He was eventually
executed
by Domitian
for keeping Otho's birthday.
for keeping Otho's birthday.
Tacitus
chap.
33).
[313] i. e. other than the Guards.
[314] See chap. 32.
[315] At Brixellum.
[316] Plutarch adds a picturesque detail: 'One of the common
soldiers held up his sword and saying, "See, Caesar, we are
all prepared to do _this_ for you," he stabbed himself. '
[317] See note 286.
[318] According to Plutarch, Otho's generals, Celsus, Gallus,
and Titianus, capitulated at once and admitted Caecina to the
camp. Tacitus would doubtless have condemned Plutarch's story
for its lack of tragic pathos. The facts, however, are against
Tacitus. Now that his main force had capitulated at Bedriacum,
Otho had no sufficient army to fight with, since the
Vitellians lay between him and his Danube army at Aquileia.
[319] Titianus' son.
He was eventually executed by Domitian
for keeping Otho's birthday.
[320] _Servius_ Sulpicius Galba.
[321] The conqueror of Vindex, now consul-elect (cp. i. 77).
[322] April 17.
[323] Cp. note 316.
[324] Ferento in Etruria.
[325] Albia Terentia was the daughter of a knight who had not
risen to office.
[326] Galba's murder and his own suicide.
[327] Reggio.
[328] Accepting Meiser's suggestion _cum initio pugnae et cum
Othonis exitu_.
VITELLIUS' PRINCIPATE
Now that the war was everywhere ended, a large number of senators, 52
who had quitted Rome with Otho and been left behind at Mutina,[330]
found themselves in a critical position. When the news of the defeat
reached Mutina, the soldiers paid no heed to what they took for a
baseless rumour, and, believing the senators to be hostile to Otho,
they treasured up their conversation and put the worst interpretation
on their looks and behaviour. In time they broke into abusive
reproaches, seeking a pretext for starting a general massacre, while
the senators suffered at the same time from another source of alarm,
for they were afraid of seeming to be slow in welcoming the victory of
the now predominant Vitellian party.
[313] i. e. other than the Guards.
[314] See chap. 32.
[315] At Brixellum.
[316] Plutarch adds a picturesque detail: 'One of the common
soldiers held up his sword and saying, "See, Caesar, we are
all prepared to do _this_ for you," he stabbed himself. '
[317] See note 286.
[318] According to Plutarch, Otho's generals, Celsus, Gallus,
and Titianus, capitulated at once and admitted Caecina to the
camp. Tacitus would doubtless have condemned Plutarch's story
for its lack of tragic pathos. The facts, however, are against
Tacitus. Now that his main force had capitulated at Bedriacum,
Otho had no sufficient army to fight with, since the
Vitellians lay between him and his Danube army at Aquileia.
[319] Titianus' son.
He was eventually executed by Domitian
for keeping Otho's birthday.
[320] _Servius_ Sulpicius Galba.
[321] The conqueror of Vindex, now consul-elect (cp. i. 77).
[322] April 17.
[323] Cp. note 316.
[324] Ferento in Etruria.
[325] Albia Terentia was the daughter of a knight who had not
risen to office.
[326] Galba's murder and his own suicide.
[327] Reggio.
[328] Accepting Meiser's suggestion _cum initio pugnae et cum
Othonis exitu_.
VITELLIUS' PRINCIPATE
Now that the war was everywhere ended, a large number of senators, 52
who had quitted Rome with Otho and been left behind at Mutina,[330]
found themselves in a critical position. When the news of the defeat
reached Mutina, the soldiers paid no heed to what they took for a
baseless rumour, and, believing the senators to be hostile to Otho,
they treasured up their conversation and put the worst interpretation
on their looks and behaviour. In time they broke into abusive
reproaches, seeking a pretext for starting a general massacre, while
the senators suffered at the same time from another source of alarm,
for they were afraid of seeming to be slow in welcoming the victory of
the now predominant Vitellian party.
