Life in the Roman World of Nero and St. Paul | Page 6

It is quite true that during these two centuries we meet with frequent
trouble on the borders and with one or two local revolts of more or less
strength. At our chosen date the Jews were being stirred by their
fanatical or "zealot" party into an almost hopeless insurrection; within
two years the rebellion broke out. Three years later still, certain
ambitious semi-Romans took advantage of a troubled time to make a
determined but futile effort to form a Gaulish or German-Gaulish
empire of their own. Half a century after Nero the Jews once again rose,
but were speedily suppressed. But apart from these abortive
efforts--made, one by a unique form of religious zeal, one by
adventurous ambition, at opposite extremities of the Roman
world--there was established a general, and in most cases a willing,
acceptance of the situation and a proper recognition of its benefits.
The only serious war to be feared within the empire itself was a civil
war, begun by some aspiring leader when his chance seemed strong of
ousting the existing emperor or of succeeding to his throne. Four years
from the date at which we have placed ourselves such a war actually
did break out. Nero was driven from the throne in favour of Galba, and
the history of the year following is the history of Otho murdering Galba,
Vitellius overthrowing Otho, and Vespasian in his turn overthrowing
Vitellius. Yet all this is but the story of one entirely exceptional year,
the famous "year of four emperors." Take out that year from the
imperial history; count a hundred years before and more than a hundred
years after, and it would be impossible to find in the history of the
world any period at which peace, and probably contentment, was so
widely and continuously spread. Think of all the countries which have

just been enumerated as lying within the Roman border; then imagine
that, with the exception of one year of general commotion, two or three
provincial and local revolts, and occasional irruptions and retaliations
upon the frontier, they have all been free from war and its havoc ever
since the year 1700. In our year of grace 64, although the throne is
occupied by a vicious emperor suffering from megalomania and
enormous self-conceit, the empire is in full enjoyment of its pax
Romana.
Another glance at the map will show how secure this internal peace
was felt to be. The Roman armies will be found almost entirely upon
the frontiers. It was, of course, imperative that there should be strong
forces in such positions--in Britain carrying out the annexation; on the
Rhine and Danube defending against huge-bodied, restless Germans
and their congeners; on the Euphrates to keep off the nimble and
dashing Parthian horse and foot; in Upper Egypt to guard against the
raids of "Fuzzy-Wuzzy "; in the interior of Tunis or Algeria to keep the
nomad Berber tribes in hand. In such places were the Roman legions
and their auxiliary troops regularly kept under the eagles, for there lay
their natural work, and there do we find them quartered generation after
generation.
It is, of course, true that they might be employed inwards as well as
outwards; but it must be manifest that, if there had been any
widespread disaffection, any reasonable suspicion that serious revolts
might happen, there would have been many other large bodies of troops
posted in garrison throughout the length and breadth of the provinces.
In point of fact the whole Roman military force can scarcely have
amounted to more than 320,000 men, while the navy consisted of two
small fleets of galleys, one regularly posted at Misenum at the entrance
to the Bay of Naples, the other at Ravenna on the Adriatic. To these we
may add a flotilla of boats operating on the Lower Rhine and the
neighbouring coasts. Except during the year of civil war the two fleets
have practically no history. They enjoyed the advantage of having
almost nothing to fight against. If pirates had become dangerous--as for
a brief time they threatened to do during the Jewish revolt--the imperial
ships would have been in readiness to suppress them. They could be

made useful for carrying despatches and imperial persons or troops, or
they might be used against a seaside town if necessary. Beyond this
they hardly correspond to our modern navies. There was no foreign
competition to build against, and no "two-power standard" to be
maintained.
The Roman troops, it has already been said, were almost wholly on the
frontier. So far as there are exceptions, they explain themselves. It was
found necessary at all times to keep at least one legion regularly
quartered in Northern Spain, where the mountaineers were inclined to
be predatory, and where they were skilful, as they have always been, at