by Gwyn Morgan
4. Suetonius gives the timespan as ten years specifically, but he sets this step at the start of the reign, as an example of Vitellius’ abuse of the constitution, in that the emperor at the same time took up a perpetual consulship himself (Vit. 11.2). If he is right, it is odd that the title (COS PERP) appears on no coins and only one inscription. Overall, Tacitus’ interpretation is preferable.
5. It is just possible that Vitellius offered these terms, not to the people as Suetonius claims, but to the “legion” of marines he never mentions.
6. As the urban cohorts would back Sabinus in his coup, it has been suggested that Vitellius’ overhaul of the city troops never got beyond the praetorians. Another possibility is that the slackers in his armies opted to serve in the urban cohorts (the pay was good and the duty easy), and that they had less enthusiasm for Vitellius’ cause. The conduct of the cohort of which Apinius Tiro took command at Tarracina certainly supports this idea.
7. It may be worth considering the possibility that this is why Tacitus makes nothing of Vitellius’ refusal to commit suicide, even though it is likely that Vitellius’ reasoning involved concern for his six-year-old son.
Conclusion
1. The quotation is taken from M. Cary and H. H. Scullard, A History of Rome (London and New York: St. Martins, 1976), 408. It may look silly to pick on a textbook, but they are widely read, and especially fertile in the wild generalizations that distort the realities of specific situations.
2. Suetonius, Tiberius 25.1. The remark was proverbial (A. Otto, Die Sprichwörter und sprichwörtlichen Redensarten der Römer [Leipzig: Teubner, 1890], 199), carrying the same force as our “riding on the back of a tiger.”
3. I have limited comment to the legions and the praetorian guard, though Henderson and other older writers held that widespread changes were made in the regulation and postings of the auxiliary troops too. Since the evidence is both complicated and questionable, I have left the auxilia out of account. For one thing, the rambunctiousness of Civilis’ Batavian cohorts was so exceptional that we cannot generalize from that. Again, so long as the emperor controlled the legions, neither he nor his men had real cause to fear the auxilia. And finally, the siting of legionary camps at Noviomagus (Nijmegen) and Argentorate (Strasbourg) indicates that the Flavians worried much more about tribesmen who were not enrolled in the auxilia.
4. See Werner Eck, “An emperor is made: senatorial politics and Trajan’s adoption by Nerva in 97,” in Gillian Clark and Tessa Rajak (eds.), Philosophy and Power in the Graeco-Roman World: Essays in honour of Miriam Griffin (Oxford: University Press, 2002), 211–26. There may be numismatic evidence that Nerva paid the guard a donative on his accession: see G. R. Watson, The Roman Soldier (London and Ithaca, N.Y.: Cornell University Press, 1969), 196 note 321.
Appendix 2
1. Though the conclusions he reaches are unacceptable, G. B. Townend, “Cluvius Rufus in the Histories of Tacitus,”American Journal of Philology 85 (1964), 337–77, provides an extremely useful collection of examples.
2. This is not an isolated phenomenon. As is demonstrated by J. Beneker, “No time for love: Plutarch’s chaste Caesar,” Greek, Roman and Byzantine Studies 43 (2002/3), 13–29, Plutarch similarly ignores or suppresses most of the stories about Julius Caesar’s womanizing in order to improve the parallels the biographer wants to draw between his subject and Alexander the Great.
3. The Roman idea that an emperor’s first act would be programmatic sprang from a different way of thinking, but it no doubt reinforced this approach.
4. Some assert that Tacitus is talking of Vespasian’s behavior patterns (mores), not his basic character (ingenium). Neither word appears in the original text (Hist. 1.50.4: solusque omnium ante se principum in melius mutatus est), and the preceding comments on Otho and Vitellius suggest that character is very much the issue.
5. For an early anecdote on the subject see Cicero, De oratore 2.277. To this it is worth adding that the question whether Otho was gay is not a major issue in any Roman sources except the satirists. Tacitus alludes to Otho’s love for Poppaea and Nero (Hist. 1.78.2), and Suetonius reports an affair between Nero and Otho only as an allegation (Otho 2.2).
INDEX
Emperors are indexed—in capitals—under the names by which they are best known. Authors too appear under their usual names. But most of the actors in the events covered by the narrative are listed under their family names (nomina), e.g., Fabius Valens, Flavius Sabinus, Licinius Mucianus.
Ad Castores, 118–22
Ad Padum, 114
Adige (river), 196
Adriatic Sea, 188, 194
Adua or Adda (river), 134
Aedui, 20, 41, 51, 85, 147, 259
L. Aelius Sejanus, 63, 75
Aemilia Lepida, 32
Aemilian Way (Via Aemilia), 113, 219
Aemilius Pacensis, 62, 102, 104, 247
L. Afranius Burrus, 17–18
Africa, 33, 40, 77, 101, 166, 173, 187, 225, 258
Agrippina the Younger, 17, 33–34, 46, 76, 172–73
ala Auriana, 195
ala Petriana, 89
ala Sebosiana, 196
ala Siliana, 88, 90, 102
ala Tauriana, 41, 86
ala Trevirorum, 105
Albia Terentia, 36
Albingaunum, 106, 162
Albintimilium, 103–5
Alexandria, 4, 29, 50, 175–76, 186–87, 225, 271
Alfenus Varus, 122–23, 135, 137, 215, 231, 237
Alpinius Montanus, 226
Altinum, 196
Anagnia, 79
Anicetus, 224–25, 258
L. Annius Bassus, 228
Ap. Annius Gallus, 102, 113, 115–17, 125, 128, 133, 137–39, 260
Antioch, 175, 185–86, 188–89
Antipolis, 103, 106
Antonia Caenis, 173
Antonia Minor, 76
Antonius Honoratus, 40
Antonius Naso, 62
Antonius Novellus, 103–4
M. Antonius Primus, 7, 50, 79, 150, 189–90, 192–210, 212–13, 219, 222, 224–31, 234, 236–39, 241, 243, 249–52, 256–57; 259–60, 264, 267–68, 283
L. Antonius Saturninus, 265
Antonius Taurus, 62
Marc Antony, 13, 113, 267, 291
Apinius Tiro, 233, 239, 248
M. Aponius Saturninus, 99, 165, 192, 195, 197–99
Appian Way (Via Appia), 234, 257
Aquae Helveticae, 87–88
Aquae Sextiae, 103
Aquileia, 102, 113, 140, 166, 190, 192, 195, 197
Aquilius Regulus, 283
Aquinum, 111, 152
Aquitania, 42, 84
Arelate, 103
Argius, 72
Aricia, 215, 220
Ariminum, 219–21
armies, reflecting commander, 156, 213, 229
T. Arrius Antoninus, 160, 309n.8
Arrius Varus, 195, 202, 237, 256–57, 268
Arulenus Rusticus, 250
Arverni, 20, 41, 51
Asiaticus, 164
Astrologers, 37, 76–77, 152
Ateste, 196
Athens, 271
Atilius Verus, 207
Augusta Taurinorum, 84, 87, 122, 155, 260
AUGUSTUS, 12–15, 31, 45, 62, 73, 242, 261–62, 267, 278, 291, 305n5.2
Augustus (title), 149, 152, 159, 254
Aurelian Way (Via Aurelia), 103
T. Aurelius Fulvus, 98
Aventicum, 88, 171
Baetica (Spain), 147
Barbius Proculus, 64, 304n.7
Basilides, 177–78, 184
Batavian cohorts, 28, 84–85, 122, 135, 137, 155–56, 223, 260, 312nC.3
Bedriacum, 111, 116–18, 127–28, 132–38, 140, 144–45, 152, 157, 192, 194, 196, 202–3, 205, 208–9, 211, 260, 271, 307n.1
Beirut, 185, 225
Belgica. See Gallia
Betuus Cilo, 42
Bonna, 55, 260
Bononia, 146, 155, 219
Boudicca,
126–27, 236
Brigantes, 222–23
Britain, 33, 81, 126, 154, 172, 222–23, 258
Britannicus, 17, 173
Brixellum, 111, 123, 127, 130, 133, 138–41, 144–45
Burnum, 228
Byzantium, 188–89
Cn. Caecilius Simplex, 160, 235, 241–42, 247
A. Caecina Alienus, 4, 36, 50, 52, 54–55, 78–81, 83–84, 87–91, 101, 103, 112–23, 126–27, 130–31, 133–36, 138, 145–48, 150–52, 155, 157, 160–63, 165–69, 196–98, 200–201, 210–11, 215, 217–19, 221, 258, 267–68, 285
Caecina Tuscus, 216, 311n.1
Caesar, as title, 149, 152, 235, 254, 256
Caesarea Maritima, 180, 185
CALIGULA, 15–16, 26, 33, 35, 39–40, 75, 78, 160, 165, 172, 287, 291, 309n.12
Calpurnius Piso Galerianus, 257
L. Calpurnius Piso Licinianus, 59–72, 262
Calvia Crispinilla, 96
Capitol (Rome), 68, 70, 96, 159, 214, 242–43, 245–49, 251, 257, 260–61
Cappadocia, 101, 303n.6
Capua, 233, 257, 260, 280
Carnuntum, 49, 58, 192, 226
Carsulae, 236
Cartimandua, 222
Casperius Aelianus, 266
M. Cassius Apronianus, 280
Cassius Longus, 201
Cemenelum, 104
cena adventicia, 151, 159, 216
C. Cestius Gallus, 174
Chaeronea, 271
Cingonius Varro, 43, 303n.5
civilians, soldiery and, 44–45, 52–53, 157–58, 185, 202, 210–12, 251–52, 264
CLAUDIUS, 15–16, 26–27, 33, 36, 46, 75–78, 172, 174, 275, 292
Claudius Apollinaris, 233, 248
Claudius Cossus, 88
Claudius Faventinus, 233
Claudius Julianus, 232–34, 248
L. Clodius Macer, 40, 43, 96, 177, 258, 291
Clunia, 27, 42
Cluvius Rufus, 38, 51, 147, 153–54, 166, 240, 282
Cocceius Proculus, 59
cohors I Ligurum, 104–5
cohors XVII urbana, 106, 302n.4, 306n.11
cohors XVIII urbana, 22, 86, 302n.4
coins and coin legends, 3, 14, 22, 37, 41, 45, 74, 97–98, 110, 164–65, 185–86, 301nI.1, 305n4.1, 305n5.4
Colonia Agrippinensis, 52, 55–56, 81, 84, 87, 144, 259
COMMODUS, 263, 280, 301n.2
common source, 8, 129, 281–82, 284–87, 289–90
consilium principis, 61, 268
Corinth, 179
Cornelius Aquinus, 42, 53
Cornelius Dolabella, 57–58, 77, 111, 152–53, 237
Cornelius Fuscus, 50, 195, 199–200, 221, 229, 267
Cornelius Laco, 35–36, 39, 45–46, 50, 58, 60, 63–66, 68, 70–72, 96, 304n.3
L. Cornelius Marcellus, 38
Cornelius Martialis, 243, 245, 247
L. Cornelius Sulla, 188, 246
Corsica, 106, 258
Cosa, 171
Cremona, 3, 112–13, 115–17, 120–21, 132–34, 155, 168, 190, 192, 201–13, 219–20, 226, 230, 237, 260–61
Crescens, 97
Cyprus, 179
Cythnus, 258
Dacia, 131, 259
Dalmatia, 16, 26–27, 101, 169, 194, 228
Decimation, 43–45, 52, 109
C. Dillius Aponianus, 198–99
Divodurum, 85
Domitia Longina, 268
DOMITIAN, 49, 143, 170, 173, 178, 236, 243, 247, 256–57, 265–68, 270, 272–76
Domitilla, 173
Cn. Domitius Ahenobarbus, 75
Cn. Domitius Corbulo, 52, 175, 186, 195, 268
Donatives, 29, 47–48, 50, 62, 64, 66, 69, 86, 94–95, 108, 164, 186, 198; 265–66, 302n.7, 304n.5; cf. 229 (nail money)
A. Ducenius Geminus, 50, 60, 67, 94
Dyrrachium, 188
Egnatian Way (Via Egnatia), 188
Egypt, 187, 225
Eporedia, 88, 112
Eprius Marcellus, 48–49
Etruria, 220–21
Fabius Fabullus, 201
Fabius Rusticus, 282
Fabius Valens, 30, 42, 53–55, 79–81, 83–87, 89, 91–92, 100–101, 103, 105–6, 113, 115, 118–19, 122–23, 126–27, 130, 133–36, 138, 145–48, 150–52, 155, 157, 160–68, 200–202, 210, 215, 218–22, 237–38, 241, 267, 285
Fanum Fortunae, 219–21, 228
Ferentium, 36
Fidenae, 250
Flaminian Way (Via Flaminia), 110, 219, 231–32, 234, 249, 251
Flavia Domitilla, 173
T. Flavius Petro, 171
T. Flavius Sabinus (father), 171
T. Flavius Sabinus (brother), 93–94, 146, 152, 167, 171–73, 214, 232, 236, 238–43, 245–49, 254
T. Flavius Sabinus (cousin), 132–33, 139, 145, 172
L. Flavius Silva, 226
C. Fonteius Agrippa, 223–24, 259, 268
Fonteius Capito, 20, 23, 42, 53
Formiae, 234
Forum Alieni, 196
Forum Julii, 103, 105, 112, 221–22, 306n.8
M. Furius Camillus Scribonianus, 16, 26, 183
GALBA, 1, 3–5, 11–12, 19–22, 25–46; 48–51; 53–54. 57–73, 80, 83, 85–86, 91–93, 95–96, 142–43, 146, 158 175–79, 193, 196, 218, 234, 262, 265, 272, 275, 284–87, 291
Galeria Fundana, 51, 77–78, 100, 149, 151, 153, 255
P. Galerius Trachalus, 77, 100, 111, 151, 153
Gallia Belgica, 60, 84, 259–60. 273
Gallia Lugdunensis, 18–19, 21–23, 147, 149–50, 259
Gallia Narbonensis, 84, 102–6, 220–21, 259
Gellianus, 39
Genoa, 103
Germanies, 13, 16, 20, 22–23, 27, 42–43, 51–56, 64, 80–81, 100, 150, 155, 166, 260
Gessius Florus, 174
Geta (runaway slave), 147, 260
gladiators, 102, 116–17, 131–32, 134–35, 137, 152, 155, 165, 232–33, 248
Golden House (Domus Aurea), 94, 153, 253
Great St. Bernard Pass, 84, 89, 113
HADRIAN, 92, 276–78
Hadrumetum, 173
Halotus, 46
Helvetii, 84, 87–88, 101, 171, 258
Helvidius Priscus, 48–49, 72, 160, 257, 267
Herodium, 176
Hilarus, 153
Hippo Regius, 277
Hispania Tarraconensis, 19, 21, 153–54, 166, 257
Histria, 147, 260
Hordeonius Flaccus, 42, 54–55, 150, 166, 223
Horrea Sulpicia, 48
Hostilia, 168, 197–98, 202, 205, 219–20
Icelus, 21, 29, 35–36, 39, 45–46, 58, 60, 68–72, 164
Inn (river), 195
Interamna, 153, 237–38
Jerusalem, 176, 180, 186, 270, 275
Joppa, 258
Jotapata, 177, 269
Judaea, 15, 174–76, 184–87, 259
Julius Agrestis, 231
Cn. Julius Agricola, 34, 37, 104, 119, 273–75
Ti. Julius Alexander, 4, 97, 175–77, 179, 181–82, 184, 186–87
Julius Alpinus, 88
C. Julius Antiochus Epiphanes, 120
Julius Atticus, 4–5, 68
Julius Briganticus, 116
C. Julius Caesar, 13, 32, 44, 49, 88, 111, 130, 131, 161, 204, 265, 278, 312nA.2
Julius Calenus, 226
Julius Civilis, 223, 246, 258, 260, 275
Julius Classicus, 105
Julius Fronto, 62, 121
Julius Gratus, 121, 307n.2
Julius Mansuetus, 208
Julius Martialis, 65, 107
Julius Placidus, 253
Julius Priscus, 161, 231, 237
Julius Secundus, 129
C. Julius Vindex, 11, 18–25, 41, 54, 72, 86, 260, 267, 280
Junius Blaesus, 41, 51, 81, 150, 216–18, 309n.5
Juvenal, 263
Khopi (river), 225
law on Vespasian’s Powers, 4, 15, 263
Legion I Adiutrix, 44–45, 49–50, 67, 71, 101–2, 114, 120, 136–37, 154–55, 166, 201,
221, 293
— I Germanica, 23, 54, 84, 158, 167, 206, 260, 292
— I Italica, 41, 50, 81, 86, 100, 135–36, 158, 167–68, 201–3, 206, 223, 226, 292–93
— I Macriana Liberatrix, 293
— II Adiutrix, 293
— II Augusta, 150, 158, 168, 172, 206, 221, 293
— III Augusta, 40, 96, 166, 225, 293
— III Cyrenaica, 175, 294
— III Gallica, 98, 165, 182, 190, 192, 198, 202, 205, 208–9, 257, 260, 294
— IV Flavia Felix, 260
— IV Macedonica, 3, 23, 36, 54–55, 84, 87, 158, 167, 206–7, 260, 294
— IV Scythica, 175, 185, 294
— V Alaudae, 23, 84, 135–36, 156, 158, 167, 201, 206, 223, 226, 295
— V Macedonica, 174, 295
— VI Ferrata, 175, 185, 187–89, 223–24, 295
— VI Victrix, 22, 35, 166, 221, 295–96
— VII Claudia, 98, 190, 192, 197, 202, 205, 209, 227, 296
— VII Galbiana, 22, 38, 44, 49–50, 58, 101, 155, 192, 196, 198, 202, 205, 207–9, 226, 257, 296
— VIII Augusta, 98, 190, 198, 202, 205, 209, 257, 296
— IX Hispana, 150, 158, 168, 206, 221, 236, 296–97
— X Fretensis, 174, 180, 297
— X Germina, 166, 221, 297
— XI Claudia, 101, 155, 228, 257, 297
— XII Fulminata, 175, 185, 298
— XIII Gemina, 27, 101, 118, 120, 126, 136–37, 154–55. 192, 196, 202, 205, 209, 211–12, 257, 298
— XIV Gemina Martia Victrix, 27–28, 84–85, 101, 125–6, 136–37, 154–56, 201, 221, 298
— XV Apollinaris, 23, 174–75, 298–99
— XV Primigenia, 84, 158, 167, 206, 260, 299
— XVI, 23, 27, 84, 158, 167, 206, 260, 299
— XVI Flavia Firma, 260
— XX Valeria Victrix, 150, 158, 168, 206, 221, 299–300
— XXI Rapax, 23, 55, 84, 87, 135–36, 158, 167–68, 201–3, 206, 208, 226, 300
— XXII Deiotariana, 175, 300
— XXII Primigenia, 23, 27, 55, 84–85, 87, 150, 158, 167, 206, 226, 300
Cn. Lentulus Gaetulicus, 16, 25–26, 33, 172
Lepcis Magna, 258
Licinius Crassus Scribonianus, 59, 72
C. Licinius Mucianus, 59, 148, 174–76, 178–89, 193, 197, 208, 223–24, 226, 230, 238, 241, 248–49, 257–59, 264, 267, 285