Life Of Caesar

After arriving in Rome in June 69, Vitellius only had a few weeks to warm up the throne before Vespasian, in Alexandria, announced that he was opposing him. Unfortunately, he seems to have quickly lost of the support of his top two commanders, the kingmakers, Caecina and Valens.

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Vitellius needs to decide what to do with Otho's old troops in Italy, many of whom still regarded their defeat as one of treachery. And now that the game was really just about anyone being able to create an emperor, there were numerous candidates still available. He also gets a tour of the battlefield outside Cremona, "a hideous and terrible sight." Forty days had elapsed since the battle and there were remains of horses and humans laying unburied everywhere. Vitellius eventually arrived in Rome in June. He had already been Emperor for three months. Little does he know, he is a third of his way through his reign. 

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Vitellius started his march towards Galba / Otho about 8 weeks after he sent Valens and Caecina. Along the way, he got news that he was the new Emperor. But it wasn't all smooth sailing - governors were murdered, barbarians were revolting, traitors were justifying, messiahs were preaching, and wife-stealers were returning. 

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ChatGPT gives us Shakespeare's version of Otho's last speech, while the news of his demise makes its way to Rome and everyone yawns and swears an oath of loyalty to the third guy to be declared emperor since the death of Nero less than a year earlier. 

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Despite having reinforcements on the way, and the firm support of his remaining praetorians, Otho decides, with fortitude and firmness, what his own fate shall be.

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Otho's General squabble over the best strategy to march towards Caecina, but it's all for nothing when two Othonian Praetorian cohorts betray Otho's strategy to the enemy. And then it's on like Donkey Kong. 

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The Praetorians push for a fast campaign because they didn't want to spend any more time away from the comforts of Rome than necessary. Unfortunately, in letting them drive the strategy, Otho sealed his doom.

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As the Vitellians try to build a bridge and get over it, the Othonians try to burn their bridge down. Then Otho himself arrives on the scene and holds a council of war. The big question - should they wait a few days for reinforcements or attack now despite being massively outnumbered? 

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Otho orders troops into Northern Italy to block the approach of the armies of Vitellius. He followed them, taking with him many members of the Senate to make sure they don't replace him while he's away from Rome. Keep in mind that the Italian people hadn't experienced any fighting on their soil since the civil wars of Augustus and Marcus Antonius a hundred years earlier.

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By March 69, Caecina's troops (part of Vitellius' forces) had arrived in northern Italy and crossed the river Po. They first attacked Piacenza where Otho's commander, Spurinna, struggled to maintain discipline with his inexperienced but eager troops. Their Yo Momma Jokes didn't help.

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