no vertue can neuer be happie: for by his own
baseness he will loose all, which either fortune, or
other mens labours have cast upon him. By Vespasian,
that in civill tumults an advised patience, and opportunitie
well taken are the onely weapons of advantage.
In them all, and in the state of Rome under them thou
maiest see the calamities that follow civill warres,
where lawes lie asleepe, and all things are iudged
by the sword. If thou mislike their warres be
thankfull for thine owne peace; if thou dost abhor
their tyrannies, love and reverence thine owne wise,
iust and excellent Prince.’ So whatever
guise our age may assume, there are lessons to be
drawn from Tacitus either directly or per contra,
and his translators may be acquitted at a time when
Latin scholarship is no longer an essential of political
eminence.
[1] Napoleon’s
phrase.
[2] Ann. iii.
65.
I. THE FIGHT FOR THE THRONE.
A.D. 68.
June
9. Death of Nero.
16. Galba, Governor of
Nearer Spain, declared Emperor at Clunia.
Fonteius Capito, Governor of Lower
Germany, Clodius Macer, Governor of Africa,
and Nymphidius Sabinus, Prefect of the Guard,
murdered as possible rivals. Verginius Rufus,
Governor of Upper Germany, refuses to compete.
October
Galba
enters Rome. Massacre of Marines at Mulvian Bridge.
His
government controlled by Laco, Vinius, and Icelus.
A.D. 69.
January
1. News of mutiny
in Upper Germany, now governed by Hordeonius
Flaccus.
3. The armies of
Upper Germany (under Caecina) and of Lower Germany
(under
Valens) salute Vitellius, Governor of Lower Germany,
as
Emperor.
10. Galba adopts Piso
Licinianus as his successor.
15. Otho declared Emperor
in Rome and recognized by Praetorian
Guard.
Murder
of Galba, Vinius, and Piso.
Otho
recognized by the Senate.
February
The Vitellian armies are now marching
on Italy: Caecina through Switzerland
and over the Great St. Bernard with Legio XXI Rapax
and detachments of IV Macedonica and XXII Primigenia:
Valens through Gaul and over Mount Genevre
with Legio V Alaudae and detachments of I
Italica, XV Primigenia, and XVI.
March
Caecina
crosses the Alps.
Otho
dispatches an advance-guard under Annius Gallus and
Spurinna.
Otho
starts for the Po with Suetonius Paulinus, Marius Celsus,
and
Proculus.
Titianus
left in charge of Rome.
