08 VITELLIUS (54; r.69.04-69.12)
After Otho’s death the Senate hailed Vitellius, still in Lyon, emperor. Upon their arrival in Rome the Vitellian leaders attempted to secure their victory by taking drastic measures against the defeated Othonians. The Praetorian Guard was disbanded and the Danube legions were ordered to return to their quarters and their best centurions put to death. Vitellius gave himself up to an ill-timed lavishness that plunged the Roman treasury further into bankruptcy. The soldiers on not being paid their victory bonus, threw off all pretence of discipline and gave themselves up to the pleasures of Rome.
On 1 July 69, Vespasian, commander in Judaea, was proclaimed emperor by 20Julius Alexander, prefect of Egypt, and by his own troops in Syria a few days later. He received support from most of the legions of the east, wary of the favour Vitellius showed to his German armies; and of Othonian provincial governors, fearful of being punished by Vitellius.
Vespasian sent 20Licinius Mucianus, governor of Syria (67-69), across Asia Minor to Europe, with twenty thousand men, raising additional forces on the way, while Vespasian himself went to Alexandria in order, apparently, to halt the grain supply to Rome if the city held out against his forces.
In spring 69 the Danube legions had moved to support Otho, but outstripped by events they now switched their allegiance to Vespasian and in the autumn resumed their march to Italy led by a subordinate officer in the Pannonia army, 12Antonius Primus (52+; fl.62-81+).
Deciding not to wait for the arrival of the Eastern legions, Primus pushed on into the plain of northern Italy and found the Vitellians utterly unprepared. The emperor was pursuing his amusements, Valens had fallen sick, and Caecina had suggested to his troops that they should desert to Primus but they put him under arrest instead.
After choosing new leaders the Vitellians prepared to make a stand on the line of the middle Po River. The rival armies met between Cremona and Bedriacum, near the site of the Vitellians’ final victory in the spring. The Vitellians fought with great determination, but under the more experienced leadership of Primus the Danubian troops eventually broke through and stormed the enemy camp. A slaughter of the defeated troops was followed by the destruction of Cremona.
A belated attempt by Valens to bring reinforcements from Gaul ended in his capture and execution. Vitellius, desperate now, eagerly accepted the offer from Mucianus, who had probably reached Italy by this time, of a safe retreat in exchange for his abdication. Through the mediation of Vespasian’s elder brother 05Flavius Sabinus, who had been allowed to remain in Rome, the terms were agreed upon. The remnant of the praetorians, however, set upon Sabinus, drove him to the Capitol and lynched him.
At the news of the attack on the Capital, Primus dashed for Rome, annihilating the Vitellians in the suburban lanes and ending with the storming of the praetorian camp. The emperor tried to escape but was caught and lynched. The Senate met to invest Vespasian with imperial power, and his younger son 09Flavius Domitianus, who had escaped detection on the Capital, assumed the role of deputy ruler.
When Mucianus arrived he displaced Domitian and ordered the troops, who had been allowed considerable liberties under Domitian, to return to their stations on the frontier. He then assumed control himself until Vespasian arrived a few months later in the summer of 70.
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