Civil War, Flavians

Galba (68-69)

• Death of Nero means end of Julio-Claudian dynasty
• Galba, governor in Spain, revolted in favor of Vindex' revolt in Gaul
• When revolt in Gaul is crushed and Nero commits suicide, Galba becomes emperor by default
• Thinks Republican lineage important for being emperor
  • Wrong
    • Soldiers don't care
  • Resumes old name
    • For years had been using less important name that he had adopted as condition of an inheritance
  • Refuses to suck up to praetorian guard
  • Adopts someone from important Republican family as heir
    • Has no heir of own

Otho (69)

• Was buddy of Nero's
  • Father was bigshot under Claudius
• Thought Galba would adopt him
  • Miffed at Galba's adoption of big name from past
• Raises revolt among praetorians (Jan., 69)
  • Galba quicly abandoned by praetorians, then killed
  • Coup d'état
    • Attempt to seize power at center
• Much to everyone's surprise shows himself to be no tyrant

Vitellius (69)

• Commander of major legionary force along Rhine
• Rebels against Galba, refuses to recognize Otho (Jan., 69)
• Invades Italy in April
  • Otho's forces defeated
  • Otho commits suicide
    • Otho's noble death gains him good reputation in sources
• Tries to curb autocratic excesses of Julio-Claudian government
• Derided in later sources
  • History written by victors
  • Bad manner of death (compared to Othos's) doesn't help
  • Loyalty shown towards him in his revolt shows he couldn't' have been so bad

Vespasian (69-79)

• Commander of forces suppressing Jewish Revolt
• Refuses to recognize Vitellius, soon rebels
• Strategically inferior, plans to marshal resources before attacking Italy
• Danubian legions jump gun, quickly invade Italy
• After defeat, Vitellius retreats to Rome
• Tries to abdicate
  • Praetorians, crowd won't let him
  • Emperors don't abdicate
• Vitellius captured, put to death in humiliating way
  • Bad for reputation

Lessons of Civil War

• Secret out that emperors can be made somewhere other than Rome
• Coup d'état in Rome of no significance
• Famous Republican names meaningless
• Provincial legions determine outcome
• Civil war result if dynastic loyalty dissolves
  • Troops proclaim their commander emperor

Jewish Revolt

• Jews have remarkably strong sense of self-identity
  • Of Roman subjects, only Greeks have similar sentiment
  • Special relations with their God
  • Bible indicates that God's favor means the Jews shouldn't be ruled by foreigners
  • Result is that whereas the Greeks could accept/accommodate Roman rule, the Jews could not
  • The case of the Jews is the only instance of the Romans failing to make their rule acceptable to foreigners
• Romans bend over backwards to accommodate Jewish sensibilities
  • Religious cult centered on Great Temple in Jerusalem
  • Judaea ruled at times by client kings, at times by equestrian praefects
• In 50s, 60s, several "messiahs" appear
  • Special man "anointed" by God to deliver his people
  • Sign of increasing dissatisfaction with Roman rule
• In 66, minor rioting in Jerusalem gets out of hand
• Governor of Syria descends with several legions to crush revolt
  • No major garrison in Judaea
• Governor gives up siege of Jerusalem
  • Withdraw becomes rout
  • Rebellions spreads throughout Judaea
• Vespasian appointed by Nero to command major force of suppression
  • Systematically reduces countryside
  • Siege of Jerusalem when Vespasian revolts against Vitellius
• In 70, Vespasian's son Titus captures Jerusalem
  • Massive operation
  • Great Temple Destroyed