In 66 Nero, infatuated with Greek culture, set out with his entourage for a concert tour of Achaea. He appeared at a special celebration of the Isthmian Games where he pronounced the liberation of Achaea on 28 September 67. Nero inaugurated the digging of a canal across the Corinthian Isthmus and six thousand slaves sent by Vespasian from Judaea began excavating along the same line as the modern canal. The project was abandoned when Nero died the following year.
In early spring 68 a Gallic senator, 21Julius Vindex (43; fl.68) led a revolt that was joined by Galba, governor of Hispania Tarraconensis, who was soon declared emperor by his troops. 02Verginius Rufus (82; fl.63-97), legate of Upper Germania, crushed the revolt by Vindex (who killed himself afterwards) at Vesontio (=Besancon, eastern France) and supported Galba. When the news reached Rome the praetorians under their commander, Nymphidius Sabinus (c.33; fl.65-68), decided to desert. The Senate promptly acclaimed Galba and condemned Nero, who stabbed himself to death.
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