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3
Chapter 3
57AD
The year 57AD was a year that in many minds made the young Emperor who was now 16. With the increasing tension in Parthia the Emperor who had ruled well under his advisors of Vespasian, Afranius, and Seneca, recalled the General Titus Flavius Sabinus brother of Vespasian. Sabinus would become a key ally, his first task after his recall by Britannicus was to reform 2 legions, the XVII and XVIII, legions lost in the touterbourg ambush.
These legions would go east with Britannicus the next year to war with Parthia. As these legions were reformed a plot was discovered, Britannicus's cousin Faustus Cornelius Sulla Felix was the figurehead of the plot. The other figurehead was Quintus Haterius Antoninus who was involved to gain financial benefits. The others involved were several Praetorian Tribunes who could call upon half of the guard.
Upon discovering the plot Sextus Afranius Burrus had challenged the plotters who gathered their army of some 6000 Praetorians who were hungry for the promised donative of 4000 denarii each that had been promised by the plotters, and challenged the emperor and his advisors on the plains outside the city.
The reamaining 4000 Praetorians were joined in support of Britannicus by the 2 new legions who fell under the command of the Flavian brothers Vespasian and Sabinus. The 2 legions amounted to around 3000 men each and were accompanied by 100 cavalry each.
The Praetorians seeing they were outnumbered tried surrendering but their pleas fell on deaf ears. The loyal army of Britannicus advanced. The two armies met in the middle under a hail of Pila, the roman javelin. The 2 legions which were on the flanks almost instantly wrapped around the Praetorian flanksand a bloody melee ensued. The entire rebel army was masscared, the ringleaders were caught and crucified while the cousins of Britannicus, Sulla and Antoninus were paraded around the city in a miniture triumph before being strangled for treason.
For their Loyalty Britannicus gave the 2 legions the title Fidelis Claudia or Loyal Claudian legion. In the aftermath of the battle Britannicus was betrothed to Vespasians daughter Domitilla who was 12, and Britannicus's sister Claudia Octavia was betrothed to Vespasians son Vespasian the younger. His older sister was then married to the eldest of the Silani brothers Marcus Junius Silanus whose wife had recently died.
Britannicus's popularity only grew more after the defeat of the rebel army. His new legions the XVII FIDELIS CLAUDIA and XVIII FIDELIS CLAUDIA quickly became full sized and began thier move to the east were a huge army was gathering under Corbulo. Sabinus and Vespasian were promised Governships after the war, Vespasian was to join Britannicus in the east while Sabinus and Seneca would hold down Rome with imperial authority.
At the beginning of 58AD at the age of 17 Britannicus travelled east to his future, to Romes future.