Vespasian's Support

Political Support

Tacitus

• Mucianus - the governor of Syria - "he would rather make an emperor than be one" 
• Whilst Vespasian was a gregarious soldier and commander, Mucianus by contrast was a shrewd politician - the two of them together made the perfect emperor - "the combined virtue of these two would have comprised of a remarkable degree of qualities demanded of an emperor"
• Mucianus could command "influence on his subordinates, associates and colleagues" and he acted "more as Vespasian's colleague than his subordinate"
• Mucianus "was an expert at manipulation of a given political situation"
• At the start of the civil war they were "divided by jealousy" but over the years had been in contact, and Titus "managed to remove petty friction by an appeal to their common interests" - when Nero died this "healed the breach" and both became collaborators rather than rivals
• Tiberious Alexander - the provincial governor of Egypt - an equestrian. He got his legions to swear loyalty to Vespasian from Egypt on the 1st of July 69 AD, this was so important that Vespasian marked this as the first day of his emperorship

Provincial Support

Tacitus

• Egypt:
• It was the main exporter of grain to Rome
• Hard to enter by land and has no good harbours along the coast
• Divided politically and indifferent to law
• This is where Vespasian spends his time during the civil war
• The armies of  Judaea had taken an oath to Vespasian on the 3rd of July

Josephus

• Vespasian's plan was to take Alexandra, combine the two legions in Egypt with his own, and use the grain supply of Egypt to put pressure on Vitellius
• The legions of Judaea spontaneously swore allegiance - Vespasian himself was not interested in being emperor "he preferred the safety of a private life to the dangers of high office" - but Mucianus and the other high officers encouraged him until he was convinced
• Evaluation - perhaps Josephus presents Vespasian as the reluctant emperor to give him more legitimacy
• Revolt on Pontus (northern Turkey) from Anicetus - an associate of the last king of Pontus. He took advantage of the situation to revolt, but one of Vespasian's deputies Virdius Geminus was sent into the province and put down the revolt - "everywhere, the tide now seemed to be turning in Vespasian's favour beyond his wildest dreams"

Military Support

Tacitus

• Egypt offered two legions, Judaea had three legions, Syria offered four legions

Josephus

• On the soldiers in Judaea: they realised their strength - three legions in Judaea, and other auxiliaries from the neighbouring kings, but also the support of all the armies in the east and also those of Europe
• They contrast the tyrannical behaviour of Vitellius with the kindly Vespasian - "lustful emperor vs a disciplined man", "barbaric tyrant vs a kindly leader", a "childless man over a father" - the legitimate succession of princes "is the most certain guarantee of peace"
• Flavius Sabinus - will bring a distinguished number of young men and has already been entrusted with the government of the city

Suetonius

• Surprisingly the legions of Moesia and Pannonia made a bid for Vespasian
• 2,000 soldiers in Moesia had planned to assist Otho in the civil war with Vitellius, but had arrived too late and so they had decided to find another emperor to support
• They made a list of all the provincial governors in the empire, weighing up the pros and cons of each - eventually they reached Vespasian, and on the recommendation of some soldiers from the Syrian legions they spontaneously made their support known. They then convinced the other legions in Moesia and Pannonia to support him as well
• They made their march into Italy under the Flavian banners
• Auxiliaries were also drafted in from the local client kingdoms, Armenia supplied archers and cavalry

Vitellius and Vespasian: The End of the Civil War

 Vitellius' Arrival in Rome

• Vitellius arrived in Rome on 17th July, 69 AD
• His six-month reign would be characterised by dissent, mutiny and uncertainty
• Both Suetonius and Tacitus vilify Vitellius:
• "he was ignorant of all law, human and divine" - Tacitus

Vitellius' Emperorship

• Vitellius' shortcomings as emperor would only serve to strengthen Vespasian's cause and bolster his popularity

Read Tacitus 2.90-91 and Suetonius, Vitellius, 10-12

List:

• The titles and powers assumed by Vitellius
• His attitude towards the Senate, Praetorians and people
• His failures as emperor according to Tacitus and Suetonius

Military Moves 1

• Vitellius consciously ignored the threat from Vespasian until September of 69 AD when Vespasian's forces began their invasion of Italy
• Vitellius' deputy Caecina was sent north with the Germanic legions. However their long stay in Rome had made them disorganised and ill-disciplined
• Worse still, Caecina planned to betray Vitellius and join with the fleet commander at Ravenna in deserting to Vespasian's cause

"Historians of this war who wrote during the Flavian dynasty have flatteringly described the motives of these men as "concern for peace" and "patriotism". My own view is that in addition to a natural instability of character and the cheapening of loyalty which was a consequence of their betrayal of Galba, a jealous fear that rivals would outpace them in Vitellius' affections induced them to ruin Vitellius himself" - Tacitus 2.101

Military Moves 2

• When Caecina attempted to switch sides, his own legions refused to follow his command and put him in chains
• Vitellius' other deputy, Valens, was sent north to deal with the situation
• During this confusion the legions on the Danube had marched into Italy under Marcus Antonius Primus, who was acting independently from the main Flavian forces
• The two opposing forces met near the city of Cremona in Northern Italy

Battle of Cremona

• The two forces were evenly matched, though since Valens had not yet arrived the Vitellian forces were without a leader
• Fighting was heavy, and lasted through the night with significant losses on both sides
• However, when the sun rose the third legion (Flavian), who had served in Syria, had adopted a local custom of turning east and saluting the rising sun
• When the Vitellian legions saw this, they assumed their enemy were welcoming fresh reinforcements, and so lost the stomach for fighting and fled
• The Vitellius camp was captured, and Antonius then besieged and destroyed Cremona itself, leaving Rome open to assault

Chaos in Rome

• Antonius began a steady march towards Rome, but since he had not been instructed by Mucianus or Vespasian his motives were in question
• Valens travelled to Gaul in a bid to find support for Vitellius, but he was captured and executed
• In Rome itself, clashes sparked between Vitellius and Flavian supporters, led by Flavius Sabinus, Vespasian's brother. Vespasian's son, Domitian, was also living in Rome with his uncle and was in great danger
• Violence continued over the coming months as Vitellius and Flavius Sabinus attempted negotiations. In one clash, the Temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus, Rome's most sacred temple, was burned to the ground, and Sabinus was killed

The Storming of Rome

Suetonius, Vitellius, 15

• What did Vitellius promise the people of Rome once he had heard of the revolt of Vespasian?
• Vitellius promised any volunteer who joined the army full-service pay and pensions. He also used "limitless spending" for private and public generosity
• Who did Vitellius try to bargain with? what was promised to him and why did this bargain fail?
• Tried to negotiate with Sabinus, Vespasian´s brother ' but when he announced his resignation the soldiers demanded he "take heart" and remain firm, and not accept the offer
• What actions did Vitellius take against the Flavians inside the city?
• Vitellius rejected the offer - he attacked Sabinus, drove the Flavian supporters onto the Capitoline Hill, trapped them in the Temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus, and then burned them alive

Tacitus, 3.84-86

• What happened to the Praetorians [Vitellians] once Rome was stormed by Vespasian's forces?
• The Praetorians were wiped out in the fighting, fighting for Vitellius
• What was the fate of Vitellius?
• Vitellius was caught fleeing the palace by the Flavian soldiers. They dragged him to the Gemonian Steps near the Forum and he was killed by the Flavian soldiers. When one of the soldiers mocked him his last words were "but I was still once your emperor" - Tacitus saus this was "noble" even though the rest of his reign had been rather ignoble!
• What happened to Domitian?
• Domitian had been in hiding throughout the civil war, fearing for his life. Now that Vespasian's forces had won he came out of hiding to greet the soldiers. He was hailed as "Imperator" and "Caesar" and taken to the palace - thus began the Flavian dynasty