Chapter 29
Consulship of Gaius Calpurnius Piso [Deceased]
65 AD
Before the Pisonian Conspiracy the rebuilding of Rome began with a almost military like organization. It was Vespasianus who talked Britannicus into the massive Amphitheater that would become one of the biggest attractions of Rome. It was because of this structure and 2 others that were set about secretly that the people in the city rioted. After the conspiracy, it would become public knowledge what was being built. As this building restarted once Rome was calmed down, Vespasianus would set down the permanent architecture of the structure which would be completed near the time of his death. However news would come that would take the great man away from Rome with his emperors orders.
The Parthians had began their mission to make the Roman east break apart in 64AD. By spring of 65AD, with one of the most corrupt Prefects it had ever had, stealing wealth by force from the jewish temples, the province of Judea errupted into a furious rebellion. In May of 65AD, the jews set up a goverment in Jerusalem, this goverment would send its general Yosef ben Marthius and with a militia numbering 12,000 supported by 5,000 Parthians not only did they route the Auxillia forces of Gessius Florus, they totally massacred them. The militia in a rage by the horrors the Auxillia had submitted onto their people over the last few years, savagely killed any Auxillia they could find. Over 2000 Auxillia died on a lost Judean Field, the Prefect Gessius Florus would be executed months later when he was sent to Britannicus by Vespasian, and all his wealth stolen.
As it stood, Gessius Florus ran to Syria which now had no legions only several thousand Auxiliaries, and however the governor of the province Cestius Gallus would send to Rome and the province of Osrhoene, where the XXII Premigenia was stationed. The Govenor of the province who was also the legate of the legion was a practical man, he could not leave the new province in fear of a rebellion sparking, of which he had heard Rumours, however he could not send his Auxiliaries lest he let them go to the same fate as those who already tried to hold the rebellion. So he chose the best option. He sent to Titus Flavius Sabinus the senior commander in the east asking for a few cohorts while his entire legion under the command of his Laticlavian Tribune, a recent commission from Germania and Rome Lucius Flavius Silva would go to Syria gather The Auxiliaries there before going to Judea.
As Lucius Flavius Silva who was in no relation to the Flavi Sabini, marched his legion to Syria, Judea would develop even further into Rebellion. Its General Mathieus would secure the entirety of Galilee fortifying the area. The rest of Judea would soon follow the rebellion. By the time that Rome had heard and Silva had marched into Galilee, the jews were waiting with trained and armed men, 60,000 of them. Even though the rebellion was alreayd fractious with zealots and the goverment, this force lead by Mathieus would meet Silvas Legion in and its accompanying 5,000 Auxillia somewhere between Tiberias and Ptolemais. Before a battle could begin Silva seeing the huge numbers of Jews fell back from his position. Camping for the night, Silva would send his Auxillia a further 10 miles away were a Ambush could he set.
Come dawn a game of cat and mouse began as the jewish forces chased the lone legion, the jewish forces swelled as the people grew confidence with the new goverment and for their hate of the romans which was at a feverish high. However around Noon as the legion passed between two hills they slowed their march. Seeing this Mattheus a smart man wanted to halt, the hills that the Romans passed between ran parallel to eachother for several miles, perfect for an ambush or for a defence. However the Zealot warriors incensed charged foward, hoping that the rest of the army would follow, those that disobeyed Matheus orders would wish they hadnt.
It was only at this time that the missing Auxillia was noticed by Matheus, who had assumed they had been at the front of the roman march. However he couldnt stop the 20,000 men who were running at the Roman wall set perfectly in between the two ridgelines. The legion held the Jews at bay strongly, for several minutes it looked like the jewish numbers would break the roman lines, however the romans held, and then it happened. The Auxillia who had been waiting from behind the ridges advanced. They fell upon the flanks of the suprised jewish forces slaughtering many. As much as Matheus wanted to leave the men who had endangered the entire army, he knew that everyman would be valuable, as well a loss would significantly smash the new states moral, leading to even more divisions. So he sent his entire army in. Silva would be forced to withdraw, however he would sacrifice nearly 500 legionaries and most of his Auxiliaries to keep the main part of the legion alive.
To Silvas credit he knew that he had been extremely lucky to have been able to keep his legion alive during the campaign, he did however manage to kill roughly 8,000 jews before he was forced to withdraw. Mattheus seeing the divisions in his army would not follow Silva who would make it to Ptolamais only a day later, both forces would sit waiting for the first to move. It was a mistake the Jewish general would never forget. For not a month later the XIX which had been renamed to the XIX Italica Claudia for its loyalty, would arrive to reinforce the XXII and it was lead by Vespasian. His son Titus granted command of the XVII Hispanica on the Danube would also bring his legion to Syria. This army would be joined by some 15,000 Auxiliaries. With Roughly 30,000 men Vespasian would march back into Galilee. Unfortunately for Mattheus his army had split by this time and only 40,000 remained as the Zealots tried to fight the new Jewish goverment. In total the jewish goverment over all its territory had roughly 80,000 fighting men, it would have been nearly 100,000 if the zealots were not fighting their own people. By this point the Parthians were trying to help organize and train the rebels, their efforts would not outlast the might of the legions.
In Galilee Vespasian would spend the rest of the year taking the territory, taking many small cities and towns killing all males, and selling everyone else to slavers. However his campaign would become famous for its 40 day siege of Jotapata. During this seige where Mattheus and half his army were caught in the city a brutal fight would ensue, even Vespasian being injured. Mattheus would be captured after the destruction of his city, and become a personal freedman of Vespasianus and a historian, by the name of Titus Flavius Josephus. However this would be the farthest south Vespasian would go for at least the year. As events were brewing elsewhere in the east. His brother Titus Flavius Sabinus, was not only fighting rebels in Mesopotamia, but also a massive organized Parthian invasion. The rebellion included the Province of Osrhoene, as well as several of the client kingdoms who werent happy with how they were being treated since the initial invasion of Mesopotamia. The client kings also did not want to lose their privileges once Rome eventually decided to turn the kingdoms into provinces. Deciding this was the perfect time they rebelled. As Talented as the Flavi brothers were, Vespasian sent to Rome asking for more legions, and another general, specifically the great (but retired) Gnaeus Domitius Corbulo.
The Roman east was on fire, and it would stretch the empire the closest to the brink it had ever been up to this point.
, it's good to see this updated nonetheless.