Life Of Caesar

While the Romans are fighting each other in 69 CE, the Germans decide the time is ripe to wage a war against their oppressors. They execute Order 66. 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Vitellius spent most of the 69 Flavian campaign relaxing in his summer villa, like a "sluggish animal", according to Tacitus. Towards the middle of November he started to take it seriously. It was way too late. By December, he had decided to abdicate. 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Flavians finally take the city fortress of Cremona and it's a massacre, of Romans, by Romans. And not just the Vitellian troops, but the civilians, too. 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Vitellians hurl themselves against the Flavians on a night so dark, that sons kill their own fathers. In the end, the Vitellians lose, and the Flavians take Cremona, winning themselves a base in Italy before they press on to Rome. 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Caecina tries to convince his troops that they should change sides. It doesn't go well. He gets arrested by his own troops. He's a Consul, FFS! Meanwhile, Antonius has to run a spear through one of his own guys, just to make a point. 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Vespasian's troops in Pannonia aren't willing to just sit on their hands. They want glory and booty. And they don't want Vitellius to have a chance to build up his forces. Antonius Primus, commander of 7 Galbiana, believed that Otho had thrown away his victory by procrastination and faint-heartedness, and he called for an immediate invasion and it is approved - without waiting for confirmation from Vespasian. Meanwhile, in Vitellius' camp, the rivalry between Caecina and Valens had been intensifying, and Caecina decided it was time to change sides. 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The legions in Pannonia had to decide whether or not to join Vespasian's rebellion. Most just wanted to play it safe. But Antonius Primus, commander of 7 Galbiana, is all in. It was a decision that would have far-reaching consequences - for himself, for Vespasian, for Vitellius - and for Rome herself. 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In July, Vespasian, Mucianus, Titus, and the senior officers of the legions, together with the potentates from around the region who supported the Flavian cause, met at Beirut to formulate precise plans. Their basic strategy was the blockade of Italy.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Vespasian slowly builds his alliance across the eastern part of the empire, being hailed as Lord Caesar, Augustus, the saviour and benefactor of Rome. His reasons for challenging Vitellius aren't entirely clear but we suspect it has a lot to do with the ambition of his two sons, Titus and Domitian. 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's time to do a bio on Titus Flavius Vespasianus. He wasn't a very ambitious as a young man and only joined the Cursus Honorum because his mother drove him to it through sarcasm, constantly taunting him that he wasn't as good as his older brother. He had a thing for ex-slaves and was once, when governor of North Africa, pelted with turnips during a riot and forced to sell mules to pay off his debts. And of course Nero once stuffed horse shit down his toga. So a really auspicious start.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices