Year of the Four Emperors

In March 68, the governor of Lugdun Gaul Gaius Julius Vindex raised his legions against the emperor Nero . Suppress the uprising was entrusted to the governor of Upper Germany Lucius Verginius Rufus . Realizing that he could not cope with the forces of Rufus on his own, Vindex called for help of the popular governor of Tarracon Spain, Servius Sulpicius Galbu, and invited him to declare himself emperor. At first hesitant, Galba finally supported the rebellion. The legions in Spain and Gaul proclaimed him emperor, and he moved to join with Vindex.

In May 68, the troops of Rufus, who camped at Vesenzio , arbitrarily attacked the legions of Vindex and defeated them. The remnants of the rebel legions fled and joined Galba. The forces of Verginius Rufus proclaimed their commander to be emperor, but Rufus let the army of Galba go to Rome , declaring that he was entrusting himself and his legions to the hands of the Senate .

Nymphidius Sabin, prefect of the Praetorium , decided to support Galba by promising donations to the Praetorians on his behalf. So, Nero lost his protection and was forced to leave Rome and go to the villa of one of his freedmen, where he committed suicide on June 9.

Galba's entry into Rome was marked by a massacre - he ordered his troops to attack the legion recruited by Nero from the sailors, who came out to meet the new emperor to ask for the rights of Roman citizenship. Soon after entering the capital, Galba incurred the Romans' disfavor by ordering to find and recover the generous gifts of Nero distributed to him in recent years to replenish the state budget. Soldiers and Praetorians were also dissatisfied with the emperor, learning that they would not receive the money previously promised to them by Sabin on behalf of Galba for his loyalty to the new ruler. The first open hostility in January 69 was shown by the legions of Lower Germany , who declared Emperor their viceroy Vitellius . Upon learning of this, Galba decided to appoint a successor. They became Lucius Calpurnius Pison . The Praetorian guard, waiting for donations, again was left with nothing and was on the verge of rebellion. This was played by Marc Salvius Oton , who wanted to be adopted instead of Piso. He plotted against Galba. On January 15, 69, Galba was killed by the Praetorians in the forum. His head set on a stake was worn for several days through the streets of the City. On the same day, Pison died. Oton was proclaimed Senate by Princeps .

The new emperor was faced with a fight against Vitellius, who had a more combat-ready army at hand: he relied primarily on the battle-hardened Upper German legions, while Otho assembled units stationed in Rome and Italy - the soldiers who served here were corrupted by idleness, frequent handouts and fawning over commanders. But four Illyrian legions were approaching, and there was also a fleet on his side, which made it possible to uninterruptedly transport supplies and food. In the war that unfolded in northern Italy, the commanders of Oton won the first three minor battles, but were defeated on April 14, 69 in the first battle of Bedriac (near Cremona ). Upon learning of this, Othon committed suicide .

The Senate recognized Vitellius as emperor on April 19, 69. Having become a princeps, Vitellius indulged in wasteful feasts and festivities, and soldiers loyal to him engaged in robbery and murder. Thus, he was able to restore the population of Rome against himself. And when in July 69 the eastern and Danube legions swore allegiance to Vespasian , the governor of the province of Judea , this greatly shook the position of Vitellius. A supporter of Vespasian, Mark Anthony Prim with the legions of Moesia and Recy , invaded Italy and in the second battle of Bedriak defeated the troops of the Vitellians, then moved to Rome, during the assault of which on December 20, 69 Vitellius was carried out by soldiers on via Sacra and, in ultimately killed and cast into the Tiber.

After the murder of Vitellius, Emperor Titus Flavius ​​Vespasian was recognized as emperor, who founded the new Flavian dynasty , which ruled until 96 er

68

• March - the governor of Lugdunsky Gaul Guy Julius Vindeks raises an uprising.
• May - Vindex’s troops are defeated by Verginius Roof.
• June 9 - Nero's suicide. Proclamation of Galba as emperor.

69

• January 1 - the uprising of the German legions led by Vitellius.
• January 15 - the murder of Galba and Pison. Othon becomes emperor.
• April 14 - the defeat of Othon's troops under Bedriak. Oton's suicide.
• April 19 - The Senate recognizes Vitellius as emperor.
• June - Eastern legions recognize Vespasian as emperor.
• October is the defeat of Vitellius in the second battle of Bertiak. The flight of Vitellius to Rome.
• December 20 - Vespasian troops led by Anthony Prim enter Rome. The murder of Vitellius.
• December 21 - the Senate recognizes Vespasian as emperor.

• Batavian Uprising
• Year of the Five Emperors
• Year of the Three Emperors

• Guy Suetonius Tranquill . The Life of the Twelve Caesars
• Plutarch . Comparative biographies (Galba, Oton)
• Cornelius Tacitus . Story
• Dion Cassius. Roman history
• Pavel Deacon. Roman history
• Lex de imperio Vespasiani
• Sextus Aurelius Victor. About Caesars
• Flavius ​​Eutropius. Breviary from the base of the City
• Josephus. Jewish war

• Tsirkin Yu. B. 2008: Consequences of the 68/69 Civil War for the Development of the Principate // History: The World of the Past in Contemporary Lighting. Collection of scientific articles on the 75th birthday of prof. E. D. Frolova / A. Yu. Dvornichenko (ed.). St. Petersburg, 282-305.
• Tsirkin Yu.B. Civil War 68-69 as a stage in the formation of the Roman Mediterranean power (Rus.) // Bulletin of Ancient History . - 1999. - No. 4 . - S. 141-149 .