Tacitus, as usual, gives a practical rather
than a strategic motive.
than a strategic motive.
Tacitus
e.
that Spurinna was in league with Caecina, and meant
to hand them over to him.
[255] He was making 'a reconnaissance in force westwards along
the river bank to discover, if he could, the strength and
intentions of the enemy' (B. W. Henderson, _Civil War_, &c. ).
But Mr. E. G. Hardy points out that, as he had only 4,000 men
and Caecina's 30,000 were in the immediate neighbourhood, this
would have been foolish. It seems better to believe Tacitus'
suggestion that his insubordinate troops forced Spurinna to
march out.
[256] Considered Gallic and effeminate.
[257] Mr. Henderson (_Civil War_, &c. ) argues that it was
imperative for Caecina to take the fortress at Placentia,
since it threatened his sole line of communication with
Valens' column.
Tacitus, as usual, gives a practical rather
than a strategic motive. His interests are purely human.
[258] Familiar devices for sheltering troops against missiles
from a town wall. They were generally made of hurdles covered
with raw hides. The _vinea_ was a shelter on poles, so named
from its resemblance to a pergola of vines.
[259] In i. 61 only legion XXI is mentioned. But Caecina may
have formed the detachments into another legion.
[260] Civilis' nephew and bitter enemy. See iv. 70, v. 21.
[261] Spurinna's colleague in the command of the advanced
guard from Rome. He was now probably at Mantua.
[262] At the meeting of two high roads leading to Cremona, the
one from Hostilia and the other from Mantua. It was near here
that Vitellius defeated Otho, and here that his power fell
before Vespasian (cp.
to hand them over to him.
[255] He was making 'a reconnaissance in force westwards along
the river bank to discover, if he could, the strength and
intentions of the enemy' (B. W. Henderson, _Civil War_, &c. ).
But Mr. E. G. Hardy points out that, as he had only 4,000 men
and Caecina's 30,000 were in the immediate neighbourhood, this
would have been foolish. It seems better to believe Tacitus'
suggestion that his insubordinate troops forced Spurinna to
march out.
[256] Considered Gallic and effeminate.
[257] Mr. Henderson (_Civil War_, &c. ) argues that it was
imperative for Caecina to take the fortress at Placentia,
since it threatened his sole line of communication with
Valens' column.
Tacitus, as usual, gives a practical rather
than a strategic motive. His interests are purely human.
[258] Familiar devices for sheltering troops against missiles
from a town wall. They were generally made of hurdles covered
with raw hides. The _vinea_ was a shelter on poles, so named
from its resemblance to a pergola of vines.
[259] In i. 61 only legion XXI is mentioned. But Caecina may
have formed the detachments into another legion.
[260] Civilis' nephew and bitter enemy. See iv. 70, v. 21.
[261] Spurinna's colleague in the command of the advanced
guard from Rome. He was now probably at Mantua.
[262] At the meeting of two high roads leading to Cremona, the
one from Hostilia and the other from Mantua. It was near here
that Vitellius defeated Otho, and here that his power fell
before Vespasian (cp.
