Year Of Four Emperors

The Year of Four Emperors is a term that refers to the period from June 68 to December 69 , which unfolds on the throne of the Roman Empire no less than three emperors before the power n'choie to Vespasian. This is the first civil war since the reign of Augustus. It follows the reign of Nero.

The end of the reign of Nero

At the beginning of the year 68, the resistance is growing against Nero and its excesses man (he just returned from a visit by such a purely artistic in Greece). The governor of the province of Gaul, Lyon , Gaius Julius Vindex , threatens to come openly in revolt against the emperor. He managed to rally Servius Sulpicius Galba , governor of Tarraconaise , one of the men most loyal servant of the state and model of Tiberius , Caligula et Claude.

In Africa , the legate of the Legio III Augusta , Lucius Clodius Macer , also comes in revolt against Nero , threatening to cut supplies African wheat in Rome.

15 May 68 , the prefect of the legions of Germania Superior , Lucius Virginius Rufus , easily defeated Vindex's troops near Besancon. Nero has since stayed.

In Spain, Galba is acclaimed emperor but accepts according to Suetonius, a more humble title, that of Lieutenant of the Senate and the Roman People. He raises troops to strengthen his Legion, the Legion Galbiana VIIa.

In Rome, the Praetorian prefect Sabinus Nymphidius , secretly agreed with Galba , increases the paranoia of Nero by submitting false information. He eventually persuaded to leave his Domus Aurea for a house in the suburbs of Rome. Once Nero away, Sabinus Galba obtained through the support of Praetorian , while the Senate voted for the downfall of Nero. The latter committed suicide on 6 June 68 without any support. The Senate voted to damnatio memoriae of Nero , and plebiscite Galba.

The reign of Galba

Galba assembles his troops and marched on Rome. Against all odds, it is almost four months to reach the Eternal City (effective October 68 ). Meanwhile, in Rome , the situation is very difficult: the city is given to supporters of Nero (this is freed slaves, mostly from the fallen prince) who steal, rob and terrorize the population. Nymphidius Sabinus seeks to exploit the situation to get himself appointed emperor by the Praetorians. The latter, because they do not want to lose the reward that Sabinus their huge severance promised in the name of Galba and that he would deliver them upon arrival, refuse and killed in July 68 the praetorian prefect.

If the authority of Galba to Rome is more or less acknowledged, it is undoubtedly in the provinces. Only the legions of Germany , who defeated Gaius Julius Vindex ago, scold, seeing that only Praetorians benefit from the throne of Galba.

Arriving in Rome is nothing triumphant. It must indeed go with the sword all supporters of Nero who refuse to resume their former slave status. However, many of them are former sailors, making painful for the military execution.

Galba , old enough, then is totally manipulated by his advisors, Titus Vinius Cornelius Laco et Icelus. They do agree on anything except on the financial opportunity that is power. Galba guilty and probably on the advice of these three men, mistakes that ultimately exasperate the people of Rome , the patricians , and the Army (refusal to pay the promised bonus, the donativum , the Praetorians ). The legions of Germany also rebelled against Galba for not winning the merits of their struggle against the separatist Vindex.

Galba commits his last mistake in adopting Lucius Calpurnius Piso Frugi Licinianus or Piso, the son of the famous small- Piso that Nero had him executed for conspiracy. Galba loses one of its earliest supporters, Otho , governor of Lusitania , which obtained for the Praetorians and murdered Galba.

The reign of Otho

The same day, 15 January 69 , the Senate , unable to cope with the Praetorian Guard , called Otho emperor. Otto faces two major difficulties: the hostility of the Senate who regrets Galba and the revolt of the legions of Germany controlled by Vitellius , the latter being acclaimed emperor by his legions. The beginnings of a civil war are increasing.

The two armies met in battle Bedriac. The troops of Otho are defeated, and Otho comes to suicide, shortly after the denial of civil war.

The reign of Vitellius

Just elected Vitellius faces revolt of the legions of Judea who proclaim Vespasian emperor. Leaving his son Titus to complete the task operations in the region, the victorious general Vespasian begins at the head of his troops.

At the Battle of Bedriacum , Mucius faces army Vitellius , and defeated. Vitellius able to return to Rome and to hide the news of his defeat. When the people found out, he ended the reign of Vitellius.

The end of civil war and the beginning of the reign of Vespasian

On 22 December 69 , Vespasian was crowned emperor by the Senate. He founded the dynasty Flavian which is followed later that of the Antonines. These two dynasties constituent 124 years of political stability to the Roman Empire.

The Four Emperors

• Galba , emperor from June 68 to January 69
• Otho , emperor of January 69 to April 69
• Vitellius , emperor from April 69 to December 69
• Vespasian , emperor from December 69 to June 79

Timeline

• Ancient Rome portal

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