28

Vespasian had returned to Caesarea to assemble his forces and prepare to march on Jerusalem itself, when a messenger arrived from Rome. The man, who had arrived by ship, was a senator, Silvius Emidius, who worked closely with Vespasian’s brother Sabinus in the civil administration of the capital. Whatever news the senator had brought, it would be of great importance. That the messenger was not a military man, suggested it was of a political nature.

Vespasian received the senator with the usual exchange of pleasantries. He ordered refreshments and, when they were both seated, opened the conversation. “You have, I suspect, important news for me”.

Emidius, who was sweating slightly with anxiety, drew a deep breath to steady himself. “General, I have to tell you that the Emperor Nero is dead”.

Vespasian, though shocked by the news, remained impassive. “How?” was his only response.

Emidius pursed his lips and said “Suicide. But” he continued hurriedly, “after the senate, by an overwhelming majority, declared him to be an enemy of the state and issued his death warrant”.

The silence following this declaration was prolonged. Deeply shocked, Vespasian’s mind was in turmoil. The senator said nothing. A career diplomat, he knew when to keep quiet. “Who rules now?” Vespasian finally asked.

The senator cleared his throat. “Galba”, he said shortly.

Vespasian considered this without speaking. Galba was from a noble family and was extremely wealthy. He had earned a reputation in the provinces of Gaul, Germania, Africa and Iberia.

On Nero’s death, supported by Nymphidius the Praetorian Prefect, he had assumed the title of Caesar and marched straight to Rome. Vespasian finally spoke. “Of course I will immediately swear my allegiance to the new Emperor. I will also send my son Titus to pay homage to the new Emperor, to request his instructions with regard to the Jewish rebellion”.

The senator nodded and murmured his approval. Vespasian, his mind clearing, rose and paced the room. “I will summon my Generals and inform them of the Emperor’s death, and Galba’s succession. I will also inform our allies, particularly King Agrippa. Tomorrow the whole army will be assembled and we will swear allegiance to the new Emperor. I hope you will be our guest at the ceremony”.

Emidius, aware that his presence as a witness to this hugely important ceremony would serve Vespasian well, said “I would be honoured, Legate, to join you and will include this in my report to the senate and the Emperor”.

Vespasian smiled absently, before saying “While you are in Caesarea, this villa is at your disposal. I will return to my camp just outside the city. Arrangements will be made for the ceremony to take place in two days’ time. Now if you will excuse me”. Emidius, satisfied with the outcome of what he had feared could have been a difficult meeting, stood and bowed as Vespasian took his leave. What was to transpire following this meeting was a string of events, unprecedented in the Empire’s history.

Having broken the news to his senior officers and King Agrippa, Vespasian suspended all military operations, including his proposed march on Jerusalem. Titus was ordered to Rome to pay homage to the new Emperor and get his orders for the war they were waging. With the same objective, Agrippa set off for Rome with Titus.

Never one to miss a strategic opportunity, the fifty eight year old Vespasian took advantage of Agrippa’s absence to entertain Queen Berenice - an unexpected romantic interlude in the widowed general’s life, who afterwards reflected that his extravagant gift of pearls had been a sound investment. However, like all good things in life, such things come to an end. Titus returned early. While he had been making his way to Rome, Galba - after a reign of only three months - was assassinated and Otho seized the throne. Agrippa, however, decided to complete the journey, but an uneasy Titus turned back and returned to Caesarea.

In Caesarea, Vespasian’s officers had started to meet in informal groups to discuss the state of the Empire, and particularly their own circumstances. What, they had asked themselves, could they expect in the future?

They decided among themselves that if it came to a civil war, they would be best served if their commander Vespasian made a bid for the throne. We are, they argued, five legions and have the support of Syrian and Arab auxiliaries. We have experienced officers who have never lost a war. We have allies in Italy. Vespasian’s brother Sabinus is Prefect of Rome and both have friends in the senate. Also Vespasian’s other son, Domition, is now eighteen and has supporters among Rome’s influential families. These will be joined by men of wealth and power who will support Vespasian, because it is in their interests to do so. If Vespasian doesn’t claim the throne, we who are fighting and dying for Rome, will be set aside.

On their behalf Mucianus, who agreed with them, formally requested Vespasian to accept Sovereignty, with the legionaries loudly demanding that he should command them against any that opposed him.

But Vespasian hesitated. He had privately given thought to what his men were now articulating. The key to success was, however, out of his control, and he knew it. Without the support of the city of Alexandria he would not be master of Egypt, the most important province in the Empire because it supplied Rome with a third of its annual corn consumption. Vespasian had calculated that if he controlled Egypt, he could make life difficult to the point of impossible for whoever ruled Rome. He also needed the support of the two legions garrisoned in Alexandria, which controlled Egypt.

He knew that if he had these two things in place, he could use Egypt as a shield.

With Judaea and Galilee conquered, Vespasian had relieved Tiberius Alexander of his duties as second in command, returning him to Egypt to resume his governing of the province. Titus was promoted to command all forces, reporting directly to his father. Vespasian decided that he would declare his intentions to Tiberius and ask him for his support.

Before receiving Vespasian’s letter, Tiberius Alexander had unsurprisingly carefully considered his own position. As governor of Rome’s most important province, he literally lived like a King and, providing he kept the grain ships moving, he was far enough away from Rome to be untroubled by political intrigue. Like Vespasian, he was an old soldier and regarded civil war as unthinkable. The Empire would fall and along with it his tenure of office. Rome needed a stable government fast. That meant a reliable man at the top - a position he wasn’t remotely interested in for himself. Vespasian, he decided, fitted the bill and had the backing of his men.

After consulting with his officers and, very importantly, recommending backing Vespasian, he assembled the legions and the city’s dignitaries. After reading Vespasian’s letter to them, he invited the soldiers and the civilians alike to swear allegiance to Vespasian.

Security in uncertain times carried the day. Support for Vespasian was overwhelming, so in July 69 the populace and the legions of Alexandria swore allegiance to Vespasian. In doing so they made him Emperor in waiting. Tiberius then set about preparing to receive Vespasian. His first task was to send messengers to every province, declaring Vespasian Emperor of the East. Cities throughout the region celebrated the news and offered sacrifices on Vespasian’s behalf. The Moesian and Pannonia legions, with a view to the future, promptly swore allegiance to Vespasian who had left Caesarea for Beirut to meet the deputations from Syria and other provinces who came to offer their congratulations.

Vespasian then sent Mucianus to Italy in command of a powerful army. Mucianus, unwilling to risk his forces in a sea crossing in winter, marched his army overland. This was in the autumn of 69. In the meantime Antonius Primus, commander of the Third Legion garrisoned in Moesia who had declared for Vespasian, was confronted by General Ceacina Alienus who had been ordered to punish his defection. The two armies met at Cremona. Before they could engage in battle, Alienus changed sides after persuading his men that to do otherwise would put them on the losing side. Alienus, however, hadn’t persuaded all of his men that switching sides was a good move. During the night his senior officers arrested him and tied him up, with the intention of taking him to Rome and charging him with treason.

Primus, not best pleased at this change of heart, met Alienus’ forces which, without a commanding general, retreated towards Cremona. Fearing they would enter the city and become safe from anything but a prolonged siege, Primus led his cavalry in a headlong charge to out-flank and surround them. He then brought up his army and using his archers massacred Alienus’ thirty thousand men, at a cost to Primus of four thousand casualties. After sending a report of his victory and his intentions to Vespasian, Primus looted the town before resuming his march on Rome.

Eventually the legions of Primus and Mucianus joined up and declared they were taking possession of Rome on behalf of Vespasian. They then called a meeting of the senate and put forward a motion that Vespasian’s youngest son, Domitian, should be head of state until his father arrived. The ordinary citizens cheered this proposal and a weary senate ratified the motion and appointed Vespasian emperor.

Arriving in Alexandria, Vespasian was met with this amazing news and was soon receiving ambassadors from all over the world, who had come to congratulate their new sovereign and swear their countries’ continued allegiance.

With the whole Empire secure and the supremacy of Rome re-established, Vespasian turned his attention to the final stages of his Judaean campaign. He was, however, eager to leave for Rome as soon as winter ended. With this in mind, he poured all his energy into putting things in order in Alexandria.

He sent Titus the pick of his army and made him commanding general of all forces in Judaea with Mucianus to be his second in command. His orders were that Jerusalem was to be levelled. Rebel Jews who survived the war were to be shipped abroad and sold into slavery. Large tracts of land were to be awarded to their Arab allies, with choice portions of good land made available to legionaries due for retirement, who were willing to settle in the region. The handful of remaining Jews would not be allowed to own land. If they wished to farm, it would be as tenants. In fact “all land in Judaea/Palestine would become the personal property of the Emperor”.

With his sovereignty secure, Vespasian turned his thoughts to Judaea and his son. A letter, he decided, was long overdue.