Tacitus: The Histories, Volumes I and II | Page 7

to the young Nero and compared the emperors,
as such people will, in point of looks and personal attraction.
FOOTNOTES:
[11] i.e. the marines, whom Nero had formed into a reserve force
(Legio I Adiutrix). They had met Galba at the Mulvian Bridge,
probably with a petition for service in the Line.
[12] Legio VII Galbiana, sent later to Pannonia.
[13] Illyricum included all the Danube provinces.

[14] The Pass of Dariel over the centre of the Caucasus. The Albanians
lay to the east of its southern end, on the south-west coast of the
Caspian.
[15] Vindex, Pro-praetor in the Lyons division of Gaul, had revolted
against Nero early in the year 68 and offered his support to Galba, then
governor of the Tarragona division of Spain. He was defeated by
Verginius Rufus, commanding the forces in Upper Germany, and
committed suicide. Verginius afterwards declared for Galba, though his
troops wanted to make him emperor. Cp. chap. 8.
[16] Clodius Macer commanded Legio III Augusta and governed
Numidia, which Tiberius at the end of his reign had detached from the
pro-consulate of Africa.
[17] Governor of Lower Germany. See chap. 58 and iii. 62.
[18] Cp. chap. 58.

THE DISTRIBUTION OF FORCES
Such then at Rome was the variety of feeling natural in so vast a 8
population. To turn to the provinces abroad: Spain was under the
command of Cluvius Rufus, a man of great eloquence, and more skilled
in the arts of peace than of war.[19] The Gallic provinces had not
forgotten Vindex: moreover, they were bound to Galba by his recent
grant of Roman citizenship and his rebate of their tribute for the future.
The tribes, however, which lay nearest to the armies stationed in
Germany had not received these honours: some even had lost part of
their territory and were equally aggrieved at the magnitude of their own
injuries and of their neighbours' benefits. The troops in Germany were
proud of their recent victory, indignant at their treatment and perplexed
by a nervous consciousness that they had supported the wrong side: a
very dangerous state for so strong a force to be in. They had been slow
to desert Nero, and Verginius[20] did not immediately declare for
Galba. Whether he really did not want the throne is doubtful: without

question his soldiers made him the offer. The death of Fonteius Capito
aroused the indignation even of those who had no right to complain.
However, they still lacked a leader: Galba had sent for Verginius under
a pretence of friendship, and, when he was not allowed to return and
was even charged with treachery, the soldiers considered his case their
own.
The army of Upper Germany felt no respect for their commander, 9
Hordeonius Flaccus.[21] Weakened by age and an affection of the feet
he was without resolution or authority, and could not have controlled
the mildest troops. These fiery spirits were only the further inflamed
when they felt such a weak hand on the reins. The legions of Lower
Germany had been for some time without a commander,[22] until
Aulus Vitellius appeared. He was the son of the Lucius Vitellius who
had been censor and thrice consul,[23] and Galba thought this sufficient
to impress the troops. The army in Britain showed no bad feeling. All
through the disturbance of the civil wars no troops kept cleaner hands.
This may have been because they were so far away and severed by the
sea, or perhaps frequent engagements had taught them to keep their
rancour for the enemy. Quiet ruled in Illyricum also, although the
legions, which had been summoned by Nero,[24] while lingering in
Italy had made overtures to Verginius. But the armies lay far apart,
always a sound assistance to the maintenance of military discipline,
since the men could neither share vices nor join forces.
The East was still untroubled. Licinius Mucianus held Syria with 10
four legions.[25] He was a man who was always famous, whether in
good fortune or in bad. As a youth he was ambitious and cultivated the
friendship of the great. Later he found himself in straitened
circumstances and a very ambiguous position, and, suspecting
Claudius' displeasure, he withdrew into the wilds of Asia, where he
came as near to being an exile as afterwards to being an emperor. He
was a strange mixture of good and bad, of luxury and industry, courtesy
and arrogance. In leisure he was self-indulgent, but full of vigour on
service. His outward behaviour was praiseworthy, though ill was
spoken of his private life. However, with those who were under him or
near him, and with his colleagues he gained great influence by various

devices, and seems to have been the sort of man who would more
readily make an emperor than be one.
The Jewish war was