Feb 28, 2025
Way before the Clone Troopers turned on their Jedi comrades (or was that a long time ago…), while the Romans were fighting each other in 69 CE, the Germans decide the time is ripe to wage a war against their oppressors. They executed Order 66. If you're seeing...
Feb 14, 2025
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. If...
Feb 1, 2025
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. If you're seeing this message, it...
Jan 15, 2025
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. If you're seeing this message, it...
Jan 6, 2025
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. If you're seeing this...
Dec 31, 2024
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...
Dec 7, 2024
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...
Nov 19, 2024
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. If you're seeing...
Nov 2, 2024
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...
Oct 17, 2024
It’s time to do a bio on Titus Flavius Vespasianus. He wasn’t 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...
Oct 7, 2024
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...
Sep 18, 2024
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...
Sep 8, 2024
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...
Aug 25, 2024
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. If...
Aug 12, 2024
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. Just a reminder – this episode, and the rest of our new series, will available exclusively to our...
Jul 22, 2024
Otho’s Generals 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. Just a reminder – this...
Jul 9, 2024
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. Just a reminder – this episode, and the rest of...
Jun 23, 2024
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...
Jun 9, 2024
Italy is having its first civil war in one hundred years – not since the bloody and fateful days of Octavius v Marcus Antonius, the last days of Second Triumvirate and the Republic, have Italians seen war on their own lands, Roman v Roman. But now Otho orders...
May 18, 2024
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....
