acknowledged Vespasian as the new Emperor on the following day. The year that had begun with Galba on the throne saw yet another Emperor, its 4th, come to power on 21 December AD 69.
Vespasian met no direct threat to his imperial power after the death of Vitellius. Little information though survives about the government during Vespasian’s 10-year rule.
He reformed the financial system at Rome after the campaign against Judaea ended successfully, and initiated several ambitious construction projects. He built the Flavian Amphitheatre, better known today as the Roman Colosseum.
In reaction to the events of 68–69, Vespasian forced through an improvement in Army discipline. Vespasian founded of the stable Flavian Dynasty that succeeded the Julio-Claudians and died of natural causes as Emperor in AD 79."
References:
Greenhalgh, Peter. The Year of the Four Emperors (1975).
Goldsworthy, Adrian. Roman Warfare.
Morgan, Gwyn. 69 AD: The Year of Four Emperors (2006).
Suetonius. The Twelve Caesars, available from Project Gutenberg: The Lives of the Twelve Caesars, Complete.
Tacitus. Histories."
The Fall of Nero and the Year of Four Emperors
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obrFJwr60zI
FYI LTC Bill Koski CW5 (Join to see) MSG Brad Sand SGM Steve Wettstein SSG James J. Palmer IV aka "JP4" SP5 Mark Kuzinski PO1 William "Chip" Nagel PO1 John Miller SP5 Robert Ruck SPC (Join to see) PO3 Steven Sherrill SN Greg Wright Maj Marty Hogan SCPO Morris Ramsey TSgt Joe C. Cpl Joshua Caldwell SGT Michael Thorin SP5 Dave (Shotgun) Shockley SPC Margaret Higgins
1. Servius Sulpicius Galba Caesar Augustus was Roman emperor from June 68 to January 15, 69 when he was assassinated.
2. Marcus Salvius Otho Caesar decided to put an end to the anarchy and committed suicide on April 16, 69 after having been Emperor for a little more than 3 months.
3. Aulus Vitellius was Roman Emperor for eight months, from 16 April to 22 December AD 69. He declined the titles Caesar and Augustus, but accepted Imperator and Germanicus
4. Titus Flavius Vespasianus became Caesar Vespasianus Augustus and he served as emperor of Rome from 22 December 69 to when he died on June 24, 7
Background from romeacrosseurope.com/?p=4056#sthash.49ykOntv.dpbs
"Since the days of the Rēgnum Rōmānum, there were always men jockeying for a position at the top. Why would it be any different when Rome got an Emperor instead of a King?
Yes, some rulers were better than others (not everyone can be an Augustus or Constantine the Great) but some years were just a flat-out disaster. On that note we bring to you, The Year of the Four Emperors!
The suicide of Emperor Nero (AD 68) was followed by a brief period of Roman Civil War, the first since Augustus’s victory over Mark Antony in 30 BC. Between June 68 AD and December 69 AD, Rome witnessed the successive rise and fall of 3 different rulers before finding peace with a 4th.
The social, military and political upheavals of the period had Empire-wide repercussions, which included the outbreak of the Batavian rebellion. This Year of the Four Emperors began with Galba, continued with Otho, followed by Vitellius, until the final accession of Vespasian, first of the Imperial Flavian Dynasty.
In June AD 68 Praefectus Praetorio Nymphidius Sabinus, as part of a plot to become Emperor himself, incited his men to transfer their loyalty from Emperor Nero to Servius Sulpicius Galba (Galba). Nero was suddenly powerless and the Senate was able to declare him an enemy of the state.
He fled the city and then committed suicide. Galba was recognized as Emperor and welcomed into the city at the head of Legio VII Galbiana, later known as VII Gemina.
This turn of events did not give the German Legions the reward for loyalty that they had expected but rather accusations of having obstructed Galba’s path to the throne. The new Emperor immediately replaced their commander with Aulus Vitellius (Vitellius) as Governor of Germania Inferior.
Galba did not remain popular for long. On his march to Rome, he either destroyed or took enormous fines from towns that did not accept him immediately.
In Rome, Galba cancelled all the reforms of Nero, including benefits for many important persons. Like his predecessor, Galba had a fear of conspirators and executed many Senators and Eques without trial.
The Praetoriani were not happy either for Galba refused to pay them the rewards that the Prefect Nymphidius had promised them in Galba’s name. On 1 January 69 AD the civil war started with the Legions of Germania Inferior refusing to swear allegiance and obedience to Galba. The following day the Legions acclaimed Vitellius, their Governor, as the new Emperor.
Hearing the news of the loss of the Rhine forces, Galba panicked. He adopted a young senator, Lucius Calpurnius Piso Licinianus (Lucius), as his successor.
By doing this, Galba offended many people, above all Marcus Salvius Otho (Otho), an influential and ambitious man who desired the honor for himself. Otho bribed the Praetoriani, already very unhappy with the Emperor, to his side.
When Galba heard about the coup d’état, he went to the streets in an attempt to stabilize the situation. It proved a mistake, because he could attract no supporters. Shortly afterwards, the Praetoriani killed both Galba and his proclaimed successor Lucius in the Forum Romanum.
That same day Otho was recognized as Emperor by the Senate. The new Emperor was saluted with relief.
Although ambitious and greedy, Otho was not known as a tyrant or for cruelty. Most Romans expected Otho to be a fair Emperor.
However, Otho’s initial efforts to restore peace and stability were soon checked by the revelation that Vitellius had declared himself Imperator in Germania. On top of that, Vitellius had dispatched half of his army to march on Italy.
Vitellius had behind him the finest fighting forces of the empire, composed of veterans of the Germanic Wars, such as I Germanica and XXI Rapax. Command of these Legions would prove to be the best arguments in his bid for power.
Otho was not keen to begin another civil war and sent emissaries to propose a peace. He also offered to have his marry Vitellius’ daughter, but it was too late to reason.
After a series of minor victories, Otho was defeated in the Battle of Bedriacum. Rather than flee and attempt a counter-attack, Otho decided to put an end to the anarchy and committed suicide having been Emperor for a little more than 3 months.
On the news of Otho’s suicide, Vitellius was recognized as Emperor by the Senate. Granted this recognition, Vitellius set out for Rome.
Things were not so easy for Vitellius, and he faced problems from the start of his reign. The city was left very skeptical when Vitellius chose the anniversary of the Battle of the Allia (in 390 BC), a day of bad auspices according to Roman superstition, to accede to the office of Pontifex Maximus.
Events would seemingly prove them right. With the throne tightly secured, Vitellius engaged in a series of feasts, thrice-daily banquets and triumphal parades that drove the imperial treasury close to bankruptcy.
Debts were quickly accrued and money-lenders started to demand repayment. Vitellius showed his violent nature by ordering the torture and execution of those who dared to make such demands.
With financial affairs in a state of calamity, Vitellius took the initiative of killing citizens who named him as their heir, often together with any co-heirs. Moreover, he engaged in a pursuit of every possible rival, inviting them to the palace with promises of power only to have them assassinated.
Meanwhile, the Legions stationed in the African province of Egypt and the Middle East provinces of Iudaea (Judea/Palestine)and Syria had acclaimed Titus Flavius Vespasianus (Vespasian) as Emperor. Vespasian had been given a special command in Judaea by Nero in AD 67 with the task of putting down the Great Jewish Revolt.
Vespasian gained the support of the governor of Syria, Gaius Licinius Mucianus. A strong force drawn from the Judaean and Syrian legions marched on Rome under the command of Mucianus.
Vespasian himself travelled to Alexandria where he had been acclaimed Emperor on July 1, thereby gaining control of the vital grain supplies from Egypt. Vespasian’s son Titus remained in Judaea to deal with the Jewish rebellion.
Before the eastern legions could reach Rome, the Danubian legions of the provinces of Raetia and Moesia also acclaimed Vespasian as Emperor in August, and led by Marcus Antonius Primus invaded Italy. In October, the forces led by Primus won a crushing victory over Vitellius’ army at the Second Battle of Bedriacum.
Second Battle of Bedriacum
Surrounded by enemies, Vitellius made a last attempt to win the city to his side, distributing bribes and promises of power where needed. He tried to levy by force several allied tribes, such as the Batavians, only to be refused.
The Danube army was now very near Rome. Realizing the immediate threat, Vitellius made a last attempt to gain time and sent emissaries, accompanied by Vestal Virgins, to negotiate a truce and start peace talks.
The following day, messengers arrived with news that the enemy was at the gates of the city. Vitellius went into hiding and prepared to flee, but decided on a last visit to the palace. There he was caught by Vespasian’s men and killed. In seizing the capital, they burned down the Temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus.
Again rushing to action, the Senate acknowledged Vespasian as the new Emperor on the following day. The year that had begun with Galba on the throne saw yet another Emperor, its 4th, come to power on 21 December AD 69.
Vespasian met no direct threat to his imperial power after the death of Vitellius. Little information though survives about the government during Vespasian’s 10-year rule.
He reformed the financial system at Rome after the campaign against Judaea ended successfully, and initiated several ambitious construction projects. He built the Flavian Amphitheatre, better known today as the Roman Colosseum.
In reaction to the events of 68–69, Vespasian forced through an improvement in Army discipline. Vespasian founded of the stable Flavian Dynasty that succeeded the Julio-Claudians and died of natural causes as Emperor in AD 79."
References:
Greenhalgh, Peter. The Year of the Four Emperors (1975).
Goldsworthy, Adrian. Roman Warfare.
Morgan, Gwyn. 69 AD: The Year of Four Emperors (2006).
Suetonius. The Twelve Caesars, available from Project Gutenberg: The Lives of the Twelve Caesars, Complete.
Tacitus. Histories."
The Fall of Nero and the Year of Four Emperors
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obrFJwr60zI
FYI LTC Bill Koski CW5 (Join to see) MSG Brad Sand SGM Steve Wettstein SSG James J. Palmer IV aka "JP4" SP5 Mark Kuzinski PO1 William "Chip" Nagel PO1 John Miller SP5 Robert Ruck SPC (Join to see) PO3 Steven Sherrill SN Greg Wright Maj Marty Hogan SCPO Morris Ramsey TSgt Joe C. Cpl Joshua Caldwell SGT Michael Thorin SP5 Dave (Shotgun) Shockley SPC Margaret Higgins
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My friend is the classical studies chair and an expert at the University of Florida in Tacitus who gave us most of this history!
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Rome was in disarray...citizens rightfully feared the Army and her generals
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